Hey ScorpA\rents!

As the year winds down, it’s funny what really starts to matter. Not just the AI tools we use, or the stocks we track, but the people we lean on, the quiet moves that shape the future, and the habits inside our own heads that decide whether we win or burn out. That’s exactly where today’s issue goes—relationships as currency, Nvidia’s silent power play, and why your brain is still the ultimate edge.

Before we dive in, a quick word from the partners helping make this newsletter possible. Roku is reminding us that shoppers are adding to cart fast this season—perfect timing if you’re thinking about attention, reach, and where real spending power lives. And Synthflow is here for the builders, offering a smarter framework for making better voice AI decisions without the guesswork.

Alright—let’s get into it.

🔎 TL;DR

1) STING OF GROW: AI HUSTLES

• Connection is the new leverage
  Friendship is becoming a modern side hustle—strong networks now create opportunities, energy, and optional income in an increasingly digital world.

2) STING OF WEALTH: INVESTING

• Power moves aren’t always loud
  Nvidia’s talent-first strategy shows that owning expertise and direction can matter more than flashy, headline-grabbing acquisitions.

3) STING OF SUCCESS: MILLIONAIRE MINDSET

• Your mind trains your brain
  Real advantage comes from focus and intention—what you repeatedly think and practice quietly shapes results over time.

Estimated Reading Time: 5-6 minutes

TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNER

Shoppers are adding to cart for the holidays

Over the next year, Roku predicts that 100% of the streaming audience will see ads. For growth marketers in 2026, CTV will remain an important “safe space” as AI creates widespread disruption in the search and social channels. Plus, easier access to self-serve CTV ad buying tools and targeting options will lead to a surge in locally-targeted streaming campaigns.

Read our guide to find out why growth marketers should make sure CTV is part of their 2026 media mix.

Learn more.

Friendship Is the New Side Hustle (Yes, Really)

Loneliness Is Loud Now

Ever feel busy all day… yet oddly disconnected? You’re not alone. Loneliness has grown so real that it’s now officially a public health issue.

Friends Are Going Digital

Finding friends online is no longer awkward. Dating apps normalized it, and now friendship apps are stepping in to do the same—minus the romance confusion.

The Numbers Don’t Lie – This Is a Real Trend

Friendship apps pulled in ~$16M in U.S. consumer spend this year. Even more telling? About 4.3 million downloads so far in 2025.

Why These Apps Work – No Guessing Games

Everyone on these platforms wants the same thing: friends. That alone removes 90% of the “Is this weird?” feeling.

The Apps Everyone’s Talking About (Quick Hits)

1. 222 – Curated Social Roulette
   Personality-based group meetups at bars or comedy clubs. Nervous? Bring a plus-one and let the app do the filtering.

2. BFF (by Bumble) – Friends, Not Dates
   A polished, familiar interface focused on group meetups. Free, simple, and great for expanding circles fast.

3. Clyx – Events First, Friends Second
   Find local events using TikTok and Ticketmaster data. See who else is going—and who you might vibe with.

4. Les Amís – AI-Matched Community
   Designed for women and LGBTQ+ users. Weekly matches, interest-based events, and intentional connections.

5. Meetup – The OG That Still Works
   If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. From hiking to crypto chats, Meetup still quietly delivers.

6. Meet5 & Wyzr Friends – 40+ Crowd Wins
   Built for adults who want real conversations, not endless swiping. Group activities, low pressure, high signal.

7. Pie & Timeleft – Structured, Not Awkward
   Small groups, AI matching, and built-in icebreakers. Show up, eat, talk—done.

8. Mmotion – Friends on the Map
   See who’s nearby and what’s happening. Very local, very real, very NYC (for now).

ScorpA\rents's Quick Strike

Friendship doesn’t have to be another exhausting project. These apps lower friction, save time, and help you rebuild community—without sacrificing your energy. And yes, strong social circles matter for mental health, decision-making, and long-term success.

• Feeling isolated doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you.

• Technology can help—if you use it intentionally.

• Start with one event, one dinner, or one conversation.

Because sometimes, the smartest investment isn’t AI or stocks.
It’s people.

Read More

Nvidia’s Quiet Power Move (And Why It Matters More Than a $20B Buyout)

The Christmas Eve Fake-Out

On Dec 24, headlines screamed: NVIDIA buying Groq for $20B. Then—plot twist—it didn’t happen. Instead, Nvidia pulled something far more strategic.

