When we\u2019re talking about tools, there\u2019s another thing that usually crops up \u2013 you see, people who are used to thinking in terms of getting the maximum performance for the money have problems understanding the position of people who don\u2019t have their monetary constraints, and who think in terms of getting the best thing for their needs regardless of cost. The usual comment is \u201cmore money than brains\u201d or something along those lines.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a tricky thing, because I understand both positions, and neither is without merit. Truly, there are people who routinely overspend on things and indulge in never-ending excesses, and none of it makes much sense. On the other hand, there are people who don\u2019t understand that, if you can afford it, sometimes it makes much sense to spend more on equipment, especially if it\u2019s the stuff you use every day, lasts many years, and you can obtain advantages that would otherwise not be available. You see, I\u2019ve seen situations where other kids made fun of my son because he used a Macbook \u2013 the standard arguments were that it\u2019s a computer for stupid people with money, and imagine what kind of a gaming machine you can get for that money, and so on. The next scene was kids with a Windows laptop waiting for the Windows update to finish and they need the machine for the presentation or they fail; you can imagine the panic and frustration. Oops, so it\u2019s not actually for stupid people only, but also for people who absolutely need it to work in a mission-critical environment. Also, they laughed at him for having an iPhone because the battery is so much smaller than in their Android phones, but curiously they all seemed to constantly run out of battery before him.<\/p>\n
Apparently, the danger in getting by with limited resources is when you start thinking in terms where everything better and more expensive than what you have is useless and those who can afford it are idiots for buying overpriced crap. Don\u2019t go there, because it actually limits you, and you might actually impose artificial financial limits on yourself and not allow yourself to make money because money is for stupid losers. Instead, get by with what you can afford, but allow yourself to expand into something better when you can, because frequently the people who buy the stuff you can\u2019t afford are very smart people who just happen to have money. The actually stupid stuff starts when people from low or middle income brackets think they\u2019ll become rich if they overspend on rich people things, such as expensive clothes and trinkets. That\u2019s the way to remain perpetually poor. However, buying high quality tools if you can afford them is always a good idea, and is almost always going to pay off in the long run. If it is more reliable, faster, quieter, less quirky, integrates better between many devices, puts less strain on your body while you work with it, and just gets out of the way and allows you to do your thing, it\u2019s probably worth it. If it creates additional problems for you, you might want to migrate away. Also, I\u2019m almost always against taking loans and for buying everything with cash, but tools you use to do work and make money might be an exception I\u2019m willing to make. Tools are productivity multipliers, if it\u2019s something you actually need and are more productive with, and not only the new shiny gadgety thingy you desire. Tools are also idiosyncratic, so don\u2019t make fun of someone who bought an expensive guitar that just \u201cfeels right\u201d for him, even if it feels psychological. The feeling you have when using something that\u2019s \u201cright\u201d might put your psyche in the \u201cright\u201d place and allow you to really spread your wings. However, don’t delude yourself into thinking that you will obtain skill by buying stuff. You won’t. If you can’t code on a cheap computer, you won’t do any better on the most expensive one. If you can’t make nice pictures using a smartphone, buying the most sophisticated medium format system won’t make any difference.<\/p>\n
So, basically, don\u2019t get into a place where you think all beautiful women and rich people must be stupid or morally corrupt. It\u2019s a really shitty coping mechanism that is closely related to envy, and is of no use to anyone. Rather, be free to acknowledge what is worthy, and to aspire to better and greater things. Sure, some assholes are rich, but God is also rich (if owning the entire reality counts). Some stupid whores are beautiful, but female angels and Gods are also beautiful. Don\u2019t spit in the direction where you want to be heading.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When we\u2019re talking about tools, there\u2019s another thing that usually crops up \u2013 you see, people who are used to thinking in terms of getting the maximum performance for the money have problems understanding the position of people who don\u2019t … Continue reading