4 ms·

"Realize now you are statistically unlikely to get it; and, given that, think about what you specifically want rather than broad concepts." Funny, I was about

by oz 16y ago

"Realize now you are statistically unlikely to get it; and, given that, think about what you specifically want rather than broad concepts." Funny, I was about to read a chapter on this very topic in Felix Dennis' How to Get Rich' last night. I skipped it, because I didn't want to hear it. I read PG's wealth essay in about 2006, when I was in first year at college (I dropped out after first year to work at a telecom startup - anything to avoid school!). I think he said something like wealth is whatever you want; If you're a billionaire but there's no food for sale, your cash is useless. True enough. I do know that I want autonomy, and not having to rely on anyone financially (I used to think I didn't need others for anything, but recently realized how stupid I was). It's just that I've seen that almost everything in our lives is related in some way to money. Many marital disagreements are about money. Many lives get ruined by poverty. Not having to worry about money simply makes life easier. Hierarchy of needs, you know? Although I've never been poor (more or less middle class), I've come to realized that I, like most people, are only a few wrong turns from poverty. Please post the list! For me I've often thought that I'd like to be rich enough @ 30 to be a music composer. I sometimes procrastinate by researching MIDI, Linux Audio software like Rosegarden, etc.

ErrantX 16y ago
because I didn't want to hear it. "The first stage of any cure is admitting the problem. The hardest part of any cure is facing the solution" :) I do know that I want autonomy, and not having to rely on anyone financially You could easily achieve this on very little money; but this is a very broad and non-specific aim whioch covers anyone from the millionaire to the hermit (and, arguably, better describes the hermit). I'm doing an Msc in project management at the moment and we just did a section about why projects fail; the number one reason was a failure to specify the problem to be solved in enough detail. Many marital disagreements are about money. Many lives get ruined by poverty. Not having to worry about money simply makes life easier. The important thing to remember is that having lots of money is not necessarily a solution for this - or rather it certainly ain't the only solution. For me I've often thought that I'd like to be rich enough @ 30 to be a music composer. Well, if you have a talent then there is a lot of money in that area (my brother is setting up to be a composer, does very nicely even while finishing off his degree). If you don't have the ability to do that as a job then, yeh, that sounds like a pretty concrete/specific aim to go for! Fix on that and flesh it out as an idea. Write it down and stick it up somewhere prominent. Break it down into steps/things you will need. Then really dedicate to achieving it. My goals are not particularly finance oriented any more and so might be a little wierd :) Only one requires actual serious amounts of money (and, really, that is the "long term dream" I allow myself). - live on a narrow boat for a reasonable period of time (status: looking at buying one now, sticking point is decent but not insanely expensive internet access) - have a successful company by 27 (status: working on it, but this is too general at the moment and I need to concrete it better first) - marry someone amazing (status: found her but she slipped the net :) working on that) - be respected by people [by which I mean earn a position of respect somewhere important] (status: very hard, harder than I thought. though I have a little/growing respect in my work niche here in the UK) - be respected by my employees by a) leading the charge at the company and b) being an understanding boss (status: requires my own company...) - write a piece of open source code that is used "universally" and is regarded as awesome by at least someone :) (status: this could well be fluke to achieve) - live in a small whitewashed cottage in Cornwall (I know the one I want, currently a wreck) - learn to fly, fly a jet (status: problematic as it a serious piece of time is needed to achieve it) - go into space (status: pipe dream, but am determined to achieve it in time)
- oz 16y ago
  Earlier this year, I created a list of things I want to do before I die: 1. Write & produce a Grammy-winning Song, that shakes people to their core. 2. Break the 100m record in 2012 3. Master a technical/engineering subject 4. Design a house 5. Write a bestselling book 6. Travel to each continent 7. Travel to space 8. Learn a foreign language 9. Learn to fly an airplane I don't know if I still want to go for #2, even though I'm a Jamaican like Bolt. But one can live in hope, right? Thanks for admitting that status is important to you. That's also the reason I would like to master a technical subject.
  - ErrantX 16y ago
    Thanks for admitting that status is important to you. I've always considered this, at least from my perspective, as less about status and more about how to judge your success. I'd like to earn the respect of groups I, in turn, respect; for example I hugely respect the HN crowd and try my best to act in ways people here respect/approve of. This seems to me to be a relatively altruistic judge of your own success as an individual; after all if you are succeeding in the eyes of people you yourself feel are successes then that has to be a good thing :) Earlier this year, I created a list of things I want to do before I die: I hope this doesn't sound too critical; but I think you are aiming very high. There isn't a lot wrong with that as long as you know it is a high aim :) I don't know if I still want to go for #2, even though I'm a Jamaican like Bolt. But one can live in hope, right? I'd say of he list #2 is your most frivolous aim. There are years of dedication and work required to achieve that - and given your age I would say it is becoming less and less likely to be achievable. By 2012? Well I have no idea of your aptitude at running but that seems a steep aim (unless you are already working towards it). I used to have a similar list before the current one; what you need to do is pare things down to what you really want and then break that down into meaningful goals (without being too analytical). For example: my one of having a successful company by 27 is somewhat mapped out. I have a broad idea of the field I will launch into, how I would run/build my company and which contacts I need to build to achieve it. These are all sub-aims that I can work towards on a month-month basis. Once you see those aims starting to be achieved the long term goals appear more achievable. But, most importantly, just get working on them :D
Retric 16y ago
I find it useful to consider other options that have a strong possibility of success. If you want to live like your rich go into investment banking. If you want to stop worrying about money, spend less. If all you want is freedom you can work a normal job in the US for 10 years and then retire to India or live like your poor for 15 years and then retire in the US. But, if you really just want to dream about becoming rich spend 1$ a week / month on Powerball / Mega Millions and it Might happen. The truth is daydreaming can in and of it's self be fun just don't wast a lot of resources on it.
MisterWebz 16y ago
You sound almost like me. I bet you've already watched movies like "The pursuit of happyness".
- oz 16y ago
  Oh yes my friend. Just last night, I was watching clips from Wall Street and Money never Sleeps, and Boiler Room, while listening to Rick Ross & Nas' song Usual Suspects: We're the usual suspects, The real definition of success, Throwing money cause I can and I love it, From nothing, to something..." What's your story?
  - MisterWebz 16y ago
    My story? Probably similar to yours. I'm not as obsessed by becoming rich as i used to be, but it's still there. Now i just want to fulfill my rags to riches dream, instead of simply making money(They both involve money, but it's the thought that counts). I think it's wonderful how one, wherever in the world he may be, can achieve great things by just working hard and not giving up(Ofcourse, it's a lot easier for us because we're fortunate enough to live in a decent country). The only thing i'm currently afraid of is if something happens to me and i won't be able to reach my goal. Love the song, by the way. Never heard it before.

