Michael Girdley
@girdley.bsky.social
I share 25 years of direct business knowledge and life advice. $100M (and counting) HoldCo owner. Fireworks, software, school + 9 others.
Writing weekly playbooks for small business owners → https://bit.ly/small-business-MBA
Writing weekly playbooks for small business owners → https://bit.ly/small-business-MBA
Would you rather own:
1- The manufacturer of the lift
2- The dealer/servicer
3- The rental company
4- The contractor using it
Rank them best to worst business to own.
(Bonus for explaining your answer.)
1- The manufacturer of the lift
2- The dealer/servicer
3- The rental company
4- The contractor using it
Rank them best to worst business to own.
(Bonus for explaining your answer.)
May 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Would you rather own:
1- The manufacturer of the lift
2- The dealer/servicer
3- The rental company
4- The contractor using it
Rank them best to worst business to own.
(Bonus for explaining your answer.)
1- The manufacturer of the lift
2- The dealer/servicer
3- The rental company
4- The contractor using it
Rank them best to worst business to own.
(Bonus for explaining your answer.)
So older generations are working their whole life to have a great retirement with big houses, nice things and free time to spend with grandkids…
But chasing that dream is precisely what’s stopping them from getting grandkids.
Don’t ask for things because you just might get them!
But chasing that dream is precisely what’s stopping them from getting grandkids.
Don’t ask for things because you just might get them!
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
So older generations are working their whole life to have a great retirement with big houses, nice things and free time to spend with grandkids…
But chasing that dream is precisely what’s stopping them from getting grandkids.
Don’t ask for things because you just might get them!
But chasing that dream is precisely what’s stopping them from getting grandkids.
Don’t ask for things because you just might get them!
Ironically, the US is also going through another crisis:
A declining birth rate.
Younger people aren’t having kids… because it’s too expensive.
And the biggest cost in childrearing? It’s your house.
A declining birth rate.
Younger people aren’t having kids… because it’s too expensive.
And the biggest cost in childrearing? It’s your house.
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Ironically, the US is also going through another crisis:
A declining birth rate.
Younger people aren’t having kids… because it’s too expensive.
And the biggest cost in childrearing? It’s your house.
A declining birth rate.
Younger people aren’t having kids… because it’s too expensive.
And the biggest cost in childrearing? It’s your house.
The median home price in 2023 was $408,806, the highest ever recorded.
And 2024 is the least affordable housing market since 1985.
h.
And 2024 is the least affordable housing market since 1985.
h.
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The median home price in 2023 was $408,806, the highest ever recorded.
And 2024 is the least affordable housing market since 1985.
h.
And 2024 is the least affordable housing market since 1985.
h.
Unfortunately, this hits their kids like a ton of bricks.
And millennials are the second biggest generation in history… chasing the shortest supply.
And by now, the equation is:
Huge buying market + lack of supply + high interest rates + soft wage growth
And millennials are the second biggest generation in history… chasing the shortest supply.
And by now, the equation is:
Huge buying market + lack of supply + high interest rates + soft wage growth
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Unfortunately, this hits their kids like a ton of bricks.
And millennials are the second biggest generation in history… chasing the shortest supply.
And by now, the equation is:
Huge buying market + lack of supply + high interest rates + soft wage growth
And millennials are the second biggest generation in history… chasing the shortest supply.
And by now, the equation is:
Huge buying market + lack of supply + high interest rates + soft wage growth
All those homeowners want prices to keep rising.
And so, the NIMBY is born — because when fewer houses get built, the price keeps rising.
By 2022, the total US housing shortage is 4.5 million homes.
And so, the NIMBY is born — because when fewer houses get built, the price keeps rising.
By 2022, the total US housing shortage is 4.5 million homes.
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
All those homeowners want prices to keep rising.
And so, the NIMBY is born — because when fewer houses get built, the price keeps rising.
By 2022, the total US housing shortage is 4.5 million homes.
And so, the NIMBY is born — because when fewer houses get built, the price keeps rising.
By 2022, the total US housing shortage is 4.5 million homes.
In 1989, the average household had $60,000 in wealth in their home equity.
By 2022, that average was $323,000.
If you’d put down a $20k down payment, you’d make 13x your money in 20 years.
Not bad.
By 2022, that average was $323,000.
If you’d put down a $20k down payment, you’d make 13x your money in 20 years.
Not bad.
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
In 1989, the average household had $60,000 in wealth in their home equity.
By 2022, that average was $323,000.
