Today was a walk, not a run.
Normally Saturdays are for running, but I cashed that in yesterday when the sun came out and reminded me that life can be pretty good. This morning’s walk gave me space to reflect. It’s been a week of big moves, deeper questions, and sharper contrasts.
Here’s the summary.
Starting with Gratitude
First, a shoutout to Adam Rossi. Months ago I heard him say something that stuck with me: Share your thoughts. You’ve done some things. It might help someone. That was the nudge that started this podcast/blog experiment. So if you’re reading this or listening in—thank Adam.
And now, here I am: building a U.S. company, applying for an E-2 visa, pursuing a digital nomad visa for Spain, and trying to make sense of what feels like Canada’s slow unraveling. If any of what I’m sharing helps someone else make a decision with more clarity, then it’s worth every post.
Business Update: Real Moves, Real Friction
✅ U.S. entity created via Stripe Atlas — seamless.
✅ U.S. bank account opened via Mercury — also smooth.
🌀 ITIN application — less smooth. Needing certified copies, lawyers who don’t quite understand why I need it, bureaucratic speedbumps. But I’ll get it done.
The systems I’m using—Stripe, Mercury, OpenPhone—are all beautifully built. It’s why I stay inside that ecosystem. They enable motion. And right now, motion matters.
The Big Theme: Value Creation vs. Value Destruction
This week I dove into the uncomfortable stuff—generational divides, societal trends, and why I’m not bullish on Canada. I’ve caught some flak for it. But here’s what I really believe:
There are only two kinds of forces in the world: those that create value, and those that destroy it.
You can apply that lens anywhere:
- A mechanic fixing your car? Creates value.
- A soda company flooding the market with sugar? Destroys value.
- An entrepreneur building jobs? Creates value.
- A bloated bureaucracy stifling innovation? Destroys value.
Canada, sadly, feels like it’s shifting into value destruction mode.
The Private Sector Is Drowning in Slow Motion
Fewer Canadians are starting businesses. More are heading to the safety of public-sector jobs. I’m not blaming them—it’s rational behavior. The system makes entrepreneurship hard and offers very little reward in return.
But here’s what that means on the ground:
- You go to a restaurant, and no one cares.
- You get terrible service and a prompt for a 20% tip.
- People are exhausted, underpaid, overtaxed, and just trying to survive.
- Owners are overwhelmed. Workers are burnt out. And everyone’s stuck.
It’s not because we don’t want to deliver value—it’s because the environment punishes anyone who tries.
Why I See a Different Path
In Spain, the bottom has already hit. You can feel the stillness. The humility. The slow rebuild.
In the U.S., things are moving. Productivity is up. People are creating. Private enterprise still matters. That wave is forming, and I want to catch it.
But I’m not leaving because I’m angry. I’m leaving because I have children. I’m leaving because I don’t believe what I build in Canada today will be worth more in a decade. And I want what I’ve built to serve them, not get taxed, hollowed out, or slowly absorbed by a government that doesn’t know how to create anything.
Our Family Philosophy
Lisa and I have always believed that everything we have belongs to our kids anyway.
The business? For them.
The house? For them.
The opportunities we chase? For them.
So when I say we’re going to split time between the U.S., Spain, and Canada, it’s not a vacation. It’s an investment strategy. In people. In purpose. In potential.
It’s also why we’re helping our team do the same—supporting a site supervisor building a labor company. Investing in a new bookkeeper who wants to launch his own firm. Helping others build value, not just extract it.
So, What Kind of Week Was This?
It was a go week.
A build week.
A “figure-it-out-as-we-go” kind of week.
My legs may hurt, but my resolve has never been stronger.
We’re catching a wave—because we’re not staying still to sink.
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