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Showing posts from April, 2026

Just my thoughts #0721

Life is a journey to find intersections. It’s about discovering commonalities between two different attributes: what I want to do and what I am good at, what I recognize and what others recognize, and what I have to do and what I want to do. Knowing your identity well increases your chances of success. However, many people focus only on what they want to do. This mindset can weaken the connection between me and others. We live each alone in this world, but not completely alone. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0692

The world we live in is not a simple system but a complex one. However, human history has often been seen as a simple system due to religious beliefs and ideology. Science was also viewed as straightforward. But as quantum mechanics advanced in recent times, it has become increasingly difficult to explain or interpret the phenomena of this world from the perspective of a simple system. The world of wealth-generating investing is no different. In a simple system, the ability to perform multiple functions at once, called ‘multi,’ is beneficial. Yet, in a complex system, having ‘insight (meta)’ to understand multi-dimensionality becomes crucial. Intuition to grasp connectivity has gained more importance. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0691

People don’t work efficiently at first. Efficiency comes from trial and error. In other words, if you don’t try, your chances of becoming efficient are slim. The navigation system only works when the destination is entered. More importantly, it only functions well when the starting point is input accurately. The system recognizes the starting point automatically and guides you to the destination, but if the origin is wrong, problems will occur. Change, growth, and progress only happen when you confirm your identity. You need to ask more than ten people around you to understand who you are. The most reliable method is to look in the mirror and wipe away the stains from your face. If you try to remove a stain by guessing, you might sometimes succeed by luck, but that’s just called ‘hard work.’ - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0690

Salary isn’t just ‘my money.’ It’s money that should be spent considering yourself today, your future self in 10 years, and your future self in 20 years—that is, your future self together. Therefore, my current income is always, in a way, public money . We need to get approval from our future self before spending now. A bright future is only guaranteed if the future self agrees to the spending. It’s inconvenient to spend other people’s money on your own terms, and thinking of your own money the same way you see others’ cherished money will help you develop good habits for the future. I don’t have an exclusive claim to my own money, as if there’s no such thing as my own air in this world. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0689

Moderation . Greed and despair stem from the same root: excessive desire . In investing , profits and losses are unpredictable, and the chance of losing is usually higher than the chance of gaining. It’s natural to want to make big profits with minimal damage, but the truth is that it’s not always possible. Ultimately, a disciplined person stays moderate through both profit and loss. It all requires courage. Temperance fosters consistent investment behavior . Without persistence , achieving great things in any area becomes difficult. It’s not easy, but in investing, only those who can stop and accept gains and losses as they happen are true winners. Greed is simply the seed of downfall. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0688

In primitive times, there was no such thing as ‘ coincidence ’ because all unknown and unpredictable events were interpreted as divine revelation . This reflects a religious and deterministic worldview. Since Christianity was dominant in the West, science also developed based on this deterministic perspective . However, with the rise of quantum mechanics , it has been revealed that the natural world we live in exists in an indeterminate state . Matter is in an uncertain state and becomes determined only when observed by an observer. In other words, the act of observation influences the behavior of the object being observed. To exist and to observe is a deeply metaphysical phenomenon . Do coincidences truly exist? When a decision was made in an undecided state, did God already know the outcome? How much freedom and discretion do humans really have? Does free will truly exist? - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0687

The Industrial Revolution and advances in science and technology have caused an unprecedented rise in the production of industrial goods. When products made to meet demand cannot be sold, they remain in inventory . If inventory isn’t managed properly, the ability to fulfill purchase requests quickly declines, which harms both producers and consumers. Depreciation is an accounting method that accounts for the decrease in value over time and includes these losses in production costs. So far, the global economy has experienced repeating cycles of booms and recessions . One of the main triggers is inventory. Inventory is a crucial factor that can lead to business failure, but effective inventory management can help promote greater business success. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0686

