Unconventional Learning, Exceptional Results: A Guide for Homeschoolers

Level 2 - Value Investor

Welcome Avatar! This has been a popular topic lately and we decided to do the classic “find the answer in the back of the book and reverse engineer”. Instead of asking people who are currently doing homeschooling, we started with a *success story*. Everyone believes they are perfect teachers/parents/workers.

Instead, a better starting point is to find a winner and work backwards. That’s what we have here today!

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Intro

BowTiedAnubis and BowTiedBlackPanther here, weighing in on decentralized education aka homeschooling.

We’re both in our early 20s and were homeschooled our entire educational career, right up until college. I graduated summa cum laude from UPenn with distinction in neuroscience and was 1 of 4 students selected from my freshman class to study at Oxford University in the Biochemistry Department during my sophomore year. BlackPanther completed his freshman year at Wharton and is currently on a leave of absence –– all-in on Ecom and Crypto.

We first encountered BTB and the jungle at Consensys in April 2023, where the emcee introduced them as the best online community he’d ever seen. They spoke after Balaji’s talk on the Network State. While Balaji’s theories were interesting, we were more excited that DeGen Island was well underway. We joined the Substack and DeFi Ed immediately.

By November, we launched a WiFi business, which has completely blown us away with what’s possible. We are deeply grateful to have found this community. We have learned and continue to learn from so many of you, including Iguana, Opossum, Broke, TikTok, and many others. So, when Bull posted on X about homeschooling, we leaped at the opportunity to contribute.

Let’s dive in.

The Philosophy and Benefits of Homeschooling

Homeschooling instills a self-centric approach to learning, grounding new ideas in a personally relevant context. Thus, my love for neuroscience compels me to draw analogies whenever possible.

The brain employs two fundamental models of information processing –– bottom-up and top-down. Bottom-up processing characterizes external sensory inputs progressing towards higher-level cognitive function, while top-down processing describes how our brain’s higher-level cognitive processes influence our sensory perceptions.

Applied to education, and more specifically homeschooling, we will adopt a top-down analysis in this article. Rather than starting with the minutiae of academic schedules and curriculum details, we explore overarching educational principles and broad concepts first. As we transition from the conceptual to the concrete, we begin by examining homeschooling’s essential elements and defining features. This leads us to a deeper exploration of the purpose of education itself: why we educate, what we hope to achieve, and how we define success. Along the way, we consider the evolution of homeschooling, touching on its history and development over time. We also briefly examine different educational philosophies, discussing the variety of teaching styles that can enrich homeschooling experiences.

With this framework established, we turn our attention to the more practical aspects of homeschooling. Designing curricula, planning schedules, and incorporating extracurricular activities become the vehicles for achieving the educational outcomes defined earlier. They act as pathways to our objectives but are not the ultimate aim. This method ensures a more purpose-driven educational experience. Just as top-down modulation of visual cortical pathways influences perception, top-down processing exerted on educational trajectories dynamically adapts teaching methods and curricula to meet our educational goals.

What Is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling is a fundamentally transformative approach to education where parents take direct responsibility for their children’s learning outside the traditional school environment. This educational model offers unparalleled flexibility and personalization, strengthens family relationships, and encourages lifelong learning with an approach tailored to the child’s individual needs, interests, talents and pace.

Homeschooling As a Philosophy

At its core, homeschooling challenges conventional educational paradigms. It rejects the one-size-fits-all model, instead emphasizing a personalized education designed to cultivate a child’s unique potential. Much more than an educational alternative, homeschooling is indeed a philosophy. Its ideology can be viewed as an embodiment of sovereignty, where parents exercise their autonomy to design an educational framework that aligns with their values and aspirations for their children.

What is the Purpose of Education?

Few concepts draw as much contentious criticism. “Education” has long been a subject of intense debate. For centuries, scholars, philosophers, and thought leaders have questioned its purpose, function, and goals. Today, parents, professors, and policymakers continue these discussions, and such deliberations will likely persist well into the future.

