Most people don't actually want financial freedom. They want financial freedom without changing their habits, taking risks, or giving up anything today. Unfortunately, capitalism hasn't released that particular cheat code yet.
Self-improvement has become a full-time job. Wake up at 5 AM, meditate, work out, read, invest, build a side hustle. At some point, are we improving our lives or just becoming unpaid managers of ourselves?
“Money can't buy happiness” is technically true. But being broke can buy you stress, terrible sleep, and the exciting experience of checking your bank balance before ordering lunch.
Some people buy expensive things to look rich. Others buy assets to become rich. Both groups post online, but only one group may be quietly paying off a luxury car for the next six years.
Everyone wants AI to do their boring work. Nobody wants AI to decide their salary. We trust machines with our jobs, our writing, and our shopping habits, but apparently not with the important task of underpaying us.
People love saying success comes from hard work. It helps if you also have money, connections, good timing, and a little luck. Hard work matters, but pretending it’s the only factor is motivational fiction.
“Work hard now, enjoy life later.” Later is a suspiciously flexible deadline. At this rate, my retirement plan is to finally enjoy the weekend I missed in 2019.
We spend years getting degrees, then spend our first jobs learning things school never taught us. Maybe education prepares us for life. Or maybe it just makes us qualified to discover how unprepared we are.
Being poor teaches you financial discipline. Being rich lets you call the same behavior “wealth management.” Apparently, even virtues get better branding when you have money.