Month: September 2025

Charlie Munger lived to 99, still respected for his wisdom. His approach: identify the biggest mistakes and worst-case outcomes—then avoid them. In contrast, Steve Jobs, though arguably more impactful, likely passed with more regrets.

So far, minimal regrets. The focus now shifts from chasing success to:

• Mind & Body – Physical and mental well-being are intertwined; neglecting either is giving up on life.

• Family & Friends – Relationships define fulfillment. Investing in the next two generations is now a priority; today’s 10 kids will grow into a clan of 80+.

• Earned Success – Like happiness, success is fleeting. Managing expectations and being present prevents common regrets.

• Service – With age comes a shift from self-interest to meaningful contribution.

True fulfillment lies in devoting energy and resources to others.

These priorities align with launching the Foundation this year, focusing on innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. Success addiction and hyper-competitiveness may not fade, but they can be redirected. The next decade’s earned success will come from mastering the roles of Investor & Educator—investing in hopes and dreams.

Final lesson: Find joy in the present, let go of the chase for future validation. Tomorrow will take care of itself if today is well-lived.

Envy is a dark passenger. Social media magnifies one of the most problematic human emotions, giving it an ever-present form.

Recent studies, including one from the NIH, have indicated a strong correlation between phone usage and social media with higher rates of suicidal ideation. Curated highlight reels of how everyone else is seemingly happier and living in a rosy world form a distorted mirror for the hapless person, spiraling deeper and deeper into despair.

Envy: Nothing’s Ever Enough

Take the story of Bernie Madoff, the man who out-Ponzi’d Ponzi and destroyed countless lives, including his own. Before starting his massive scam, Madoff was a pivotal figure in NASDAQ, earning over $20 million a year. Yet somehow, that wasn’t enough—compared to the ever-expanding lists of wealth and status.

Or consider Rajat Gupta, who came from the streets of Calcutta to become the first foreign-born Managing Director at McKinsey. By all accounts, Gupta achieved astounding feats in corporate America, with many zeros after his name. Yet the pursuit of one more zero became such an obsession that he risked decades of reputation and success, engaging in insider trading, which ultimately led to felony convictions.

It’s probably written into human DNA: envy can help us stay motivated and survive. But in excess, and when left unchecked, it invites misery.

The surest route to misery in life is to be driven by envy.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall…

I used to subscribe to the “follow your passion” mantra, but after decades of reflection, I’ve realized it’s misguided advice for most people. Passion is fleeting—it comes and goes, and many don’t even know what their true passion is, especially with limited life experience. Before Steve Jobs found his passion in designing iPhones and Macs, he was passionate about fruit diets, barefoot walking, calligraphy, being a contrarian, and hacking long-distance calls. His real breakthrough came when he discovered his talent for salesmanship and his ability to create a “Reality Distortion Field”—convincing others that the impossible was possible. His passion wasn’t a starting point; it emerged from assembling and applying his talents.

“The key is to figure out what you can do that others can’t or aren’t willing to do—a collection of advantages and tolerances.” Writers like Scott Galloway and Morgan Housel have argued convincingly that talent should take precedence over passion. Human existence operates on supply and demand—ignoring this reality leads to struggle. Success comes from identifying and developing talents that are in high demand but low supply. When mastered and recognized, talents can evolve into passion. Talent + focus = mastery, and mastery often leads to passion, not the other way around.

Looking back, my strengths lie in resilience, focus, and pain tolerance—likely on an average intellect curve. Cultivating both innate and learned talents is the optimal path, and if those talents align with market demand, passion naturally follows. Starting with passion as a career direction is like attempting to climb Mount Everest without training or tools—a fool’s errand for most. Occasionally, an outlier succeeds in perfectly aligning passion with career, but statistically, it’s a long shot not worth betting on.

On track for a $150K loss tied to the migrant crisis—just one fallout of failed state policies. A tough lesson, but a necessary one.
That said, humanity will endure because kind and generous people exist. With age comes a bit of wisdom, and with that, a shift in focus: becoming a net contributor to building a better future.
This year marks the beginning of a committed philanthropic effort—supporting four students, with plans to double that number each year. The goal: 100+ scholars by 2030. One of them, Ashley from the Philippines, recently sent a note:
“Greetings, Sir Leo. I just want to say thank you for the scholarship. I really appreciate this opportunity.”
The mission is simple—give opportunity to the driven few who will make the most of it. A small percentage of people have the vision and resilience to challenge the status quo, but many flicker out without support.
This is a work in progress: making a dent in the universe by building a launchpad for new talent. Moving forward, the focus sharpens—expanding efforts in medicine, performing arts, and entrepreneurship. The goal isn’t just giving back but embedding giving into the very fabric of business growth.