<![CDATA[THE SECOND COAT: Building Regal]]>https://letters.arvizuluna.com/s/building-regalhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IgKv!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2c7aedef-7adc-433c-b345-ec9215d230cd_1024x1024.pngTHE SECOND COAT: Building Regalhttps://letters.arvizuluna.com/s/building-regalSubstackWed, 14 Oct 2026 02:05:18 GMT<![CDATA[I Was Valedictorian. Now I Paint Houses for Half My Old Pay.]]>https://letters.arvizuluna.com/p/i-was-valedictorian-now-i-paint-houseshttps://letters.arvizuluna.com/p/i-was-valedictorian-now-i-paint-housesWed, 14 Oct 2026 00:10:01 GMTI graduated valedictorian, got the equivalent of a full ride, earned a philosophy degree, and spent two years as a software engineering intern. Today I paint houses alongside my father for about half what I made as an intern. From the outside it looks like failing to launch. From the inside, it’s a deliberate, long-term bet on myself and on Regal Home Coatings, the painting and renovation company my dad and I co-own.

In this first post I explain what I’m doing, why I’m doing it, and how I plan to get there: the unfair advantages I’m building on, the two numbers I’m aiming for, and the principles I’m going to run this company by.

This is month one. From here on I’ll document everything as it happens, including estimating, bidding, hiring, sales, money, and the mental game, along with the failures, successes, and lessons on my documented journey.

Watch the full video above. And if you’re building something of your own, tell me about it in the comments. I genuinely want to know.

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