Introduction to Business 101: Golf with THE Chuck, A Tribute to Enduring American Grit January 9 – January 11, 2026

This column is dedicated to Americans who understand that real leadership doesn’t punch a clock, borders aren’t suggestions, families aren’t optional, and strength isn’t negotiable—even when the calendar flips to a new year and half the country is still recovering from New Year’s resolutions they broke before the ball hit the ground.

(Best enjoyed with a properly built Col. Mike Ford Old Fashioned, a Deployment Freedom Cigar burning slow and honest, and the quiet confidence that somewhere—miraculously—an adult is still minding the store.)

Cold-Humor Opener — Workcation Reality Check

I started writing this piece somewhere between Gate C‑42 at St. Louis Lambert Airport and the runway, which is about the same place most corporate mission statements lose all meaning. My wife Chrisi and I were en route to Southern California for a working vacation—yes, those still exist, despite what LinkedIn influencers will tell you between beach selfies and motivational quotes they stole from Churchill.

We had a long layover, so we grabbed two mimosas (strictly medicinal) and sat next to a young mother traveling with her infant. Turns out she is a wife to a U.S. Marine Corps Cobra pilot—Captain—transferring from San Diego to Camp Lejeune. We swapped stories, toasted military family life, and thanked her for her service. Moments like that remind you exactly who still carries the load in this country—and who just carries opinions.

This trip also doubled as family time. We were heading where our son Jake, USMC PFC (Cyber), who spent three years stationed at MCAS Miramar—or as we call it, “vacation station” Jake and his wife Taylor had two of our six grandsons, Holt and Brant, both born at Naval Hospital San Diego. Nothing recalibrates your priorities faster than holding grandkids born under a Navy crest while watching Marines quietly go about their business like it’s just another Tuesday.

Later that morning we landed, rented a car, and headed straight to The Henry for breakfast. Chrisi had the avocado toast; I had the bacon & eggs and thoughts of a proper cigar—because I’m an adult and have nothing left to prove. Big shout‑out to Joe, the General Manager at The Henry: outstanding mustache, serious bourbon knowledge, and the rare ability to understand why later a good after breakfast cigar lounge still matters. We also stopped by Crown City Cigars & Tobacco to restock. Solid shop, great selection, even better people.

Now—back to business.

While we were wheels‑up, President Trump was already on the ground executing. That contrast—vacation mode versus mission mode—is the Business 101 lesson of the week.

So grab your clubs. Let’s tee it up.

WEEKEND LESSONS TEED UP

(January 9 – January 19, 2026)

Lesson 1 — The Art of the Deal Includes the Boardroom

Friday, January 9 – White House Energy Summit

Trump hosted a closed‑door meeting in the East Room with the heavy hitters of American oil & gas:

• Darren Woods (ExxonMobil)
• Mark Nelson (Chevron)
• Ryan Lance (ConocoPhillips)
• Wael Sawan (Shell)
• Jeffery Hildebrand (Hilcorp)
• Harold Hamm (Continental Resources)
• Maryann Mannen (Marathon Petroleum)

He laid out the vision: $100B+ in private investment to rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure after Maduro’s removal—paired with U.S. security guarantees and revenue sharing for the Venezuelan people. No firm commitments yet; executives labeled the environment “uninvestable” without legal reforms. Serious tone. No ribbon‑cutting nonsense.

Same day: Trump signed the executive order “Safeguarding Venezuelan Oil Revenue for the Good of the American and Venezuelan People,” authorizing the U.S. to market 30–50 million barrels of previously sanctioned crude.

That evening, conservative host David Webb held an American Humane charity event at Mar a Lago—another reminder that Trump properties function as a strange hybrid of policy hub, donor venue, and geopolitical green room. President Trump dropped into the party just like and scene in Wedding Crashers “Even at Mar-a-Lago, diplomacy briefly halts when a hero service dog enters the room—tails wag faster than polling numbers.” https://x.com/davidwebbshow/status/2009961751413174572?s=46

Business Translation: You don’t invite the Big Dog players to the table unless you intend to close.

Golf Translation: You don’t invite someone into your foursome if they can’t keep score—or keep up.

Leadership Takeaway: The Art of the Deal is alive and well. Trump was simultaneously playing golf, negotiating oil, pressuring the Fed, and locking down the border—all parts of the same 3‑D chess board.