The term “education” originates from the Latin e + ducere, meaning “to lead,” “to draw out,” “to bring forth.” This implies guiding one out of “darkness” into “enlightenment.” Indeed, the Enlightenment view that the highest goal in life is to inquire and create aligns well with the etymology.

In my upbringing, our educational philosophy was simple: Foster a love of learning and encourage independence of thought. Education should help individuals learn on their own, teaching them how to think without dictating what to think. The former presents diverse perspectives and cultivates a system for engaging with and processing new information. The later trains for and rewards conformity, a euphemism for indoctrination

Education should encourage us to seek out, inquire, and pursue areas that captivate our interest and stimulate our intellectual curiosity. It should prompt us to think deeply and critically, challenge authority, conventional wisdom, and societal norms, and create alternatives to flawed systems. It is also fostering a mindset that is always questioning whether you are on the right trajectory and willing to update your beliefs as new information emerges.

A Purpose Beyond Academics

In addition to its utilitarian function, education must also foster character and moral development. My mother often said her measure of success in raising us was to ask, “If they were stripped of all awards, accolades, and achievements could they still stand solid?” What remains is a character, personality, and attitude. Does that character crumble or begin to rebuild?

What type of character will you be proud to have nurtured?

Partly inspired by the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and James Cameron’s blockbuster Avatar, I think of this process as Animating Your Avatar –– in this case, it’s your child(ren). It involves defining your criteria for success and presents you the opportunity to shape and reshape the trajectory of this Avatar into whatever version you can imagine. I feel this first section on your goals for education and this framework for character development are the most important parts of the article. I implore you to invest significant cognitive effort into asking and answering a series of questions to determine your own personal philosophy

Below are some examples. It is by no means exhaustive, and you should definitely create your own:

• What ideas do I want them to understand, engage with and be able to discuss?

• How do they approach problems and make decisions to solve them?

• What’s their relationship to health? Do they understand the importance of nutrition and maintaining optimal physical, mental and emotional health?

• How do they invest their time? What are they curious about and what brings them joy?

• Are they self-aware? How do they reflect on their strengths and weakness to foster personal growth and development?

• How do they cultivate an appreciation for the arts, music, and literature to enhance their cultural understanding and aesthetic sensibilities?

• How do they conduct themselves and uphold strong values in their daily interactions and decisions?

• What qualities do I most admire in my them? o ambition, industriousness, leadership, persistence, integrity, enthusiasm, gratitude, confidence, resilience, …

On to our history lesson.

A Brief History on Homeschooling

Once common practice in the early history of the U.S., homeschooling has undergone a dynamic maturational trajectory from widespread acceptance to outright prohibition to ultimate resurgence, as one of the fastest growing forms of education in America.

The social milieu of the antebellum presented an America characterized by a formidable social, political and economic climate, followed by one of the strongest booms of economic growth in American History, which continued until the onset of the Civil War (1861-1865). Indeed, the War of 1812 (1812-1815) against Britain and the Panic of 1819, the first major financial meltdown in U.S. history, triggered numerous bankruptcies and widespread unemployment.

Despite these tumultuous events, massive government investment into American infrastructure–– construction of turnpikes and canals –– prompted the boom, beginning in the late teens and 1820s. A burgeoning U.S. transportation system reduced the costs and frictions of trade between formerly isolated local markets, connecting and ever-increasing number of buyers and sellers. Naturally, the increased productivity correspondingly increased the competition in the number of market participants. Small agricultural villages transformed into industrial cities. The ensuing social, political, and economic pressures collapsed the existing social structure and created a power void that threatened the stability of a nascent nation. According to Stanford Professor David Labaree in his book Someone Has to Fail: The Zero Sum Game of Public Schooling, it is within this context that the education reformers “came to the conclusion that the primary institutional way to resolve this crisis was to develop a broadly inclusive system of public schools.” Reformers sought to create institutions to support marginalized populations (i.e. youth, poor, immigrants) affected by the challenging market conditions, framing their movement as a moral imperative to mitigate poverty and social inequality

Allow me to pause and draw a quick analogy

The canals of the 1820s are the TikTok Shop of today. Like all new disruptive technologies (i.e. canals, the internet, crypto), TikTok Shop fundamentally altered the (e-commerce) landscape by reducing barriers, democratizing access, and empowering individuals to compete against established giants. The Erie Canal provided local farmers and producers in 19th century Rochester access to broader markets. TikTok Shop reduced the cost of distribution and advertisement by layering Shoppable Videos and Live-Streaming commerce on top of the one of the most robust social media platforms on the planet. These innovations enable the entrepreneurs of today to compete against legacy distribution networks, like QVC or HSN, and major corporations, like Target, Amazon, Walmart, P&G, and Unilever.

