Life after “Golden Handcuffs”


Hi Reader,

Can you believe it's been 8 years since I left BlackRock? Wow. Thanks for being on this journey and supporting me through the ups and downs. This week, I'm sharing 8 life lessons from 8 years of entrepreneurship.

Creativity has played a massive role in my post-Wall Street journey. But how do you find inspiration and turn your ideas into art? Creative Doing by RadReader Herbert Lui is a simple guide to unblock your creativity in your work, hobby or next career.

The book is a collection of 75 simple exercises and mental models to help you identify your unique creative process.

Creative Doing's publisher Holloway, offers other guides on entrepreneurship and RadReaders can browse the catalog at a 25% discount.


Life after “Golden Handcuffs”

Leaving Wall Street cost me $900,000.

Yup, the “Golden Handcuffs” are real. Bonuses are deferred.

So by definition you leave money on the table.

At 35, I said f*** it.

I want to own my time, surf every day and watch my kids grow up.

8 years later, I’m still standing.

I’ve learned a lot about myself, my relationship to money and what it means to lead a fulfilling life.

So whether you’re stuck in your cubicle, dreaming of a start-up or wondering “Is this it?” – here are 8 lessons that can act as a roadmap for the path less traveled.


Here are this week's top reads:

// one

A better argument for working less

5 minutes | Every

Is our purpose on this earth to create economic value? At our core, we know the answer is no — but as we strive, create and make money, our activities often seem to be in conflict with our values. How did we get here? I’ve been diving into Taylorism, a management approach that breaks down tasks into smaller, specialized components so that they can be optimized for maximum efficiency and it's impact on modern work culture.

Read the post

// two

The great creator arbitrage opportunity

17 minutes | Boundless

When I left Wall Street I knew I’d be embarking on a road less traveled. I wish I’d had the roadmap below from my dear friend Paul Millerd on experimenting before you quit, paying a hefty “status tax” and opting-out of the cult of success. I highly recommend Paul’s book The Pathless Path.

Read the post

// three

Real luxury goods don't have brand names

7 minutes | Morningstar

My definition of luxury has shifted from the desire for material displays of wealth to a preference for peace of mind and simplicity. What does financial independence mean at its essence? Not allowing money to overly influence important decisions.

Read the article

// four

Not disappointing myself

3 minutes | bookbear express

What if the secret to living a happier, more fulfilled life lies in *checks notes* actively working to disappoint others? If you’re a people pleaser like me, this is a scary thought. Even scarier? Starting to realize this might be right.

Read the post

// five

This 15-minute stick figure exercise can help you find your purpose

5 minutes | NPR

Have you ever felt like you were your own worst enemy, waging a war against yourself? We've all been there: trying to please everyone, yet failing miserably. Here’s an exercise that can help you turn your internal conflicts into allies.

Read the article


// in partnership with Inside Tracker

Your path to living healthier

Unlock the secrets of a longer and healthier life with InsideTracker. Their science-backed approach will analyze your blood, DNA, and fitness trackers to provide you with personalized recommendations that are specifically tailored to your needs. From optimizing food choices and supplement intake, to providing ways to improve sleep and reduce stress levels - InsideTracker has you covered. Backed by dozens of peer-reviewed studies and founders that include experts at Harvard, Tufts and MIT, get ready for the best version of yourself! Get a 20% off discount with code: KHEHY

Learn More


Below the Fold

LAST WEEK'S MOST READ

And finally, this young boy recreates the Luniz epic opener.

With gratitude,

Khe


Here's how we can help you:

  • The Life Operating System: Your home base for personal productivity. It combines tasks, notes, project management and a CRM in one place.
  • Supercharge your Productivity: Learn how our $10K Work method can help you improve your mind, career and relationships.
  • Apply for our Group Coaching: Are you an executive or founder undergoing a career change? We’ll give you frameworks and accountability for this transition.

Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

RadReads by Khe Hy

Ready to achieve your goals and get more out of life? Join 50,000 ambitious professionals who are pursuing productivity, growing their career and creating financial freedom.

Read more from RadReads by Khe Hy

One of the cardinal rules of investing is: If it’s too good to be true — it probably is. When it comes to AI, I don’t think it falls in the “too good to be true” category. Yet. But it’s damn good. And I use it all the time. Yet I don’t want to be blind and naive about its limitations. And while I want to understand what is happening under the hood — I have no appetite for the super technical details. Andrej Karpathy was on the founding team of OpenAI and has the most incredible video primer...

Hey Reader, We made it back stateside after an incredible trip to Japan. Lisa and I even managed to squeeze in an Omakase date night in Tokyo. Here's one of our last pics from a swanky rooftop bar. I'm starting a small mastermind for finance professionals looking to master AI. Learn more about the program below ⤵️ Apply for the Mastermind → Here are this week's top reads: // one What happens when you leave your career (and identity) behind 20 minutes | Andy Johns Substack Occasionally, I...

Hey Reader, Greetings from Japan. We're fully immersed in yakitori, micro pig cafes, Zen gardens and 7-11 pork buns. It's awesome. I've also been writing two posts a week on AI developments over at Future-Proof Your Career with AI. It's totally free, check it out (it's a separate newsletter). Sign up for free → Here are this week's top reads: // one You should be setting rejection goals 10 minutes | Vox What would life look like if we didn’t take rejection so damn personally. Our fear of...