Hi Playmakers,

This probably doesn’t come as a surprise, but I’ve got a lot of irons in the fire at any one time. While I was in my third trimester, I was expanding my business and overseeing major construction throughout my house. We remodeled multiple bathrooms, the nursery, and living room, but we also built a new sunroom that would become my new office space. It looks beautiful, and it was supposed to be a six week project…

…that took over 16 weeks to “complete.” I’m using quotes because, as I write this, we are in the middle of a heavy storm in Los Angeles. My new space flooded overnight, caused by multiple leaks throughout the construction. The entire project was a headache caused by multiple delays on overseas materials, labor shortages in the area, and all-around poor communication from the team we hired to do the job.

I know I’m not the only one that has experienced a substantial decline in quality in everything from construction to services and retail. This fiasco (along with postpartum hormones) has me so worked up, I decided to spend this week diving into what the heck is going on with our economy.

Polling data is crystal clear that consumers see quality dropping while prices rise and the quality of customer experience is at an all-time low.

Both residential and commercial infrastructure are also feeling the decline. Tariffs are increasing the cost of materials by over 9%. Companies are scrambling to rethink their sourcing strategies, and many are still on the tail end of recovering from fragile supply chains during the COVID lockdowns.

So what do I think is going on? Here’s my quick rundown:

Inflation: it’s the shadow tax that drains the life force out of our economy. We’ve experienced historic money printing since COVID, devaluing the dollar, and sending prices skyward. That’s why we’re seeing smaller packages and decreased product quality. Put simply, businesses either need to raise prices or lower quality. Core CPI (consumer price index) is at 3.1% which is higher than the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. But this metric only measures some consumer prices. The real metric I look at is the M2 money supply (total money available in an economy), which has exploded since COVID.

Tariffs: the uncertainty around tariffs is further straining an already fragile economy. And it’s about more than the tariffs themselves. It’s about shifting power dynamics in a world that is becoming increasingly multi-polar. We’re experiencing a global shift away from the United States as the economic superpower, and tariffs are simply a reaction to this reality.

I’ll get this sunroom sorted out eventually, but in the meantime, I’m using this knowledge to invest in ways that’ll help me ride out this storm (not financial advice, just my own experience.)

Scarce assets that benefit from inflation like gold, bitcoin, and real estate are my go-to during times of high volatility and economic uncertainty. Gold in particular has had an extra sparkle for me this year.

Fun fact: South Asian women might be the biggest winners in this gold boom

I also think this is a great opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to focus their marketing on quality. Show consumers how well you’ll get the job done, and they’ll come in droves. Bonus points: make a great social media presence about your focus on quality, and you might even end up working with Taylor Swift!

And lastly, as someone who has seen the scarcity of labor and skilled tradespeople (everything from glasswork to flooring delays), I can tell you this: I can call 10 lawyers tomorrow to handle this contract, but I’ve only got one guy I’d trust to lay down tiles correctly in my bathroom. What does that say about the future job market?

This amusing Reddit thread yesterday juxtaposed the problem quite elegantly. Let’s just say I’m not starting a grad school fund for Roman anytime soon.

Alright, my husband and I are going to get back to cleaning up this mess.

Sound off and let me know the craziest problem you’re having with construction or shortages.

Jenny

P.S. Thank you to everyone for the well wishes to Pav, Roman, and I! I’m still working through hundreds of messages and hope to get back to everyone soon! ❤️

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Let’s focus on quality over quantity this week.

I’m eager to see every one of us (myself included) go above and beyond for someone this week. What’s an area in your life or business where you can create a “wow” moment for someone? Maybe it’s an opportunity where you can showcase your attention to detail. Show someone you’ve thought through every detail.

This week’s challenge: Complete a task with an extreme focus towards quality.

This week’s spotlight features Ross Pomerantz, aka Corporate Bro, as he celebrates the beginning to everyone’s favorite season. No, not Pumpkin Spice Latte season — conference season.

Get ready for the sea of badges to descend upon you! What conferences are you hitting up this season?

Want to be featured next?

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I’d love your help spreading the word about The Wednesday Play. Refer other people to the newsletter and get free time with me for a video call.

The Wednesday Play isn’t just a newsletter — it’s a community. I’ll be announcing much more in coming weeks and months! For now, let’s connect across social.

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