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There is so much I could write, but this sounds exactly like many lottery winner stories. The 30k blown in Vegas part, especially. My personal philosophy is t

by brc 16y ago

There is so much I could write, but this sounds exactly like many lottery winner stories. The 30k blown in Vegas part, especially. My personal philosophy is that you've got to get yourself correctly life-balanced. Adding money just amplifies your current habits. So if you're working 24x7 with no life balance, adding a lot of money will just amplify that out-of-control nature. What's sad to me is that there was nobody in this guys life who could act as a mentor and provide advice.

GVRV 16y ago
Maybe there were, but this guy just didn't wanna listen? I have to jump to conclusions, but from his writing style, he seems borderline arrogant.
njharman 16y ago
35k of 2mil is 1.75%. Not an unreasonable amount to throw away on entertainment. Money is not an end itself. At some point you gotta spend it or why bother getting it in the first place. All the expensive cars are much more of an issue. Fun is fun, "status" is a total waste.
- brc 16y ago
  It's not just the amount, it's the action, particularly when in context of some of the other waste. Gambling away the same amount of money that people get for doing a YC round is not the right sort of thinking for long-term success. It's also the pervasive attitude of using money as a means to impress others. No amount of money will fix that, because there's always someone richer to impress. You mightn't think wasting 30k in vegas was fun, but I'd ask if he would do the same thing in a less 'glamorous' place. Frankly I would see the cars as less of a waste because presumably they still have some resale value. edit : I'll just add to that, think of any mentor you can. Now ask yourself : would that mentor suggest blowing that cash on gambling, strippers and expensive gifts for an (obviously) fair-weather girlfriend was a good idea?
- hugh3 16y ago
  Spending 1.75% of your income on entertainment is fine -- in fact, it's pretty miserly. Spending 1.75% of your total net wealth on entertainment, in one go, though, is dumb. Maybe it was multiple trips, but still, Las Vegas is a very easy, and very unsatisfying, way to spend large sums of cash. The only worse item on the list is $20K in strip clubs. All the expensive cars are much more of an issue. Fun is fun, "status" is a total waste. Cars aren't fun? Maybe you don't enjoy driving, but I sure as hell do. If I had a $2.5 million windfall I'd be buying some fancy cars too.

by brc 16y ago

GVRV 16y ago

Maybe there were, but this guy just didn't wanna listen? I have to jump to conclusions, but from his writing style, he seems borderline arrogant.

njharman 16y ago

35k of 2mil is 1.75%. Not an unreasonable amount to throw away on entertainment. Money is not an end itself. At some point you gotta spend it or why bother getting it in the first place. All the expensive cars are much more of an issue. Fun is fun, "status" is a total waste.

brc 16y ago
It's not just the amount, it's the action, particularly when in context of some of the other waste. Gambling away the same amount of money that people get for doing a YC round is not the right sort of thinking for long-term success. It's also the pervasive attitude of using money as a means to impress others. No amount of money will fix that, because there's always someone richer to impress. You mightn't think wasting 30k in vegas was fun, but I'd ask if he would do the same thing in a less 'glamorous' place. Frankly I would see the cars as less of a waste because presumably they still have some resale value. edit : I'll just add to that, think of any mentor you can. Now ask yourself : would that mentor suggest blowing that cash on gambling, strippers and expensive gifts for an (obviously) fair-weather girlfriend was a good idea?
hugh3 16y ago
Spending 1.75% of your income on entertainment is fine -- in fact, it's pretty miserly. Spending 1.75% of your total net wealth on entertainment, in one go, though, is dumb. Maybe it was multiple trips, but still, Las Vegas is a very easy, and very unsatisfying, way to spend large sums of cash. The only worse item on the list is $20K in strip clubs. All the expensive cars are much more of an issue. Fun is fun, "status" is a total waste. Cars aren't fun? Maybe you don't enjoy driving, but I sure as hell do. If I had a $2.5 million windfall I'd be buying some fancy cars too.