June 2nd, 2025

Welcome Back,

Happy Monday, everyone! 🌞
Good morning—and welcome to a brand-new week full of potential (and hopefully not too many meetings that could’ve been emails).

Let’s start with this: Imagine learning something once… and it keeps paying off. Like teaching a goose to lay golden eggs. 🥚✨

That’s the magic of high-leverage skills—they compound over time and quietly work in your favor long after the learning is done. Today, we’re diving into how to find them, build them, and use them to unlock serious freedom.

So let’s get into it—because one smart step today could mean less hustle tomorrow.

“Don't let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”
— Steve Jobs

Everyone wants a seat at the table — but are you building your own table, or still waiting for an invite?
Ownership > access.

— Ryan Rincon, CEO and Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.

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Travel

U.S. Travel Policies Create Headwinds for Global Business Movement

Increased Border Scrutiny and Tariffs Disrupt Industry Momentum

The U.S. government’s recent changes to travel and trade policies are sending shockwaves through the global business travel sector. Industry leaders report that 2025 has seen a noticeable drop in both travel volume and spending, and many are pointing to tighter border controls and expanded tariffs as the cause.

Key Policy Challenges:

• Increased Border Scrutiny: Tighter vetting processes are leading to longer wait times for business visas and travel permits, deterring international trips.

• New Tariff Measures: Expanded tariffs have strained cross-border business relationships, reducing the need for travel as deals stall or shift to other regions.

• Uncertainty in Trade Relations: Companies are increasingly wary of sending executives abroad amid political friction.

Industry Impact:

• Conferences and Trade Shows: Attendance is down across many major events, especially from foreign participants.

• Corporate Travel Budgets: Companies are scaling back travel due to both practical restrictions and rising costs.

• Economic Ripples: Sectors like hospitality, airlines, and event services that rely on business travel are already feeling the pressure.

Career

Generational Shift Leaves Leadership Gaps Across Corporate America

With Boomers Retiring and Gen Z Hesitant, Who’s Next in Line?

A quiet crisis is unfolding in boardrooms and management suites across the country: a growing leadership vacuum. As baby boomers continue to retire in large numbers, companies are finding it increasingly difficult to fill leadership roles — and the next generation isn’t lining up to take their place.

The Leadership Shortage Explained:

• Boomer Exodus: Decades of experience and institutional knowledge are walking out the door as seasoned executives retire.

• Millennial Burnout: Many mid-career professionals are stepping back from leadership ambitions due to work-life balance concerns and pandemic fatigue.

• Gen Z’s Reluctance: While talented and innovative, younger workers are often more focused on flexibility, purpose, and autonomy than climbing the traditional corporate ladder.

Consequences for the Workplace:

• Declining Productivity: Teams without strong leaders often lack clear direction, leading to inefficiencies and missed goals.

• Cultural Drift: Without leadership to anchor and inspire teams, morale can slip — especially in hybrid or remote environments.

• Internal Bottlenecks: Companies may struggle to promote from within, creating succession planning nightmares.

World

Iran’s Nationwide Strikes Reveal Deep Economic and Social Turmoil

Protesters Challenge Regime Amid Soaring Inflation and Unemployment

A new wave of nationwide strikes and public protests in Iran has brought renewed attention to the country’s economic instability and political unrest. What began as small labor strikes has ballooned into a broader social movement — with citizens openly defying government authority.

What’s Fueling the Protests?

• Economic Struggles: Skyrocketing inflation, currency collapse, and high unemployment have left millions unable to afford basic necessities.

• Lack of Government Support: The regime’s failure to address economic grievances has sparked widespread frustration.

• Youth Disillusionment: Iran’s younger population is particularly vocal, demanding reform and accountability.

A Growing Divide:

• Urban vs. Rural: Discontent is growing not just in major cities, but across rural provinces once seen as regime strongholds.

• Regime vs. Public: The protests are not isolated — they reflect a widening chasm between the state and its citizens, with calls for systemic change gaining traction.

Investing

BigBear.ai Faces Investor Scrutiny Amid Alleged Fraud

Class-Action Lawsuit Underway as Legal Deadline Nears

Investors in BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. may be facing major legal and financial consequences as the company becomes the subject of a class-action lawsuit related to potential fraud. Legal counsel is urging affected shareholders to come forward before a rapidly approaching court deadline.

What We Know So Far:

• Allegations of Misleading Information: The lawsuit claims that BigBear.ai may have provided false or misleading statements regarding its financial health, growth outlook, or customer contracts.

• Shareholder Losses: As stock prices fell, investors may have incurred substantial losses based on inaccurate or incomplete disclosures.

• Legal Action: Law firms are organizing efforts to represent harmed investors in court and potentially recover damages.

What Investors Should Do:

• Review Holdings: Anyone who purchased shares during the affected time period should consult legal counsel.

• File Before Deadline: There is a specific filing window to join the class action — missing it could forfeit eligibility.

• Stay Informed: More developments are expected as the case unfolds and evidence is presented.

Government

EU Warns of Retaliation After U.S. Steel Tariff Hike

Trade Tensions Mount as Brussels Considers Countermeasures

A new flare-up in U.S.-EU trade tensions has emerged after the Biden administration’s decision to raise tariffs on imported steel. The European Commission has expressed “strong regret” over the move and is now considering retaliatory measures to defend its economic interests.

What’s at Stake:

• Steel Sector Impact: The tariff hike directly affects EU steel exporters, many of whom rely on U.S. markets to stay profitable.

