The philosophy can be extended to life as well. Your focus should be on your problems and ambitions in life, not on anyone else's. You define happiness on your own measure, and nobody can take that away.
I've not been on social networks for a long while, largely because I felt their use amplify my natural tendency to compare myself to my peers.
If you can let go and allow yourself to consider what it is you really want (which can be super hard / impossible while being bombarded with messages from other about their values), you can reach a place where you don't mind measuring poorly on other people's scales of success.
It is very empowering to be confident in what you like and want, and to start pursuing it. It does have its social costs, but so does following the pack.
I have been away from social media for similar reasons; I would feel empty after scrolling through Insta. Figuring out what I really want and sticking to it in this constantly judging society has been a difficult task, especially since my version of success is probably not as fancy as the "usual".
I firmly feel this does not make for a healthier society.
VCs may need to swing for the fences but they're engendering market failure by concentrating so much capital and media hype into these boring sectors.
In which case it’s worth spending the money in the short term to win in the long term.
But 37 signals always likes to present a contrarian black and white “I’m right, they’re wrong” position, so we shall let them be right.
I find their point of view refreshing, because it reminds me that a lot of the 'laws of business' are just conventions.
Different people are different, of course, but in my opinion any winner-takes-all kind of situation is one to be avoided at all costs.
Race to own a winner take all market is just a synonym for race to form an illegal monopoly.
However, in business the general consensus is you need to spend money to make money. That is why you have starting capital. With oodles of VC funds, it is tempting to spend without keeping the ROI in mind. Accurately forecasting revenue and achieving it are an enduring challenge.
