Thanks for being here.
Welcome to the first edition of The Fountain. The resource I hope you can use to learn about business, relationships and idea development. I also plan to share some great stories along the way.
“Why the F$%# should I listen to this guy?”
From business to sports to family, I've achieved a variety of milestones that would make mom proud. But the feathers in my cap came at the price of repeated failure, constant adversity and calculated sacrifice.
I plan to share a lot of these stories, and the lessons that they garnered, in every single issue. Got a question? Send it here!
I always tell my kids to dream big, believe in themselves, and they can do anything in the world, and I hope you feel the truth in this message every time you come to The Fountain.
Today we’re talking about
The $1,000,000 Moment
Basics of IP
Foundational tips working with a spouse
Sports Private Equity, Ultra High End, Gambling Regulation and more business opportunities
Critique my stock pick
⏳ Estimated Read Time: 4.5 minutes
FOUNDER STORIES
The $1,000,000 moment
It was August 2006. Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. The 3rd day of a salmon fishing trip out on the Pacific Ocean with my dad at the Queen Charlotte Lodge.
I was staring off towards China.
The ocean was flat. I was wearing a big red ocean life preserving suit, the type that you see on the Deadliest Catch. I was in the front triangle of the boat, and my package had been pressed uncomfortably for 3 days.
As I was sitting there uncomfortable in the quiet, I questioned to myself, how could I reinvent men's underwear to prevent contact and be more comfortable? Just inside my brain, my own inner voice, thinking about that problem. And in my mind's eye, popped up what became the SAXX side panels - today called the Comfort Pouch.
AI making me dashingly handsome
My brain thinks in three dimension.
I was raised around construction drawings and taught to think about things on the plan, front, side, and three-dimensional views. It also rotates like a Gillette commercial in blueprint rotating popped up the sack side panels. All my years previously as a baseball player wearing jocks and sliding shorts and things to protect your package turned out to really be research and development for this moment on the boat.
I worked the design in my mind for a few hours, and as all good entrepreneurs do, when I got back to the cabin, started to sketch, put pen to pad, and drew the first drawing of the invention, which became the evolution of men's underwear, creating a whole new category.
I love how AI made it seem like I’m making a superhero costume
Story To Be Continued…
Photo of my dad and I on that day
IP - Basics of getting a Patent
Patents are crucial for startups to protect their innovative solutions to technical problems. To secure a patent, the invention must be:
Novel
Non-obvious
Address a patentable subject matter such as compositions, devices, systems, or methods
Conducting a patentability search helps assess the invention’s uniqueness and likelihood of patent approval.
Filing promptly is vital since the patent system operates on a first-to-file basis.
Patents differ from trade secrets, offering public disclosure in exchange for exclusivity, while trade secrets remain confidential indefinitely but lose protection if exposed.
A quick video to check out:
Working with a partner - The three fundamentals. Friction isn’t always bad, but it should always be productive. Here are some guidelines to effectively “pick your battles”:
Make the problem the problem - not the person. Making arguments personal and tallying who’s doing what (or isn’t) is generally unproductive and creates more resentment.
Aligned goals. Focusing on a mutual goal helps generate agreement during decision-making.
Shared values. Clear values are the foundation of healthy relationships and organizations. If the goal is the destination, then the values guide the path.
Example: You feel your partner isn't pulling their weight.
Is the problem that the task isn't done? Then talk about how to get it done - look forward, not back.
Is this problem happening consistently? Then work to understand the root cause - it could be that the division of labour isn't right, attitudes are off, expectations aren't clear, etc - and solve that problem.
Use aligned values and goals to keep the conversation from getting personal. If the problem ends up being the person, or that goals/values are not aligned, then the partnership itself may need to be questioned.
Quick hits
Gambling Regulations are changing in Alberta. Is there opportunity with this shift? Is there value in here?
Sport Private Equity is growing
OHL planning expansion with NIL changes
Side bar: College coaches are the highest paid state employee in 43 states
I saw an Ultra high-end retirement home, millions to stay, thousands even to be on the waiting list. Is this a trend? Will it continue? Found it interesting.
DOGE - when is Canada and other countries going to attempt to understand the costs and where tax payers dollars are going.
Critique my Trade
This is not financial advice
💰Price bought: $5.06 USD / Share
📆 Date Purchased: November 5th 2024
📊 Reasoning: I’m into Joby (JOBY) because they’re leading the charge in electric air taxis—basically flying cars, but cooler.
Backed by big names like Toyota, they’re making real progress on FAA approvals. Sure, it’s a bit of a gamble, but if they pull this off, they could completely change how we travel in cities.
It’s early days, but I love the mix of bold vision and real potential here.
💰Price Sold: $8.11012 USD
📅 Date Sold: December 2nd 2024
📊 Reasoning: Made 61% in a month wanted to capture the return.
Thoughts on the trade
If you want to hear these stories, lessons, and ideas live reach out (Reply to this email with subject line “Speaking inquiry”) and we can talk!
I’m going to keep doing epic things and sharing the stories. This newsletter is going to be Business, Travel, Sports, and Personal Development, and the new new shit that interests me. Thanks for coming along and learning along with me at the Fountain, where I will always try to a fountain and not a drain.
- Trent
