Lab Notes!

  Stop Measuring Your Progress by the Finish Line We’ve all been told to “keep your eyes on the prize,” but lately I’ve realized that can be a trap. If you measure your goals only by where you’re trying to go, you’ll always feel like you’re losing. The real measurement is this: Compare yourself to where you were, not where you’re going. This week hit me with a reminder I needed. I’ve already sold as much this week as I sold during the entire last month . That’s wild. And no—this isn’t me flexing, bragging, or obsessing over the numbers. I promised myself I wouldn’t stress about how much I make, and I’m still sticking to that. I’m sharing this because it proves something every seller forgets: Selling is a roller coaster, not a rocket ship. It jerks, dips, throws you sideways, and sometimes breaks down right after you bought popcorn. But when it’s moving, it moves. Resetting My Money Mindset Over the last few weeks, I caught myself worrying about money that didn’t even exist...

  💀 “You’re Never Gonna Get Rich Cracking Boxes… But That’s Not the Point” By Tibalt’s Apprentice I cracked open a box of Phyrexia: All Will Be One the other day — one of those “just because” kind of openings. Paid around $100, pulled about $105 worth of value. So technically, I “won.” But here’s the truth: you’re never going to get rich cracking boxes if you’re paying retail. For me, it still made sense. I’ve got back stock from thirty years of playing Magic, and sometimes moving old product just helps clear mental (and physical) space. But I don’t want anyone thinking they can just jump into selling cards and make stacks of cash overnight. Without access to bulk or deep inventory, it’s a tough climb. That said — if you are starting from scratch, don’t let that stop you. Every seller, creator, or player starts somewhere. And if you can’t go deep, you can go wide — learn, connect, and draw inspiration from everywhere you can. 🧠 Inspiration Is Currency If you want to bui...