Share0
Tweet0
Share0
Share0
Tweet0
Share0

Reminder to stay humble, read on the good days

We are all a bunch of primates. The difference between the smartest and dumbest human is pretty small in absolute scale. So while you may be considered a genius by the severely inbreed startup scene in the bay area, it’s not because you are special. It’s because of how little they know.

Read more history and philosophy. Philosophy humbles you and history gives perspective. Then you might see how many “special” people came before you, how little anyone remembers them. Also you might see how arbitrarily our world is put together by people who didn’t really know what they were doing, and everything can be rearranged by anyone.

You will be completely forgotten within a few decades of your death, and if you significantly change the current state of the world, then maybe you can stretch it to a few hundred years. This is only a game we choose to play, so don’t let it get to your head, don’t be an a**hole, and don’t forget to have a good time.

The more you let success get to your head, the more fragile you become. Being a brutally honest realist is the only sure way to enjoy being an entrepreneur for life. If you know it’s a gamble and acknowledge the uncertainties, failure will just be an unfortunate but predictable outcome. Otherwise, you are setting yourself up for mental breakdown. When you’re worried you’ll have to act like everything is okay (people can tell anyway), and when you fail you shatter.

The shame of future is not worth the pride of today. Don’t let it get to your head.

  • Excellent post – in essenc you are saying we need perspective, and that the world we live in is myopic and insular. So true.

    “Every night and every morn, some to misery are born. Every morn and every night, some are born to sweet delight. Some are born to sweet the light, some are born to endless night.” — William Blake

    Reply

  • Completely agree. The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant is a good place to start. A difficult read, very dry, but we’ll worth it.

    Reply

  • It’s hard to tell whether the OP wrote this to be helpful or because he is the competitive turd that he loathes. I assume its the latter.

    OP– you’re a self-loathing prick

    may you, as you said, shatter into a million pieces

    Reply
    • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

    You may also like

    >