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”
Experience should not serve as a constraint that confines individuals to their past; instead, it should act as a foundation for future endeavors. While successful experiences can instill confidence, they may simultaneously restrict one’s thoughts and actions, leading to potential lapses in judgment. It is noteworthy that my achievements may not have solely stemmed from my abilities but could have been attributed to fortuitous circumstances, often arising from the missteps of others. A valuable experience should not foster arrogance or dismiss the fallibility of unwavering self-assurance and disregard for alternative perspectives. To mitigate the risk of failure, one must cultivate humility. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”