Fireworks, Friendships, and Fairways

The 4th of July is the absolute best.

I love screaming ‘MURICA with a Bud Light in my hand more than the next guy.

BUT it’s more than just celebrating America’s birthday, it’s about the TRUE kick-off of Summer.

We’re in it now, folks. Try to enjoy it.

Enjoy it I did this holiday weekend, that’s for sure.

So, for all of you still battling to get your body back on track and into a routine, join me as I write this Diary delayed this beautiful Wednesday summer morning.

We will all be recalibrated next week, don’t worry.

Today we’re going to be talking about the lovely concept of “friendship”.

Now let’s dive in!

One Big (Friendly) Thing

I am lucky enough to be able to go over to Nantucket during the summer for more than a few weekends and freeload at my lovely mother’s house on the island.

That is where I celebrated America’s birthday, and used the very crappy Wifi to send this newsletter.

If you’re familiar with Nantucket, you know it’s the greatest place to ever exist on Earth.

If you’re new to the concept of “Nantucket”, just trust me that it is the greatest place to ever exist on Earth.

Yes I know… very fortunate, very grateful that I get to attend this place.

So, besides my budding friendship with the island itself, I made a couple new buddies this weekend.

I’ve said this before but, be open-minded to making new friends as an adult.

The connections you can build from being open to new dudes in your life is actually really powerful.

In the above photo, I’ve known only one of those people for more than 12 months. Shoutout Tommy McDonell (BEAST - everyone could learn a thing or seven from his networking skills).

The others are newbies, but I plan to keep them around a while.

One of them is Riley Larkin, a new offensive assistant for the New England Patriots, and I think I found my new QB1.

He’s currently winning in the QB competition over Brian Hoyer after this Top Gun Maverick beach throwing session.

But I had never met Riley in my life, and here I am just stumbling into my new franchise Quarterback.

So, a very simple lesson off a very fulfilling holiday weekend of fun… be open to making new friends as an adult. It’s rewarding and refreshing.

One of my newest buddies is a die-hard Diary reader, Charlie Hinnant.

He even goes back to the Morning Blitz days.

Charlie and I met playing golf as a solo pairing on Miacomet (greatest public golf course in Massachusetts IMO and probably anyone else that has ever played it) three years ago.

Charlie and I were chatting throughout the round as we walked and hit it off.

He had some affiliation with the sports world, was interested in what I was doing in the space and we exchanged numbers.

Well, little did I know Charlie was a member at one of the most exclusive golf clubs in all of New England and is one of the most generous people I’ve ever met, as he asks me to play a round at the club every summer.

We just completed our 3rd annual Hinnant-Healey Outing, and it just gets more and more of a treat each time.

He had his two buddies join and we had a great foursome with some subpar golf (using that phrase to make you think if I played below par or just really bad on purpose, will let you decide).

Of course, three VERY successful gentlemen in the group, and then there was me.

One of the biggest takeaways was how motivating the round was hanging out with these guys, listening to their stories in business and career journeys.

I would kill to be in their positions one day.

And leaving that golf round, it reinforced that I want to do everything in my power to build a great career for myself to be able to one day live as freely as they do enjoying life while still grinding it out.

Surrounding yourself with the right people, successful people, will only push you to want to be great.

So, as I sail away from this beautiful fairyland, I’m recharged, refocused, and ready to put my head down and build something great.

The other lesson I learned was that I need a new driver…

Despite me playing very bad golf for a third straight year, I hope Charlie still invites me out there next summer!

Plus, all of these savages better schedule the Airbnb for July 4, 2026 ASAP.

See you all next week!