The Propeller - Open This Email. Your Future Self Will High-Five You - 5-25-2025

Tech: Cool Tech Used to be Rare – Now It’s Everywhere

When I was a kid, I thought Batman was unstoppable. Not because he was the strongest – he wasn’t. But because he had gadgets no one else did. Grappling hook guns, night vision, a car that could drive itself. That stuff felt like magic.

Same with Henry Ford. Back in the day, he didn’t just build cars, he built machines that built cars. Faster and cheaper than anyone else. That gave him a huge edge.

But here’s the thing: that kind of edge doesn’t last forever.

Fast forward to today. The tech that once felt like science fiction. It’s in our pockets. On our wrists. In our homes. Everyone’s got access to it now.

The playing field has leveled out.

So, what makes someone stand out today? It’s not the tools. It’s how you use them.

A fast car? Anyone can buy one.

A great driver? That’s rare.

And now, there’s a new kind of “car” on the road: AI.

It’s powerful. It’s fast. And it can take you places – if you know how to drive it.

The people who treat AI like just another gadget? They’ll get left behind.
But the ones who learn how to steer it, push it, and use it to solve real problems? They’re the ones who’ll win.

Think of AI like a race car. It won’t drive itself to victory.

But in the hands of the right driver? It’s unstoppable.

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Life: I Thought it was Real

It started with a ping noise on my phone.

A text message from what looked like my bank: “Suspicious activity detected on your account. Click here to secure it.” My heart raced. I clicked. A friendly support agent called me within minutes, confirming my worst fears – my account was under attack. They said they could help me move my funds to a “safe wallet” while they investigated.

They instructed me to give them my two-factor authentication code.

Had I done so, my account would have been emptied.

The Anatomy of a Scam

What happened to me is happening to thousands of people every day. Scammers are getting smarter, and their tactics more convincing. These are called social-engineering scams, and they rely on one thing: your trust.

Here’s how they typically unfold:

An unexpected message or call – often from someone claiming to be from a trusted company like Chase, Microsoft, or Norton.
A sense of urgency – “Act now or lose your funds.”
Pressure to comply – They ask for passwords, 2FA codes, or even your crypto wallet seed phrase.
A false sense of security – They may tell you to move your money to a “safe” account they control.

Important: No legitimate company will ever ask for your password, 2FA code, or seed phrase. They will never tell you to move your money for “security reasons.”

How to Protect Yourself

1. Secure Your Accounts

Use two-factor authentication (2FA)—preferably with a hardware key.
Regularly update your passwords and avoid reusing them across sites. Use a Password Manager – I use and highly recommend Bitwarden

2. Know the Scams

Familiarize yourself with common scam types:

Customer Support Scams – Fake agents pretending to help.
Romance Scams – Scammers build emotional connections to exploit victims.
Pig Butchering Scams – Long-term cons using fake personas to gain trust.
Elderly Scams – Targeting older adults with tech support or IRS threats.
Job Scams – Fake job offers that ask for personal info or upfront fees.

3. Pause and Verify

If something feels off, it probably is. Hang up. Don’t click. Go directly to the company’s official website or app and contact support from there.

Don’t Suffer in Silence

If you think you’ve been scammed, you are not alone. It’s easy to feel ashamed – but these scammers are professionals. They exploit human psychology, not stupidity.

Ask for help. Report the scam to your bank, the platform involved, and local authorities. You may still be able to recover your funds or prevent further damage.

Your safety starts with awareness. Share this email with someone you care about – and if you’ve been targeted, speak up. Help is out there.

Tech: Spring Cleaning Your Tech: How to Recycle Old Computers and Printers (Without Paying a Dime)

Got an old laptop, phone or printer collecting dust in your closet? You’re not alone. A lot of people hang on to old tech because they don’t know what to do with it. But just tossing it in the trash isn’t the answer- it’s actually illegal in some places and bad for the environment.

Here’s the good news: you can recycle your old tech for free, and it’s easier than you think.

Why Recycling Tech Matters

Old electronics can leak harmful chemicals into the ground if they end up in landfills. Recycling helps protect the planet and clears out your space at the same time.

Before You Recycle: Wipe Your Data

Before handing over your computer, make sure to delete your personal info. The best way to do this is by doing a factory reset, which erases everything and returns the device to its original settings. Reach out to me if you need help with this.

Where to Recycle for Free

Best Buy: Accepts most tech items—even if you didn’t buy them there.
Staples: Bring your old computers and printers to the checkout counter.
Apple: Offers free recycling if you’re buying a new Apple product.
Gazelle: A company that buys old MacBooks and pays for shipping.
… and many more retail outlets do this, just ask them.

Some places even offer store credit when you recycle, so you might get rewarded for cleaning up!

Recycling your old tech is smart, simple, and good for the planet. So next time you’re cleaning out your room, don’t just stash that old laptop or phone in a drawer – give it a second life.

What I Read this Week: The Wild Truth

Into the Wild has always been my favorite movie and book. There’s something about Chris McCandless’s journey – ditching the modern world, heading into the unknown, and living an adventurous life off the land in Alaska that speaks to a part of me I don’t always talk about. I’ve daydreamed about doing the same thing: packing a bag, leaving behind the noise, and finding adventure and peace in the wilderness. And who could not love some bush flying in Alaska?! So an airplane would have to come along with me as well!

But then I read The Wild Truth by Carine McCandless, Chris’s sister. And suddenly, everything I thought I knew about his story Into The Wild shifted.

There are times that I’ve felt completely overwhelmed – work, expectations, social pressure. There are times I have spent hours on websites about Alaska or staring at a map of Alaska, thinking, What if I just left? Not out of anger, but out of a craving for adventure, silence and simplicity. I thought Chris and I were kindred spirits. But Carine’s book made me realize that while I was dreaming of adventure, Chris was running from something much darker.

Here are the three biggest things I took away from The Wild Truth:

1. Chris Was Escaping More Than Society

Carine reveals that their home life was filled with emotional and physical abuse. Chris wasn’t just rejecting materialism – he was trying to survive emotionally. That hits hard. My reasons for wanting to disappear were about adventure, curiosity and peace. His were about pain and survival. It made me see his journey in a whole new light.

2. Telling the Truth Takes Real Courage

Carine didn’t write this book to stir up drama. She wrote it because the truth matters. For years, people misunderstood Chris’s choices. Carine opens up about their family’s secrets, not to blame, but to help others understand and maybe even heal. Her honesty is raw and brave, and it made me respect both her and Chris even more.

3. Chris Wasn’t Reckless – He Was Desperate for Peace

Some people think Chris was just a reckless guy who made bad choices. But Carine shows us that he was thoughtful, kind, and deeply hurt. He wasn’t trying to die, he was trying to find peace in a world that had been anything but peaceful for him. That makes his journey feel a lot more tragic, but also more meaningful.

Reading The Wild Truth made me realize that Chris’s story isn’t just about adventure – it’s about survival, truth, and healing. If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping the everyday world like I have, this book will make you think twice – and maybe even appreciate the life you have a little more.

Pick up your copy of the book or audiobook (My preference!) here: https://amzn.to/3SQTcpe

Quote of the Week

“It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf

You can’t always control what happens, but you can control how you respond.

Choose the right, always,

This is re-published from the weekly email sent by Leonard Mack entitled The Propeller. To subscribe, visit https://www.LeonardMack.com/subscribe and read it every Sunday evening.

This intellectual nourishment is intended for informational purposes only. One should not construe anything herein as being legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

My rule is this – I have no advice to give, only experience to share. I have no interest in being a guru or telling people what they should do. Rather, I share my own experience because there is no right or wrong. Your mileage may vary.