I have to admit, I’m in the “This feels intuitively right, and I’m really frustrated that the math doesn’t add up” phase. But let’s see what fresh-morning Aurini has to say.
But essentially, your hours spent working/sleeping/etc − 20 Hrs/day—are a non-negotiable sunk-cost.
Everyone’s goals basically boils down to achieving greater access to utilons; In a simplistic sense, this correlates to increasing one’s hourly earnings (exceptions to follow). The reward/promotion prospects one can anticipate during their time at the office is minimal—especially since more successful competetiors will be investing their time more efficiently.
Spending your off hours earning a comparable wage (or adding benefits to your life valued at a comparable wage) boils down to treading water. Your goal during those precious 4 hours should be productivity worth at least twice your hourly wage for that reason, whether you’re using the time to pursue hedonic pleasures, advance your education (formal or informal) or networking for a better job.
Gut instinct and observation tends to suggest that this is the mistake poor people make; they don’t place a high enough value on their off time, using the four hours as a source of rocket fuel to launch themselves higher. At worst they waste it in mind-numbing unproductive activities, at best they waste it on fixing old clunkers instead of looking around for more creative solutions (such as buying a new clunker every four months).
Seeming exceptions to the “mo’ money, no problems” would be things like living the simple life—moving out of the big city, and getting a job in an honest trade in a small town—but even with this goal it should follow that you value your time highly. Your time off should be spent inventing a way to change your life to meet these goals, rather than working as a Barrista—the only exception being a really high paying job, one significant enough to distort your finances in a positive way—or about 2X what you’re earning anyway.
Anyway, I think this is almost right, but I’m still frustrated that the numbers don’t add up. There’s an old Native American saying which asks “Does this grow corn?” which keeps popping into my mind. Any ideas?
I have to admit, I’m in the “This feels intuitively right, and I’m really frustrated that the math doesn’t add up” phase. But let’s see what fresh-morning Aurini has to say.
But essentially, your hours spent working/sleeping/etc − 20 Hrs/day—are a non-negotiable sunk-cost.
Everyone’s goals basically boils down to achieving greater access to utilons; In a simplistic sense, this correlates to increasing one’s hourly earnings (exceptions to follow). The reward/promotion prospects one can anticipate during their time at the office is minimal—especially since more successful competetiors will be investing their time more efficiently.
Spending your off hours earning a comparable wage (or adding benefits to your life valued at a comparable wage) boils down to treading water. Your goal during those precious 4 hours should be productivity worth at least twice your hourly wage for that reason, whether you’re using the time to pursue hedonic pleasures, advance your education (formal or informal) or networking for a better job.
Gut instinct and observation tends to suggest that this is the mistake poor people make; they don’t place a high enough value on their off time, using the four hours as a source of rocket fuel to launch themselves higher. At worst they waste it in mind-numbing unproductive activities, at best they waste it on fixing old clunkers instead of looking around for more creative solutions (such as buying a new clunker every four months).
Seeming exceptions to the “mo’ money, no problems” would be things like living the simple life—moving out of the big city, and getting a job in an honest trade in a small town—but even with this goal it should follow that you value your time highly. Your time off should be spent inventing a way to change your life to meet these goals, rather than working as a Barrista—the only exception being a really high paying job, one significant enough to distort your finances in a positive way—or about 2X what you’re earning anyway.
Anyway, I think this is almost right, but I’m still frustrated that the numbers don’t add up. There’s an old Native American saying which asks “Does this grow corn?” which keeps popping into my mind. Any ideas?