Steven

And that's why I say like a lot of this is a mindset because the truth is the vast majority of people listening to this could have a level of independence. It's not that you can retire tomorrow, but you can have a level of financial independence once you realize that the key is managing your expectations. More than it is how can I just pile up as much money as I possibly can.

And that's why I say like a lot of this is a mindset because the truth is the vast majority of people listening to this could have a level of independence. It's not that you can retire tomorrow, but you can have a level of financial independence once you realize that the key is managing your expectations. More than it is how can I just pile up as much money as I possibly can.

It's easy to think, like, how do you become financially independent? Like, save a ton of money. And there's truth to that. Of course, that's part of it. But more of it is just in, like, what kind of life do you want to live? Because if your expectations are growing faster than your net worth, it's never going to feel like it. You'll never be independent. Never.

It's easy to think, like, how do you become financially independent? Like, save a ton of money. And there's truth to that. Of course, that's part of it. But more of it is just in, like, what kind of life do you want to live? Because if your expectations are growing faster than your net worth, it's never going to feel like it. You'll never be independent. Never.

You have $100 billion, but if you want more and more and more, it's never gonna feel like it's enough. Or if you enjoy birdwatching and reading books like my grandmother-in-law, 7,800 bucks a month, you're all set. You're set for 30 years.

You have $100 billion, but if you want more and more and more, it's never gonna feel like it's enough. Or if you enjoy birdwatching and reading books like my grandmother-in-law, 7,800 bucks a month, you're all set. You're set for 30 years.

You're rich.

You're rich.

She was psychologically rich, even if she was financially poor. And I think that's the biggest thing about it. Adam Smith, who was the greatest economist to ever live, this was 300 years ago, he once wrote about this. He was like, why do people work so hard? And he was just like, that's a simple question, but why do people work so damn hard?

She was psychologically rich, even if she was financially poor. And I think that's the biggest thing about it. Adam Smith, who was the greatest economist to ever live, this was 300 years ago, he once wrote about this. He was like, why do people work so hard? And he was just like, that's a simple question, but why do people work so damn hard?

And he's like, it can't just be for our sustenance because even poor people, as he was writing about it, had homes and adequate food most of the time. He's like, there has to be something else. And what that something else was, he wrote, was to be seen by other people. And it was attention and admiration.

And he's like, it can't just be for our sustenance because even poor people, as he was writing about it, had homes and adequate food most of the time. He's like, there has to be something else. And what that something else was, he wrote, was to be seen by other people. And it was attention and admiration.

They wanted to be getting rich so that they could have a bigger house and a nice car, not in his day, but they wanted attention from other people. But he was like, it's not that you needed the money. Because even in his day, 300 years ago, in Scotland, I think he was, he was like, look, people have homes and food. Like, what are they doing this for? And he was not criticizing them.

They wanted to be getting rich so that they could have a bigger house and a nice car, not in his day, but they wanted attention from other people. But he was like, it's not that you needed the money. Because even in his day, 300 years ago, in Scotland, I think he was, he was like, look, people have homes and food. Like, what are they doing this for? And he was not criticizing them.

Like, his whole point was like, they're going out and innovating. They're going to have great technology. And it's great to go do that. But the reason to do it was not because they had to stop. Now, of course, most people to get shelter and food do have to keep working. But they're working more than they absolutely need to because they want something else besides independence.

Like, his whole point was like, they're going out and innovating. They're going to have great technology. And it's great to go do that. But the reason to do it was not because they had to stop. Now, of course, most people to get shelter and food do have to keep working. But they're working more than they absolutely need to because they want something else besides independence.

What a lot of them do too is when they have all the money in the world, what they want is immortality. And you see these guys trying to live forever.

What a lot of them do too is when they have all the money in the world, what they want is immortality. And you see these guys trying to live forever.

Yeah. Harvey Firestone, who was a tire magnet 100 years ago, Firestone tires during the explosion of cars 100 years ago, he wrote about this in his biography. He was like, every rich person he knows, once they get money, buys a house that is way too big than they need. Not only bigger than they need, bigger than they want. Because a giant house is just a huge pain in the ass.

Yeah. Harvey Firestone, who was a tire magnet 100 years ago, Firestone tires during the explosion of cars 100 years ago, he wrote about this in his biography. He was like, every rich person he knows, once they get money, buys a house that is way too big than they need. Not only bigger than they need, bigger than they want. Because a giant house is just a huge pain in the ass.