Entrepreneurship involves starting to invest in the stocks of my own company. However, unlike open-market stock investments , here you invest in your own business, not someone else’s. My company’s performance directly affects my shares. To excel at investing in your own company’s stock, focusing on one key area can significantly boost your chances of success. Conversely, to be good at investing in others’ stocks , it’s better to understand multiple business sectors rather than just one. Since investing in stocks focuses more on minimizing risk than maximizing returns , diversifying resources across several areas makes risk management more effortless. If you master risk aversion , you can reduce losses and increase your chances of surviving in a volatile market . If you are knowledgeable and well-informed, I recommend investing in others’ stocks rather than pursuing entrepreneurship. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0685

The market exists in our minds. Spatial and physical markets are exactly aligned with our brain’s perceptions . If you think small, the market remains small, and if you think big, the market expands. To broaden people’s perceptions , my thoughts must first be large and powerful. When my thoughts collide with those of others, perceptions shift, and markets fluctuate in sync with these new perceptions. That’s why we want to use media to send our messages to the public. It’s also why I need to examine my thoughts carefully before developing markets and understanding them. If I think small, the market also shrinks. Think big and powerful. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0684

If you are intelligent, your chances of becoming wealthy are relatively high, but being smart alone doesn’t necessarily make you rich. Wealth can only be achieved when other vital factors come into play, such as those who understand how to judge legal rights in transactions beyond just intelligence, and those who can establish governance or maintain relationships. Luck refers to a situation where all these different conditions are easily satisfied. This happens when I acquire it because all important and diverse conditions align at the same moment and place. Therefore, a deal or opportunity that genuinely works for me shouldn’t be complicated. The more complicated it is, the more likely I am to be scammed . The human brain is wired to seek simplicity. Our brains consistently choose efficiency. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0683

We describe the size and qualities of a human being’s capacity as a ‘ bowl .’ People often say that luck or opportunity that exceeds the size of one’s bowl is rather harmful. That’s why people advise you to either seize the luck and opportunity that fits your bowl or make your bowl bigger. So, how do you determine the size of the bowl? Congenital conditions may also influence it, but acquired experiences and self-reflection are factors that shape the size of the bowl. Since I can’t force myself to create luck and opportunity, all I can do is develop my judgment and have the courage to accept or reject. The key to judgment is to avoid underestimating or overestimating yourself. Ultimately, it is most important to understand your own identity properly to make a true bowl. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0682

We don’t care about money deposited in the bank. If we ask the bank for money, I believe they will certainly return my funds. However, as shown by Lehman Brothers ’  bankruptcy during the 2008 financial crisis , banks cannot guarantee 100% of depositors’ money. In South Korea, according to the Depositor Protection Act , only 100 million won (about USD 71,000 ) is protected, including principal and interest per person. Anything beyond that is actually at risk. In other words, money deposited in the bank is vulnerable to losing the principal. Investing means willingly accepting the risk of losing the principal while seeking profit. Whether we like it or not, we are always investing in our daily lives. Just because a risk doesn’t materialize doesn’t mean it’s gone. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0681

In business, the term ‘business funds ( capital )’ has two very important meanings. One refers to the initial resources of the business and serves as the standard for measuring profit , while the other indicates that the owner of the business funds owns the business. If the profit rate is high, it shows the business is strong, and the amount and type of business funds needed depend on its size or nature. To start a large-scale business, you need substantial funds. If your funds are not enough, you will have to borrow from someone else or close the business. Until you pay it back, it’s not truly your own business. Business funds reveal everything about the business. In other words, the source is capital, meaning ‘root.’ It’s false to claim the business was successful without any of its own funds. A business must have some form of funds— cash or otherwise—to survive. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0680

The most important rule in investing is not to lose your initial capital . Making money comes later. If you lose 50% of your principal , the loss rate is 50%, but to recover that principal, you need a 100% return . This is because the baseline of your return—the principal—has already been halved. Many people tend to think that if they’ve lost 50%, they only need a 50% return to break even. However, this is a misunderstanding of the starting point. In investing, the baseline is always the original principal . The principal after a loss is no longer the same; it’s already in the past. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0679

