Dear Reader,
This is my monthly update email. Just like companies send updates to their investors, I send updates to you because you have invested in me.
I am grateful for you.
Right now I am sitting at a public library in Brooklyn NY. A little boy is chattering away playing with toys, and keys are clicking on computers. The librarian talks in a hushed voice casting a the feeling of a grandmother running her space, across the room.
The contents of this update are:
1. TLDR
2. The month in a story
3. Decisions I made
4. Actions Taken
5. Gratitudes and Reflections
6. Feedback Requests
7. A Poem
TLDR: Building a community, Taking a Big Risk, Getting Healthy
My Last Month In A Story
1 month ago I was sitting on the couch in my girlfriend’s apartment. It was our one year anniversary. As I typed away on her computer, she was cooking Turkish meatballs with spices that were sneaking up my nose.
That next weekend I helped break the world record for the largest Fitness gram Pacer Test, where I completed ~80 laps. Then hosted a Field day with my awesome friend Somil.
After a great weekend like that I decided to organize pickup soccer on Sundays and have had ~34 people attend so far, but despite that win and being out and active I had been battling some fatigue. So I combatted it with some nutrition and change in routine.
During the weeks, and many of the weekend days I dove deeper into my projects to apply to Alpha.School and completed them.
The application launches on the 19th, when the book I wrote arrives in the mail.
@ jamesfloyds.world/alpha
Decisions Made
Spend some evenings working on projects not specific to my career
Goal for this month, improve my ability to hold my own goals as high as I hold other’s goals
Get my mile time down to ~5 minutes
Likely go to Italy for a little over a week at the end of August.
Actions Taken
- Completed Children's Book and Ordered Printed Versions
- Completed CCAT test trainer and life skills workshop design for Alpha School
- Hosted a 35 person field day, and pickup soccer with ~35 people over two weekends
- Created, and edited a 2 minute launch video for my application
- Began posting daily for the week leading up to my application launch and making 25+ comments a day on LinkedIn
- Improved my CCAT score by 10 points by refreshing my fact and formula fluency with the trainer I built
Reflections and Gratitudes
- The Neurobiological Incompetence Model: Was popularized by the MacArthur foundation who were advocating in courts against youth being given life in prison and the death penalty. Their case was essentially that young people’s brains are different. Specifically that reward systems in their brain and biology are stronger than their ability to control their impulses, plan, and reason.
While it is true that young people as high as around 25 to as low as around 10 have brains different than adults, they are able to control impulses, plan, and reason, just they are motivated differently. Specifically around social status because being accepted by the tribe is one of the most powerful assets for survival. (Source 10-25 book by David Yeager)
- Salmon tastes good now
- Great artists take risks - Jack Conte
- Historically tech for artists breaks artists money models, so they have to rebuild take risks on new tech. - Jack Conte ( I suspect this necessity for innovation is true in other domains as well)
- “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have - Maya Angelou
Feedback Requests
Who was your favorite teacher when you went to school?
What do you think about my approach to Alpha.School? :
Create a buzz about me through social media + intros + a third door approac and deliver 3 valuable projects through those paths.
A Poem -
July 18, 2026
A hand stretches out A heavy warm palm knowing fingers to stop a pout Guided and healing as if with a balm It moves slowly, carefully full of care it dares to reach out, to love an offer, a dove Slowly, to transfer its energy It lays flat against the skin of another electricity flows, it knows rubbing calmly, settling qualms With a sudden jerk it is thrown off a move, a squirm, smack! the hand is attacked how will it react? It shows itself, open, slowly. space between it and them It watches the electric flow leave Always intentional like with a precious gem Yet again, it is outstretched courage fetched Gently greeting searching for a depth yet fleeting Belief, brings relief from the worry of trust it allows a path to be seen forward, a hope Deliberate, considerate, to success a must The fire of possibility stoked Slow, or fast, hot or cold, hard or easy, even then It is the bravery of the again, and again, and again.
Kachow,
James Floyd
P.S. How are you?
Past Updates:
The James Update #1
The James Update #2
The James Update #3
The James Update #4
The James Update #5
The James Update #6
The James Update #7
The James Update #8
The James Update #9
The James Update #10