Lesson 2 — Mar‑a‑Lago Isn’t a Vacation Home, It’s a Forward Operating Base

Saturday, January 10

Trump remained at Mar‑a‑Lago. No public events. Truth Social posts on domestic protests and international developments. The New York Times interview dropped, where he stated his commander‑in‑chief power is limited only by his “own morality”—a statement that sent editors scrambling for fainting couches.

Business Translation: The office doesn’t close just because you changed zip codes.

Golf Translation: Some of the best deals are made between holes—not in conference rooms with bad coffee.

Leadership Takeaway: Presence matters. Mar‑a‑Lago isn’t a retreat—it’s an extension cord plugged straight into the Oval Office.

Lesson 3 — 3‑D Chess: Tariffs, Military Action, Deportations & the Fed

Ongoing Pressure Campaign – January 9–19

While oil executives digested the Venezuela pitch, Trump kept pressure on Fed Chair Jerome Powell—publicly calling him “incompetent or crooked,” demanding deeper rate cuts, and allowing a DOJ probe tied to Powell’s 2025 renovation testimony to proceed.

Former Fed chairs Greenspan, Bernanke, and Yellen issued a rare joint condemnation warning of eroded central‑bank independence—essentially a hall‑monitor letter written by people who haven’t balanced a household budget in decades.

Supporters point to the pattern:

• Aggressive tariffs without the predicted recession
• Military precision in Venezuela
• Record deportations & border enforcement
• Housing reforms ($200B mortgage‑bond purchase + ban on institutional single‑family home buying)

Business Translation: Every move is connected.

Golf Translation: You don’t swing at one ball while ignoring the wind, the slope, and the next three holes.

Leadership Takeaway: Trump is playing 3‑D chess while everyone else is arguing over whose checker piece is offensive.

Lesson 4 — Ultimatums Aren’t Threats—They’re Deadlines

Sunday, January 11

From Air Force One en route back to D.C., Trump:

• Warned Cuba to “make a deal before it’s too late”
• Claimed Iranian leadership called amid Tehran protests
• Reiterated dissatisfaction with ExxonMobil’s Venezuela hesitation

Business Translation: Deadlines create urgency. Vague warnings create excuses.

Golf Translation: You don’t warn the ball—it either goes in or it doesn’t.

Leadership Takeaway: Clarity is kindness. Ambiguity is weakness.

Golf Sidebar — Who’s in the Foursome?

Specific partners for the January 10 round at Trump International Golf Club Palm Beach remain private, but the pattern holds. Senator Lindsey Graham is the most frequent playing partner, with family members and select allies rotating in.

The round is never “just golf.” It’s relationship maintenance, deal‑making, and decompression—all wrapped in khakis.

Administrative Actions — Even the Fairways Get Managed

• $200B mortgage‑bond purchase → mortgage rates hit 3‑year lows
• Ban on institutional single‑family home buying
• Suspension of U.S. funding to 66 international organizations
• Intensified immigration enforcement uncovering $400M+ in fraud

One‑Liners from the Tee Box

• “You don’t negotiate $100 billion oil deals by being polite—you do it by being prepared.”
• “The Fed probe isn’t personal. It’s leverage.”
• “Tariffs, troops, and tight borders—teed up at the same time.”
• “If your golf partner is Lindsey Graham, bring your A‑game.”

Wrap‑Up — A Proper Finish

I finished this column from a SoCal VRBO with a Deployment Freedom cigar in one hand, an Old Fashioned in the other, Chrisi beside me, and the quiet comfort of knowing our kids and grandkids are growing up around people who still understand duty.

The lesson from January 9–19, 2026 remains simple: real leadership doesn’t take weekends off, borders don’t secure themselves, and the Art of the Deal is still very much in play—on the golf course, in the boardroom, and on the world stage.

— Chuck Cordak
“Life’s too short for weak pours, weak swings, or leaders who confuse comfort with competence.”

Sources

Full list of White House transcripts, news reports, X posts, and citations available on request—using THE Chuck’s same comprehensive Col. Art Cole, USAF (Ret.) Iranian Bunker‑Buster format as always.

If you enjoyed this article, then please REPOST or SHARE with others; encourage them to follow AFNN. If you’d like to become a citizen contributor for AFNN, contact us at managingeditor@afnn.us Help keep us ad-free by donating here.

Substack: American Free News Network Substack
Truth Social: @AFNN_USA
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/afnnusa
Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/2_-GAzcXmIRjODNh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfnnUsa
GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/AFNN_USA
CloutHub: @AFNN_USA