Back to our brief history

By the mid-20th century, renewed interest in homeschooling stemmed from a growing dissatisfaction with public education and the advent of unschooling philosophies. In the 1980s, many states began legalizing homeschooling, acknowledging the varied motivations behind parents’ choices.

Today, homeschooling is considered one of the fastest-growing educational models in America, with the fastest growing homeschool population being “middle class” AfricanAmericans. Over the past six academic years, the number of homeschooled students increased 51%, compared to the 7% growth in private school and the 4% decline in public school enrollment, over the same period (Source). The current estimated number of K-12 homeschooled students in America is over 3 million.

Philosophical Underpinnings

The modern approach to homeschooling is supported by various educational philosophies, each offering unique perspectives on learning. While many are influential, the following are some of the most prominent (listed in no particular order):

Classical: Emphasizes the trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric) and the great works of Western literature and philosophy. Aims to cultivate critical thinking and articulate expression, grounding students in a rich intellectual tradition.

Eclectic: Combines elements from various educational philosophies to tailor a unique approach for each child. Flexible approach that allows parents to adapt their teaching strategies to fit their child’s evolving needs and interests.

Montessori: Focuses on child-led learning, encouraging exploration and hands-on activities. Emphasizes independence, self-motivation, and the development of practical skills through a prepared environment.

Waldorf: Focuses on holistic development, integrating academics, arts, and practical skills. This philosophy emphasizes imagination, creativity, and the nurturing of the child’s spirt, with a strong focus on developmental stages.

Unschooling: Advocates for a child’s natural curiosity, allowing learning to be guided by interests rather than a structured curriculum. This philosophy promotes autonomy and trusts that children will learn naturally through life experiences. Charlotte Mason: Stresses the important of a broad curriculum, including literature, nature, study, and the arts. This approach values the development of good habits and the use of “living books” to inspire a love of learning.

*While each approach has its nuances, they all emphasize individualized education, a love of learning, and critical thinking. Though I am sure I could draw parallels between my family’s approach to homeschooling and all these models, I feel that a combination of Classical and Eclectic philosophies best reflects our experience.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

Homeschooling is legally recognized in all 50 states with requirements varying significantly across jurisdictions. To ensure a smooth homeschooling experience, parents should understand their state’s specific regulations around compliance and reporting, and resources for legal support and advice.

Research State Laws: Start by visiting your state’s Department of Education website, which provides an overview of the legal requirements for homeschooling including mandatory subjects, reporting obligations, and assessment standards.

Understand Compliance & Reporting: While some states have strict requirements, others adopt a more laissez-faire approach, with little to no oversight. The more heavily regulated states typically will require: Letters of Intent, submitted annually to your local school district; Educational Plans, outlining your curriculum and education goals for the year; Progress Reports, tracking your child’s development through quarterly or annual reports, or both; and Assessment Records, documenting standardized test scores or other state mandated assessments.

• Most Regulated States: NY, PA, MA, RI

• Least Regulated States: AK, CT, ID, IL, IN, IA, MI, MO, NJ, OK TX (Source)

Resources for Legal Support: In addition to your state’s Department of Education website, the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), is an excellent resource, providing detailed information on state laws, legal advice, and representation in case of disputes. Also, local homeschooling groups and networks often share practical advice and support within their communities.

Curriculum Development

We discussed varying philosophies earlier, because with those principles in place and your educational goals clear, the choice of curriculum selection or development becomes more apparent. There exist numerous options. Families can select from ready-made packages, online programs, hybrid-homeschool models, or creating a customized curriculum.