If you’d put down a $20k down payment, you’d make 13x your money in 20 years.
Not bad.
By 2022, that average was $323,000.
If you’d put down a $20k down payment, you’d make 13x your money in 20 years.
Not bad.
And when Reagan deregulated housing finance, money started sloshing around hugely.
Before, your local bank held your house’s mortgage.
Now, companies could pile mortgages into securities and sell them on the market.
Before, your local bank held your house’s mortgage.
Now, companies could pile mortgages into securities and sell them on the market.
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
And when Reagan deregulated housing finance, money started sloshing around hugely.
Before, your local bank held your house’s mortgage.
Now, companies could pile mortgages into securities and sell them on the market.
Before, your local bank held your house’s mortgage.
Now, companies could pile mortgages into securities and sell them on the market.
By the way: it’s not a new playbook.
Do you know who else created private home ownership after a period of unrest?
The Chinese did it in the early 90s after the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Do you know who else created private home ownership after a period of unrest?
The Chinese did it in the early 90s after the Tiananmen Square massacre.
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
By the way: it’s not a new playbook.
Do you know who else created private home ownership after a period of unrest?
The Chinese did it in the early 90s after the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Do you know who else created private home ownership after a period of unrest?
The Chinese did it in the early 90s after the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Put people in their cars in suburbs and watching TV at home, and they’re much less likely to congregate and revolt.
Like how fun is a protest if people are flying by you at 75 mph?
Plus, if you’ve worked your whole life to own property, why throw that away in a revolution?
Like how fun is a protest if people are flying by you at 75 mph?
Plus, if you’ve worked your whole life to own property, why throw that away in a revolution?
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Put people in their cars in suburbs and watching TV at home, and they’re much less likely to congregate and revolt.
Like how fun is a protest if people are flying by you at 75 mph?
Plus, if you’ve worked your whole life to own property, why throw that away in a revolution?
Like how fun is a protest if people are flying by you at 75 mph?
Plus, if you’ve worked your whole life to own property, why throw that away in a revolution?
In the 1950s, counterculture started to be a thing.
You had the red scare threat of communism.
And the anti-war stuff starts in the 1960s.
You had the red scare threat of communism.
And the anti-war stuff starts in the 1960s.
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
In the 1950s, counterculture started to be a thing.
You had the red scare threat of communism.
And the anti-war stuff starts in the 1960s.
You had the red scare threat of communism.
And the anti-war stuff starts in the 1960s.
Not long ago, the housing market hit its lowest point in 30+ years.
For many Gen Z and Millennials, buying a house is as realistic as flying to Mars.
How did we screw this up so badly?
Let’s dig in, Margot-Robbie-in-a-bathtub style.
For many Gen Z and Millennials, buying a house is as realistic as flying to Mars.
How did we screw this up so badly?
Let’s dig in, Margot-Robbie-in-a-bathtub style.
April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Not long ago, the housing market hit its lowest point in 30+ years.
For many Gen Z and Millennials, buying a house is as realistic as flying to Mars.
How did we screw this up so badly?
Let’s dig in, Margot-Robbie-in-a-bathtub style.
For many Gen Z and Millennials, buying a house is as realistic as flying to Mars.
How did we screw this up so badly?
Let’s dig in, Margot-Robbie-in-a-bathtub style.
I made this guidebook for my 1-1 manager meetings with reports.
What would you change or improve?
What would you change or improve?
April 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I made this guidebook for my 1-1 manager meetings with reports.
What would you change or improve?
What would you change or improve?
This question came up in @joinScalepath recently.
Here’s two uncommon takes on the question 👇
Here’s two uncommon takes on the question 👇
April 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
This question came up in @joinScalepath recently.
Here’s two uncommon takes on the question 👇
Here’s two uncommon takes on the question 👇
So now you have some sales reps.
How about the following ranks?
How about the following ranks?
March 31, 2025 at 12:15 PM
So now you have some sales reps.
How about the following ranks?
How about the following ranks?
When to hire a sales rep:
March 31, 2025 at 12:15 PM
When to hire a sales rep:
Compelling writing is a learned skill.
It helps me write emails, memos, X posts, YouTube, video shorts — everything.
My Favorite 4 rules for great writing:
It helps me write emails, memos, X posts, YouTube, video shorts — everything.
My Favorite 4 rules for great writing:
March 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Compelling writing is a learned skill.
It helps me write emails, memos, X posts, YouTube, video shorts — everything.