by oz 16y ago

ErrantX 16y ago

because I didn't want to hear it. "The first stage of any cure is admitting the problem. The hardest part of any cure is facing the solution" :) I do know that I want autonomy, and not having to rely on anyone financially You could easily achieve this on very little money; but this is a very broad and non-specific aim whioch covers anyone from the millionaire to the hermit (and, arguably, better describes the hermit). I'm doing an Msc in project management at the moment and we just did a section about why projects fail; the number one reason was a failure to specify the problem to be solved in enough detail. Many marital disagreements are about money. Many lives get ruined by poverty. Not having to worry about money simply makes life easier. The important thing to remember is that having lots of money is not necessarily a solution for this - or rather it certainly ain't the only solution. For me I've often thought that I'd like to be rich enough @ 30 to be a music composer. Well, if you have a talent then there is a lot of money in that area (my brother is setting up to be a composer, does very nicely even while finishing off his degree). If you don't have the ability to do that as a job then, yeh, that sounds like a pretty concrete/specific aim to go for! Fix on that and flesh it out as an idea. Write it down and stick it up somewhere prominent. Break it down into steps/things you will need. Then really dedicate to achieving it. My goals are not particularly finance oriented any more and so might be a little wierd :) Only one requires actual serious amounts of money (and, really, that is the "long term dream" I allow myself). - live on a narrow boat for a reasonable period of time (status: looking at buying one now, sticking point is decent but not insanely expensive internet access) - have a successful company by 27 (status: working on it, but this is too general at the moment and I need to concrete it better first) - marry someone amazing (status: found her but she slipped the net :) working on that) - be respected by people [by which I mean earn a position of respect somewhere important] (status: very hard, harder than I thought. though I have a little/growing respect in my work niche here in the UK) - be respected by my employees by a) leading the charge at the company and b) being an understanding boss (status: requires my own company...) - write a piece of open source code that is used "universally" and is regarded as awesome by at least someone :) (status: this could well be fluke to achieve) - live in a small whitewashed cottage in Cornwall (I know the one I want, currently a wreck) - learn to fly, fly a jet (status: problematic as it a serious piece of time is needed to achieve it) - go into space (status: pipe dream, but am determined to achieve it in time)

