This is Your Entrepreneurship Story of the Week:
High School Reunions & the 9-5 Grind
A few days ago, I attended my 25-year high school reunion. I got to see a lot of old friends again. I stepped back onto the old football field I used to play on as a kid. I reminisced with my peers, who now have spouses and kids of their own. Many took interest in what I am now doing — going from a firefighter to a full-time entrepreneur. I learned that some are even followers of the podcast!
I gotta admit this: when I went through high school, I wasn’t a straight-A student. I was a C student. I didn’t have the money to go to college. I didn’t really have a plan. In part, that’s because school does not give much guidance on what to do after school. For them, every year is something like a revolving door of new students.
Think about it. What does your guidance counselor do for you in high school? Pretty much set you up to go away to college. Does that really prepare you for life?
One of the people I ran into at my reunion is now a successful sous chef. He didn’t learn that in the system. He worked his way into that career by starting in low level service jobs. Another guy I reunited with told me he attended community college, made a lot of mistakes, got married, had a kid, and ended up getting divorced. He said he didn’t learn anything about life when he was there, and life ended up hitting him in the face. That was the school of hard knocks, and now (graduating from that ‘University’) he’s started his own product line and is doing very well.
As for me, I went straight into the Army after High School. That was the best choice because it prepared me for discipline and the toughness of life. The Army held me accountable every single day I was there. I could have easily been that individual that went away to college and got into a lot of trouble, didn’t really focus, went into debt, and still be in debt today. Life is tough. That’s a common saying because it’s true!
This all leads me to ask – are our children prepared for the toughness of life?
My goal right now is to ready my kids for the toughness that’s coming one day. Right now, they’re seeing me on Zoom calls, meet with investors, meet with clients, run business deals, dress a certain way, and have a different approach to life than when I was in the fire service. When they saw me in uniform, they’d say, “Oh, dad’s going to work. I want to be like that.”
Now though, I want my children to understand that they can be more than a uniform, a badge, and a 9-5.
Some of my old friends have improved immensely since high school – one girl I used to know has become a successful attorney, and she and her husband just paid off their house in full. Some haven’t changed. Some are just going through the motions. They’re good employees, and that’s great, but they haven’t seen life with a different perspective yet. They haven’t seen the bigger picture or sat at the higher table.
The idea of Raising Alphas is to give people that different viewpoint. There’s more out there than what you’re told. You just gotta find it.
Next, this is your insider’s look at the latest in parenting and leadership!
Headlines:
Do You Have ‘Velcro Kids’? How Millennial Parenting Styles Are Changing Children’s Behavior
This new term floating around the internet – “Velcro kids.” – describes children raised by parents who always stay physically and emotionally attached. Unlike helicopter parents who hovered above, Velcro parents are right there, stuck on, believing closeness equals protection. Many millennial parents became this way during the pandemic, when family life revolved around constant togetherness. But psychologists warn that too much attachment can create over-dependency.
Healthy detachment is letting kids experience small failures that build resilience, confidence, and independence. We’ve touched on this before when we talked about the “fool around and find out” parenting approach, which I advocated for. The question is: how do parents start to un-Velcro without feeling like they’re abandoning their kids?
For me, it’s hard. My boys are 10 and 8 — smart, strong kids — but I’m not ready to let them go off on their own, especially on Halloween. The holiday may seem innocent, but there’s real satanic elements to it we need to be mindful of. People do bad things. I live in a gated neighborhood, but do I really know everyone on my street? I can’t run background checks on my neighbors. I’m still that dad standing at the end of the driveway, watching them go door to door, and I think that’s a healthy balance between safety and overattachment.
My job as a father is to protect my children. My wife and I both feel that responsibility deeply. But I know at some point, I’ll have to start loosening that grip. It’ll take time and trust. I’ll have to know that they’re capable, that they understand the world enough to make smart decisions. Raising boys is one thing though; if I had daughters, I don’t think I’d ever let them out of my sight!
