The first is lack of interest. I know I could not become a daytrader because there’s no intellectual incentive for me there and I’m not purely motivated by money. The entire field of technical analysis is a devil’s playground, propped up by hocus-pocus. Only the truly underskilled daytrades - that isn’t me.
You inherently know when you’re not interested in things - it’s a little different from the visceral reaction of waking up for your day job - in that case, you’re probably interested, but have horrible management. A lot of my friends suffer from this.
We know a lot of things are uninteresting but pretend otherwise. I’ve never known a field quite as dry and unapplied as philosophy - and I’ve studied game theory before. Not everything needs to be applied, but there should be a connect to the real world. Unfortunately, philosophy survives on the goodwill of 22 year old’s who watch too much YouTube commentary and hateful teenagers who use every possible way to misconstrue Stoicism into misogyny.
I’ll never be interested in philosophy - and many agree secretly. We love to pretend that philosophy and biology departments should be equally paid and funded. Be honest with yourself - do you think that’s true? No. Do not pursue things just because others deem it to be something a Boston Brahmin would do.
Other such candidates: Whiskey, Coffee, Classical Music - intellectualism via Rube Goldberg mechanisms - instead just focus on actually being smart. Read things and do things you like. Even if it’s the topics above (and if you truly like it, then only).
The second reason is you didn’t put in the effort.
I was reading PG’s Hackers and Painters and he mentions Leonardo drew every leaf in Ginevra de Benci by hand.
2025 Author's Note: I've come around on philosophy, but I won't retcon this following take. It was borne of Jared Henderson-esque jabs on technology, and taking a jab back is fair game. However, I do not view philosophy the same anymore. I think it is important and fair.
You’re not doing this. I am not doing this. If I do this consistently over the next 5 years, I will be Leonado. So many founders “run” the company but it’s just vaporware. So many things are just broken because it “doesn’t matter”. So many students plagiarize instead of covering everything they can. They study last minute. So many, when they load the dishwasher load things imperfectly, so many do so many things that are just imperfect, but not in a way that is obvious.
Now, do I think all of it matters? No. If you’re in a philosophy class, you will directionally plagiarize, there’s no real new thought in the field worth reading.
But other times, how you do one thing usually defines how you do other things. Hackers like us aren’t overly organized I imagine - we do things how it works the fastest and then we fix it. No, you also need obsession with craft - which is what I’ve been working on. It’s imperative. And I suggest you join me in this.
The third reason is luck, but not in the way you think. Luck Surface Area is a popular concept that Naval talks about, but it is compounded by your attempts and direction.
There’s not much to say here, but I’ve been lucky exactly after I’ve worked hard. It all works out only if you’re working out.
Now, it’s 9AM in LA and I have to start work, but I’ll catch you around again.