Investing in stocks isn ’ t only about buying and selling shares on the public stock market . One way to invest in stocks is by improving a company’s performance and helping it grow. In fact, this is a more fundamental approach to stock investing . In other words, both trading stocks and managing the company are ways to invest. Buying and selling a company ’ s stock involves trading its shares because stocks indicate that profits will be shared and signify ownership . When a company is well-managed and performs strongly, its stock price rises. The company’s value is reflected in its stock price, making effective management a crucial part of investing in stocks. It doesn’t matter if the investor is inside or outside the company—managers need to understand the core of what they are doing. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0678

Just as there is a distinction between rich and poor, there are also wealthy and impoverished thoughts . If you think poorly, you become poor. The mark of impoverished thinking is dwelling on the past instead of embracing the present. It’s said that the past was better, unable to accept the progress of the current system . When comparing the two, people often value what is familiar more than what is better. As a result, they make a less favorable choice and justify it. There is a pitfall in familiarity . - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0677

Investment techniques involve converting labor income into financial income . In other words, it means purchasing an asset with money earned through labor so that the asset generates profit. But since assets are inanimate, how can they produce income? The answer is that you can profit from an asset’s changing value. You cannot profit if the value remains constant. If there were no volatility in assets , people would have to rely solely on labor to earn money. The issue is that you don’t buy assets that increase in value; you buy assets that decrease in value. Therefore, if you lack the perspective to judge the world, you should abandon the dream of building wealth through assets . - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0676

There comes a point when humans can’t earn money from their labor. Whether it’s because we’re old enough to retire or we’re unable to work due to a disability, it’s simply a matter of timing, and the moment we must stop earning from our work has already been determined. That’s why we need to choose to become either investors or unemployed someday. Then, it’s beneficial to understand and actually practice investing while we are able to work. Working hard is good, but how we live our lives is more important . - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0675

A driver unfamiliar with the destination slows down as they approach because they need to look around. Even when navigation is inaccurate, drivers tend to decelerate upon reaching their destination. If life is moving slowly and you feel stagnant , you should check whether you truly know your goal or if you’ve set it correctly. Speed is a physical factor, but it also heavily depends on perception clarity . - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0674

It is said that to succeed in life or business, you need to judge people well. So, how can we accurately assess others? Instead of focusing solely on the individual, consider their environment . Isn’t it often said that you can gauge a person by their friends ? Another useful indicator is their financial disposition —the tendency to spend rather than earn. Attitude toward spending money reveals a significant, if not the most important, part of their character. By examining the environment around the person, it becomes easier to understand their true nature. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0673

An asset is the foundation of all economic activity . If you have assets, you can run a business and settle your debts. The ways to create assets are ‘how one works,’ ‘how to receive gifts from others,’ and ‘how to purchase assets made by others.’ There is a way to steal, but it is a crime. If you don’t initially own an asset, the simplest and almost the only way to create one is to produce something with your own labor. Whether the product is a service or a good, it must be produced unconditionally. Trading products creates added value. Thinking about trading later and making products first is the fastest and most basic way to escape poverty . Therefore, produce even the smallest things every day. Knowledge , records, art—whatever! - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0672

Everything that is expressed and recorded externally, such as cell phones, computers, memos, books, and drawings, is an extension of the brain . Our brains aren’t just inside our bodies. This concept is important because extending the ego greatly influences how we see the world. We pay close attention to topics that involve us personally. Self-relevance is a key factor that drives our lives. Personal relationships and possessions get a lot of focus, while other areas seem less important. This is due to a feature of the human brain called ‘ selective cognition .’ As civilization advanced, humans delegated parts of the brain’s functions to machines. It was inevitable to make good use of these tools. We should take an interest in Homo Faber . - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0671

Emotions are a vital asset. They form the raw material of the energy and vitality that drive human action and push life forward. Emotions act both as a tool for expressing one’s personality and as a basis for making important decisions. Therefore, how effectively you typically manage your emotions influences the direction and quality of your life. This is also why positive people tend to be successful. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0670

