Joseph's "Just My Thoughts"

Salt is a crucial ingredient we consume daily, neither from animal products nor from vegetables. The salty taste plays a major role in determining what we find delicious. When restaurant food is overly salty, customers often complain, but if it’s not salty enough, they typically remain silent and don’t revisit after their meal. Salty taste serves as a standard of flavor and is essential for life. Salt must maintain a specific concentration in our blood, known as osmolality, to support our existence. This necessity also explains why we may dislike or spit out food that is excessively salty. Essentially, our reaction to saltiness stems from an instinct for survival. Thus, it goes beyond mere pleasure; it is a critical aspect of our survival. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Plants produce a toxin called alkaloids for their protection. Over 200 types of alkaloids exist in nature, and they are known for their bitter taste. Humans dislike bitterness and prefer sweetness. Among taste receptors, there are four times as many receptors for detecting bitter flavors compared to other taste perceptions, which is believed to be an evolutionary adaptation for safety against toxins. Fear is an instinctual response in humans to ensure security. Aversion to pain may also serve as a survival mechanism. Don’t be vaguely afraid of fear. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

I believe Maslow’s “Theory of Needs” is a brilliant concept. Humans exhibit different behaviors based on their needs, prioritize satisfaction, and seek fulfillment at higher levels. This theory can also explain why artists often struggle financially. While art is not a necessity for daily life, it is an essential component of a fulfilling existence. However, it holds a high position in the hierarchy of needs, resulting in a small number of very famous artists accumulating substantial wealth within the art market. By analyzing people’s actions based on their needs, one can roughly predict the marketability and sustainability of their professions. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

If you encounter heavy traffic jams during your commute, you should avoid purchasing real estate in that area. This is a clear indication that property prices have already significantly increased. If you cannot look beyond the superficial signs, you’ll always tread the same path as those before you, living a life dictated by others’ choices rather than your own judgment. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Only humans are the sole creatures on Earth that cook. The starting point of all cooking is the use of fire. Why do humans use fire? The nutrient absorption rate of raw potatoes is 51%, while boiled potatoes have a rate of 95%. Beef-specific proteins are 4 times more digestible when heated. Good digestion allows for greater energy extraction. Apes chew their food for 6 to 8 hours a day, but humans chew for less than an hour. As a result, the human intestines are only two-thirds shorter than those of apes. In contrast, the human brain is larger. The human brain is the most efficient organ for energy in the body. In fact, species of apes with larger brains have smaller intestines, while those with larger intestines possess smaller brains. This is referred to as the “exchange relationship between the brain and the intestine.” Eating boiled foods indicates cooking. This single factor decisively distinguishes humans. Don’t underestimate the significance of cooking. - Joseph’s “just my thoug...

Netflix initially started as a DVD rental service and grew, but it soon encountered a crisis with video streaming technology. Nevertheless, it wasn’t feasible to abruptly abandon the existing business and transition to a digital distribution model, highlighting the significant conflict involved! Video streaming technology is not a complementary service to DVD rental; rather, it serves as an alternative. When expanding or improving a business, it’s crucial to clearly understand the defining attributes of the target product or service. Burgers and French fries complement each other, while burgers and chicken sandwiches are substitutes. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

When individuals who have successfully overcome adversity and achieved social recognition view the world through their ability to conquer personal struggles, challenges emerge. Seeing the experience of overcoming hardships through diligent effort as an opportunity to cultivate genuine self-confidence enhances positive self-esteem. However, evaluating everything in the world solely from that perspective can lead to significant difficulties for both yourself and others. My success may change me, but there are no guaranteed formulas to positively impact the world. Success holds value when it becomes an internal celebration within me. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Some characters occasionally appear only to family members or close friends. For example, although he is generally generous to others, he becomes angry with his mother, who has endured much for him. He does not contain his anger toward a specific person for long. Even those who have known me for a long time, my unusual character, which they may not fully understand, defines me, intervenes in my life until death, and influences critical moments. Even within my family, if they cannot accept my unique and limited character, I will ultimately live as if estranged from someone else. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

One person gives freely yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. (Proverbs 11:24) This is a record from the Old Testament. It should not be interpreted as an endorsement of wastefulness. Wealth is not determined by the amount of income and expenditure but rather by purpose, relationships, and the timing of the purpose-fit-management. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Only a few founders genuinely grasp the essence of their businesses from the start. After launching, they often start to grasp the core of their ventures as their customer bases expand. If startups had a clearer insight into their businesses from the outset, they could significantly lower their chances of failure. The sooner you identify your business’s essence, the greater your chances for success will be. Furthermore, if you can quickly pivot your business direction—even if you realize it later—the likelihood of failure diminishes. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Leaders delegate, while bosses manage. Organizations that have numerous meetings and extensive reporting are led by bosses, not leaders. Another factor contributing to this phenomenon is that the work being performed is viewed not as a product but as a project. Product work emphasizes customer experience, whereas project work relates to compliance deadlines. Consequently, project work involves many meetings and reporting. Dysfunctional organizations are characterized by excessive meetings, while successful organizations prioritize conversations over meetings. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Individuals believe that “information” translates to money in the online world, but “attention” actually leads to significant financial gains. Without capturing people’s attention, online information is merely useful but may struggle to generate revenue. Attention operates under a system where the winner takes all (a principle where 80% of results are dominated by 20% of players). Even so, winning once does not guarantee lasting benefits, and to sustain that monopoly, attention must be tied to reputation, as well as good fame. However, attention is a limited resource. It is like a mother who cannot give equal attention to all her children, even if she loves them equally. Thus, choice and focus enhance attention. It’s not information; it’s attention. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

