What Feels Like Play Could Be the Key to Freedom

The fun you overlook might be the edge you need

Christian Ray Flores here, thanks for reading the XE.

In This Issue

• The unexpected conversation with a dive master that reframed what’s possible

• Why most people mistake energy for indulgence—and how it actually builds your edge

• A practical framework to turn what feels like play into a brand that pays

• Final call to join today’s live Rocket Fuel session

Opportunities to Explore

⏳ Last Chance: Rocket Fuel — How to Go from Stressed to Focused, High Energy and Creative

Live Mini-Webinar — Today, July 16 at 12 PM CST

We go live in a few hours. I’ll share the exact method I use to shift stress into clarity and creative momentum.

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In My Headspace

• Fit In, Burn Out — Or Stand Out and Thrive

Why conformity kills energy—and how leaning into your edge unlocks momentum.

👉 Read it here

• You Are the Brand

Your brand isn’t a persona—it’s the most valuable version of who you already are.

👉 Read it here

✅ Win of the Week

Spent four days in Cozumel doing absolutely nothing but fun. Diving, floating, resting, laughing. A reminder that joy isn’t just a reward—it’s fuel.

Deep Dive:

What Feels Like Play Could Be the Key to Freedom

A few days ago, I went on two unforgettable dives off the coast of Cozumel.

Our dive master, Lauren, is a young French woman who lives for the ocean. She dives daily—guiding small groups, educating tourists, and doing her part to protect the reefs she loves. Her joy was palpable.

Between dives, we started talking about work. She asked what I do, and I told her I help professionals build personal brands that create income, impact, and freedom.

She smiled and said, “That sounds amazing… but I don’t think there’s much of a market for someone like me.”

She told me she’s passionate about protecting the reefs, but can’t do this much longer—there just isn’t enough money coming in. She also dreams of teaching diving in places like Mozambique, which lit up our conversation since I’m taking a group of donors there next April to visit our Ascend Academy.

I told her she doesn’t need to change her life—just publish her expertise. That alone could help more people and bring in more income.

Here’s what that might look like:

1. Bring a camera on every dive.

2. Start a YouTube channel—teach dive safety, gear reviews, reef etiquette, and top dive spots.

3. Build a beginner’s program—help nervous first-timers become confident divers.

Same lifestyle. Same passion.

10x the income. More freedom to go wherever she wants.

This is the path most people never see.

They think they need to reinvent everything—when really, they need to notice what already feels like play.

Most people were trained to chase functionality—the role they fill in an institution, the job title, the resume line.

But functionality without vitality leads to burnout, boredom, or both.

Vitality is deeper.

It’s the stuff that lights you up, that feels like play, that you can obsess over until you become great at it.

Tech giants get this. Why do you think they invest in nap pods, meditation rooms, gardens, game lounges, chef-cooked meals?

Because they want to attract people who aren’t satisfied with just a job.

Vital people create exponential value.

And the same is true for you.

Ask yourself:

• What kind of work gives me energy?

• What do I love learning, even if it’s not “productive”?

• What comes naturally to me, that others struggle with?

If you want a brand that actually feels like you—and creates the life you want—this is where it starts.

👉 In the next section, I’ll walk you through the exact process I use with clients to identify and sharpen their edge—and how you can start applying it today.

🚧 For Paid Subscribers:

The Practical Framework to Surface Your Hidden Edge (And Turn It Into Income)

If you’re not a paid subscriber yet, this is the perfect time to upgrade.

What’s next is a clear, 3-step process for turning what feels like play into a personal brand that creates income, impact, and freedom.

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