By 2019, after years spent as a miserable democratic socialist blaming others for personal unhappiness, a decision was made to stop that pattern and begin taking risks to change life circumstances
Multiple jobs were taken on—three at one point. One job funded living expenses while additional earnings were invested entirely in Palantir. Despite 70-hour weeks and stretches of up to 60 days without a day off, the effort felt exhilarating compared with remaining miserable and defining identity by politics and disdain for "the rich"
A portfolio of 4,000 Palantir shares was accumulated at an $8 cost basis between 2021–2023, about $32,000 earned from intense grinding. Between 2023–2025 that $32,000 grew to over $400,000. In May 2024 some profits were rotated into TSLA alongside new purchases from additional income
Since 2019 many lessons about capitalism, wealth creation, and the difference between makers and takers were learned. Inspiration came from numerous builders and entrepreneurs on the platform, with some direct interactions—totally surreal
When news arrived that Elon’s pay package was approved, a cheer happened in the car on the way home and 750 shares were voted in favor with a grin. If Elon is paid $1 trillion, multimillionaire status would follow
After a decade of personal effort, that post by Bernie would have been cheered in 2015, but it is now seen as manipulative, depressing rhetoric aimed at creating voter dependency. Those politicians are described as not building or creating value or offering working-class people opportunities to exchange labor for others' expertise, and instead causing personal misery
The hope was expressed that at least one reader might feel motivated to begin changing their situation, acknowledging ups and downs while emphasizing ownership of the effort and advising to ignore pessimistic, depressing rhetoric
It matters who a wagon is hitched to. Socialist wagons have proven disappointing. A modern Thomas Edison makes for a much better one