To achieve your goals, your will and attitude must change accordingly. For instance, if you set a goal to become wealthy, your mindset, attitude, and actions must also align with that goal. The consequences of our actions ultimately shape our lives. Simply understanding something does not lead to change. Those who genuinely want to change their behavior will do so. Before you reach your goal, your will and attitude must adjust to support that direction. Life is a genuine battlefield. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Life can feel joyful when we have many close relationships, but this often gradually brings more anguish as well. Intimacy is also crucial to us, yet just as much as it is, “blatant ignorance” and a “healthy dose of distance” significantly influence our happiness. For instance, I can’t eat meat from a slaughtered cow that I have carefully nursed, but I am content eating the meat from a cow that I did not nurture. The fact that I have made money means my gains are a return for the damages of someone unknown to the economic system of this world, yet I can only be happy because I do not know adequately. Without blatant ignorance and a healthy dose of distance , our happiness deteriorates terribly. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

In law, a “fact” is not referred to simply as a “fact,” but rather as a “ contextual  fact.” The legal system addresses the relationships between people, positing that all facts are generated and understood within these relationships. Even the question of existence—whether to be or not to be—is grasped through the lens of relationships. There is no fact without a relationship, and the fact itself is neither true nor false; instead, the relationship determines its truthfulness or falsity. In other words, if you view truth and falsehood as absolute, you will navigate the world with a rigid mindset. Conversely, if you accept them as relative and contextual, you will perceive them with a broader sense of liberty. Ultimately, which perspective leads to greater happiness is a matter of individual disposition and taste. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Books focused on “healing” often dominate the overall bestseller charts in South Korea, indicating strong reader interest in comfort. There are two primary strategies for commercializing healing concepts. The first strategy aims to alleviate guilt while fostering a sense of responsibility. The second approach aims to reinforce guilt but provides comfort after encouraging personal accountability. This methodology is also applicable in areas such as religion and counseling psychology. At the core of the healing industry is the concept of “privatizing pain.” Essentially, it means: “It’s not your fault (reducing guilt), but you have the power to change it (reinforcing responsibility).” - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Any business can succeed if it generates more revenue than it incurs in costs. When you achieve high sales volume with low expenses, a surplus occurs; only with a surplus can production and investment continue. “Replication” enables humanity to create surplus legitimately. Humanity has learned that surplus can increase if similar costs are incurred or if goods or services of equal quality are sold at minimal costs. The growth of a management organization demonstrates that it continues to replicate its members at the same level as the founder, and increased revenue indicates it can easily “replicate” the designated quality. The cells in our bodies also “replicate” to sustain life. For handmade products to thrive, they must prioritize scarcity over productivity since improvements in productivity can reduce scarcity. If you don’t grasp the principles of duplication, achieving success in your business becomes challenging. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Creativity stems from actions rather than from emotions or ideas. The willingness to take steps that others avoid is the foundation of innovation. Essentially, genuinely creative individuals act on their curiosities. While everyone has ideas, they are ineffective without action. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

The most reliable path to wealth in this world is having foresight. Among the characters of the Old Testament, Joseph exemplified this; initially sold as a slave in Egypt, he eventually ascended to become the imperial premier, elevated from a prisoner due to his ability to foresee events. Fourteen years later, his foresight again led to the nation’s prosperity. For anyone to gain this foresight, they must gather information, analyze it, and put in substantial effort. However, there’s a key condition: the knowledge of the future must be kept exclusive to oneself. Moreover, it’s not enough to simply know; one must believe in and act upon one’s insights. Thus, both the wealthy individual and the prophet share a critical trait. Essentially, wealth stems from a unique grasp and monopoly on the future. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Addiction arises from the allure of immediate rewards. These instant gratifications clearly activate our brains, attracting those who favor such rewards. They play a critical role in shaping human activities and contributing to addiction. For example, if a student struggling to focus notices immediate improvements after studying for just a little while, they are likely to keep studying diligently. Similarly, if stock investors can confirm the traded stock price a month or a year later during their transactions, they may lose interest in trading. The timing of rewards greatly influences human interactions and societal structures. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