Pre-packaged curricula typically provide comprehensive materials and a structured framework for parents to follow, allowing for ease of implementation. Online options are similar and usually employ digital resources and virtual classrooms. Hybrid homeschooling combines elements of traditional classroom education (typically private school) with a homeschooling experience. Students attend in-person classes at a physical school for part of the week and receive at-home instruction for the rest of the time. This model gives parents substantial control over their children's education, emphasizing a true partnership between parents and the educators in the school, while also providing structure and access to specialized instruction and social opportunities. It has become a popular option among some families, allowing for flexible, personalized learning and often involving a strong community and support network.

Building a customized curriculum is the route we took, and I will go in greater detail on this approach, because the strategies discussed herein can help supplement and augment whichever path you ultimately decide.

Developing Your Homeschooling Curriculum

Begin by understanding the state-mandated subjects in your jurisdiction. These typically include foundational areas such as: Math, English Language Arts (Reading, Writing, Spelling), Science, and Social Studies (History, Geography). Essentially, these core subjects are the backbone, and you will incorporate other disciplines and electives tailored to your child’s interests and strengths.

Your next critical task is to synthesize the top aspects from multiple sources. I find it helpful to think of yourself as the head coach training a world champion –– you need to get Mayweather more titles and Djokovic more grand slams. That coach would need to compartmentalize every aspect of their player’s game, taking a multivariable approach across footwork, nutrition, mental toughness, mobility, strength and conditioning, and more to systematically optimize their performance.

Similarly, as the homeschool head coach, you must dissect your player’s entire educational journey, and source the best resources for each stage. This encompasses leveraging diverse curricula, educational tools, and teaching methods to create a customized and holistic learning experience. The goal is not to just meet rigorous education standards, but to surpass them and cultivate an individual capable of navigating the complexities of both academic and personal excellence with confidence and competence.

Practically, this process starts by identifying and examining the curricula employed at the top schools nationally and globally. Search variations of: “Top preschools in the world,” “Top elementary schools in the world,” “Top middle schools in the world,” and “Top high schools in the world.” You are looking for three things:

• What they teach

• How they teach it

• What is the expected outcome? What are students expected to understand and have mastered?

1. Curriculum Analysis (What they teach):

• Identify the subjects and topics covered. Look for schools that offer a balanced and comprehensive curriculum that includes core subjects as well as specialized electives and extracurriculars.

  • At St. Paul’s School, the curriculum offers a rigorous blend of traditional subjects like math, science, and humanities, alongside specialized electives in areas such as environmental science, robotics, and performing arts.

2. Incorporate Best Practices (How they teach it):

• At Philips Exeter, the Harkness method promotes discussion-based learning, where students sit around an oval table and engage in dialogue, fostering critical thinking and collaboration. At home, select a topic or book to read with your child and discuss open-ended questions. For example, if reading “Beowulf,” sample discussion questions could be:

  • How does the poem explore the theme of good versus evil? How do Beowulf’s battles with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon illustrate this theme

  • What is the significance of loyalty and kinship in ‘Beowulf’? How do these values influence the character’s actions and relationships?

  • How does the setting of the poem, including the mead hall Heorot, contribute to the story’s atmosphere and themes?

• At Institut auf dem Rosenberg, students participate in innovation labs to work on real-world projects that integrate technology and creativity. A highly relevant parallel for this audience I thought would be learning how to set up and run a Bitcoin node using RaspberryPi.

3. Set High Expectations (What is the expected outcome?)

• Establish clear learning objectives for each subject. Use these schools as benchmarks to create high educational standards for your child

  • Institut le Rosey’s emphasis on bilingual education and cultural immersion can inspire you to incorporate language learning and cultural studies into your homeschool curriculum. And add your own creativity. Suppose you decide on Spanish and your child has an interest in medicine. Gear the studies towards medical Spanish and reach out to doctors at your local hospital for an internship. Be persistent, it’s a number game here, but you will find a doctor that’s receptive –– your child made themselves an asset

Below I also included a PDF of our personal high school curriculum. This is the exact version that I submitted through my CommonApp portal when I was applying to college.

