Core Values and Efficiency: Talented people often face financial struggles. If you live alone, being talented can be a significant advantage in terms of survival. However, in the real world, you usually live with others; therefore, it’s more effective to focus on your core values. In other words, investing time in things outside your core values is a waste. Even if you’re better at something than others, you’re more likely to succeed by ignoring it and focusing on your main strengths because time is limited. For example, being skilled at investing and introducing investors to other companies are two different tasks. To prioritize your core values, you need to clearly define your identity and confidently reject offers that do not align with them. There’s an apparent reason why we often hesitate to act, even when we are skilled at what we do. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Aristotle believed that happiness was the ultimate goal of human life. We often comfort ourselves by saying that wealth does not guarantee happiness, especially when money is tight. But is that really true? How much wealth do we actually need to feel happy? Psychologist Professor Eun-guk Seo suggests that Aristotle’s view is just a personal perspective—not a scientifically proven fact. He explains that, in nature, survival is the primary goal, and happiness is more of a tool for survival than an end in itself. So why do we work hard and strive to earn money, even in tough times? While money may not guarantee happiness, it can help us live more comfortably. In the end, economic activity is about survival—if we can’t meet our basic needs, it’s hard to enjoy happiness or convenience. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”