Beginner's Notes on US Stocks 72

The eleventh year of work is just the beginning of striving to get rich

The economic environment has been tough in recent years, and I've suffered heavy losses in real estate. I've been feeling a bit demotivated, always thinking about how to bottom out and retire early. Today, I read an article by a big influencer I often follow, which mentioned that many people only start accumulating wealth in their 40s or 50s. It also recommended Duan Yongping's investment Q&A records. I've heard the 'late bloomer' motivational talk before, but tonight it somehow resonated with me again. I found the book on WeChat Reading and started reading it. Maybe I'll write some reflections later.

Bottoming out doesn't mean lying flat. The experience and capital accumulated over the past decade have given me more confidence to go further. I still need to pull myself together. The length of life is unpredictable, but I can still control its breadth. I've set a safety net for myself (my definition: a fully paid property, 3 years of living expenses, and investment products equivalent to 5 years of living expenses. Even in the worst-case scenario, 8 years would be enough to complete a bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. and start over). I still need to dare to think, act, and strive—striving is about effort and capability, while gambling is about luck. Never be a gambling dog.

Doing the right thing is the only way to do things right. There's an inspiring quote from Dadao: What makes us who we are is more about the things we choose not to do. In the past, I've had impure motives (just competitive methods, nothing bad), with mixed results but always an uneasy conscience. Ten years later, I now have the confidence not to bend for petty gains (I don't eat much anyway) and listen more to my heart. I believe in karma—doing good will eventually bring good results. Even if it doesn't, peace of mind is a good result in itself.

Direction of effort. Once I've figured out the principles of striving, the next step is how to strive. (Feel free to discuss, but don't scold me—I'm fragile.) Work hard + invest seriously. First, work hard. As an ordinary person, let's be honest: we won't become Buffett or Dadao, or we wouldn't be where we are now. Work is cash flow, social needs, and social value. Most of my workday is spent on work. Beyond doing my job well, I need to look outward more. AI is something I need to spend time learning. I signed up for a certification, but the system crashed today, so I'll have to take it next week. Later, I'll need more hands-on practice. As for investing, I've been too busy lately with little progress—just occasional updates to my allocation targets. To share: I've talked about off-market stuff many times before. On-market: 2 lots of IC (haven't started yet, learning first), dividend + gold fixed deposits, QDII fixed investments, money market funds (ing).