No Buyout, No Problem

Nvidia didn’t buy Groq.
They licensed key IP and hired Groq’s founder, president, and core technical brains.
Groq stays independent, but the engine? That just changed garages.

The “Car Engine” Strategy

Think of this as removing the engine from a rival car—without buying the car.
No long due diligence. No messy integration. No antitrust sirens blaring.
Clean, fast, and very Nvidia.

Reality Check – Tough Love for Non-GPU Chips

Groq, SambaNova, and Cerebras were betting on “GPU alternatives” for inference.
Groq’s edge was SRAM speed over HBM capacity—but funding reality bites hard.
Even Intel is only talking with SambaNova, not closing a deal.

Big Picture – Why Nvidia Wants a Second Lane

Inference is the daily grind, not the gym session.
Training is flashy, but inference is where volume and cash live.
Nvidia wants to own both—without breaking its ecosystem.

Strategic Hedge – Options, Not All-In Bets

This was a low-risk, high-control move.
If Groq’s ideas fit Nvidia’s roadmap? Great.
If not, Nvidia didn’t swallow a whole company—and competitors like Advanced Micro Devices can’t weaponize Groq’s leadership either.

Regulatory Chess – The Invisibility Cloak

A $20B acquisition screams “DOJ, please look here.”
A talent hire plus IP license? Much harder to block.
Same outcome. Less noise.

ScorpA\rents’s Bite of Wealth

This is how dominance actually compounds—quietly.
Not every win is a headline deal; some are structural advantages.
If you’re building wealth, digital assets, or side hustles, remember this lesson: control the infrastructure, not just the hype.

• AI hardware isn’t winner-takes-all—but default lanes matter.

• Inference is the next battlefield, not just training chips.

• Watch strategy, not just stock price reactions.

Sometimes the smartest move isn’t buying the company.
It’s buying the future—piece by piece.

Read More

The Mind and the Brain — Who’s Really in Charge?

By Jeffrey M. Schwartz & Sharon Begley

Your Brain Is Loud, Your Mind Is the Boss

Ever feel like your brain is running on autopilot… and not in a good way?
This book flips the script: your brain fires impulses, but your mind decides what sticks.
That’s powerful—especially if you’re juggling work, kids, money, and side hustles.

Mind vs Brain (They’re Not the Same)

Your brain is hardware. Your mind is the software choosing how to use it.
Thoughts aren’t just reactions—they’re decisions.
Ask yourself: Who’s driving today, habit or intention?

Neuroplasticity Is Your Secret Weapon

Your brain rewires based on what you repeatedly focus on.
Stress, fear, confidence, discipline—they all strengthen with attention.
Good news? You’re not stuck with the brain you woke up with.

Practical Framework – The Four-Step Reset (From OCD to Everyday Life)

Notice the thought. Label it. Refocus. Repeat.
Sounds simple—but consistency is the real superpower.
This works for anxiety, distractions, procrastination… even bad money habits.

Mindfulness in Action – Attention Is Currency

What you pay attention to grows stronger. Period.
Scroll panic? You train panic.
Focus on progress? You train confidence.

Identity Shift – You Are Not Your Thoughts

Your thoughts are events, not facts.
The labels you give yourself quietly shape your outcomes.
Change the label, change the behavior.

ScorpA\rents’s Strike of Success

Mental discipline is leverage.
If you can train your mind, you can handle volatility—markets, work, or life.
This is mindset compounding, not motivation fluff.

• Catch one negative thought. Label it. Don’t obey it.

• Redirect attention for 5 minutes—work, learning, or calm.

• Repeat tomorrow. That’s neuroplasticity at work.

You don’t need a new brain.
You just need to use your mind on purpose.

Read More

TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNER

A Framework for Smarter Voice AI Decisions

Deploying Voice AI doesn’t have to rely on guesswork.

This guide introduces the BELL Framework — a structured approach used by enterprises to reduce risk, validate logic, optimize latency, and ensure reliable performance across every call flow.

Learn how a lifecycle approach helps teams deploy faster, improve accuracy, and maintain predictable operations at scale.

Read the Full Guide

Have a question or want to learn more? 
Hit reply and let me know what you’re most curious about! Your feedback helps me dive deeper into topics that matter to YOU in the next edition.

Let’s make AI work for us, not the other way around.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: We do not endorse, condone, or recommend any of the methods, channels, video creators, article writers, or their views and opinions mentioned. Results may vary, and you may make little or no money at all. This content is curated solely for your education and entertainment.