Inside this edition:

• The Permian Basin's Secret Power: Why owning the right dirt can beat flashy tech

• Breaking the Identity Trap: How trying to “be smart” can hold you back—and how to fix it

• A Different Kind of Leverage in Real Estate: What my self-running duplex taught me about compounding smart decisions

Whoever Owns the Permian,

Wins the Energy Game

Why a dusty patch of Texas might be the most valuable asset in America.

🔋 Oil Isn’t Dead — It’s Just Quietly Vital

If you spend any time online, you’d think oil is on the way out. Everyone’s talking about EVs, solar panels, and going green.

But here’s the truth:

• Oil still powers planes, ships, freight, and heavy industry.

• It’s still essential for plastics, fertilizers, and pharmaceuticals.

• And when energy prices spike, the world still turns to oil.

Despite the noise, the U.S. remains the world’s top oil producer — and that dominance is thanks to one region: The Permian Basin in West Texas.

📍 Why the Permian Matters So Much

Most oil fields get less productive over time. But the Permian keeps getting better. Here’s why:

• Low cost: Some wells break even at $30/barrel

• Layered rock: Multiple oil zones in one spot = more yield per well

• Built-in infrastructure: Pipelines, roads, refineries — already there

• Political stability: No OPEC, no warzones — just dusty Texas

This makes Permian oil among the cheapest and most scalable in the world.

It’s not just an oil field. It’s a strategic economic weapon.

🧠 The Permian as a Strategic Asset

Think beyond the oil.

This is really a case study in asset quality and moat creation:

• The location is unmatched.

• The production cost is among the lowest globally.

• The demand isn’t going away anytime soon.

Whoever controls this region, controls a massive piece of the U.S. energy supply — and the cash flow that comes with it.

🏢 So Who Owns It?

A handful of public companies dominate the best acreage:

• ExxonMobil – Just acquired Pioneer Natural Resources

• Chevron – Bought Hess to expand its footprint

• ConocoPhillips – Strong Permian exposure

• Diamondback Energy – Smaller, but laser-focused on the region

These aren’t just oil companies.

They are asset holders sitting on top of one of the most productive pieces of land on Earth.

💡 What Investors Can Learn

You don’t need to drill wells to win in energy.

But you do need to think like a capital allocator:

• Look for businesses that own irreplaceable, cash-flowing assets

• Understand why the asset is valuable — not just what it is

• Think in decades, not quarters

The Permian is dusty, boring, and quiet. But it’s a money printer with a moat a mile deep (literally).

TL;DR:
The real winners in energy are the ones who own the best dirt — and right now, that’s the Permian.

I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a full Permian Basin breakdown — who owns what, and why it matters. If that sounds useful, reply “Permian” and I’ll prioritize it.

The Identity Trap

How identity pressure holds us back—and how to break free

👋 About Me

I’ve always been the “smart one.”

In my family. In my small school. In college.

And since getting my PhD, that identity’s only gotten stronger.

But here’s the problem:

I don’t always speak up—not because I don’t know the answer, but because I’m afraid of saying something wrong.

I’ve felt it in client calls. In meetings. In conversations where I should have added value...but didn’t.

I wasn’t afraid of being wrong—I was afraid of not being smart.

It’s like I was protecting a fragile identity instead of showing up fully.

🧠 What Is Stereotype Threat?

There’s actually a psychological concept that’s related to this feeling. It’s called stereotype threat.

Stereotype threat refers to the fear of confirming a negative stereotype about your group—whether it’s based on gender, race, ethnicity, or culture.

And here’s the kicker: That fear doesn’t just live in the back of your mind. It actually drains your mental energy, hijacks your focus, and makes you second-guess yourself.

You become so worried about not reinforcing the stereotype…that you end up holding back, playing it safe, or performing below your potential.

Not because you aren’t capable—but because part of your brain is stuck trying to protect your identity instead of solving the problem in front of you.

In many cases, it can lead to self-fulfilling prophecy…

📊 What the Research Shows

One study tested men and women on a difficult math exam. All participants were equally skilled—but their scores depended on how the test was described.

• When told the test tends to show gender differences, women scored significantly lower than men.

• But when told the test was designed to show no gender differences, the gap disappeared—women performed just as well as men.

Same test. Same ability.

The only thing that changed was the expectation.

That’s how powerful stereotype threat can be—it doesn’t just shape feelings, it changes outcomes.

🧪 The Simple Cure You Can Do By Yourself

In another study, researchers found a way to neutralize stereotype threat.

Similar to the study above, women were also asked to spend time to reflect on and list their other identities—like daughter, friend, athlete, artist, leader.

The result? The gender performance gap disappeared. Women scored just as well as men.

Why? Because reminding someone that they’re more than just one thing takes the pressure off any single identity.

They don’t feel boxed in. They just show up.

🔓 What Can You Do?

Here’s what I’ve learned:

I’m not just “the PhD.” I’m a dad. A builder. A partner. A forever learner.

When I remember that, I stop trying to sound smart—and start trying to be useful.

So if you ever feel the pressure to uphold some narrow identity—like being the smartest, the expert, the leader, the reliable one—take a second to remind yourself of all the other things you are too.

That mental shift won’t just help you perform better.

It’ll help you show up more fully, more honestly—and more human.

🏠 The Self-Renting Duplex

A Lesson in Leveraged Systems

Both units in my duplex turned over recently—and I re-rented them almost effortlessly. Not only that, I also raised the rent. Zero stress. No downtime. Minimal effort.

This didn’t happen by accident.

Over the past five years, I’ve built high-leverage systems that now do the heavy lifting for me.

• Tenant screening? Streamlined.

• Leasing paperwork? Automated.

• Maintenance? Handled by pros I trust.

The backend runs so smoothly that all I had to do was list the units—and watch qualified tenants line up.

But the biggest lever? Location.

I picked a property in a quiet, desirable neighborhood that happens to sit at the intersection of three major cultural hubs. It’s the perfect landing spot for professionals whose lives stretch across all three. That keeps demand high.

And because I fix things right when they break—not with cheap band-aids—I’ve built a reputation for quality. That lets me charge premium rents without pushback.

This is what leverage looks like in real estate: a handful of smart, early decisions that compound over time—reducing your input, while increasing your output.