Steven

Because a high-end Toyota is like, you've got the cushy seats and the moonroof and the good sound system. An entry-level BMW is just status, or you think it's status. You're buying it for the chance that you're going to influence somebody else's view of who you are. And people massively overestimate how much it's going to actually influence other people.

Because a high-end Toyota is like, you've got the cushy seats and the moonroof and the good sound system. An entry-level BMW is just status, or you think it's status. You're buying it for the chance that you're going to influence somebody else's view of who you are. And people massively overestimate how much it's going to actually influence other people.

Yeah, because life is always a competition for resources. It always has been. There's a limited amount of food, a limited amount of land, a limited amount of mates, a limited amount of potential. And so what has mattered historically is not whether I'm a good hunter, it's whether I'm a better hunter than you.

Yeah, because life is always a competition for resources. It always has been. There's a limited amount of food, a limited amount of land, a limited amount of mates, a limited amount of potential. And so what has mattered historically is not whether I'm a good hunter, it's whether I'm a better hunter than you.

Absolutely. And always will. We're never going to get to a world. This is what Adam Smith wrote about 300 years ago. He was like, if people just needed basic food and shelter, they could stop right now because virtually everybody has those. But we keep going because we want to be seen by the people who we're competing with and showing you, look, I'm better than you. I made more money than you.

Absolutely. And always will. We're never going to get to a world. This is what Adam Smith wrote about 300 years ago. He was like, if people just needed basic food and shelter, they could stop right now because virtually everybody has those. But we keep going because we want to be seen by the people who we're competing with and showing you, look, I'm better than you. I made more money than you.

I'm more worthy for a spouse or attention than you are. It's always a competition. It's kind of a sad thing to think about. And of course, I think people are intelligent enough to know how silly that game can be and to take themselves out of the game to some extent. But we're never going to be at a time when that's not the case. That's definitely hardwired in us.

I'm more worthy for a spouse or attention than you are. It's always a competition. It's kind of a sad thing to think about. And of course, I think people are intelligent enough to know how silly that game can be and to take themselves out of the game to some extent. But we're never going to be at a time when that's not the case. That's definitely hardwired in us.

It might seem like the world is more uncertain today than it's ever been. And I don't think that's the case with tariffs and AI. It has been more uncertain at many points in the past. It just doesn't feel that way because we know how the story ended in the past. And we don't know how this story is going to end.

It might seem like the world is more uncertain today than it's ever been. And I don't think that's the case with tariffs and AI. It has been more uncertain at many points in the past. It just doesn't feel that way because we know how the story ended in the past. And we don't know how this story is going to end.

So it's always the case that the world that we're living in today feels especially fragile and especially uncertain. And I think historically, it's not. It's uncertain and fragile in its own unique new way. But it's always the case that it feels like the world used to be great. We used to have it, and now it's not anymore.

So it's always the case that the world that we're living in today feels especially fragile and especially uncertain. And I think historically, it's not. It's uncertain and fragile in its own unique new way. But it's always the case that it feels like the world used to be great. We used to have it, and now it's not anymore.

There's a great Jon Stewart quote where he says, the reason the world felt like a better place during your childhood is because you were a child. And just because we know how the story ended, it makes it feel like today is a very uncertain place, even if it's kind of par for the course historically.

There's a great Jon Stewart quote where he says, the reason the world felt like a better place during your childhood is because you were a child. And just because we know how the story ended, it makes it feel like today is a very uncertain place, even if it's kind of par for the course historically.

One thing that I, this was not necessarily changing my mind as it was just kind of growing as an adult was when I was in my twenties, I really valued travel and getting out and seeing the world as you should in your twenties. When I became a father, I valued being at home with my kids. And it's almost like, In my 20s, a terrible night would be at home on the couch. That's a failed night.

One thing that I, this was not necessarily changing my mind as it was just kind of growing as an adult was when I was in my twenties, I really valued travel and getting out and seeing the world as you should in your twenties. When I became a father, I valued being at home with my kids. And it's almost like, In my 20s, a terrible night would be at home on the couch. That's a failed night.

And in my 30s, there's nothing, or in my 40s now, there's nothing better than being at home on the living room floor playing Legos with my kids. Nothing better. So that was a shift in values, but it wasn't because I changed my mind. It's just a different state of life.

And in my 30s, there's nothing, or in my 40s now, there's nothing better than being at home on the living room floor playing Legos with my kids. Nothing better. So that was a shift in values, but it wasn't because I changed my mind. It's just a different state of life.

virtually no one else on the planet can do it better than you.

virtually no one else on the planet can do it better than you.