Comment by psb217
2 months ago
How is any of this introspective, reflective, or self-critical? The author was a caricature of silicon valley tech bro-ness throughout, followed by a final return to form by deciding to "study physics" in order to start another company and sound smart at VC parties. He ended where he started, and managed to produce a carbon copy blog post about how great fortune doesn't solve all problems somewhere along the way. The only thing missing was spiritual enlightenment and self-discovery through some combination of drugs or a trip to burning man.
If you can't read the paragraphs where he goes over several of his flaws and how they led to his failures, shortcomings and misses in several aspects of his life - both personal and professional - I don't know what to tell you.
Yes, I read the whole thing, thanks. It's the standard form letter for people who beat the startup game after a life of mindless career-maxing. To me, this sort of thing reads as humble-braggy, faux-introspective slop. Now he can point to this blog and say: "I'm so brave for acknowledging my flaws", while avoiding any real effort to change.
Agreed. There's also a healthy dose of "My biggest flaw is that I work too hard."
The DOGE section is particularly cringe inducing, as it should have been 2-3 sentences, but is instead paragraphs of self-congratulatory filler the likes of which only politics can attain. Tangentially related (even though the article is purportedly about happiness), being involved in politcs is generally agreed as being a poor path to happiness (for well-adjusted people anyway, which perhaps the author isn't).
Having children would be the logical next step in a financially successful life, but it seems as though the author also probably burned that bridge.
There are many tactful, helpful articles describing why money doesn't buy happiness, this isn't one of them.
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