Hey ScorpA\rents!

This Sunday’s edition connects three powerful ideas: a record-breaking Black Friday, Warren Buffett’s reminder to judge ourselves by our inner scorecard, and the Pathless Path that nudges us toward a life built on meaning, not just momentum. With so much noise, pressure, and endless comparison, it’s a good moment to pause and ask: Are we chasing the numbers, or chasing what actually matters?

Before we dive in, a quick thank-you to the partners helping this community learn, build, and grow:

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Alright, let’s jump into the ideas shaping your week.

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American shoppers didn’t hold back this year.
Adobe Analytics reports $11.8B spent online, beating last year’s $10.8B.
Between 10am–2pm alone, consumers were spending $12.5M per minute — wild.

Adobe expects Cyber Monday to hit $14.2B in online spending.
Holiday shopping momentum is strong, with early indicators pointing to another massive season.
Total holiday spending is projected to reach $253.4B, up from $241.1B in 2024.

Salesforce tracked $79B in global Black Friday sales, but order volume was actually down 1%.
Prices were up an average of 7%, meaning revenue growth may be inflation-driven.
So consumers are spending more… but not necessarily buying more.

Salesforce says AI influenced $22B in global sales between Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
Recommendations, chatbots, and AI agents guided shoppers toward deals and decisions.
The definition may be broad — but the impact is clearly growing.

In-store data is all over the place.
RetailNext shows 3.4% lower foot traffic, while Pass_by claims a 1.17% increase overall and 7.9% growth in department stores.
The takeaway: physical retail isn’t dead… just unpredictable.

This is your early signal for consumer strength, inflation trends, and where retail stocks may head next.
Strong online activity benefits e-commerce, AI-driven platforms, and payment companies.
But margin pressure from higher prices means mid-tier retailers may struggle.

Warren Buffett says the greatest advice he ever received wasn’t about money.
It was about how to live.
And it came from his father — a lesson that shaped Buffett’s mindset, investing style, and entire identity.

Back in 2005, Buffett told students that his dad taught him to measure himself by his inner scorecard, not his outer one.
Meaning: judge yourself by your own values, not by public approval.
He warned that many people spend their lives worrying about “what the world will think.”

Buffett explains the inner scorecard as living through values only you can measure.
The outer scorecard represents what others judge and see.
If you can feel at peace with your own scorecard, he says, “you’re going to live a happy life.”

Buffett has repeated this message for decades.
He says the real measure of success is “how much you are loved,” not wealth or recognition.
He urges people to choose work they’d still do even if money didn’t matter.

Investor Guy Spier, after sharing lunch with Buffett, says Buffett genuinely lives by his inner scorecard.
“He does what’s right for him,” Spier writes — not what looks good to others.
Nothing about Buffett is forced or fake; he refuses to compromise his values.

Buffett’s first wife, Susan, said money wasn’t his motivation at all.
It was simply how he measured his thinking and decisions.
For him, investing was an intellectual game — not a path to a lavish lifestyle.

As parents juggling work, side hustles, and personal goals, it’s easy to slip into the “outer scorecard” trap.
But Buffett reminds us that long-term success comes from staying true to our values, not chasing approval.
Your inner scorecard determines your happiness, clarity, and long-term wealth.

If you’ve ever looked at your calendar and thought, “Is this really it?”, you’re not alone.
Paul Millerd calls this feeling the nudge toward the pathless path — the road not pre-planned by society.
It’s about stepping toward fulfillment instead of autopilot.

The “default path” often ignores your joy, curiosity, and personal values.
Millerd says fulfillment comes when you stop outsourcing your definition of success.
Ask yourself: who are you when no one else is watching?

Many of us were taught to anchor identity in our jobs.
But work is supposed to support your life — not consume it.
Redefining success starts by questioning old beliefs.

The pathless path isn’t about reckless leaps.
It’s about small experiments, gentle pivots, and consistent steps.
Progress doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful.

Fear isn’t a stop sign; it’s proof you’re growing.
Millerd urges you to acknowledge the fear and walk forward anyway.
Courage comes from action, not waiting for perfect clarity.

You don’t need permission to enjoy your life.
Joy isn’t a reward for productivity — it’s fuel for it.
Take breaks, make space, and let life feel good along the way.

The best paths begin with curiosity, not certainty.
Let imagination open doors that logic would shut too early.
Creativity is a compass — follow it.

Ask yourself: “What tiny experiment can I try this week?”
A new skill, a micro-project, a 30-minute window for something that excites you.
Small tests reveal big possibilities.

Paul left a stable corporate career to build a life of meaning as a digital creator and coach.
He embraced uncertainty and carved out his own path.
Now he helps others explore the possibilities waiting outside the default lane.

But building digital assets, side hustles, and financial freedom is the pathless path.
You can design a life that fits your family, your energy, and your values.

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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.

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