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How I got wealthy without working too hard

amaca.substack.com

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Re: How I got wealthy without working too hard

#41

Post by asdfasgasdgasdg »

jjulius wrote: post #8

>Preamble: I'm extremely lucky. ... So what you're going to read is 99% luck and 1% planets alignment. I mean, that's pretty much it and he states it up front. If that's the crux, then why write about this other than to brag?

The luck here is being born into a decent family in a first world country and having an interest in/talent for technology. It is true that having those things are unearned, but many people have those things and yet still are not millionaires or work very hard to become millionaires. This guide is still useful for such individuals, despite the luck factor in having those good starting conditions.

Re: How I got wealthy without working too hard

#42

Post by hsn915 »

jjulius wrote: post #8

>Preamble: I'm extremely lucky. ... So what you're going to read is 99% luck and 1% planets alignment. I mean, that's pretty much it and he states it up front. If that's the crux, then why write about this other than to brag?

As far as I can tell, this piece is irrelevant to the rest of the article.

That's just a way to humble brag. If you read the paragraph, it doesn't actually say much:

> I was born in a developed country in the 80s (Italy), with access to fresh water, very good carbohydrates and a decent education system.

Yea, I was born in a "developing" aka "backward" middle eastern country in the 80s, but I still had access to fresh water and good food and decent education. Some of my cousins lived through civil wars and still managed to learn computer progrmaming while living in the civil-warn torn country.

Re: How I got wealthy without working too hard

#43

Post by OJFord »

gnicholas wrote: post #16
cheeze wrote: post #6

> Don't go too hard on crypto > 11.2% of NW is tied up in crypto

It's quite possible that he started out putting 1% into crypto (or even less), and it just grew much faster than his other asset classes.

If you're concerned with balance initially, why wouldn't you rebalance?

Re: How I got wealthy without working too hard

#44

Post by marcinjachymiak »

jjulius wrote: post #8

>Preamble: I'm extremely lucky. ... So what you're going to read is 99% luck and 1% planets alignment. I mean, that's pretty much it and he states it up front. If that's the crux, then why write about this other than to brag?

A large proportion of readers on HN are also quite lucky in similar ways to OP and can make this work. This lifestyle also requires less luck now with remote work having taken off big time.

Re: How I got wealthy without working too hard

#45

Post by asmos7 »

GDC7 wrote: post #33
jjulius wrote: post #8

>Preamble: I'm extremely lucky. ... So what you're going to read is 99% luck and 1% planets alignment. I mean, that's pretty much it and he states it up front. If that's the crux, then why write about this other than to brag?

> Preamble: I'm extremely lucky. ... So what you're going to read is 99% luck and 1% planets alignment. We are all extremely lucky. We are just too cowards to move to Nigeria or South Africa or Ethiopia or El Salvador to cash out on this super luck that we had. Reasons are health infrastructure, being far from parents and family, fear of violence, fear of diseases. They are all valid. But by the same token there is a…

I fail to see what good it is to own a mansion and have a bunch of toys if you live in a dangerous area where you have to put up a gate, have armed guards and in general worry about someone knocking you over the head and stealing your shit. Being the richest person in the ghetto is like being tallest midget - who cares.

Re: How I got wealthy without working too hard

#46

Post by jhickok »

gnicholas wrote: post #16
cheeze wrote: post #6

> Don't go too hard on crypto > 11.2% of NW is tied up in crypto

It's quite possible that he started out putting 1% into crypto (or even less), and it just grew much faster than his other asset classes.

that's a good point, and seems very likely given recent history.

Re: How I got wealthy without working too hard

#47

Post by dudeman13 »

jjulius wrote: post #8

>Preamble: I'm extremely lucky. ... So what you're going to read is 99% luck and 1% planets alignment. I mean, that's pretty much it and he states it up front. If that's the crux, then why write about this other than to brag?

>If that's the crux, then why write about this other than to brag?

Haven't you noticed how pervasive the "no, I'm self made and being lucky has nothing to do with it" myth is around these parts?

Despite how trivial it is to observe the opposite. Spending a week or two living in a favela or any third world country slum easily disabuses people from harbouring such notions... Or we could just culturally recognize how much it's all about luck.

Re: How I got wealthy without working too hard

#48

Post by wastedhours »

fhd2 wrote: post #15
jcroll wrote: post #2

> Work and self-actualisation can be rewarding and meaningful, but looking at the sea from an hammock and drinking too much beer with friends three times a week is also a completely respectable way of waiting for the gravitational swallowing of the planet. Part of wants to accept this from the author and the other part of me is wary. I didn't have a child because I wanted to be happy, I did it because I wanted a more…

I can relate, I have three and I feel it does give my life more meaning. But I still feel like pointing something out: Know that phenomenon where users that paid for software are typically more satisfied with it and give better ratings than users who didn't? Whish I knew what the proper name for it is, but having kids is kind of the ultimate version of that :D (Update: Thanks so much for helping me figure out what to…

It's akin to post-purchase rationalization and sunk cost bias rolled into one - likewise I think it's a specific bias in its own right, but a search hasn't turned up anything yet!

Re: How I got wealthy without working too hard

#49

Post by yoyohello13 »

shiftpgdn wrote: post #29
jcroll wrote: post #2

> Work and self-actualisation can be rewarding and meaningful, but looking at the sea from an hammock and drinking too much beer with friends three times a week is also a completely respectable way of waiting for the gravitational swallowing of the planet. Part of wants to accept this from the author and the other part of me is wary. I didn't have a child because I wanted to be happy, I did it because I wanted a more…

The biggest reality check in my life was working at an engineering firm with a bunch of near retirement baby boomers with no children. They all came across ass listless, unhappy, and living a life with no greater purpose. It was unquestionably one of the ugliest things I have ever seen. As you get older and friends drift and pass away family is one of the most important things in life. I know anti-natalism is hip rig…

I think this is dependent on the people. I’ve also seen many couples who couldn’t have kids that have very fulfilling lives. They volunteer, are active in and well liked by the community. I think meaning can come from many places. Kids are an almost guaranteed source but you can find meaning without children if you look for it.

This might just be wishful thinking on my part since I’m unable to have kids, but I’d like to think I’m not destined for a lonely meaningless future.

Re: How I got wealthy without working too hard

#50

Post by jasode »

fhd2 wrote: post #15
jcroll wrote: post #2

> Work and self-actualisation can be rewarding and meaningful, but looking at the sea from an hammock and drinking too much beer with friends three times a week is also a completely respectable way of waiting for the gravitational swallowing of the planet. Part of wants to accept this from the author and the other part of me is wary. I didn't have a child because I wanted to be happy, I did it because I wanted a more…

I can relate, I have three and I feel it does give my life more meaning. But I still feel like pointing something out: Know that phenomenon where users that paid for software are typically more satisfied with it and give better ratings than users who didn't? Whish I knew what the proper name for it is, but having kids is kind of the ultimate version of that :D (Update: Thanks so much for helping me figure out what to…

>Know that phenomenon where users that paid for software are typically more satisfied with it and give better ratings than users who didn't?

>Whish I knew what the proper name for it is,

Possibly these:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mere_ownership_effect

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endowment_effect

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choice-supportive_bias

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA_effect

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