Chapter Content
Okay, so, like, I've been thinking a lot lately about patience, you know? And it's funny, because as I get older – and, um, maybe a little wiser, hopefully – I've really started to see how crucial patience is, especially when it comes to, like, achieving big things, especially in, like, the tech world. You see these, uh, super talented people, right? And you’re just blown away by how smart they are, how dedicated they are. And, well, the thing is, they almost always find success, eventually.
It might take longer than you think, or even longer than they thought, but, you know, like they say, eventually the cream rises to the top, right? So, use your, uh, your skills, your expertise, find ways to leverage what you're good at, and eventually, your hard work will pay off.
Thing is, success takes time. Even if you have all the pieces in place, all the ingredients, you know, for the perfect cake, you still have to bake it. The amount of time that baking takes can be, uh, unpredictable. And if you're constantly checking the oven, constantly worried about, you know, when it's going to be done, you're just gonna lose your patience way before the cake is actually ready.
Everyone wants to get rich quick, right? Like, overnight success stories. But the world doesn't really work that way. It's usually a gradual process, a slow build. Like, you know, nature's rule is that you plant in the spring and harvest in the fall. So you need to, like, develop real expertise, be responsible, have influence, leverage your strengths, and have a, kind of, unique skill set, you know? Aim to be the best in your field. Just, just keep improving, day after day. Don't even bother counting the hours, 'cause the second you start doing that, you just, ugh, you just lose your patience.
And, you know what else? People always say, "You're too young." And I just, I don't know, I never really bought that, you know? Some people make their mark early. It’s just that it takes a while for the world to catch up and recognize it. Experience is really the only way to, like, truly learn.
It’s kind of like, well, “character is destiny,” right? It's about those patterns, the good and the bad, the strengths and weaknesses. And, ultimately, you'll get the results that line up with your actions. So, be proactive, keep contributing, and try not to get too hung up on keeping score all the time.
You know, people say, "Do good and don't worry about the future," but that's so hard to do, it’s incredibly hard! Like, giving without expecting anything back is one of the toughest things, but it's also one of the most rewarding. And, often, people who have everything handed to them, it's hard for them to find a sense of meaning or purpose, you know?
What really matters in life is all the suffering that you endure. I mean, if you had to face yourself at the end of everything, and you look back on what meant something, it’s probably all the sacrifices and challenges you’ve overcome.
Anything you get from this world is just stuff, really. You can't take it with you. What really matters is your health, your mind, you know, what you were given. You just gotta push through and find meaning along the way, you know? Building wealth, maybe that's one of your goals. So, strive hard for it. It's not easy, but it’s possible! There are so many examples of people who have succeeded.
In the material world, money can't guarantee happiness, or cure illness, or make families perfect, or shield you from emotional ups and downs, but it can buy you freedom. It can solve a lot of external problems, so, you know, wanting to make money is actually a totally reasonable goal. It can make your life better.
Making money can improve your situation, eliminate a bunch of things that get in the way of being happy, but money itself, in and of itself, doesn’t bring joy. Lots of super-rich people are, like, super unhappy. Most of the time, they have to be, like, super stressed, working their butts off, constantly worried about competition. Even if they do that for decades, and then finally achieve financial freedom, it's hard to just switch off that mindset. You've trained yourself to be anxious, so then you have to, like, relearn how to be happy all over again.
So, let's talk about, like, getting rich. I'm always practical about money, you know? The Buddha, he was a prince, had everything, and then he renounced it all to seek enlightenment. So you gave up everything to find freedom.
But now it's different because we have this invention called money, and we can save it in a bank. When a person works hard and solves problems for others, they make a real contribution to society. Society gives them money in return. You can save that money, you can live below your means, and you can still have some freedom even while you’re, you know, still in the world.
Money can give you the time and energy to pursue inner peace and happiness. I think that the way to make everyone happy is to fulfill their desires. So, let's make everyone wealthy, and healthy, and happy, you know?
It's, uh, it's always kind of shocked me how many people confuse wealth with wisdom.