Like losing weight, I think it’s much simpler than people make it. Eat less and not crap. Exercise more. Desire / Curiosity is #1. (Not “I want money” — I must

Like losing weight, I think it’s much simpler than people make it. Eat less and not crap. Exercise more. Desire / Curiosity is #1. (Not “I want money” — I must do X, solve Y, create Z) Discipline is probably number #2. (This other front page article really nails the wrong kind of desire: https://www.bennettnotes.com/post/obsessed-with-success-and-prestige/ https://www.bennettnotes.com/post/obsessed-with-success-and-... ) Some people have 1, and little to no 2. Some people have 2, and have completely lost all 1, preferring to learn to love and appreciate what they have, which is great. Some people’s 1 is shallow and fleeting and changes daily. The ones who have both find a way to align what they like doing with what makes them money and devote more time and effort to that than anyone else. This leads to an exceptional individual, who might do something great, if they can apply their 2 to things that capitalize on their exceptionality — ultimately, they need to be exceptional enough that others recognize it and start to take on work for them / propel them towards further capitalization for their own benefit. If you’re exceptional and no one can see it, you’ll never clear that last bar. You have to apply 1 and 2 to figure out marketing and networking and be seen, or find someone who believes in you enough to do that part for you. You might have to move. You might have to face embarrassment and/or ridicule. You will face all manner of headwinds, and most people will fail not because they don’t know the steps, but because there are some steps they refuse to take (probably for very good reasons). And yes, I do believe everyone has it within themselves to be exceptional at something — they just need to find the right thing. Today, more than ever, exceptionality pays. If twitch and competitive gaming had been a thing in my childhood, I’d probably be a pro gamer. I was wiring my PS2 through capture cards and uploading gameplay videos online before YouTube existed, standing out in wars against the perennial top 5 clans on the Socom GameBattles ladders. There was no money in it back then. I was just obsessed. Now there’s money everywhere, hunting for exceptional individuals who have mastered a thing, so they can convert them into more money. In summary, be exceptional and then show people. —— I just pulled this out of my ass, but I kinda like it. Happy to discuss and have it picked apart. Shit, today you can literally be exceptional at showing people your path to trying to be exceptional at something else. There are loads of people doing that really well.