When we were in Germany this summer, I noticed kids my sons’ age riding public transit alone, navigating streetcars, switching lines, and handling themselves confidently. My boys couldn’t do that yet, not in a foreign city, not without speaking the language fluently. This showed me something: independence comes with familiarity, repetition, and knowing the environment.
Maybe that’s the lesson. Letting go happens in stages. It’s about knowing your kids, knowing where you live, and learning to balance protection with freedom. Every parent finds that balance differently. For me, the Velcro’s still holding tight! But I know that, one day, it’ll start to peel back.
Next, this is your Alpha Parent of the Week:
Madera heroes honored for saving students from burning bus
In Madera, California, two men — Carlos and Angel — became real-life heroes after rescuing 20 school children from a burning bus. What began as an ordinary workday turned into a moment of divine purpose. When they spotted smoke billowing from a nearby bus, they ran toward the danger, alerting the driver and pulling kids to safety through the thick smoke. Moments later, the entire bus was engulfed in flames. Fire officials praised their courage, reminding everyone: buses can be replaced, people can’t.
We honor these men as our Alphas of the Week because they acted. In today’s world, too many people stand by, recording tragedy instead of intervening. Fear of danger, of judgment, even of legal consequences, keeps people from stepping up. It’s not always easy to do the right thing when society can punish those who protect others.
But Carlos and Angel didn’t hesitate. They were in the right place at the right time, and they answered the call. Had they stopped for gas, been stuck in traffic, or looked the other way, those children might not be alive. Their courage reminds us that humanity still exists and that there are still people willing to act when it matters most.
We need more of that spirit in our world today.
Next, your Podcast Insight: Randy Ruiz
In this episode of The Raising Alphas Project, I sat down with Randy Ruiz, former Toronto Blue Jays MLB player, to talk about what it really takes to make it to the big leagues. Randy shares his journey through professional baseball, the discipline and mindset needed to reach the top, and how he’s applying those same principles now in life after retirement. We also dive into his predictions for this year’s World Series and what young athletes can learn from his story about resilience, sacrifice, and legacy.
Randy Ruiz spent ten years in the minors before making it to the major leagues. Most people would’ve given up, but Randy didn’t. He stayed focused, worked hard, and refused to quit. That persistence made him a respected figure in baseball, known not just for talent but for character. His story reminds us that sometimes your plan is on God’s timing and that patience is part of the test.
Like I say, you’ve got to beat the bosses at each level before you move up. Randy kept showing up until he won. Now, he’s using that experience to mentor young players and build a legacy, including through the upcoming Live for Brie Softball Tournament.
I’m grateful to call Randy Ruiz my friend. He even invited me to the World Series Game Six in Toronto, but I chose trick-or-treating with my kids instead. Candy taxes and family time beat the big leagues every time!
Alpha Challenge of the Week
For this week’s challenge, if you’re a parent, give your kids opportunities — resources, experiences, and moments they’ll remember. I recently joined a school homecoming and let the students take pictures with my McLaren. For them, the car was inspiration, a glimpse of what’s possible.
Of course, you don’t need a supercar to create those moments. Whether your child is an athlete, artist, or scholar, find ways to invest in their passions. Do your research. Be intentional. If you don’t have kids, look for someone you can mentor or encourage.
Life brings challenges, but every hardship is also preparation. Choose positivity, growth, and purpose. Help your children, and yourself, build a legacy that lasts beyond circumstance. Be the guiding light that shows others how to rise again.
Ask an Alpha — We’ll Answer your Question on the Show
Do you have a parenting or leadership question you want some real talk on? Email us at admin@raisingalphasproject.com and put “Ask an Alpha” in the subject line.
Share:
Your parenting challenge in one or two sentences
What you have tried
What you hope to achieve
We may read your question on air and give you a clear next move!
Thank you,
~ Chief Stephen Davis