The Bubble, the Burden, and the Breakthrough

As kids, many of us lived inside a beautiful bubble. A protective layer woven by parents, teachers, and the broader culture—built with the best of intentions. For that, I’m grateful.

But now, as a 47-year-old father, coach, and entrepreneur, I see cracks in that bubble. Not in the love or safety it provided—but in what it failed to prepare us for.

Despite earning a systems engineering degree, navigating the corporate world, chasing dreams in acting, and building my own business—despite “doing things right”—I’ve only just recently learned what it actually takes to succeed in business. Not just to do good work or be a good person, but to market effectively, stay visible, create scalable value, and build something truly sustainable.

And still—despite all that—I struggle to keep up financially. That’s a hard truth to write, and an even harder one to live.

Is it my fault? Am I not working hard enough, smart enough, fast enough? Or is this just the silent cost of chasing dreams in a system that doesn’t teach you how to thrive?

I believe in the American Dream. I believe in pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. But no one ever told me how relentless the climb would be. That “good enough” isn’t enough. That the real game—the one that changes lives—requires a level of intensity, sacrifice, and strategic precision that most people never even glimpse.

So I’m choosing to share this. Not as a complaint, but as a wake-up call. A signal flare for anyone who’s walking a similar path.

Maybe the suffering isn’t pointless. Maybe it’s mythological. Maybe your mistakes—and mine—can help others rise faster, stronger, and more prepared.

I believe I have the tools now. I believe I can thread the needle. But I want my tribe to benefit from my lessons—especially the hard ones.

Let’s stop pretending the game is fair. Let’s learn how to play it better.

-Adam