Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual

Seeking to help others live a life of vision, purpose, and peace...sometimes this involves talking finances.

[Arnold Schwarzenegger @Schwarzenegger]

Happy Independence Day!

There’s a story from the end of the Revolutionary War I want to tell as we celebrate America’s 250th Birthday, and it’s one everyone in the world can learn from.

George Washington, at that moment, after commanding the American forces to victory, was the most powerful man in the new country. Many people talked about making him King of America.

Across the ocean, King George was sitting with an American painter, and asked what he thought Washington would do now that the war was ending. The painter said he believed he would go back to his farm.

The King said, “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.”

As the war officially ended, Washington came to speak to Congress and said, “Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theater of Action.” He returned his commission they’d given him in 1775 - after more than 8 years of leading the Americans to victory without pay, and he was home at Mount Vernon for Christmas.

Of course, he was elected as our first President a few years later, and after two terms, showed the same selflessness again when he willingly gave up his power and went back to Mount Vernon again.

That’s true greatness. He had all the power in the world. But power, alone, does not make you great.

Washington’s greatness came from being a true servant - to a cause much bigger than himself. His greatness was his complete lack of selfishness.

The whole story of American Independence is a story of selflessness. It’s a story of people who set their self-interest aside and worked for each other.

We’ve all heard the line about “We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

Apparently, Ben Franklin might have actually never said that.

But that’s fine, because the same mentality is right there in the last line of the Declaration of Independence, published on this day 250 years ago:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

We mutually pledge to each other.

No one was in this alone. No one was in it for themselves. This was a group of people with different backgrounds who were in it for each other.

Today is a reminder: greatness comes from what we do for each other, never what we do for ourselves.

That’s a lesson that applies no matter what country you call home.

It’s a lesson that doesn’t require any law passed by a politician, because, let’s be honest, if you’re waiting for selfless politicians, I really hope you are not holding your breath.

All of us have the power to be there for the people around us. For our families and friends. For our neighbors. For everyone.

All of us can reach for greatness.

It’s as simple as looking beyond yourself, seeing past the mirror, picking your eyes up from your phone, and pledging to be there for each other.

Happy Fourth. May you all find your own version of greatness today by lifting each other up.

Lift up your neighborhood. Lift up America. Lift up the World.

[Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual @codyklee]

@BridgetPhetasy @HollywoodBowl Los Angeles, why can’t I quit you!

[Matt’s Idea Shop @MattsIdeaShop]

250 years ago today.

[Merriam-Webster @MerriamWebster]

Why is it ‘cancelled’ in the U.K. but ‘canceled’ in the U.S.?

Because we gave them that L in 1776.

[Gavin McHugh @gavinmchughh]

Maybe the greatest American video ever filmed

[Annie🇺🇸🇬🇧 @ag_0012]

🇺🇸 Sophie Wants You ! 🇺🇸

[Possum Reviews @ReviewsPossum]

NUCLEAR POWER.

IT DOESN'T CARE IF THE SUN'S SHINING OR THE WIND'S BLOWING.

IT DOESN'T NEED BATTERIES FULL OF COBALT OR LITHIUM DUG UP BY CONGOLESE CHILD SLAVES IN CHINESE-OWNED MINES.

AND IT HAS LOWER LIFETIME GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THAN SOLAR, AND ABOUT THE SAME AS WIND.

IT'S NOT EVIL DEVIL MAGIC. IT'S METAL THAT GETS HOT AND BOILS WATER TO MAKE STEAM THAT TURNS TURBINES.

THERE'S NO SMOKE. THE SHIT THAT COMES OUT OF THE COOLING TOWER IS JUST STEAM.

NUCLEAR PRODUCES AT LEAST A HUNDRED TIMES LESS RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION THAN COAL WHICH CONTAINS TRACE RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS WHICH GO INTO THE AIR WHEN BURNED.

NUCLEAR POWER DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE ALL NUCLEAR WASTE IS CONTAINED, AND NO NUCLEAR WASTE CASKET HAS EVER LEAKED IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN NUCLEAR POWER.

NUCLEAR POWER IS SAFE.

IT'S EFFECTIVE.

IT DOES LESS DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT THAN COAL, OR EVEN WIND AND SOLAR WHICH REQUIRE A FUCK TON OF LAND AND TOXIC METALS FOR WHICH WE HAVE NO PLAN TO DEAL WITH.

NUCLEAR POWER IS THE CLOSEST THING TO A PERFECT ENERGY SOURCE THE HUMAN SPECIES HAS EVER DISCOVERED.

WE'VE HAD THE TECHNOLOGY SINCE THE 1950S. IF WE EMBRACED IT FROM THE START, WE WOULDN'T HAVE CLIMATE CHANGE TODAY. WE COULD HAVE HAD ALL OF THE AIR CONDITIONING WE EVER WANTED, ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER MODERN CONVENIENCE WE'RE CONSTANTLY SHAMED FOR TODAY.

BUT WE SAID NO.

WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE DOING AS A SPECIES?

ARE WE FUCKING RETARDED?

[Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual @codyklee]

Protecting your family is just one of many benefits life insurance can provide for you and your loved ones. Let’s talk about other benefits, too. https://t.co/A4oU8ZYXRO

[Serf @TheRoyalSerf]

We'll get our revenge during Thanksgiving

[John Benavidez @ProfBenavidez]

For the second consecutive year, New Mexico finishes as the highest ranked Mountain West school in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. 🐺 #MountainBest

58 UNM
77 AFA
85 USU
121 GCU
148 NEV
156 BOIS
181 UNLV
196 CSU
208 WYO
211 FRES
211 SJSU
216 SDSU
https://t.co/KAmSiIyqlL

[Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual @codyklee]

@AndySwan @skylarromines @RobertMSterling How could I forget! That suit you wore was fire!

[Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual @codyklee]

Whole life insurance can be a key component of your financial future. Let’s talk about how we can structure it to enhance your overall plan. https://t.co/9eLhkdA6EP

[Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual @codyklee]

Financial confidence is about more than just your net worth. Reach out and let’s discuss if you’re on track to meet your goals. https://t.co/b0j7JAqYuv

[Bridget Phetasy @BridgetPhetasy]

So far in 2026: We’ve had TEAM USA win Gold in hockey. We’ve had astronauts circling the moon. We’ve got the World Cup here. We have UFC at the White House. Everyone is getting skinny. We’re curing pancreatic cancer. It’s America’s 250th.

AND YOU’RE BLACKPILLING?

[Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual @codyklee]

@EdselJim @SenWarren Commies gonna commie!!!

[Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual @codyklee]

GOAAAAAAAAAL!!!!

[Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual @codyklee]

I can help make sure your budget is ready for a new house or condo. Reach out so you can go house hunting with confidence. https://t.co/ZzJOX2fgRu

[Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual @codyklee]

@tiredandslow @monsterhunter45 A Haunted Mesa vibe!?!? Holy cow. One of the top three Lamour books. And I love Larry!

[Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual @codyklee]

A financial plan is like a road map that shows you where you are and how to get where you want to go. But what does that really mean? Learn more about what’s actually included in a good plan. Please reach out if you’d like to start building your plan. https://t.co/kDB3F2X3oM

[Cody Lee - Northwestern Mutual @codyklee]

Let’s talk through the right type of life insurance for your needs and goals. https://t.co/1C3bAF6fte