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This High Schooler Makes $20M While Playing Games in Class

Author

Danny Bauer
March 23, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Hey — It’s Danny.

In today’s Weekend Resource:

  • Why your school should buy an amusement park

  • I realized education is screwed after an afternoon hike

  • 8 reasons to come to Sacramento this summer

  • Fitness tips for leaders in their 40s

  • And more …

First time reading? Sign up here and join 5,703 Ruckus Makers Doing Do School Different 🎉

OFF CAMPUS

A MESSAGE FROM EXPRESSABILITY K12

Still Using Overheads?

Of course you’re not!

Then why are much of your admin processes manual?

Low-code technology is the shortcut. Experience streamlined workflows, integrated systems, and less admin chaos.

Best of all — no coding required. Just automation that saves time, cuts costs, and keeps you (and your staff) from burning out.

See for yourself and read why low-code technology is key.

DO SCHOOL DIFFERENT

8 Reasons to Attend Our Summer Event (Sacramento: July 9-11).

I’m sure you’ve heard of Principal’s United. It’s the Coachella of summer principal conferences. It’s big. 200+ learning “tracks.” Even former principals, Daymond John and John Maxwell, will be there to teach you how to run an effective school.

Joking aside, it is a great event. I’ve bought my ticket and spoken there at least five times. It’s where I met the first Ruckus Makers who listened to the podcast. And for that, I am thankful.

But I don’t like large crowds. I value taking action over passive learning. Conference centers don't inspire—breakthrough thinking requires fresh environments. And I don’t like large crowds (I know I mentioned that twice!).

So for the past four summers, I’ve hosted an event that does the exact opposite of Principals United. On purpose.

Most attendees tell me, “This was the best professional development I’ve experienced.”

Again, the Principal’s United conference is fantastic. For some leaders. But if you are looking for something different, here is our promise to you:

  • Limited to 40 leaders: Limited to 40 leaders: Network with other visionary leaders. Our event is small on purpose to promote effective networking.

  • 8 talks & 4 work sessions: Depth > Breadth. Action > Ideas. We won’t steamroll you with information. No FOMO about missed tracks. No needless decisions about where to go in this curated event.

  • No conference center: You already work at an “institution” — your school. Beautiful environments create a temporary “other world.” So you can do your best planning for the school year. Not possible in a conference center.

  • Mastermind + individual coaching: Get individual time with leadership coaches. Process your Next Big Thing with a group of visionary peers in a mastermind setting.

  • Templates + tools: We’ll share BIG ideas. Then give you the tool, template, and time to start implementing it. This event is for doers, builders, and leaders with a bias for action.

  • Fun environment + fun people: Play-It-Safe-Principals don’t attend my event. One principal told me, “I am so sick of colleagues looking at me like I’m crazy … or telling me that will never work. At your event Danny, everyone says, ‘Let’s figure out how to make this happen!’”

  • (OPTIONAL) Adventure day + celebration dinner: This year we are white water rafting. If that’s not your thing, take the day to enjoy Sacramento. Go for a hike. Do retail therapy. Get some more work done. This is optional with a celebration dinner at the end of Day 3.

  • (OPTIONAL) VIP Day: Get the experience schools invest $20K for in just one powerful day. Work directly with me to create your customized leadership roadmap and implementation plan. Past VIP participants have called this "the most transformative day of their leadership journey."

So here’s what to do next …

Click the button below. Read about the event. Then reserve your seat by card or purchase order.

Super Saver Tickets (the best price) are available until April 20.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Education Is Screwed? Kinda.

I’m in the car. With Alba.

We’re driving to the “Finger Lakes” region of New York for a hike. There are tons of hills, gorges, and waterfalls in this area.

One of my favorite things in the world is hiking. Being outside. Enjoying nature.

Alba happens to love it too.

We did the Five Falls Loop in Filmore Glen State Park.

A good hike. 3 miles or so.

Hopping back in the car I turned on one of my favorite podcasts: My First Million. A pod that explores how different founders made their first million in revenue.

But here’s where it gets interesting …

I was NOT expecting to see this title: “The highschooler making $20M a year.”

Yup, Zach Yadegari’s app, Cal AI, is on pace to do $20M+ in revenue this year. 30% ($6M) is profit. This high school senior is going to make more than all the adults on his campus this year.

As I continued to listen, the podcast blew my mind …

Before Cal AI, Zach built “Totally Science” so he could play (blocked) video games while sitting in class. He sold Totally Science for $100K.

On the podcast Zach said:

“I’ve been coding for 11 years [since I was seven] … And I thought to myself … why get good grades in high school … just so I can go to college [to get a good job] … so I’ll have enough money as an adult … why not make money now?”

His reasoning makes sense. And campuses around the world are full of kids like Zach.

Lucky for Zach’s school, he has a 4.0. But he’s not challenged if he can play games during class and still get a 4.0. There is a disconnect between school experience, challenge level, and what Zach needs.

Zach Yadegari is the reason we need to Do School Different. Schools need to make shifts FROM old, broken, and traditional ways of educating TO new, different, and creative ways.

Imagine this: a school that created the space and support for kids like Zach to make the next Cal AI. Sharing revenue along the way ...

So Dear Ruckus Maker:

  • What are you doing on your campus to support students like Zach?

  • How are you creating a campus experience worth showing up for?

  • What kind of shift on campus do you want to see?

With all the uncertainty and challenge facing you, one thing is clear: The Obstacle is the Way.

Anytime there is great adversity, there is great opportunity. Ruckus Makers know this.

Good luck. You can do this.

CLASS DISMISSED

Whenever you’re ready, here’s 3 ways we can help you Do School Different.

  1. Experience Calm in the Chaos. Apply ancient Stoic wisdom to modern day ed-leadership. Read my 3rd bestseller here.

  2. Learn how to delegate and predict positive results in advance. Take the delegation masterclass here.

  3. Join 39 other visionary leaders in Sacramento, July 9-11. Grab a ticket here. Best price before April 20.

Keep Making a Ruckus,

PS … Did you know there is a premium edition of this newsletter? This week we shared a custom gpt to help you build your sticky core values. This is a lesson taught in The 90-Day Accelerator. One student said, it was worth the price of admission ($350) by itself.

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