5 Ideas Worth Sharing
On building wealth, exploring new paths, and cultivating rich experiences
June 3, 2024: Hey friends. I went on my first solo trip last Friday, staying for two nights in the humble grounds of Ormoc, Leyte. I enjoyed the long, slow walks around the city and enjoyed a great view of the sea in the bay walk. It’s one of the few trips I took that didn’t have a clear itinerary, and I’d say traveling this way is a lot more enjoyable. I’m pretty sure it’s only the first of many such trips for me.
Curiosity Conversations: Do you feel like there’s a misalignment between what you say you want and what you’re actually doing? Because I certainly do.
I tell myself I value freedom, but I often get too caught up with work. I think it’s an interesting problem that’s common for most people. I’m on a quest to figure out how we can fix this misalignment.
If you have time for a 30-min chat, I’d love to know how you’ve been dealing with it so far (or simply how you’re feeling about it). Your thoughts on the topic would be a great help.
In this week’s issue, I’m sharing five ideas that I find to be worth sharing:
A personal reflection on how to build wealth
A book that’s helping me explore a new path in life
A musical piece that made me cry during work
A more sustainable way to think about reading lists
A guide to connecting with more people (without feeling the ick)
Feel free to skip through sections that interest you most.
Enjoy!
💙 An idea I’ve been reflecting on
The best way to build wealth is by discovering who you are.
We’re no longer in an era where only the rich get richer. The internet has opened up an infinite amount of leverage that’s accessible to anyone. The opportunities are now endless and we’re even capable of creating our own.
We can make money without working at a job we hate. We can be wealthy doing something we truly enjoy. And we don’t need to turn our passions into a job either. It’s certainly not easy to do, but it’s now become a lot more possible than ever before.
Those who notice this early will gain a tremendous advantage in the years to come. And I’m willing to bet they’ll find more fulfillment, too.
📕 Book I finished reading
Pathless Path by . I found my land trip to Ormoc to be the best time to listen to the final chapters. Here’s my personal review of the book on Goodreads:
Paul's work has been such an important guide in my life today. I am currently on a journey that does not have a path nor destination, but I feel that I know where I want to go. I did not gain new answers from reading this book, but I started asking more important questions.
The Pathless Path has been an idea that I’ve been following since my final semester in college. It was an important moment for me to realize that it’s possible to have a career that does not involve climbing the corporate ladder in order to be “successful.”
Like I said in my review, I’ve asked a lot of questions since reading The Pathless Path. Here are some that I’m still thinking about today:
How can we find work that we genuinely enjoy?
Am I neglecting something important in pursuit of earning more money?
If money or other people’s opinions did not matter, what path would I take instead?
An important thing to note is that the Pathless Path is not for everyone. Paul mentioned in his book that there are people who genuinely enjoy living the corporate life.
But the main takeaway here is that there are paths we can take that’s different from the norm. We don’t need to follow what other people are doing. We have the freedom to make a choice on how we want to approach work and life.
🌷 Musical experience I’m still feeling
I’ve always enjoyed listening to classical music.
I don’t listen on a regular basis, but when I find time to enjoy a musical piece or two, I always find it to be a profound experience. Beethoven’s "Ode to Joy," in particular, almost made me cry as I listened to it on a gloomy Wednesday afternoon when I took a break from work.
If you have 8 minutes this week, I recommend setting aside time to lie in bed, put on a pair of earphones, and listen to one of the best musical masterpieces of all time.
🌿 Essays I enjoyed reading
How I Read When I Have Too Much To Read by . I get stressed out when I see that I have 350+ essays and posts on my reading list. On some days, I become so overwhelmed that I end up not reading at all. However, this turns out to be the wrong way of thinking about it. Zan offers a different perspective: “Instead of treating your reading list as a to-do list, see it as a flowing river instead.”
Is the secret to life a good email? by . Meeting new people is one of the most high-leverage things you can do. Some of the most important opportunities I have found are a direct result of connecting with new people. The problem is that “networking” can be complicated, even icky at times. However, Carly suggests that there are easier and more meaningful ways to do it. And sometimes, all it takes is one good email.
That’s it for this week’s issue of Better Meant.
I hope you found the resources to be as useful as I did.
If there's even just one that has changed your life for the better, then it would make writing this newsletter all worth it.
See you next week!
🐢 Linart
As someone who just did her first solo trip at a ripe old age, I applaud your independence, Linart.
And that was just my first thought in an essay that continues to punch with value.
Ah thank you Linart for sharing my essay! And your reflection this week is super interesting - it's something I'll have to give some thought now too!