Hi there,

If you and your spouse have ever said, “We should start something,” but then got stuck on what that something should be, this issue is for you. The truth is, you don’t need a perfect idea or a brand-new skill set to begin. Most couples already have the raw materials: two different backgrounds, real-world experience, and access to industries full of opportunity.

In today’s edition, we’re covering three moves that can change your trajectory fast: turning your marriage into a real business plan, getting comfortable with AI before it becomes a requirement, and preparing your exit from employment while you still have control of the timeline.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

  • Turning Your Marriage Into a Business Plan — Literally 💡

  • Embrace AI — or Risk Getting Left Behind 🤖

  • Still an Employee? It’s Time to Start Preparing for Your Exit ⏳

Turning Your Marriage Into a Business Plan — Literally
💡 read the full 1,208-word article here

Article published: November 27, 2025

I couldn’t hold back on a topic I planned to save for later — because too many of you are still asking the same big question: What are we going to do in our business?

If you’ve read our book, you already know the story — how Patty and I took two wildly different careers (software and teaching!) and built something together.

The truth is, most couples already have more than enough to get started — different skill sets, insider knowledge of their industries, and if nothing else, access to job openings.

When I helped fill a programming position for a former employer and earned a $10,000 fee, the lightbulb went off. That became our business model. And today, there are over 20,000 staffing companies in the U.S., from tiny teams to billion-dollar firms.

Could you place one hire a month? That’s a six-figure business. The opportunity is real. You just have to start.

Key Takeaways

  • 💼 There are 7–8 million open jobs in the U.S., and each one is a potential income opportunity if you understand how to match talent to need.

  • 🧠 Don’t overlook the skills you and your spouse already have, even if they seem unrelated — that contrast could be your advantage.

  • 💰 Standard recruiting fees range from 10–20% of salary, turning one successful $50K placement into a $5K–$10K payout.

  • 📝 This issue includes a free Company Equipment Agreement, so you don’t lose laptops, phones, or printers as you build your team.

Embrace AI — or Risk Getting Left Behind 🤖 read the full 436-word article here

Article published: November 19, 2025

If you're still working for someone else and haven’t explored Artificial Intelligence, it's time.

Patty and I — along with our daughter Stephanie and son Mike Thomas — are seeing real value from tools like ChatGPT. These aren’t gimmicks. They're giving us solid answers to business questions — fast and free.

Even Accenture is warning employees: if you don’t get comfortable with AI, you could be replaced by someone who is.

Layoffs used to come from budget cuts and outsourcing. Now, AI is part of that list. And it’s moving fast.

You don’t need to be a tech expert. You just need to start using the tools.

We built our business 25 years ago — and survived when 75% didn’t. If we can do it, so can you.

Key Takeaways

  • 🚨 Accenture warns: adapt to AI or risk replacement, marking a clear shift in employer expectations.

  • 🤖 AI isn’t hype — it’s here to stay, and it’s becoming a job filter whether you like it or not.

  • 💬 Free tools like ChatGPT offer powerful support, making you faster, sharper, and more competitive without needing a promotion.

  • 📚 We’ve run our business for 25 years — and our blueprint is ready for those who want to build their own future.

Still an Employee? It’s Time to Start Preparing for Your Exit
⏳ read the full 677-word article here

Article published: August 31, 2025

If you're still working for someone else, I want to share a hard-earned truth: you don’t want to wait until you get fired to start your business.

Before Patty and I launched our first company, I was fired three times over 18 years — for things like calling in sick, leaving early, or taking a long lunch. That was normal back then.

Now, it’s different — but not better.

Remote work gave many employees more freedom. But in 2025, employers are watching closer than ever, with software that tracks when you log in, go idle, or walk away from your desk.

And if you’ve quietly started turning Thursday into Friday or sliding into a four-day week? They’ve noticed.

The truth is, you should be planning your business while you’re still employed — not scrambling after a termination.

Make your move on your terms. Do right by your employer, but start laying the groundwork now for your own grand opening.

Key Takeaways

  • 📉 Post-COVID employers use tracking tools to monitor work patterns, including inactivity, late logins, and extended breaks.

  • 🚪 Getting fired “for cause” makes finding your next job harder, so plan your exit while your record’s still clean.

  • 🧠 Remote flexibility isn’t invisibility — if your performance slips, even silently, it’s likely being tracked.

  • 🚀 Starting a business doesn’t have to wait for a crisis — take control before your employer makes the decision for you.

A Book for Couples Who Want More Than Just a Paycheck
Patty and I didn’t come from money. We were working full-time jobs, raising two kids, and wondering how we’d ever get ahead. Then we took a leap—with just $10,000 and an idea we believed in.

Inside, you’ll find the full playbook: how we launched, what we’d do better, and how to take the first step toward building a business together.
Read the book on Amazon

Why It Matters

Pick just one action from this issue and do it this week. Talk through a business idea with your spouse, open up an AI tool and test it on a real problem, or write down the first three steps of your exit plan. Small steps compound faster than you think.

See you in the next edition,

Michael Lamia
@michaellamia
Passionate about building businesses together with the ones we love the most.

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