When an officer informed Prussian Friedrich the Great that there were discrepancies between the book and the actual battle, Friedrich famously replied, “We have a mule that has fought 60 times in our army, yet it remains just a mule.” In response to an officer’s query about becoming a great strategist, Napoleon stated that his only way was to study the history of warfare. Lincoln admitted that everything he sought to understand was contained in a book, and Edison read through the entire collection from the Detroit Library. When asked about the key to his success, Warren Buffett declared that it was consistent reading. Don’t be misled into thinking that experiences outweigh the value of reading. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

A company is a setting where ordinary individuals come together to achieve remarkable accomplishments. Leaders don’t need to surpass every member in ability; instead, they must provide a vision of a vibrant and promising future. It is the leaders’ integrity and responsibility to applaud, motivate, and recognize their team’s contributions. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Genghis Khan, emperor of the Mongol Empire, had a remarkable subordinate general named Yesun Bei. Although Yesun Bei was an extraordinary warrior, Genghis Khan refrained from giving him military authority to command. This decision stemmed from Yesun Bei’s belief that others were similar to him; he became frustrated when they couldn’t perform as well as he could. Without empathy, individuals cannot show respect, and without respect, people do not follow their superiors. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

In 1958, German psychopathologist Klaus Conrad introduced the term “Apophenia” to define the cognitive process of identifying patterns and connections between entirely unrelated ideas. While this phenomenon significantly contributes to human creativity, it can also result in misconceptions or mistakes. This type of error is referred to as “Pareidolia.” Interestingly, both maniacs and geniuses may stem from similar origins. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

While your efforts may have been sincere, claiming success due to those efforts is misleading. The Law of Equivalent Exchange suggests that behind my achievements lie the sacrifices of others, known or unknown to me. We should approach discussions of success with humility and avoid glorification. Neglecting the Law of Equivalent Exchange often leads to the onset of corruption. When considering the sacrifices made by others, we ought to refrain from celebrating our successes based solely on our dedication and hard work. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

We often overlook the financial concept of “opportunity costs” because there is no immediate cash expenditure involved. Typically, we invest more time and effort in purchasing cheaper products. In contrast, wealthy individuals do not have to exert as much effort as those with fewer financial resources. When we factor in opportunity costs, we often find ourselves spending a similar amount of money on the same items, regardless of wealth status. For instance, if Bill Gates picks up a dollar that someone has dropped, he actually detracts from his financial standing due to the opportunity costs associated with the value of his labor. In this regard, he might save more money by choosing to rest instead of working. Ultimately, opportunity costs are the hidden expenses that can keep us in financial distress in the real world. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Ignorance of rest at proper times is not a healthy passion. Compulsory awareness of rest reflects genuine humility and wisdom, especially when we cannot take time off, even during our free time. Taking a rest without self-control or believing that a break will worsen the problem is also a serious issue, akin to a severe disease. Appropriate rest serves as a diagnostic criterion for determining whether our daily routines are healthy. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Receiving an investment signifies that you are receiving a prepayment for future costs and expenses. To generate revenue, you must cover these costs upfront. If you lack the funds necessary to manage current expenses while aiming to raise revenue, you might need to borrow money or attract investments. However, as a recipient of these funds, you cannot use them freely; this money does not belong to you. Legally, your options for utilizing this money are limited: you can either receive it as a salary from your expense account, as a dividend from profits after deductions as a shareholder, or pursue official management incentives. This underscores that the invested funds are not your own. When funds are invested, it implies that profits will be derived from someone else’s money, which you will share with the investor. Although investment alleviates the immediate pressure of expenses, it simultaneously heightens your obligation to generate profits promptly. Being fully funded does not equat...

The concept of “going concern” in accounting emphasizes that a business must persist into the future to retain its value. This principle signifies that present value already incorporates expectations of future value; thus, a business facing uncertainty about its future will inevitably diminish in present value. It highlights the interconnectedness of present and future values, suggesting that they cannot be regarded in isolation. All stocks traded on the stock market are priced based on their anticipated future value. In essence, we trade on a future that has yet to materialize. Consequently, determining how far into the future to evaluate is a critical factor in making investment decisions. Since individuals have varying skills and perspectives on forecasting the future, selecting an investment strategy must align with one’s attitude toward time. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Paradoxically, one of the reasons for Rome’s demise was that it kept winning wars. Victories expanded the empire’s territory, and the risks increased proportionally. Men, primarily middle-class men, volunteered as soldiers; the larger the territory, the longer the wars lasted, and the longer it took for them to return home. The women who remained at home were forced to borrow labor and became indebted to the nobility. Eventually, the women were sold into slavery, and by the time the men returned, their families had disintegrated. People don’t betray because they’re evil, but because it increases their risk. If the territory you’re in grows, you might reconsider your loyalties to the organization. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”