Compounding. Underrated? Seems to be Ignored.

Compounding. 

Most have heard it's the 8th wonder. It's essentially utilizing time effectively to grow. Though, evidently, many seem to ignore it for they forgo even starting. I'd say starting (ASAP) is truly important for it to take effect. 

The most common use of the word "compounding" in everyday conversations is in reference to investing (thank you robo-advising ads from Wealth<Enter Minimalist/Innovative Lingo Here>). Obviously, to start investing one must first save. 

"No shit Sherlock!"

Read More
EssaysDaniel LeeHabits
Valuing Your Intangibles

Let's not forget about Taxes!

Yet, it seems common for folks to ignore the 2 certainties. Well, except the ultra-rich corporations and individuals who do whatever they can to avoid taxes. 

But shouldn't we all look at everything on an after-tax basis?

Despite bankers and investors looking at businesses based on pre-tax metrics like Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA), the money the company gets to retain and give back to shareholders (i.e. dividends and buybacks) or grow externally (i.e. acquisitions) uses after-tax money. Of course, companies growing organically will get to use pre-tax profits to fund their internal growth so may not even have any taxable corporate income (i.e. Amazon). Sooner or later though, they will need to utilize other options to grow or generate value for shareholders and that after-tax profit will be important. Why else would the big tech companies like Google and Apple be setting up offices in tax havens like Ireland or Luxembourg?

Read More
EssaysDaniel LeeHabits
Are We Walking Blind?

Without knowing who YOU are, are you not practically walking blind? Given life is a journey, whose journey are you on if you don't even know yourself? Finding out who you are is definitely no easy task. Then isn't that the road you should walk? The road to find who you are? If you don't then you are practically just helping someone else build their own road.

I mean, isn't that what every person who is an employee is doing? You are getting paid to essentially build out someone else's dream/goal/whatever higher-calling. Now there is nothing wrong with being an employee, especially since apprenticeship is a necessary step to achieve mastery in something.

Read More
EssaysDaniel LeeIntrospection
Waking Up When the World is Asleep
Waking Up When the World is Asleep

The 21 Early Days Challenge

“What is wrong with you?”, “Why would you do that to yourself?”, “What could that possibly do for you?” were some of first things friends and coworkers would say to me once I told them I was doing this challenge. I first learned of the challenge through a TED talk featuring Filipe Castro Matos. The challenge was simple: wake up at 4:30am for 21 days. So why do it? To get my life on track, follow the habits of great CEOs in the hopes I get some of their fairy dust, optimize my life, and just challenge the “norm”.

Read More
EssaysDaniel LeeHabits