PDF Attached Here

Homeschooling Course Curriculum

226KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

As a final note on curriculum, I want to briefly mention a few great resources we found useful. I am not in any way affiliated with any of the materials, texts, or resources listed in this article, nor do I profit from sharing them. They’re simply what worked for us, and I’m passing them along. You are free to select whatever you feel works best for you and your family.

Classical Conversations (Link): Religion aside, I feel they did a phenomenal job, especially in designing the English curriculum. It applies first-principles thinking in its deconstruction and systematic teaching of the English Language through their “112 Classifications of the English Language.” The 4*4*7 matrix, hence 112 Classifications (four structures x four purposes x seven patterns) is a deterministic system encoding every possible sentence structure in the English language, ensuring a comprehensive understanding and mastery of grammar and syntax. Building on this foundation, verb anatomy, diagramming, and other grammatical principles equip students with a deeper understanding of sentence mechanics.

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW): IEW offers a grammar series entitled Fix It Grammar that introduces key concepts and serves as a comprehensive workbook. It provides numerous examples and gives students ample opportunities to directly apply their learnings. While it can stand alone, it serves as a great complement to Classical Conversations.

CK-12 Foundation (Link): CK12 is an outstanding free online educational platform designed to serve a diverse range of leaners, including traditional classroom students, homeschoolers, and self-directed learners. The site boasts features like interactive textbooks, video lessons, practice tools, and even an AI-tutor. The downloadable textbooks, available in both student and teacher editions, offer modules that can be used sequentially as a full curriculum or selected à la carte to meet individual needs.

Leveraging Your Environment

A successful homeschooling curriculum extends beyond the best textbooks and digital resources. If you live in a metropolitan city, leverage that wealth of local resources to cultivate a rich and diverse educational experience.

Regular visits to art, history, and science museums ignite curiosity and provide hands-on learning experiences. For instance, art museums can deepen understanding of historical contexts and artistic techniques. History museums bring defining moments to life, offering tangible connections to past civilizations and monumental works. Science museums provide opportunities to explore the macro and micro in innovative ways –– explore black holes and dark matter without leaving Earth or build models of structural proteins and investigate the anatomy and physiology of muscle contraction. Complement these experiences with trips to libraries, zoos, aquariums, music conservatories, theaters, botanic gardens, nature walks, and much more. The goal is to create a dynamic, immersive learning environment that makes education an engaging and multidimensional journey.

Extracurriculars

I don’t really have too much to say here because these really should be driven by personal interest not a desire to check boxes. Encourage breadth early on to expose your child to a wide range of activities and focus on depth once they’ve identified an interest or talent.

While common extracurriculars like sports, music and language are excellent, and were part of our own journey, think creatively. What could they build? How could they have an impact?

This could include launching a non-profit, developing an app, designing sustainable products or conducting original research. Community-focused activities could involve organizing neighborhood beautification campaigns, establishing a literacy program, or raising awareness around food insecurity, where they partner with local farmers and elected officials to provide accessible and economical fresh produce in marginalized communities.

Remember, homeschooling offers unparalleled flexibility, making it an ideal setting for exceptional extracurricular pursuits

Here are a couple impactful examples from our experience:

• Neurosurgery Internship: At 17, I independently sourced and secured an internship with a neurosurgeon in sub-Saharan Africa, exposing me to brain and spine surgeries inside the operating room

• Finance Internship: My brother landed a role as the youngest intern at an activist investment firm the summer before applying to college. It gave his Wharton application a significant boost, especially given we had no background, family, or other connections in finance. His admissions officer highlighted it extensively in the offer letter

Our creativity and persistence built a bridge of incidences that led to unique opportunities. A framework I find helpful is to: (1) Identify major problems in your community or society, (2) Assess your unique skill sets, (3) Think how best you could apply your talent to help improve the current condition.