Joy and resentment are emotions, but they carry energy. That energy greatly influences my life. The lesson adults teach about not making enemies is based on their own experience of that influence. When we go to court , we often see many people there because they harbor resentment, whether in civil or criminal cases . That demonstrates the power and impact of resentment. Ignoring emotions will eventually have consequences. Don’t make enemies; instead, always choose to share joy. - Joseph ’s “ just my thoughts ”

Just my thoughts #0669

Virtualization is practically an extension of reality and, financially, a different way of representing ownership. Ultimately, reality exists in our perception , which we experience and verify. Our senses serve as tools that transfer information from the external world into our brains, where this data is then reconstructed in our perception . The reason we dismiss digital currencies is that we see virtual things as “non-existent.” However, if you think about it, the state of existence varies depending on whether it is virtual or physical, and all information processing takes place within our perception, only providing feedback to reality. In perception, the difference between virtual and real is meaningless. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0668

Some people hear that their business success rate is only 10%, so they try to avoid being part of the 90% who fail and put a lot of effort into becoming part of the 10% who succeed. In contrast, others allocate just 10% of their total effort to each of their 10 businesses, hoping that one will succeed. Since only one in ten founders succeeds, the latter approach is better because success in this world is a matter of probability . - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0667

Employees at securities firms have access to stock information that is more abundant and faster than what the general public receives. However, only a few among them are truly wealthy. Many believe that having a good environment, a prime location, and access to exclusive, valuable information will lead to wealth, but the reality is different. In truth, a person’s perspective and practical ability to understand the world hold greater power. A life dedicated to understanding the essence of phenomena and things ultimately enriches one’s existence. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0666

When investing in a market where asset trading is ongoing, persistent, and prices are constantly fluctuating, the most important factor is the perception and attitude toward “time.” Here, time refers to a defined “period,” a concept that encompasses the “past,” “present,” and “future.” Knowing the future can make us wealthy. All we know is the “past,” but in reality, even the past is often not fully understood. That is, we must admit we lack complete knowledge about the past, present, or future. In this state, we must conduct business and invest. The attitude toward business and investing is to focus on judging the “trend” by applying the concepts of differential and integral calculus simultaneously. Differential weather (e.g., morning and afternoon of a day) is easy to predict, but long-term future weather cannot be forecasted even by supercomputers . However, by accumulating knowledge of the past and analyzing it integrally, it is possible to predict the trend of the distant futur...

Just my thoughts #0665

Only when there is a surplus can new things be created. Surplus means having more than what is necessary. Creating something new requires an initial investment in advance. Whether it’s labor or capital —that is, whether labor is purchased with capital—energy can only be used for new work if there is a surplus. Only with prior investment can something entirely new, never seen before, be made. The existence of something that did not exist before in this world results from someone putting in their surplus first. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0664

Money is the most widely used medium of exchange worldwide, serving as a way to buy essential goods needed for life or to store wealth. Since the country guarantees the stability of fiat currency , it becomes possible to exchange ‘things for money’ instead of ‘things for goods,’ unless the country goes bankrupt. However, this amount of money cannot be increased indefinitely. When there is too much money in circulation, its value drops below the price of goods, causing those who hold wealth in money to lose that wealth. The key point is that money is limited in the market. Due to this limitation, money gains value. The government regulates this money supply through the ‘ interest rate .’ Raising the interest rate reduces the money supply, while lowering it increases the supply. This helps control prices. Therefore, understanding the interest rate is crucial for managing and valuing wealth, making it essential to know the interest rate above all else in life. - Joseph’s “just my thought...

Just my thoughts #0663

FAST ( Free Ad-supported Streaming TV ) is gaining attention. It refers to a type of media service where viewers watch ads and access content for free instead of paying a fixed subscription fee to watch movies or shows online. However, strictly speaking, FAST isn’t truly free because viewers must watch ads. In terms of opportunity cost , the viewer pays for the service by watching ads instead of paying a subscription fee. All free offerings are created through a value exchange . Let’s not be mistaken—nothing is truly free. Freebies are simply a form of payment. My expenses become someone else’s income. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”