July 17, 2025

Welcome Back,
Happy Thursday, everyone! 🧠💼
Good morning! Hope your day is off to a smooth start—with a strong cup of coffee and zero mystery notifications on your phone.
Today’s idea might just be a game-changer: Think like an owner—even if you’re not one (yet).
You don’t need a business, a building, or a boardroom to shift into ownership thinking. It’s about how you show up. Owners think long-term. They take responsibility. They look for upside instead of excuses. 🚀
And when you start operating with that mindset—at work, with your money, or in your personal life—everything starts to feel a little more intentional… and a lot more empowering.
Let’s explore how to flip that mental switch—and why thinking like an owner today sets you up to become one tomorrow.
— Ryan Rincon, Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.
Quote of The Day
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
— Peter Drucker
Market Update

*Market data represents the most recent market close at 5:00pm ET
Market Update: It was a rare sight—everything green across the board. The bulls definitely called the shots today. 🟢🐂
All three major indexes gained ground, with the Nasdaq up 0.25%, the S&P 500 climbing 0.32%, and the Dow Jones making the biggest leap of the trio at 0.53%.
Bitcoin didn’t just join the rally—it led it, soaring 1.89%, showing some serious crypto confidence. 💸💥
Gold and Silver both ticked up as well—investors hedging and riding the wave? Why not both.
Financials had a strong showing: Visa gained 0.83% and Wells Fargo impressed with a 1.33% boost.
Airbnb also booked some gains, rising 0.12%—maybe summer travel season is paying off. ✈️🏡
In short: if your portfolio had anything in it today, odds are it smiled back. 😄📈
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Retail

Barbie continues to dominate retail shelves post-movie
Thanks to the billion-dollar Barbie movie, Mattel’s marketing team is riding a pink tidal wave. Collaborations with fashion brands, makeup lines, and even snacks are still selling out. This kind of long-tail brand buzz is a case study in licensing done right .
X (Twitter) ad revenue plunges 59%, brands retreat
Ad spending on X (formerly Twitter) has dropped nearly 60% year-over-year, with major brands pulling out due to content moderation concerns. Elon Musk’s leadership and controversial changes have eroded advertiser trust. Rivals like Threads and LinkedIn are quietly scooping up the budget leftovers .
AI-generated ad campaigns deliver, but raise ethics flags
Major brands are experimenting with AI-generated visuals and voiceovers to streamline ad production. While engagement metrics are solid, some consumers are uneasy with how “real” fake ads are getting. Marketers are now walking a fine line between efficiency and creepiness .
Finance

Trump reportedly planning to fire Fed Chair Powell
Sources close to Trump say he may soon attempt to remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, creating market jitters. The move is likely tied to disagreements over interest rates and inflation handling. Markets dipped on the news, with Wall Street bracing for turbulence.
Big banks win big despite Q2 volatility
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley both reported strong profits, thanks to a rebound in trading and deal-making. While most sectors struggled through tariff shocks and uncertainty, Wall Street bankers saw record activity. Looks like chaos is profitable if you're wearing a suit and tie.
Producer prices cool unexpectedly amid tariff concerns
Despite a climate of inflation anxiety, U.S. wholesale prices remained flat. This unexpected breather has economists cautiously optimistic that inflation might finally be losing steam. Cue the sighs of relief across boardrooms and breakrooms alike.
National

Trump lashes out over Epstein file pressure
Facing demands to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump claimed those pushing the inquiry are "bad people." The controversy is heating up as conspiracy theories swirl. It’s adding fuel to an already white-hot political fire.
Establishment Democrat wins key Arizona primary
Adelita Grijalva, daughter of a prominent congressman, defeated progressive challenger Deja Foxx. The win reflects a shift back to centrist candidates in battleground districts. Political analysts are reading the tea leaves ahead of November.
NYC mayoral candidate grilled over ‘Intifada’ comments
Zohran Mamdani faced heat from business leaders after controversial remarks related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He now says he’d “discourage” the phrase “Globalize the Intifada.” A very New York-style debate ensues—taxes, transit, and geopolitics all at once.
Tech

Big Tech earnings loom amid valuation anxiety
Companies like Meta, Nvidia, and Google are about to report earnings that could reshape the markets. Investors are watching closely to see if these giants can justify their sky-high stock prices. One bad quarter, and the AI-fueled hype train could screech to a halt.
AI makes major leap in voice mimicry—and raises eyebrows
New models from leading labs now mimic human voices with near-perfect accuracy using just seconds of audio. It’s thrilling for accessibility tools—and terrifying for fraud prevention teams. Expect legal and ethical debates to heat up fast.
Quantum computing startup hits 1,000-qubit milestone
A Canadian firm announced it crossed the 1,000-qubit threshold, inching quantum computing closer to commercial reality. Experts say we’re not at “quantum advantage” yet, but we’re getting closer. Keep your passwords strong—quantum is coming for encryption next.
Media