*Pro Tip: Study the profiles of past winners of the U.S. Rhodes Scholarship (Link). During my college years, I realized that the Rhodes Scholarship website and others (Jack Kent Cooke, Gates, Coca-Cola) essentially screened and curated lists of exceptional individuals. These profiles provided insights into their interests and activities and could be used as inspiration to strategically design my own impactful projects.

Putting It All Into Practice

Like anything else, success in homeschooling requires a clearly defined goal, a methodical approach to organization and implementation, and the patience, persistence and perseverance to see it through. My mom always emphasized the importance of having a “clearly defined goal with a written plan for its attainment.” The more specific you are about every detail of what success looks like for you, the easier it will be to stay on course and make the necessary adjustments.

Defining Success Metrics

Start by setting clear, measurable goals –– a combination of long-term objectives, complemented by short-term action steps that drive incremental progress. For instance, instead of a vague aim like, “I want my child to know U.S. geography,” articulate a clear endgame: “By year-end, my child can take a blank 18”x24” art pad and free-hand draw from memory the map of the U.S., detailing all 50 states, their capitals, major bodies of water and geographical features.”

Then, bridge your year-end goal with consistent daily and weekly progress. Let’s decide “for the first 4 weeks, we’ll practice U.S. Geography on Sheppard Software three times a week, and trace the map of the U.S. every Friday, concentrating solely on learning the states.” Sheppard Software (link) is a free interactive online platform that helps students build mental maps of U.S. and world geography through engaging games and activities that reinforce knowledge of countries, capital & landscapes.

Scheduling & Structuring

Organization is key. It builds confidence and prevents frustration. Start by breaking down your annual academic goals into manageable monthly targets and categorize the necessary materials week by week. Involve your child as a key stakeholder in this planning process to cultivate responsibility, self-motivation, and personal drive. On weekends, they’ll participate in creating their plan for the upcoming week, referencing your outlines to set learning objectives, select the modules they’ll complete, and decide which projects they’ll start or continue

Curating An Optimal Learning Environment

Create designated study spaces that are psychologically distinct from other areas in the house. Supply their workspace with lots of natural sunlight and fresh air and minimize clutter and external distractions. Allow your child to personalize their space and consider adding plants, positioning their workspace near your library, and even playing classical music quietly in the background. You are aiming to create a fun, inspiring environment that is conducive to deep concentration and productivity.

*Pro Tip: Opt for an open floor plan where you can always see and hear your children. The child should never be isolated in a separate room with doors locked.

Efficient Record Keeping

Effective record keeping is two-fold: it involves meticulously documenting past achievements and maintaining a proactive repository of future opportunities. Start by keeping detailed records of your child’s academic work, extracurricular activities, volunteer experiences, and personal growth. Keep it fun and experiment with different modalities like written records, photos, and video journals. Although it might seem excessive, having these data points readily accessible will be invaluable when it’s time to present a comprehensive portfolio, particularly for college admissions, where you’ll need to demonstrate a history of academic excellence and well-rounded development.

At the same time, create a dynamic repository of future opportunities –– programs, scholarships, competitions, and milestones that align with your child’s goals. As you uncover new opportunities through conversations, research, or insights, document them in this dossier, categorized by grade. For example, if you learn about the MITES program at M.I.T, Chemistry Olympiad or Juilliard Pre-College, assign them to the relevant grade folders. This forward-thinking strategy not only organizes key opportunities but also informs your current planning. If your 6th grader aims to compete in the Chemistry Olympiad in high school, this prompts you to intensify their math and chemistry preparation now. Scholarship information would likely go into your 11th & 12th grade folders.

Assessment & Evaluation

Our approach to assessment reflected the holistic, discussion-based methodology of Philips Exeter Academy, prioritizing critical thinking, effective communication, and deep engagement with material over traditional exams. We focused on ongoing evaluations through written reflections, projects, and presentations, emphasizing on our ability to articulate and defend ideas both orally and in writing.

Narrative reports from both our parents and mentors (*note: we had tutors for some subjects like Latin, Chemistry, etc.) provided nuanced feedback on strengths and areas for improvement.