My Favorite 4 rules for great writing:
It helps me write emails, memos, X posts, YouTube, video shorts — everything.
My Favorite 4 rules for great writing:
Considering buying a business?
It can go VERY wrong.
And put you in the poor house.
I’ve studied 1,000s of businesses for sale.
The 11 biggest traps for you to avoid: 🧵
It can go VERY wrong.
And put you in the poor house.
I’ve studied 1,000s of businesses for sale.
The 11 biggest traps for you to avoid: 🧵
March 28, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Considering buying a business?
It can go VERY wrong.
And put you in the poor house.
I’ve studied 1,000s of businesses for sale.
The 11 biggest traps for you to avoid: 🧵
It can go VERY wrong.
And put you in the poor house.
I’ve studied 1,000s of businesses for sale.
The 11 biggest traps for you to avoid: 🧵
Someone emailed this question to the Acquisitions Anonymous pod recently.
Some marketplaces charge hundreds of dollars annually, but there are free listings on BizBuySell.
Should business buyers pay to see listings?
Some marketplaces charge hundreds of dollars annually, but there are free listings on BizBuySell.
Should business buyers pay to see listings?
March 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Someone emailed this question to the Acquisitions Anonymous pod recently.
Some marketplaces charge hundreds of dollars annually, but there are free listings on BizBuySell.
Should business buyers pay to see listings?
Some marketplaces charge hundreds of dollars annually, but there are free listings on BizBuySell.
Should business buyers pay to see listings?
My favorite airport hack:
Pick up arriving passengers at the departure level.
Always deserted.
Pick up arriving passengers at the departure level.
Always deserted.
March 23, 2025 at 12:15 PM
My favorite airport hack:
Pick up arriving passengers at the departure level.
Always deserted.
Pick up arriving passengers at the departure level.
Always deserted.
If your husband drives one of these, he's definitely not having an affair.
March 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
If your husband drives one of these, he's definitely not having an affair.
9: Expect Gen X to be pessimistic.
Boomers/Millennials grew up in ages of abundance.
Gen X is the first generation to NOT do as well financially as their parents or kids did.
Boomers/Millennials grew up in ages of abundance.
Gen X is the first generation to NOT do as well financially as their parents or kids did.
March 15, 2025 at 12:15 PM
9: Expect Gen X to be pessimistic.
Boomers/Millennials grew up in ages of abundance.
Gen X is the first generation to NOT do as well financially as their parents or kids did.
Boomers/Millennials grew up in ages of abundance.
Gen X is the first generation to NOT do as well financially as their parents or kids did.
8: Just acknowledge Gen X exists.
Gen X feels forgotten.
Only 20% of the population.
They’re also the people in your org with their heads down, getting stuff done.
But take them for granted and they can bolt.
Gen X feels forgotten.
Only 20% of the population.
They’re also the people in your org with their heads down, getting stuff done.
But take them for granted and they can bolt.
March 15, 2025 at 12:15 PM
8: Just acknowledge Gen X exists.
Gen X feels forgotten.
Only 20% of the population.
They’re also the people in your org with their heads down, getting stuff done.
But take them for granted and they can bolt.
Gen X feels forgotten.
Only 20% of the population.
They’re also the people in your org with their heads down, getting stuff done.
But take them for granted and they can bolt.
Generation X is weird.
These 43-58 year-olds are so strange it presents golden opportunities.
Here are 10 mind hacks to use with Gen X:
These 43-58 year-olds are so strange it presents golden opportunities.
Here are 10 mind hacks to use with Gen X:
March 15, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Generation X is weird.
These 43-58 year-olds are so strange it presents golden opportunities.
Here are 10 mind hacks to use with Gen X:
These 43-58 year-olds are so strange it presents golden opportunities.
Here are 10 mind hacks to use with Gen X:
Do you help people…
- Run their business better
- Start a new business
- Buy a business
My 43K+ newsletter readers want to hear from you.
Sponsor an issue!
DM me and I’ll connect you.
- Run their business better
- Start a new business
- Buy a business
My 43K+ newsletter readers want to hear from you.
Sponsor an issue!
DM me and I’ll connect you.
March 14, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Do you help people…
- Run their business better
- Start a new business
- Buy a business
My 43K+ newsletter readers want to hear from you.
Sponsor an issue!
DM me and I’ll connect you.
- Run their business better
- Start a new business
- Buy a business
My 43K+ newsletter readers want to hear from you.
Sponsor an issue!
DM me and I’ll connect you.