November 17, 2025

Happy Monday, everyone! ☀️

Good morning — I hope you’re stepping into this new week with a little spark of curiosity (and maybe a strong coffee). Mondays get a bad reputation, but honestly? They’re kind of magical. It’s the one day where the slate is clean, the energy is fresh, and anything you decide to build this week hasn’t been touched yet.

Here’s a fun question to wake your brain up: How many business ideas have you had in your lifetime? Probably more than you realize — the kind you think about in the shower, on a late-night drive, or while waiting in line behind someone who’s taking way too long.

But here’s the real question: Which of those ideas were actually worth pursuing?

That’s what today’s post covers — how to know if an idea is worth your time, money, or even your attention before you dive in headfirst. Because great ideas are everywhere… but great opportunities? Those come from knowing how to evaluate them.

— Ryan Rincon, Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.

— Zig Ziglar

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A new U.S.–South Korea nuclear submarine agreement is drawing global attention, with analysts saying it marks a major escalation in regional deterrence efforts. The deal deepens military coordination as both nations confront North Korea’s advancing missile program. Critics warn it may heighten tensions with China, which has already expressed concerns.

President Trump has signaled he is close to announcing a major policy decision on Venezuela as U.S. military activity intensifies across the Caribbean. Officials say naval movements are part of a broader effort to pressure the Maduro regime. Regional leaders are urging Washington to pursue diplomacy to avoid destabilizing spillover effects.

The White House is shifting its messaging toward affordability as economic frustrations grow among voters. Advisors say the new strategy focuses on addressing housing, everyday costs, and wage stagnation. With election season approaching, both parties are battling to claim ownership of the “cost-of-living” issue.

Both Nevada senators defied their party’s expectations during recent legislative negotiations, a move strategists say reflects shifting political dynamics in the swing state. Insiders claim they were “reading the room,” responding to constituent pressure rather than party leadership. The episode highlights growing fragmentation inside both major parties.

Sen. John Fetterman has returned home after being briefly hospitalized following a fall. Doctors say he is recovering well, though the incident has renewed public conversation about health demands placed on high-profile lawmakers. His team confirmed he plans to resume official duties after a short period of rest.

A newly surfaced Justice Department memo suggests the legal authority behind U.S. “drug boat” strikes rests heavily on a Trump-era legal framework. Critics argue the justification lacks transparency and may need reevaluation under current international law standards. The revelation is prompting debate over how far military powers should extend without congressional oversight.

Millions of Americans are losing retirement money due to involuntary 401(k) rollovers triggered by job changes. These automatic transfers often move savings into high-fee or low-growth accounts without workers fully understanding the consequences. Financial advisors are urging employees to proactively manage retirement balances whenever switching employers.

Consumer advocate Clark Howard has released a new set of recommendations for saving money during a period of rising costs. He highlights strategies such as renegotiating bills, reducing unused subscriptions, and shifting to lower-cost grocery brands. Howard says small adjustments can produce surprisingly large monthly savings.

A new survey shows most Americans believe 63 is the ideal age to retire — but financial analysts say that number is often unrealistic. Rising healthcare costs, increasing life expectancy, and inadequate savings mean many retirees may need additional income sources. Experts recommend recalculating retirement plans regularly to avoid long-term shortfalls.

Most people don’t fail because they start a “bad” business.
They fail because they start a business without running a proper evaluation first.

And in today’s world — where new business ideas come at you from every direction — knowing how to quickly assess which ones are worth pursuing (and which ones you should ignore) is extremely valuable.

Here’s a simple, practical framework used by founders, investors, and operators to evaluate business ideas before spending a dollar.

Great businesses don’t sell “cool” things.
They solve painful, expensive, annoying problems.

Ask yourself:

The bigger the pain, the faster the customer buys, and the less selling you need to do.

If you can’t clearly identify a pain someone already wants solved, the idea is likely weak.

Quick test:
If you need to convince people they have the problem, don’t build the business.

You can validate demand without building anything.

Here’s how:

If you can gather emails, attention, or interest before building — that’s a strong signal.

No demand = no business.

People say they’ll buy a solution all the time.
What you want to see is whether they’ll spend money.

You can test this:

Someone taking out their wallet is the only true signal that you’re solving a real problem.

Even if it’s $20 — price doesn’t matter.
What matters is commitment.

Most new entrepreneurs say:

Wrong.

If there’s competition, it means money is being made.

But here’s the real question:

Is there a gap in the market?

Look for:

You don’t need to create something NEW — you just need to create something BETTER or more FOCUSED.

Speed matters.

You want ideas where you can make money fast — not in six months.

Why?

Because:

Ask:

If your idea requires months of building before a dollar comes in, rethink it.

A business can be profitable and still be a poor long-term investment of time.

Ask:

A scalable business allows you to grow income without sacrificing more time.

If the business depends on you too much, it might still be good — but it won’t make you financially free.

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