<div class="bbWrapper">I have the opposite <i>problem.</i> If you'd call it that.<br />
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Growing up, I wanted a BMW 650i Coupe for the longest time. Gorgeous car, it really is...<br />
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At the time it was priced around $30k, and I was just going to pay cash for it.<br />
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Fast forward to my first business, and I find myself being able to afford it. Then all of a sudden it dawns on me.<br />
<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Price...</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hours worked...</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">ROI - Return on investment...</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">ROE - Return on emotion...</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Return on perception of what others think of me....but after 3071 hours mastering my craft. Their opinions mean nothing. They don't know where I've been.</li>
</ul><b>ROE</b><br />
<br />
In the movie Bruce Almighty, there's a scene where everyone gets a supercar in their driveway. Which becomes the norm. So you're no special then the next person.<br />
<br />
If you look around, most people have at least a Toyota or Honda parked in front of their house. But each one of those car owners, would trade up any day if they could.<br />
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They're never satisfied. They always have to beat the "Jonses."<br />
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This is the <b>hedonic treadmill.</b> The return to "normalcy." <br />
<br />
Whatever you buy, your euphoria in the moment, will come back down to a baseline. And it comes down quickly.<br />
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<b>Lessons from Childhood</b><br />
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I never got an allowance, and I wasn't one of those, <i>set up a lemonade stand an hustle the neighborhood</i>, types. But it was customary in my culture to receive money for special events. Christmas, Birthdays, etc.<br />
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I saved most of it, and eventually bought a couple of items for myself.<br />
<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Games</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Candies</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Toys</li>
</ul>All of which quickly faded in excitement. Waiting, and that's it? A couple of days or hours of enjoyment....<br />
<br />
(Except legos. your imagination goes wild here, and you never get bored. Now that's an ROI!)<br />
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<b>Modern Day</b><br />
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I don't mind spending...<br />
<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">An uber ride home from a bar. No question.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">A subscription to health supplements, sure.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">A good sandwich from a local family business. Hell yes. Shout out to Ilir and Marge, for their amazing Gyros!.</li>
</ul>But then it comes to spending on what you don't actually need.<br />
<br />
<b>The Investment</b><br />
<br />
Recently, I bought 2 strips of LED lights.<br />
<br />
They cost $20 on amazon, and come with a handy remote.<br />
<br />
It took me at least 6 months to make the purchase.<br />
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Why?<br />
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I don't actually need them. I can survive by candle fire if need be, and their ROI is basically 0.<br />
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It's a marginal improvement in my life and there are alternatives which are equally available, without the purchase.<br />
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But I bought them anyway.<br />
<br />
( FINE! get that damn dopamine rush, and <i>reward</i> yourself )<br />
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Since then, I haven't gone a single day without turning on the ambient lights, and getting into a groove when programming.<br />
<br />
I can adjust them to the time of day, to conform to my circadian rhythm, and modulate them any way I wish.<br />
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BUT ITS STILL NOT A POSITIVE ROI!<br />
<br />
I would have been just fine 2 months, 7 months, 3 years, down the line without them.<br />
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But I use them every day...<br />
<br />
The feeling I get when turning them on, is one of serenity. One of getting into the "zone." I weighed my options and found them to bring me constant pleasure and joy.<br />
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So it's an unnecessary purchase. But it gets the dopamine going every day.<br />
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And that's good enough for me.<br />
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<b>Addendum</b><br />
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Video games aren't all bad.<br />
<br />
You can play God of War, and become exposed to ancient mythology. An interesting topic to bring up at a networking event.<br />
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You can play something like, Age of Empires, and get an understanding of management.<br />
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You can play Death Stranding, and get a concept of a new genre. To think outside of the box...<br />
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None of this is as bad for you as you're telling yourself. You can pick up lessons from most situations.<br />
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However, you're at my BMW stage.<br />
<br />
You're realizing none of this means anything.<br />
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You're realizing that money =/= happiness.<br />
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You're making the most important transition in your life.<br />
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The one which separates the great legends of history, from the average person.<br />
<br />
Elon Musk didn't build a conglomerate by chasing money.<br />
<br />
Jobs didn't revolutionize smartphones by getting dopamine hits.<br />
<br />
...<br />
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What you choose next, will either relegate you to the ashes of history. Or cement you in the ground which your grandchildren walk upon.</div>
