This is Nick. This is Jack. And term papers are due next week. If you haven’t started, don't worry. Because the newest “-flation” is grade-inflation. At Yale nearly 80% of grades are A’s and the average GPA is 3.7. So an A is the new C. Or is a C the future A? Trick question: It’s both. 

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1) The Peach Fuzz Economy

Last week, “Peach Fuzz” was named the Color of the Year for 2024 by Pantone — putting the buttery orange shade into a whole hue league. But here’s a reminder: That's the color of next year.

Pantone’s Color of the Year has been running for 25 years. But the chosen color, Peach Fuzz isn’t just a color…

• 🍑 It’s a feeling: Nurturing and inspiring with major self-care vibes.

• 🍑 And an economy: Based on the track record of previous color of the year winners, the selected ROYGBIV shade will see double-digit sales growth next year. Carpets, cellphones and makeup — they’ll all have a peach color option to pick before you add to cart in 2024. 

But how does Pantone make $$: It’s not selling paint or ink — Pantone sells color consistency. Translation: It makes sure your color looks the same no matter the surface it appears on. 

• For example, Pantone teaches Coca-Cola how to make its red color appear the same shade on bottles, cans, and billboards 

• 🟨 Pantone even invented the unique color recipe for “Minion Yellow” for the animated movie.)

The Takeaway →

There’s trend predicting and trend pretending — This is “Pre-trending.” Did Pantone predict the Peach Fuzz trend or create it? Is Pantone’s choice prophetic or a self-fulfilling prophecy? Pantone’s future-looking color pick is based less on data and more on a vibe check — After 25 years, it looks more like pretending than prediction… we call it pre-trending.

2) Elon’s Biggest Child: SpaceX

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has reportedly been valued at $175B in the private market — The biggest “startup” in America by far.

TBT to 2002: Elon founded SpaceX and everyone thought he was nuts (financially) for investing $$$ in a rocket ship company.

• But it worked: Because his rockets now successfully take cargo to space and return to earth unscathed. Don’t call him Master Yoda though. 

• Today: SpaceX is now the most valuable private company in the US. It’s valuation is equal to Nike, and bigger than Disney (and 34 Lyfts).

It’s less of a space business… and more of an entire space economy: 

• 🚀 Rocket Launching-as-a-Service: NASA, the EU, and telecom companies all need rides for humans/equipment to get into orbit. Conveniently SpaceX does that and re-uses rockets (other co.’s can’t reuse rockets, which is SpaceX’s huge cost advantage).

• 🚀🚀 Satellite internet via Starlink: SpaceX’s constellation of satellites beams down a signal to even the most remote places. It was quickly used by Ukraine’s army after Russia cut off its internet cables.

• 🚀 🚀 🚀 Exploration via Starship: Colonizing Mars someday is the goal.

Elon’s personal brand has been bruised in 2023… but it hasn’t affected SpaceX’s business, because nobody else can offer reliable rides into space.

The Takeaway →

Find your monopoly… in the workplace. The best industry to be in is the one with no competition. Who else is making reusable rockets? It’s only SpaceX. On earth, a monopoly can be as small as an individual. Maybe you’re the only social media manager, who’s also a triathlete. Ironman would hire you for knowing both.

• How to apply it: You have a combination of skills that no one else can offer. Find your personal monopoly, and tap into it.

On the Pod

👕 Nuuly, the clothing rental business of Urban Outfitters, just beat Rent The Runway to profitability. The ironic twist about Nuuly: its secret weapon isn’t renting out clothes, it’s selling them. More on the entire clothing rental industry in today’s pod.

Here’s what else you need to know today —

🐕 Chewy just announced that its pet pharmacy is a $1B business. 

📱 Apple wants to make ¼ of iPhones in India to hedge against China risk.

🍩 Krispy Kreme just opened its first-ever donut shop in Paris.

🧑‍⚖️ The European Union has reached a deal on the “AI Act”, the first major legislation in the world to limit and control the use of Artificial Intelligence

⚾ It’s the biggest deal in sports history: The Angels’ Japanese-born pitcher Shohei Ohtani just inked a $700M 10-year deal with the LA Dodgers.

🏫 UPenn President Liz Magill stepped down after pressure from donors, politicians, and alums — The final push came after her testimony to Congress when she evaded questions about whether calling for the genocide of Jews would be punished on campus.

💁🏼‍♀️ Pinterest released its trend predictions for 2024. Grandpacore is on its way in. 

🎁 TBOY Holiday Merch has officially dropped. 🤩 Get the Yeti in your life the softest crewneck ever created. 

And one more thing. What is your 2nd Christmas tree for (if you’re in your double-tree era too.) 🎄🎄

—Nick & Jack