A competent advisor is more valuable than any fortune. This short aphorism drives home a powerful truth: intellectual capital and wisdom far outweigh material wealth in both importance and utility. It sounds a bit like something your grandma would tell you while handing you two bucks for ice cream, right? But if you think about it, there’s some serious, hard-hitting logic behind it. Money is just paper or digits in a banking app, while competence is the "software" that actually makes things happen. Here are some real-life scenarios for you to evaluate: Imagine a scenario where a pipe bursts in your bathroom, rapidly transforming your apartment into an indoor swimming pool. You could have a million dollars in your account, but in that exact moment, those numbers won’t stop the water. Could you please identify who knows which valve to turn and how to plug the leak within five minutes? That person is your personal Messiah. Their advice and skill in that moment are worth more th...
When it comes to other people's sins, we immediately put on the black robe and become ruthless judges, but when it comes to our offspring, we suddenly become the most expensive lawyers in the world. Take social media, for example. You scroll through Facebook or TikTok and see an “influencer” or even someone you know who has done something stupid—for example, parked in a double space or uploaded a slightly provocative photo. We immediately take on the role of moral judge. “Look at how arrogant he is.” “Doesn’t he have any shame?” “Where is the education?”—the comments rain down, and the verdict is final and without appeal. However, just an hour later, we ourselves stop “just for a minute” at the emergency lights in front of the bakery, blocking all traffic. And then our inner lawyer begins his plea: “But I’m in a hurry.” “There was nowhere else to go.” “The child is hungry.” “This is just for a moment; he’s not like those real brats.” The source is absolutely...