No. 303 | October 17, 2025
Welcome to this week’s Friday Five—a quick dose of insights, inspiration, and favorites to start your weekend with clarity and purpose.
Music of the Week
Frank Sinatra was an American singer and actor, regarded as one of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century.
Born in New Jersey, Sinatra modeled his vocal style after Bing Crosby. He went on to sign with multiple major record labels, released dozens of albums, and won multiple Grammys.
Sinatra was also a successful actor. His screen career—spanning film and television through the 1950s and 1960s—earned him both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
To get a feel for his music, start with Fly Me to the Moon, My Way, and Somethin’ Stupid.
Quotes of the Week
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the idea of making honesty my only policy—a daily anchor for steadiness and clarity. The quotes below reflect that mindset.
“If it’s not right, don’t do it. If it’s not true, don’t say it.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Honesty and integrity are by far the most important assets of an entrepreneur.” – Zig Ziglar
“Your reputation is more important than your paycheck, and your integrity is worth more than your career.” – Ryan Freitas
“Deal honestly and objectively with yourself; intellectual honesty and personal courage are the hallmarks of great character.” – Brian Tracy
“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” — Oprah Winfrey
Article of the Week
“If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.” – Albert Einstein
Sam Zemurray didn’t play the game like everyone else. When he spotted an opportunity, he didn’t wait to take action.
One of his boldest moves was taking on United Fruit. It didn’t bother him that it had far greater resources.
Challenging an empire like United Fruit meant bending the rules—something Zemurray was unafraid to do, often interpreting them to his advantage.
The Fish That Ate the Whale captures Zemurray’s instinct for seizing opportunities—culminating in his eventual takeover of United Fruit.
Before and after taking over United Fruit, Sam remained an enigma—careful with his words and sparing with what he revealed.
Once Zemurray took control, United Fruit was in better hands. He innovated relentlessly, building a leaner, more efficient operation.
For more on the innovation of Sam Zemurray, check out my article below:
📝 Sam Zemurray’s Innovation: How Bold Risk-Taking Built a Banana Empire
Book of the Week
Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX by Eric Berger tells the story of a company that refused to die.
Before SpaceX was one of the most powerful players in the aerospace industry, it was a scrappy startup.
Liftoff takes you inside the wild early days of SpaceX—it focuses on the first four launches of the Falcon 1 rocket.
The story travels from SpaceX’s headquarters in El Segundo to desolate Texas ranchland where engines were tested, and finally to the remote atoll of Kwajalein in the Pacific, where the Falcon 1 took flight.
It’s impossible to finish the book without deep respect for the SpaceX team—and for Musk’s willingness to bet everything on their success.
For more on the early days of SpaceX, check out the book below:
📚 Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX
Podcast of the Week
Jeff Horing founded Insight Partners—he’s been its managing director since the mid-90s.
He’s not one for the public speaking circuit, despite overseeing more than $100 billion in tech investments.
Jeff shares how Insight became a sourcing machine—60-80 employees whose job is to call companies across the globe.
One of the best parts of the episode is when Horing shares Insight’s five-step framework for identifying the ideal investment.
For more on Jeff and Insight, check out the episode below:
🎧 Jeff Horing – Building Insight Partners
Enjoyed the read? Hit reply and let me know what stood out—or forward this to a friend who might appreciate it too.
