6 months after dropping out of college - my tips

[Gauss M.D.]

I don't think a strawperson argument entails pointing out that most of your posts are indeed disguised requests for homework solutions. That's a fact.

How is a request for a homework solution a disguised request for a homework solution? Also, it's not relevant to the discussion and thus typically something someone with an ego problem would point out. But I must be mistaken there since you show none of the other classic signs (craving attention, inflated sense of his own accomplishments etc)...

 

[Gauss M.D.]

Also: when a narcissist is legitimately questioned, what would the first thing he would do

a) adress the legitimate question rationally
b) research the questioners post history
c) research the questioners post history and arbitrarily come to the conclusion that the only way someone could ever question him is if he/she has a neurotic aversion for "independent effort" and is "woefully unprepared for the real world"

 

[meanrev]

I don't see why you're taking this with such personal affront, I've reiterated several times that this thread has little to do with finance and I've avoided personal details insofar as possible (though it was for privacy, and not a veiled attempt to be modest or whatever far-fetched intentions that you're thinking of). I'm also not sure how estimating a >80% chance of a failure for myself sounds egoistic or narcissistic to you.

The difficulty increases asymptotically as your operation increases in size; if I have to estimate my chances of a successful exit now, I think they are <20%.

To assure you that I have little attachment to my self-importance, I'd edit the possibly offending remarks (hedge funds, net worth, trading, college coursework) in post #3, post #12, post #15, post #17 (first and last paragraph) to make you happy, except that it's too late to remove these by myself.

Seeing that your concern is with my ego and not the content of my posts, the appropriate action is to report this thread for moderation, which I have just done.

 

[MarneMath]

I don't want to inflame anything here, but my only concern regardless of the truth value of your endeavor is your ability to give practical advice. Right now, I very much consider you a beginner in this world and lack much of the experience and foresight to advise or assist others who may be in a similar position. While you have probably learned a lot, I have often found that in life, things that seemed like a good way of doing stuff often seem less clever in hindsight.

In every career I have ever had, my method and insight after a year on the job resembles very little my method and insight a few years down the road. It's the nature of growth. When I was a private in the Army, I thought I knew a good deal about the Army after a year, but then I became a Sergeant and I laughed at how stupid I really was, and then I became a Staff Sergeant and laughed at how stupid I was at a Sergeant. Clearly, as a Staff Sergeant, I had the ability to advise people on how to obtain my rank and do well in the Army, I had years of experience. Yet, I was always weary of other Staff Sergeants give me advice on how to obtain Sergeant First Class. I tend to take advice only from those who have made it to where I want to go, not those on the same path as me, or just beginning. Therefore, it would behoove anyone to read this thread lightly.

 

[atyy]

I don't want to inflame anything here, but my only concern regardless of the truth value of your endeavor is your ability to give practical advice. Right now, I very much consider you a beginner in this world and lack much of the experience and foresight to advise or assist others who may be in a similar position. While you have probably learned a lot, I have often found that in life, things that seemed like a good way of doing stuff often seem less clever in hindsight.

In every career I have ever had, my method and insight after a year on the job resembles very little my method and insight a few years down the road. It's the nature of growth. When I was a private in the Army, I thought I knew a good deal about the Army after a year, but then I became a Sergeant and I laughed at how stupid I really was, and then I became a Staff Sergeant and laughed at how stupid I was at a Sergeant. Clearly, as a Staff Sergeant, I had the ability to advise people on how to obtain my rank and do well in the Army, I had years of experience. Yet, I was always weary of other Staff Sergeants give me advice on how to obtain Sergeant First Class. I tend to take advice only from those who have made it to where I want to go, not those on the same path as me, or just beginning. Therefore, it would behoove anyone to read this thread lightly.

I don't want to be disrespectful - I tend to respect military folks, because my staff sergeant and oc taught me the most useful things about scientific research.

But logically, there are incompetent high ranking people, and there are low ranking people who are wise beyond their years. Also, there is nothing wrong with honorable failure, it is much better than dishonorable success.

 

[MarneMath]

Regardless, if there exist incompetent high ranking people or not isn't the point. The issue I was addressing is that when accessing advice given by a person, it would be beneficial to determine how much weight you should give to their experience. With regards to military, yes I am keenly aware that morons and incompetent fools have been promoted, but with that said, obviously the person knows how to get promoted despite being an incompetent fool, so when that fool says score a 300 on your PT test and go to this school, and work for this commander, it probably wouldn't hurt to listen. Likewise, if a competent corporal and telling you how to become a Sergeant, but hasn't been promoted nor has obtain P status within 4 years, you should probably be cautious to the advice. Lastly, if the new guy on the block is telling you all about his successful military career, then you might want to take a step back and examine whatever advice he wants to give.

All in all, my only point I wanted to make was that this kid rev is still a novice, and I give him credit for his ambition and drive towards success and do not wish to take that away from him. Nevertheless, I think it is important fact that someone should point out that he is a novice and that novice make plenty of mistakes and are not necessarily in a position to advise anyone beyond themselves.

 

[meanrev]

I don't want to inflame anything here, but my only concern regardless of the truth value of your endeavor is your ability to give practical advice. Right now, I very much consider you a beginner in this world and lack much of the experience and foresight to advise or assist others who may be in a similar position. While you have probably learned a lot, I have often found that in life, things that seemed like a good way of doing stuff often seem less clever in hindsight.

In every career I have ever had, my method and insight after a year on the job resembles very little my method and insight a few years down the road. It's the nature of growth. When I was a private in the Army, I thought I knew a good deal about the Army after a year, but then I became a Sergeant and I laughed at how stupid I really was, and then I became a Staff Sergeant and laughed at how stupid I was at a Sergeant. Clearly, as a Staff Sergeant, I had the ability to advise people on how to obtain my rank and do well in the Army, I had years of experience. Yet, I was always weary of other Staff Sergeants give me advice on how to obtain Sergeant First Class. I tend to take advice only from those who have made it to where I want to go, not those on the same path as me, or just beginning. Therefore, it would behoove anyone to read this thread lightly.

Good post, I absolutely agree with you on this. I'm sharing my experiences not as a self-professed expert, but rather from the perspective of an equal.

 

[berkeman]

Thread closed temporarily for Moderation due to Gauss M.D.'s posts...