oz 16y ago
Earlier this year, I created a list of things I want to do before I die: 1. Write & produce a Grammy-winning Song, that shakes people to their core. 2. Break the 100m record in 2012 3. Master a technical/engineering subject 4. Design a house 5. Write a bestselling book 6. Travel to each continent 7. Travel to space 8. Learn a foreign language 9. Learn to fly an airplane I don't know if I still want to go for #2, even though I'm a Jamaican like Bolt. But one can live in hope, right? Thanks for admitting that status is important to you. That's also the reason I would like to master a technical subject.
- ErrantX 16y ago
  Thanks for admitting that status is important to you. I've always considered this, at least from my perspective, as less about status and more about how to judge your success. I'd like to earn the respect of groups I, in turn, respect; for example I hugely respect the HN crowd and try my best to act in ways people here respect/approve of. This seems to me to be a relatively altruistic judge of your own success as an individual; after all if you are succeeding in the eyes of people you yourself feel are successes then that has to be a good thing :) Earlier this year, I created a list of things I want to do before I die: I hope this doesn't sound too critical; but I think you are aiming very high. There isn't a lot wrong with that as long as you know it is a high aim :) I don't know if I still want to go for #2, even though I'm a Jamaican like Bolt. But one can live in hope, right? I'd say of he list #2 is your most frivolous aim. There are years of dedication and work required to achieve that - and given your age I would say it is becoming less and less likely to be achievable. By 2012? Well I have no idea of your aptitude at running but that seems a steep aim (unless you are already working towards it). I used to have a similar list before the current one; what you need to do is pare things down to what you really want and then break that down into meaningful goals (without being too analytical). For example: my one of having a successful company by 27 is somewhat mapped out. I have a broad idea of the field I will launch into, how I would run/build my company and which contacts I need to build to achieve it. These are all sub-aims that I can work towards on a month-month basis. Once you see those aims starting to be achieved the long term goals appear more achievable. But, most importantly, just get working on them :D

Retric 16y ago

I find it useful to consider other options that have a strong possibility of success. If you want to live like your rich go into investment banking. If you want to stop worrying about money, spend less. If all you want is freedom you can work a normal job in the US for 10 years and then retire to India or live like your poor for 15 years and then retire in the US. But, if you really just want to dream about becoming rich spend 1$ a week / month on Powerball / Mega Millions and it Might happen. The truth is daydreaming can in and of it's self be fun just don't wast a lot of resources on it.

MisterWebz 16y ago

You sound almost like me. I bet you've already watched movies like "The pursuit of happyness".

oz 16y ago
Oh yes my friend. Just last night, I was watching clips from Wall Street and Money never Sleeps, and Boiler Room, while listening to Rick Ross & Nas' song Usual Suspects: We're the usual suspects, The real definition of success, Throwing money cause I can and I love it, From nothing, to something..." What's your story?
- MisterWebz 16y ago
  My story? Probably similar to yours. I'm not as obsessed by becoming rich as i used to be, but it's still there. Now i just want to fulfill my rags to riches dream, instead of simply making money(They both involve money, but it's the thought that counts). I think it's wonderful how one, wherever in the world he may be, can achieve great things by just working hard and not giving up(Ofcourse, it's a lot easier for us because we're fortunate enough to live in a decent country). The only thing i'm currently afraid of is if something happens to me and i won't be able to reach my goal. Love the song, by the way. Never heard it before.