Hey Friends 👋
There is a phrase people use when they are new to something:
"I'm still learning the ropes."
This week that phrase kept popping into my head.
I spent part of the week rebuilding Sarah's website and helping set up her Google Business Profile.
I also posted a rope routine called Professor's Nightmare while rushing to catch the bus after work. 😂
It made me think about how much of life is spent learning the ropes.
We learn the ropes of a new city.
A new job.
A new skill.
A new business.
A new season of life.
Nobody starts as an expert.
We learn by doing.
🏙️ NEW HAVEN —
When I moved to New Haven in 2020, I did not know the city.
I did not know the bus routes.
I did not know the people.
I did not know whether computer science would even work out for me.
I was rebuilding from the ground up and trying to figure out what came next.
Over time, New Haven became more than a place to live.
It became the place where I learned the ropes of rebuilding.
The place where I earned my degree.
The place where CodeBreeze Solutions was born.
The place where Mo Magic 2.0 started taking shape.
Looking back, I did not need all the answers.
I just needed to keep moving forward.
🎩 MAGIC —
This week I posted a performance of Professor's Nightmare, one of the classic rope routines in magic.
The funny part is that I filmed it while rushing to catch the bus after work.
The audience enjoyed it.
The comments were positive.
But what people did not see was the practice that came before it.
Magic has a way of teaching the same lesson over and over again.
People see the performance.
They rarely see the repetition.
The mistakes.
The adjustments.
The moments when something does not work.
Learning the ropes is not always glamorous, but it is necessary.
💰 MONEY —
I've written about GameStop in this newsletter since the early issues.
Not because it was popular.
Not because everyone agreed.
And certainly not because there wasn't criticism.
One lesson I've learned is that conviction gets tested.
Anyone can hold an opinion when things are easy.
The real test comes when the headlines are negative, the crowd disagrees, and the outcome is still uncertain.
This week, GameStop reported the highest quarterly net income in the company's history and announced a new $2 billion share repurchase authorization.
As a shareholder, I found that significant.
But the biggest lesson for me isn't about a stock.
It's about conviction.
There were times I could only afford to buy a single share.
There were times when I bought the dips while everyone else seemed convinced the story was over.
Not because I knew the future.
Not because I had special information.
But because I had done my homework and believed in the long-term direction of the company.
The Richest Man in Babylon teaches that if you want financial wisdom, seek counsel from people who have demonstrated success in the area where you're investing.
You don't ask a brickmaker about jewels.
You ask a jeweler.
📚 The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason:
https://www.amazon.com/Richest-Man-Babylon-George-Clason/dp/1505339111
One reason I've followed GameStop's story is because I recognize there are people who know more about building businesses and allocating capital than I do.
Nobody gets every decision right.
But one of the most valuable skills in life is learning who is worth learning from.
Sometimes conviction means ignoring noise long enough to let the story unfold.
⚠️ Not financial advice. Just my personal opinions and experiences. Always do your own research.
💻 CODEBREEZE CORNER —
This week I rebuilt Sarah's (my daughter) website and helped optimize her Google Business Profile.
🌐 Sarah Jean Esthetics:
https://sarahjeanesthetics.com/
One thing I've learned through CodeBreeze is that many small businesses focus on having a website but overlook one of the most important local marketing tools available: Google Business Profile.
When someone searches for a local service, contractor, trainer, performer, or small business, the Google Business Profile is often the first thing they see.
Photos.
Reviews.
Hours.
Services.
Contact information.
Directions.
A well-optimized profile can help people find and trust your business before they ever visit your website.
We also updated Sarah's website and connected everything together to strengthen her online presence and create another quality backlink pointing to her business.
Recently, I've been helping local businesses improve their Google Business Profiles by optimizing categories, services, descriptions, review links, website connections, and overall visibility on Google Search and Maps.
Many businesses already have a profile but aren't getting the most out of it.
If you're a local business owner and you're not sure whether your Google Business Profile or website is fully optimized, CodeBreeze Solutions now offers Google Business Profile Setup & Optimization.
Sometimes a few small improvements can make a big difference in how customers find your business online.
As an introductory offer, CodeBreeze Solutions now offers Google Business Profile Setup & Optimization for local businesses looking to improve their visibility on Google Search and Maps.
✝️ FAITH —
Proverbs 9:9
"Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning."
One thing I've learned over the years is that growth requires humility.
Nobody starts out knowing everything.
Not in magic.
Not in computer science.
Not in business.
Not in investing.
Not in life.
The people who continue growing are usually the people who stay teachable.
They ask questions.
They keep learning.
They stay curious.
They remain willing to admit they don't have all the answers.
Looking back, some of the biggest changes in my life started when I was willing to learn something new.
A new skill.
A new perspective.
A new direction.
God gives us opportunities to grow, but we still have to be willing to learn the ropes.
That's where wisdom begins.
💬 Subscriber Spotlight —
This week I'd like to give a shoutout to Mr. Corn on X (CORN on XRPL) for his continued support of Mo Magic Weekly.
In many ways, he's one of the reasons this newsletter exists.
Last year, I joined one of his X Spaces where he was talking about newsletters and content creation. The idea stuck with me.
Not long after, Mo Magic Weekly was born.
Sometimes one conversation, one idea, or one person taking the time to encourage others can have a bigger impact than they realize.
So thank you, Ryan, for the encouragement, continued support, and for helping plant the seed that became this newsletter.
🌽🚜
Follow on X @cornxrpl
💡 The lesson:
Nobody starts as an expert.
Every skill begins with learning.
Every business begins with an idea.
Every journey begins with a first step.
Every person you admire was once a beginner.
Do not be discouraged if you are still learning the ropes.
The important thing is not how quickly you master something.
The important thing is that you keep showing up.
If you're learning the ropes of something right now, keep going.
Take the next step.
Read the book.
Apply for the job.
Start the business.
Learn the skill.
Take the class.
Have the conversation.
Say the prayer.
Keep showing up.
Nobody learns the ropes by standing still.
And if this issue made you think of someone who is trying to move forward, learn something new, or simply take the next step in life, please share it with them.
Sometimes a little encouragement arrives at exactly the right time.
Stay faithful. Stay steady. In Jesus’ name. |
— Mo Magic (Kevin Mohan) |
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