Ali Abdaal

They just didn't want to do it because it was kind of scary or they weren't that great socially or they found that keeping their head down and being a workhorse was easier. But I think that's because overachievers who go to law school are naturally disciplined, heads down kind of people. So if you get out of that situation and you can be a salesman also, you just have disproportionate rewards.

But if you just stay in your habit of grinding all the time, you end up a workhorse lawyer. Nothing wrong with that. However, in 2008, when the economic downturn hits, everybody gets forced out of this firm. The firm closes, 140-year-old law firm closes. Dave goes to another law firm because he's got all the clients. He's got a whole book of business. They hire him right away.

But if you just stay in your habit of grinding all the time, you end up a workhorse lawyer. Nothing wrong with that. However, in 2008, when the economic downturn hits, everybody gets forced out of this firm. The firm closes, 140-year-old law firm closes. Dave goes to another law firm because he's got all the clients. He's got a whole book of business. They hire him right away.

But if you just stay in your habit of grinding all the time, you end up a workhorse lawyer. Nothing wrong with that. However, in 2008, when the economic downturn hits, everybody gets forced out of this firm. The firm closes, 140-year-old law firm closes. Dave goes to another law firm because he's got all the clients. He's got a whole book of business. They hire him right away.

Maybe the dude even got a raise. The other workhorse lawyers, Nobody really wants those guys. There's no work anymore in real estate finance at that point in time. They worked for a firm that's no longer around. Every other partner views them as competition because they essentially are, except for Dave who brings in more business. So

Maybe the dude even got a raise. The other workhorse lawyers, Nobody really wants those guys. There's no work anymore in real estate finance at that point in time. They worked for a firm that's no longer around. Every other partner views them as competition because they essentially are, except for Dave who brings in more business. So

Maybe the dude even got a raise. The other workhorse lawyers, Nobody really wants those guys. There's no work anymore in real estate finance at that point in time. They worked for a firm that's no longer around. Every other partner views them as competition because they essentially are, except for Dave who brings in more business. So

I thought, okay, not only is this true inside the legal realm, this relationship thing is like an insurance policy. So I tripled down on that right away.

I thought, okay, not only is this true inside the legal realm, this relationship thing is like an insurance policy. So I tripled down on that right away.

I thought, okay, not only is this true inside the legal realm, this relationship thing is like an insurance policy. So I tripled down on that right away.

I agree with that 100%. I mean, you and I are in a slightly different kind of field, right, because we're creating things, so you can probably stretch to that if you think about it, but a lot of CEO-type people are great at making decisions and they're managing people and they have great ideas. We have to kind of do some of that, but also I can never, at least me, I can never run my business.

I agree with that 100%. I mean, you and I are in a slightly different kind of field, right, because we're creating things, so you can probably stretch to that if you think about it, but a lot of CEO-type people are great at making decisions and they're managing people and they have great ideas. We have to kind of do some of that, but also I can never, at least me, I can never run my business.

I agree with that 100%. I mean, you and I are in a slightly different kind of field, right, because we're creating things, so you can probably stretch to that if you think about it, but a lot of CEO-type people are great at making decisions and they're managing people and they have great ideas. We have to kind of do some of that, but also I can never, at least me, I can never run my business.

I can't automate myself or do it because I'm having conversations. It's a podcast, right? You can't automate like this part of your business. It's not possible yet. And so I do agree though. I think school clearly has failed most of us in that way, especially in the United States.

I can't automate myself or do it because I'm having conversations. It's a podcast, right? You can't automate like this part of your business. It's not possible yet. And so I do agree though. I think school clearly has failed most of us in that way, especially in the United States.

I can't automate myself or do it because I'm having conversations. It's a podcast, right? You can't automate like this part of your business. It's not possible yet. And so I do agree though. I think school clearly has failed most of us in that way, especially in the United States.

I don't know if you know this, but school in the United States is generally, it was designed for like an agricultural revolution back in the day. And now it's industrial revolution where it's like the bell rings. It's sort of factory assembly line. Everybody do the same thing. Lowest common denominator is where the work line is.

I don't know if you know this, but school in the United States is generally, it was designed for like an agricultural revolution back in the day. And now it's industrial revolution where it's like the bell rings. It's sort of factory assembly line. Everybody do the same thing. Lowest common denominator is where the work line is.

I don't know if you know this, but school in the United States is generally, it was designed for like an agricultural revolution back in the day. And now it's industrial revolution where it's like the bell rings. It's sort of factory assembly line. Everybody do the same thing. Lowest common denominator is where the work line is.

So if you're intelligent and you're in a public school or a regular school in the United States, it's very hard for teachers to serve you. Because they have to catch everyone. And that is a terrible way to create innovative thinkers, for example.