There’s nothing more joyous than finding counter examples that show weaknesses in my people-related stereotypes and mental models. As a child, i thought that all wealthy people (and all politicians, professors and “esteemed” people in society) had to be brilliant – how else would they have earned so much money? Of course, when i realized that this wasn’t true (and rushed off to liberal utopia land), i started having a cynical view that all wealthy people had to be corrupt, evil and politically incorrect.

Of course, i’ve met people who accidentally made money doing what they love (and used it wisely such as the one who decided to affect SF Late Night Culture); i adjusted my model to discount them. I’ve also met people who are wealthy because they are famous, but they exist in another model for me that includes people who gain money and wealth to deal with their own insecurities. Sadly, though, most people that i have met who have acquired wealth have done so through some questionable means and don’t really use it in a way that i respect.

Last night, i realized that i don’t know any consciously capitalist, socially righteous, psychologically grounded, intellectually fascinated people. Of course, i realized that by finding someone who fit that bill, which completely startled me and required me to adjust my model of people to fit such a character. People like this give me hopes for humanity and better yet, the fact that people like this exist in my sphere makes me love the culture i’m playing in right now even more.

Frankly, i need to stop running into and having drinks with really interesting people. San Francisco is just continuing to blow my mind and make it really hard for me to not run out and constantly play with ideas and other people. There is no doubt that SF is just one big adult playground for liberal motivated intelligent people and it’s just way too much fun to play kid again.

Yesterday someone told me that in order to be successful in a startup, you have to have a combination of unalterable driven direction mixed with paranoia. Added to this, you need to be motivated by commercial successes (and thus profit).

I like thinking about how people use technology to make themselves happier. While i’m completely OCD about money issues, i’m rarely driven to mark my successes as such.

Four years ago, i was asked when i would start my startup; the same question was posed to me today. In both situations, my gut still believes that i could never actually be successful at starting a startup. Of course, when asked what i imagine my role to be in the corporate world, i can only really come up with “muse.” I really like toiling with ideas, making others see the fascination in them; this is why i like teaching, although i’m starting to also wonder if this is the kind of capability that has strength in other domains.

I really hate that bi-annual contemplation about what i’m going to do when i grow up, but i seem to do it anyhow. Must think Peter Pan. Will never grow up.