I have mentioned before, I am struggling to keep up with everything these days, even though it isn't any more than what I have done in the past. The stroke is affecting my capabilities in so many ways, but what option is there but to keep doing what I can each day in the hope it is enough?
"Enough" is a very subjective term and the topic in question is going to determine intuitions about what is too little and what is too much. When it comes to money, I reckon we all have fantasized about having more and considered what enough may be, even though we probably haven't really thought it through so much. This is also going to depend on other factors, like where we live.
My wife mentioned something interesting about her interview process and one of the questions she asks is,
If you had all the money you could want, what would you do?
She noted that there are clear differences depending on cultural background, where for example, most people from Finland have answered along the lines of, "Travel, build a house and car, start painting" kinds of things. But people who may be from less wealthy countries it is, "Spend time with my family, buy my parent's a house".
I found it interesting, but unlike my wife, unsurprising. The reason is that people who tend to come from wealthier societies, high education, low crime and relative economic equality, generally have the luxury to have basics taken care of, so material goods become the focus. And because of the various kinds of privilege, individualism can be explored to the point of being wholly selfish. In cultures that are economically or socially disadvantaged, it is hard to make it through as an individual, so family and culture take precedence.
But I think, this brings up an interesting thing about crypto, as while we might often talk in US dollar values for ease of conversation, one satoshi is one satoshi, one HIVE, one HIVE. While it doesn't matter where in the world someone is, the local value of earning on Hive for example through one of the revenue streams, is going to shift heavily depending on where one lives. For instance, tonight I went to the store and bought a liter of milk (3 HIVE), bread (6 HIVE) and a liter of ice cream for wife, as she isn't feeling well (8 HIVE). The bread is gluten free (as that is all my daughter can eat), but 15€ is pretty costly. However, what can that buy in other countries?
In my last post I used an example of putting some various sums of money into DeFi pools for yield farming, but those amounts are far too high for most people on earth, but they have to be looked at in relation to local conditions. One of the brilliant things about crypto is that it is borderless and it can be earned in various ways and from anywhere - but one satoshi is one satoshi.
What I mean by this is that while someone can put 50K into a pool and earn 10K a year, another person can put 500 dollars in and earn 100, and a third could put 50 in and earn 10. While there are fees to consider which would affect how often withdrawing should be done, the pool doesn't care about where anyone is from, their background, skin color, sexual orientation or which if any, religion they subscribe too. This evens the playing field in many ways and gives people access to wealth creation tools, no matter the size of the account.
I think Hive has shown how valuable this has been, where people from all over the world have been able to have access to earning potential on an equal footing. If people are able to prove they can add demanded value in some way, they will generally earn something and if they do it consistently, they will earn consistently. For example, I know quite a few people from Nigeria, Venezuela, India and Philippines who have been able to add vast amounts into their revenue streams that well outperform the local salaries. This isn't always through posting of course, as there are other ways too, including playing Splinterlands, commenting and whatever else. The amounts might be large or small, but when cross-referenced at the local prices, it might be highly lucrative. I really hope it is.
But, this is not a charity, there has to be trade activity, meaning in general, for someone to earn consistently, they have to offer value consistently to trade. Some like me might trade words ad ideas, others might trade their playing skills on Splinterlands, or their coding skills for a community - but rewards, have to be earned.
But then, what is done with those rewards matters too, where using myself as an example, I chose to keep investing mine, instead of using it to buy ice cream, which is pretty much all my earnings would have covered early on. But, as I invested myself deeper in, I learned a lot, improved a lot, proved a lot and also, kept investing further in and outside of Hive. This means that today, I can enjoy a relatively good incoming stream that I still do not use, because it isn't enough.
As said, "enough" is a subjective and a relative term and since I am living in Finland for the foreseeable future, I don't have enough to live off without working, at least not without whittling away at my investments, which will lead to a decreasing gain and eventually, no potential for gain at all.