Netflix crime docuseries dominates global charts
A six-part Netflix crime thriller has rocketed to #1 in over 30 countries. Viewers can’t get enough of its twisty storytelling and real-world inspiration. It’s watercooler-worthy content in the age of hybrid work.
Fyre Fest 2.0? Billy McFarland sells festival rights on eBay
Yep, the disgraced founder of Fyre Festival just sold the rights to a new version… on eBay. The final bid? $245,300. Apparently, nostalgia sells—even if it’s for chaos and cheese sandwiches.
NASA can’t quit Boeing’s troubled Starliner
Despite years of delays and safety issues, NASA continues to invest in Boeing’s Starliner capsule. Critics say it's sunk-cost fallacy; supporters argue it’s key for redundancy. Either way, the drama is more gripping than some sci-fi shows.
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Today’s Snapshot
Think Like an Owner (Even If You’re Not One Yet)
Hey👋
Let’s have some real talk today.
You don’t need to own a company to start thinking like an owner.
You don’t need 10 employees, a product, or a corner office with a view of the skyline. (Although if you’ve got that last one… invite me over?)
Thinking like an owner is about mindset. And it might be the biggest shift that separates those who grow their wealth from those who just kind of drift.
So whether you’re a business owner already, a 9–5 warrior climbing the ladder, or just trying to figure out how to make your first $1,000 — this one’s for you.
Let’s dive in.
🧠 So... What Does “Thinking Like an Owner” Actually Mean?
In short: owners play a different game.
They look at the long-term return, not just the short-term gain.
They focus on leverage, not just effort.
They make decisions based on value creation, not just task completion.
Here’s a simple way to look at it:
Employees think, “How much do I get paid for this hour?”
Owners think, “What am I building that keeps paying me for years?”
Huge difference.
🛠 How This Applies to Everyone (Not Just CEOs)
You can “own” your career even inside a company.
You can “own” your freelance work.
You can “own” your financial future.
It’s about agency — choosing to act like the person responsible for your outcomes.
Let’s break it down.
📈 1. Owners Build Assets
Employees do work. Owners build things that outlive them.
Ask yourself:
Am I creating something that keeps delivering value even when I stop touching it?
Am I building systems, content, brand, or reputation?
Examples of assets:
A product that sells while you sleep
A YouTube channel or newsletter (👋)
A well-oiled sales funnel
An audience that knows, likes, and trusts you
Real estate. Stock portfolios. Even templates and frameworks
Assets = freedom.
🧩 2. Owners Solve Problems (Not Just Tasks)
You know that person at work who just waits to be told what to do?
Yeah, they’re probably not getting the promotion.
Owners spot the problems before they become fires. They propose solutions. They think a few steps ahead.
So whether you’re working for someone or for yourself — ask:
“What’s the bigger game here? What’s the actual goal? What’s broken that I could fix?”
That’s how you become indispensable.
🔁 3. Owners Use Leverage
Let me say it louder for the people in the back: leverage is the ultimate cheat code.
Leverage means:
Using tools instead of just your time
Using money to make more money
Using other people’s talents (hiring, partnering, outsourcing)
Using content that scales infinitely
You don’t scale by working harder.
You scale by working smarter — with leverage.
💬 4. Owners Think in ROI, Not Effort
Let’s say you spend 10 hours building a product that sells for $50.
If 100 people buy it… that’s $5,000 from your 10 hours.
That’s a $500/hour return. Pretty sweet, right?
Now compare that to trading hours for dollars. Even a high salary can trap you if it doesn’t scale.
ROI thinking forces you to ask:
“What could this be worth?”
“Is this repeatable?”
“Is this the best use of my time?”
It changes everything.
🙋♂️ So... How Do You Start Thinking Like an Owner?
Here are 5 quick things you can do today:
Audit your calendar — How much time are you spending building versus just doing?
Look for bottlenecks — What’s slowing you down that you could fix or automate?
Pitch a new idea — Even if you work a job, suggest something bold. Owners innovate.
Build a tiny asset — A blog post, a free lead magnet, a product idea. Start somewhere.
Ask bigger questions — Not “What do I have to do today?” but “What would move the needle this month?”
🏁 Final Thought: Ownership is a Superpower
You don’t need a title to act like an owner.
You don’t need a team.
You don’t need permission.
Ownership is a mindset — and when you adopt it, you make better decisions, attract better opportunities, and create better outcomes.
So go on. Build something. Own your ideas. Take the lead.
Even if you’re starting small... you’re starting smart.
Let’s grow.
Fun Stuff
😂 Funny Joke
Why did the pitch deck apply for a job?
Because it was tired of being ghosted by VCs.
🕰️ Financial History: What Happened Today?
July 17, 1955:
Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California.
Despite initial chaos (leaking asphalt, counterfeit tickets, plumbing issues), it became one of the most iconic — and profitable — theme parks in the world.
🎢 Proof that even magical empires start messy.
🌀 Wild & Wacky Business Fact
At one point, Blockbuster passed on buying Netflix for $50 million.
Now Netflix is worth over $200 billion, and Blockbuster… well, there’s one left.
📼➡️📉➡️📲 Timing really is everything.
🤔 Would You Rather
Would you rather…
Build a personal brand that outlives any product,
ORBuild a product so strong that no one ever knows your name?
(Legacy in people vs. legacy in product — what’s your play?)
*Answers at the bottom
Thought of The Day
A business model isn’t just how you make money — it’s also how you earn trust.
Monetization without meaning is always short-lived.
That’s All For Today
I hope you enjoyed today’s issue of The Wealth Wagon. If you have any questions regarding today’s issue or future issues feel free to reply to this email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Come back tomorrow for another market update, and snapshot. I hope to see you. 🤙
— Ryan Rincon, CEO and Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the opinions of its editors and contributors. The content provided, including but not limited to real estate tips, stock market insights, business marketing strategies, and startup advice, is shared for general guidance and does not constitute financial, investment, real estate, legal, or business advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investment, real estate, and business decisions involve inherent risks, and readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before taking any action. This newsletter does not establish a fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship between the publishers and readers.