Additionally, portfolios compiled throughout the year showcased tangible growth. For example, in geography, the progression of freehand, memory-based drawings demonstrated clear skill and knowledge development, while portfolios in other subjects included essays, projects, and lab reports.

While standardize testing played a role in our education, it was not the primary focus of our assessment strategy. Instead, we prioritized deep understanding and the practical application of knowledge over rote memorization and test-taking skills. This approach prepared me extremely well for my year at Oxford, where the tutorial system closely mirrored my homeschooling educational experience. While I did take the SAT, I did not take any AP exams, and I do not feel this decision negatively impacted my college admissions process.

Where Are We Now

My brother and I are fully locked-in on crypto and ecom. While plans can change, it’s unlikely that I will pursue medical school or that BlackPanther will return to complete his degree. Homeschooling taught us the value of lifelong learning, and we’ll keep pursing our curiosity, no matter how it’s packaged.

As I mentioned earlier, we found BTB at the end of April last year. Over the next few months, we had been reading through the Substack, Efficiency, and Tweets from within the community. In November, we launched our WiFi business. We hit 7-figures in revenue within our first three months and are on track to surpass figures by the end of the year.

We’ve stayed grounded –– I feel that we had a solid upbringing and have been paying close attention to the lifestyle Q&A posts (i.e. “lie down”). More importantly, I think we come equipped with a certain level of maturity and understanding that the goal is to build longterm success.

We haven’t spent anything, nor do we have the desire to buy things, at the moment. Every cent is reinvested back into the business. We have not changed our lifestyle. What brings us joy is seeing our business grow, our personal net worth grow, and to lock-in our citizenship for DeGen Island.

Conclusion

Grateful to BTB for giving us the opportunity to share here. If there are comments, we’ll try to respond to as many as we can over the next few days.

Also, feel free to reach out on X BowTiedAnubis and BowTiedBlackPanther.

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BTB Comments

The most impressive thing is certainly the curriculum provided and quite surprised that AP exams were skipped. Important points to us:

• Getting the kids to enjoy learning and improving is probably the most important hurdle along with self awareness. If the kid is smart enough to know when he or she is good/bad at something, this will pay off huge dividends. Even at age 30+ we see delusional people who think they could have been gold medalists or pro-athletes despite only competing at the D2 level (or worse)

• While this is more about homeschooling, if you read between the lines there are a lot of things you can do if you’re still working 9am-5pm hours. One of the important items is helping find defined progress items and checking in on them. We’re aware that not everyone can home school or private school. That said, nothing prevents parents from being involved particularly on weekends

• The three resources listed after the pdf are completely new, never heard of them. For those interested it’s probably worth a look considering how successful both of these people became

• The extracurriculars are much further out of the box than the classic “baseball, basketball, football and one musical instrument” that most parents do. There is a wide range of options outside of just sports (the #1 most common focus in the USA)

• To keep it realistic, these two are naturally talented/gifted as evidenced by writing style. You could say it was written by someone 30 years old and we wouldn’t even notice. This is probably why they were so quick at scaling an E-com biz. The good news is it looks like they listened to the “lie down advice”. Never compare yourself to anyone, the goal is to find interests/talents and then go in head first (they happened to be good at online sales - born in the right generation!)

• Notice that one of the strategies is to look up all the top schools and try to replicate/copy their curriculum *and* teaching strategies. This is probably why they were good at E-com quickly. The entire game is finding good ads/products and then figuring out how they convert. Essentially the same task but in digital form

The only real item we see missing here is how their parents really encouraged them to maximize their own potential. This is probably a soft skill that is hard to put into words.

Maybe someone will solve that but as you all know “success leaves clues”, ask around for kids that enjoy going all out and you’ll probably find a lot of clear trends.

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Additional note, their section is unedited with a basic spell check function. We’re not entirely sure if all the institutes were spelled correctly. You can blame us for typos if edited incorrectly

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Disclaimer: None of this is to be deemed legal or financial advice of any kind. These are *opinions* written by an anonymous group of Ex-Wall Street Tech Bankers and software engineers who moved into affiliate marketing and e-commerce.

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