32 Comments

Great post. For any readers looking for more information, Jeff Bezos talks about his implementation of a Regret Minimization Framework pretty frequently. Picked it up from him almost a decade ago. It’s been a great way to live.

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author

It's not too hard to forecast, most just live in delusion that their preferences won't change even though the chances are practically zero

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I get on the motorcycle a lot. Love the hobby

That said, no doubt there are risks involved and they're not for everyone's tolerance. Pretty much only ride in asia now and provincial touring is a joy

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been riding motorcycles in a big American city for many decades, no plans to stop. Seeing a stat like the one in the post is good for me to see, because it cranks up my paranoia. I can just observe the way most other bikers ride, shake my head, and see why the stat is so bad.

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Agreed that it's simple enough to beat the avg stats on this one with just a few best practices

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Also, I'd like to see the raw stats. Are they including all these little electric bikes in the stats? They don't wear helmets or protection, they pull stupid moves, etc.

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founding

big like! Without kids the thing with the exit number is true, with kids though, I want to continue keeping my business up at least until they can take it over

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author

Yeah that makes sense, just avoid the whole grinding 100s of hours and neglecting them. Same concept agree with what you're saying

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Woof...the paranoia bit is true indeed as is the comparison as everyones timeline is different. Biggest key here for you young guys...don't fuck up your 20s...work your ass off, party your ass off, pickup a hobby and make sure you stay fit...life will be 'hard' and your loser buddies will seem like they are living the dream...but in 10 years they will all wonder how you 'made it' and ask for favors non-stop (don't give them any).

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Great post! Did not know that tennis made that big a difference.

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Great post, thank you!

Currently 32 and starting to realize I have to get serious about picking a wife and having kids lol, doing the math I am a bit worried lol. Already financially independent, so at least this problem is a lot easier to solve.

Really love living in the USA/PR but guess I need to go abroad for a while

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Great Post! What about emigration and the necessary professional reorientation? Things are no longer moving forward in 🇩🇪 and the country is in an irreversible downward spiral towards Islamic eco-socialism. I don't have a background in sales or tech, I'm a fully qualified German lawyer but can't work in the USA because I don't have a recognized degree there and don't want to study there again or work as a lawyer. Maybe my background can still be helpful in sales/tech? Many thanks for any advice!

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You can look into legal work for Software Companies - specialize in Software licenses, professional services, Cloud Consumption related legal work.

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+1 to Panda's comment. Look for a young Saas company that is launching in Germany but would allow you to work from a different country.

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Felix regrets not having kids but not having a lot of women.I wonder if he was a family type of guy with wife and kids would he regret not being single and enjoying women

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Typically you want to do both so you have a reference. Too many people have kids early and spend their lifetime raising them only to regret not having the hedonistic life later.

There is a reason why Mid Life Crises in men is real.

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I agree,but it is also politically incorrect to talk about regreting having kids,which some people do regret,there is even a book on it by a southafrican professor.

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There is a taboo on that regret which makes it very difficult for a person. Plus there is this big Trad - have more kids, leave legacy otherwise nothing you do matter kind of shilling - which is usually by people who regret having them and are over compensating.

Truth is people can find meaning in many thing in their lives. If kids was the only way to get it, all parents would be happy and smiling and no one would in jail or commit suicide ever. It's really not true.

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Life is a terminal STD lol.

I agree,you can have a great or a miserable life with or without them.

One thing that always caught my attention was that people who dont have kids never harrass people why they had kids,but not vice versa.

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founding

which book

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Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence"* by David Benatar

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Where would you put surfing when considering sports after 40? High impact no no (like fighting) or still doable?

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Screwed up with the country to live in - (unsafe, risky and gov can screw up finances), but hedging some of it. Remember kids, better to panic too early than too late.

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Aug 21·edited Aug 21

Am I reading the "Added Years to Life" chart correctly that doing one of these non-tennis things regularly adds just ~3.25 years to lifespan (avg) VS. being sedentary??

[gym stuff, cycling, jogging, swimming (!), soccer (!!)]

And further, going to a gime and doing gime stuff adds a pathetic buck fifty? (shout-out to my Simpsons fans still alive today!)

And further still, the best of the bunch, Tennis, tops out ~10Y? There must be a mistake in this data!

I mean hell, are the 10Y added QoL weighted-average years where 50 - 80 feel like 40 - 60, giving you do-over of your 40s? Or we just tacking on a dime on top if you make it to 85 or 95?

That said, who in the name of Narnia is suggesting a top activity to participate that requires ~2,800 SqFt of open space, maintained w lines n shit, a tensioned net, for just two people to volley??

I dunno what it's like out there in the United States, but in NYC these reqs only dare exist in Keta fantasies unless one's willing and able to pay $500 - $1000 month min for just 1-2 hr allotted court time per week (@ off-hours btwn 2AM - 4AM) for dirt floor cracked cement and puddles of wet rotting leaves.

And the luxury stuff? $5K+ a month plus 5 fig initiation fees. A bit steep.

Which leaves the rest: hoops w no backboard/no net, soccer in Prospect Park after the hobos clear out, high risk cycling asking for severe injury or death likely at 50% of the 40mph stat, and Idk, gym membership?

For only 1.5 years extra time?

Sedentary looking like best R:R. These other options looking bleak. Sure it's NY but is it that much different to play tennis regularly elsewhere w/o owning your own court which if I did I wouldn't be here taking advice from a cartoon bull?

Please advise.

Ty cheers.

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Great post. Thanks

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Great post. Interesting seeing the regrets of the dying. In my personal experience I've noticed elderly people becoming more religious or devout/spiritual , didn't see that as one of the top regrets.

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I did hospice volunteering in my 20s and later volunteered in memory care and it's a good suggestion for perspective. (Early 40s now.) In memory care especially, there could be residents and visitors the same age but a world away in health. Some of it you can't control, obviously.

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Heads up, Gmail tried to send this to spam. First time that's happened with your posts, no idea why.

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founding

The last bit is inverted thinking exercise, quite valuable.

I don't get the insanely paranoid bit. Why?

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author

Unless you grow up ultra rich, you'll know too many people who lost it all. It's a byproduct of never wanting to go back to where you started/who you were

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Typically the blow ups you’ll witness are risk management issues.

You don’t want to start over at 35/45/55.

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