My enough has gone up since the stroke because my earning potential and ability to expand my working income has reduced, making the future far less financially certain for me and therefore my family. This means that it will be even longer before I would feel comfortable taking any out, as I currently think that building is more important in order to mitigate the risks of unemployment or incapability to earn an adequate income. In the past, I have always been able to fall back on my work ethic and willingness to work, but that is no longer a "guaranteed" option.
But this doesn't mean my work still can't earn, it just limits my employment opportunity even further. I am still able to find alternate streams and work on crypto assets, which essentially gives me a safety net if my real life opportunities fall apart and, allows me the opportunity to keep investing in, in the hope that one day, it will be enough to underpin whatever I want to do, or cover me for if I can't do. I don't know what enough is, but it has to have some chance to provide for my family, in case I can't.
Having the stroke has left a lot of my brain in a fog, but perhaps in some regards, it was a fortunate event, as it has made me rethink strategy, take some risks and hopefully, have a stronger foundation to stand on. There is so much opportunity for people from all kinds of backgrounds to get involved and build for their future, but what I have continually learned is, the thing that stands in the way of most people, is themselves.
Too many place material, over what matters.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
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It does feel like the year to take a little more risk, but maybe that should be said about the beginning of last year too around the lows.
Hopefully these capital risks change from very good to awesome, soon :)
I think we took some risks then too, at least some losses were incurred.
At the moment, things are liking good for the next few months. Hopefully, nothing rains on the parade.
Whenever I have a conversation with someone who's not mexican and we have the time to go deep into different topics, I bring out the aspect of relativity. A waitress in Germany can work her ass off during the summer and will be able to travel the world for 3 months, maybe 6 if she's cautious with the way she spends; a dude working the winter season up in the Finnish mountains (not mentioning Funland on purpose, I actually have a friend who did this 2 winters ago), if he focuses, he can earn enough money to go by while he goes to uni all year long; a Mexican, or for that matter any third worlder, has to have a high end job to be able to do the same, and sometimes that's not enough.
I try to bring examples such as: If you have a higher-than-meh job but take care of monthly expenses and not spend money willy nilly, you'll be able to save x% of your income, no matter where you're from, but a Belgian's 10% per month, equals a Colombian's 10% per year so, saving real money to travel the world or investing a meaningful amount of cash in global assets such as those you mention, becomes increasingly difficult for the Colombian; granted, the living standards are worlds apart (now the pun was intended), but what makes the difference is that in order to have the same investing/traveling/luxuries opportunities, the Colombian has to work ten times as harder (generally).
It's bizarre how an Australian can go live in Bali for a year, work online and come back to Aussieland with full pockets, while the locals struggle just to get by.
Crypto and DeFi opens a world of possibilites, and one of the initial intentions of this whole idea is to break with the status quo and give everyone a starting chance but, are people really starting from the same start line, or does our background interfere with this whole concept?
As you say, and I agree with you, an American can invest 500k and a Venezuelan maybe 500, and both will make returns that will go according to their living standard, and both will be ok if they manage them correctly, after all, a USD in America buys nothing, a USD in Vene probably buys the groceries for that day (just supposing for the sake of the idea), so both invest what they can and both's ROI is meaningful depending on the country they come from. The only difference I see is that locally, they both could have the same status and opportunities but, in a globalized economy the American has 100x more options. And we live in a globalized economy.
I didn't know you had a stroke, while reading I was trying to figure out if it was a metaphore or something you mentioned for the sake of the post but now I get the picture. I would say I'm sorry, but I know you, and I'm sure you already dealt with it, the consequences and how it affects/will affect your life, all I can say is that I'm glad it didn't go down the worst case scenario and that, despite all the negative effects you mentioned you are going through, you're alive, ready to continue kicking ass and in the frontline, just like it's supposed to be.