• Political Fallout: The move risks souring diplomatic relations between the transatlantic allies just as they aim to collaborate on global challenges.

• Economic Repercussions: If retaliatory tariffs are enacted, industries ranging from agriculture to automotive could be caught in the crossfire.

Possible EU Responses:

• Introducing counter-tariffs on select U.S. goods, targeting politically sensitive sectors.

• Appealing to the WTO to challenge the legality of the tariffs.

• Launching broader trade investigations into other U.S. imports.

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Today’s Snapshot

The High-Leverage Skill Formula: Learn Once, Earn Forever

If you want to make more money, invest smarter, or build wealth faster, there's one unlock that works across every career stage:

These are the skills that don’t just earn income… they open doors, multiply opportunity, and compound over time.

And the best part?

You don’t need permission to learn them.

Whether you're:

• A 9-to-5 professional trying to increase your value,

• A founder looking to scale faster,

• An investor trying to improve deal flow,

• Or a young person with zero direction but a lot of drive...

Learning the right skill at the right time can change your financial trajectory.

Let’s break down how.

🧠 What Are “High-Leverage” Skills?

High-leverage skills are:

• Valuable (people or businesses will pay for them)

• Rare or uncommon (not everyone can do them well)

• Scalable (they create more output than the time you put in)

• Transferable (you can use them across industries and ventures)

These are not the skills you get from a college syllabus.

They’re real-world, modern, and—if used well—can create lifetime earning power.

🛠️ 7 High-Leverage Skills to Learn in 2025

Here’s a short list you can start learning right now:

1. Copywriting

The ability to sell through words. Every business needs it.
You can write:

• Landing pages

• Emails

• Ads

• Sales decks

✅ Great for: Freelancers, marketers, founders, product builders.

2. Sales (Especially High-Ticket or B2B)

Mastering sales = mastering persuasion + psychology + communication.
This is income on demand.

✅ Great for: Anyone looking to boost income fast or close bigger deals.

3. AI & Automation (Prompt Engineering, Workflows, Delegation)

If you can automate workflows, build systems, or teach AI to save people time—you’re gold.

✅ Great for: Operators, consultants, marketers, solopreneurs.

4. Offer Creation

Knowing how to take a skill, turn it into a productized service, and package it into an irresistible offer is a hidden superpower.

✅ Great for: Creators, freelancers, and consultants who want consistent clients.

5. Capital Allocation

Once you’re making money, knowing where to put it for the best return is a skill that can be worth millions.

• Stocks, funds, real estate

• Startups or private deals

• Your own business or brand

✅ Great for: Investors, executives, high-income earners.

6. Personal Brand Building

In a digital-first world, visibility = opportunity.

• Write online

• Share your ideas

• Create proof of work

People trust and pay people they see and know.

✅ Great for: Literally anyone. Especially helpful if you want inbound opportunities.

7. Public Speaking & Storytelling

In meetings, pitches, content, or podcasts—he who tells the better story wins.

✅ Great for: Leaders, salespeople, marketers, creators.

📈 How to Learn and Monetize These Skills (Even as a Beginner)

Most people make two mistakes:

1. They try to learn too many things at once.

2. They never actually use what they’ve learned.

Here’s the better approach:

Step 1: Pick One Skill That Aligns With Your Goals

• Want fast cash flow? → Learn sales or copywriting.

• Want long-term impact? → Learn capital allocation or brand building.

• Want freedom & automation? → Learn AI, systems, or offers.

Step 2: Learn Just Enough to Start Doing

• Skip the 100-hour course trap.

• Learn from people doing the thing, not just teaching it.

• Study free YouTube videos, $50 courses, or short books.

Then: Get your hands dirty.

• Write your first landing page.

• Automate your first workflow.

• Pitch your first offer.

Step 3: Monetize Early and Build Proof

You don’t need to be world-class. You just need to solve a problem.

Start with:

• Freelance gigs

• Consulting projects

• Selling your own offers

• Getting results at work and documenting them

Each win gives you proof—and proof gives you pricing power.

🚀 Bonus: Stack Skills for Exponential Results

Here’s where the magic happens:

Example combos:

🧠 Final Thought: Learn Skills That Print Money

Your degree won’t save you.
Your title won’t scale you.

But your skills?

They’ll take you from broke to booked, from paycheck to portfolio, from confused to unstoppable.

Fun Stuff

🏢 Guess the Company

Clue:
This company started out selling used books online, but now runs cashier-less stores, AI tools, grocery chains, cloud servers, and even space rockets.

🕰️ Financial History: What Happened Today?

June 2, 1896:
Henry Ford made his first successful test drive of the Quadricycle, a gasoline-powered horseless carriage. Less than a decade later, Ford would revolutionize transportation and manufacturing with the Model T and the assembly line.

🌀 Wild & Wacky

Red Lobster’s "Endless Shrimp" promotion helped it gain huge attention — but it also nearly bankrupted the company in 2003. Turns out, people really like free shrimp… and can eat a lot of it.

🤔 Would You Rather

Would you rather…

• Be employee #5 at a startup that becomes a $10B unicorn in 7 years,
  OR

• Be founder of a small, profitable business that nets you $200K annually with full control?

(High risk/reward vs. full autonomy — what’s your success metric?)

*Answers at the bottom

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Fun Stuff: Answers

Guess the Company - Answer: Amazon (Bonus points if you guessed Blue Origin too!)