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The days are long but the decades are short (2015)

blog.samaltman.com

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Re: The days are long but the decades are short (2015)

#21

Post by aziaziazi »

angarg12 wrote: post #11

On 5): The most transformative step in my journey up the class ladder was when money stopped being a source of problems and instead became a way to solve problems.

Also on 5)

> Whether or not money can buy happiness, it can buy freedom

This is true outside of your work but not so much during it:

- when you makes lots of money you feel less free to resign than for a shitty interchangeable job. It’s even more true as the shitty job has less chance to be intellectually interesting

- building your own business usually means you’re even less free mentally as you got more responsibilities

- if you’re got employee it’s even worse : you’ve got more legal obligations and probably moral implications.

Money can buy a lots of thinks but certainly not freedom.

Re: The days are long but the decades are short (2015)

#22

Post by zamfi »

weekendvampire wrote: post #18

I'm always surprised by how often advice from extremely successful people tends to repeat itself, which tells me that there really is no "secret" to making it and living a great life that I don't already know.

Yes, implementing this kind of advice is much harder than merely reading it.

Re: The days are long but the decades are short (2015)

#24

Post by dahwolf »

It's like combining the advise of Schwarzenegger, Dr Phil, Yoda, a random tech bro's substack, life-hack Youtube stars, and more.

None of the advise is incorrect of course, it's just that the sum is unattainable and at times contradicting. It basically says: here's 20 balls. Now juggle them up in the air, don't let any of them drop.

That being said, your 20s are special. It's indeed the decade where you have the most energy versus the least responsibilities. Don't take your 20s in slow or tame mode.

Re: The days are long but the decades are short (2015)

#25

Post by woodruffw »

dahwolf wrote: post #24

It's like combining the advise of Schwarzenegger, Dr Phil, Yoda, a random tech bro's substack, life-hack Youtube stars, and more. None of the advise is incorrect of course, it's just that the sum is unattainable and at times contradicting. It basically says: here's 20 balls. Now juggle them up in the air, don't let any of them drop. That being said, your 20s are special. It's indeed the decade where you have the most…

As another commenter points out: the advice is not contradictory only if you’re stinking rich, as the people who tend to write these posts tend to be.

Re: The days are long but the decades are short (2015)

#27

Post by dionidium »

angarg12 wrote: post #11

On 5): The most transformative step in my journey up the class ladder was when money stopped being a source of problems and instead became a way to solve problems.

Sam Altman went to a high school that costs $32,800 per year. His "journey up the class ladder" started on a rung where money isn't an issue.

https://www.jburroughs.org/admissions/tuition-affordability

Re: The days are long but the decades are short (2015)

#28

Post by animal_spirits »

dionidium wrote: post #27
angarg12 wrote: post #11

On 5): The most transformative step in my journey up the class ladder was when money stopped being a source of problems and instead became a way to solve problems.

Sam Altman went to a high school that costs $32,800 per year. His "journey up the class ladder" started on a rung where money isn't an issue. https://www.jburroughs.org/admissions/tuition-affordability

Does that make his journey any less valid?

Re: The days are long but the decades are short (2015)

#29

Post by dionidium »

animal_spirits wrote: post #28
dionidium wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sam Altman went to a high school that costs $32,800 per year. His "journey up the class ladder" started on a rung where money isn't an issue. https://www.jburroughs.org/admissions/tuition-affordability

Does that make his journey any less valid?

No, it's great. I hope to help my kids start on the same rung, but I think I'll caution them against giving advice about "having enough money so that you don’t stress about paying rent," something a person who started in that income bracket has never once had to meaningfully worry about, obviously.

Re: The days are long but the decades are short (2015)

#30

Post by gnulinux »

zamfi wrote: post #22
weekendvampire wrote: post #18

I'm always surprised by how often advice from extremely successful people tends to repeat itself, which tells me that there really is no "secret" to making it and living a great life that I don't already know.

Yes, implementing this kind of advice is much harder than merely reading it.

This makes about as much sense as saying the same thing for advise on winning the lottery. The "implementing" part you're referring is nothing other than "being lucky" so there really isn't anything to implement nor anything to advise.
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