One of the best weekends I have had was a trip to Lapland for the last days of the ski season with all of the staff :)
It is. Which is why I bring these points up. The people who can benefit the most from working online are from the poorest places. I know plenty of people here who are living it up when only a few years ago, they were scrounging for scraps in real life.
I agree. But at the same time, in order to expand opportunities for more, we have to change the model of globalization, which we are doing. Once the wealth spreads, the opportunity at the local levels change too.
Yeah, I had the stroke back in June and it is going to take time to rehab, but I will never be like I was, so have to develop new strategies to survive this ridiculous world - Hope you are well mate :)
I like this question because it helps me focus my attention on something which actually i need to gain . People talked money is not everything but your health. Being Billionair is good to be find better lifestyle, living financial freedom but health and our peace of mind can not be bought with money.
I have seen people from dawn to dusk run behind earning money but they ignored their health issue.
If i would be billionair then sure live luxurios life but also never forget health and mental peace which should required more at that time.
I wonder how many of the mega rich are at peace. I think it would be a stressful life and the famous ones are always in the spotlight. I prefer the quiet life.
Almond flour or other gluten free flour, and mom/dad baking homemade bread with smallsteps helping out. Win-win.
My daughter can't eat too much of the almond flour either unfortunately - but we are introducing it slowly. It is a long process! We do bake some of our own too, but it is not always possible timewise for us. I have to say though, compared to a couple years ago - I am definitely not complaining about her diet :)
Really sorry @tarazkp to hear of your stroke — you’re far too young for that…
Wise to consider, as you say, how you can regard it as fortunate and use it revaluate — also, beyond crypto and earning, priorities.
Wishing you best of health abd less stress in life 🙏🏽
I had a "young person's stroke" - caused by a broken artery in my neck.
Yeah, the reevaluation of life is an ongoing process, but it has got a bit more focus the last few months :)
I do hope that you recover, soon, and fully. As I approach 50 (no longer young) I’m aware of mortality in another way & trying to take better care of my mind/body/spirit 🙏🏽✨
Here’s a poem you might enjoy, @tarazkp :
I think next year is why I have been trying to do more in the Hive-engine token department, using it as sort of a training ground for next year. It is not only price but liquidity is one thing I have learned, you can own a lot that says it is valuable, but when it comes time to sale there must be people that want to buy.
Demand is a must. There are plenty of tokens on HE that are also being bought by their creators to make it look like someone is buying. It is sad.
I think since we are still a bit away from mass adoption I haven't really given this the thought that it deserves. I know that I have to work at my regular job for at least five more years. After that the plan was always to work a little longer or shift to a different company and do the same thing. Now, with crypto, that line has become a little more blurry. The five years is fixed, but what happens after that... not so much.
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Only in your head - if the same trajectory continues for the next 5 years, some of your holdings will see massive gains to the point where things are even blurrier :)
That is true, but then I am missing out on not getting 100% of my pension. Which isn't a huge deal if I have other sources of income, but it would still feel wrong not to maximize that earning potential.
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One from economically and socially disadvantaged cultures could be a nouveau-riche if had all the money they could want. I think there is much more possibilty in undeveloped countries.
I have also seen that people from such countries trying to live off HIVE. Blockchain, HIVE, DeFi and the others give everybody the opportunity to create their own wealth, not only to those who have capital, as in the centralized financial systems.
This is equality!
I know several on this blockchain alone :)
The living off is generally done too early by most people though, which means they never et the foundation to make it sustainable. But, we all make our decisions in life .)
We definitely have the long term view around here, and "enough" is based purely around fundamental needs like shelter, basic services, food and healthcare. Anything else is a "treat," in essence.
But we're not the typical US family as we are largely "non-consumers." For example, the government Covid bonus checks we got last year went directly to supplies to expand our home vegetable and other food growth.
The ten year plan is to be invested in such a way that we have a modest stream of passive income from investments, writing royalties and such.
=^..^=
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No big screen TV or playstation? That is what many around the world apparently bought.
Not that much is needed, but "steady" would be nice. Currently crypto is still too volatile to offer the "enough" at the low end.
The saying; what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger is true.
But only if we chose to draw from an experience or event and rebuild ourselves to become stronger, either physically, mentally or spiritually.
I mean I never had a stroke so it’s a bit absurd for me to sit here and try to give an advice because I can’t put myself in your shoes.
However, as you also say, what can you do ? You can’t undo it, you can only adapt to the fact and try to make the best of the situation.
It almost seems that when you choose to have the right attitude and mentality, if one doors closes another one will open, or perhaps many new doors will open that you never even saw before.
I agree. Too many people victimize themselves, making excuses for why they can't. It is s a weakening of constitution.
I think there is a lot of this personally and in the world. We have limited attention, so much of the possibility goes unnoticed, while we focus on what we know and want. A pivot in perspective and we see a little more of what we missed - but we can never see it all.
Ironically in a way I have too much hive. The more hive I have the harder will it be to win another hive power up day. I know I was lucky to win it once. But I would love to win it again before my reputation is too high to be eligible participant.
I didn't know there was a competition :)
Here it is
Some of those prices are ridiculous as I know gluten free bread here is roughly $1.50 but everything is meant to be relative to where you live.
I agree the need becomes more and the not touching it is areal thing as the bags need to be bigger offering more. I am hoping al the extras I have done over the last 6 months will pay off and can be reinvested once sold for the next bull cycle. In order to make a difference I have to tell myself that is another 4 years at least. I know enough now to make that count and expect to only then make the life changing finances required. On Hive this is no get rich quick scheme but it is a scheme that provides opportunity and we are fortunate to not have to dilute it every day making other things more possible.
Just take the time and slowly recover as we all need a firing Taraz with the brilliant ideas and thoughts.
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Those extras mount up fast. I wish I had paid more attention on some of the things I put on the backburner.
I try investing what I earn from Hive with the hope of having enough in the future
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Do you invest only in Hive, or do you try other things too?
Not just hive, was talking to a friend yesterday and we suggested investing on Shopify. Looking for the right resources to put me through
I don't know shopify.
I didn't finish... I don't know Shopify, but just make sure to do your own research and keep your eyes open.
I believe there's better improvement now than before
"There is so much opportunity for people from all kinds of backgrounds to get involved and build for their future, but what I have continually learned is, the thing that stands in the way of most people, is themselves."
Cryptocurrencies like HIVE will redistribute wealth globally and they have the potential to serve as an equalizer. Personally, I also plan to invest and stay invested heavily in crypto like HIVE.
Human life is so valuable and priceless. Yet, too many are greedy and materialistic. Life is short and we leave every thing behind when we go. Thanks for your thoughts and your story.
I can see good scope of Hive in the near future and thus invested in it and just joined the Hive community as well almost a week ago. I have invested in tons of businesses including mutual funds, stocks, cryptos but crypto being the most profitable so far and now after getting to know about the Hive and its platform, I gues Hive has limitless boundaries and the most attractive part of it is the continuous passive income. I would soon be posting a blog on my Hive experience... Thanks for all those nice blogs!
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Interesting, I was just talking with a good friend about this topic the other day. I have had my answers prepared for years. In this order, I would: 1) Fund my mother's retirement, 2) enrich my siblings, 3) pay off my student loans, 4) travel the world, and 5) never buy fancy houses, cars, clothes, etc. When I'm a millionaire, nobody will be able to tell just by looking at me ;)
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Great outlook as always, the glass is always half full with you @tarazkp
Many people would use a stroke ad an excuse to stop trying or slow down, but not you... even taking the positive out of it. Good on you and more power to you.
Also I couldn't agree more about the one thing standing in people's way is themselves so often.. There are so many opportunities for those who open their eyes to the game changer Cryptocurrency is and will be.