Recap: Life - The Calculus of Success

• The role of preparation and Opportunity
• Random events ('luck') play a major role in shaping our lives
• Hard work sometimes leads to discovering good luck.

Tips

As you go through life, don't be afraid of developing new skills. As you exercise curiosity about events, people, world, you might find something you are passionate about. You are never too old to learn new skills and knowledge.

Turtle on the fence post! Always question don't let it bite you

The experts are (almost) always wrong

Are you prepared to be a contrarian? (go against established wisdom. Have the fortitude).

The greatest obstacle to knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge

Flo Schnydman's Commandments

Manners and etiquette:

• good manners never go out of style
• never go to someone's house empty handed
  • If you get invited for dinner, bring something
  • It's not the size of the gift, but the thought behind it
  • bring a tea bag wrapped nicely.
• You can't buy a good name, you earn it.
  • It's hard to rise doing something unethical
  • empty suit: people look good but don't do the part
  • Your name is your stock and trade. it's what you represent.
  • You can take a position that costs your job, but is worth everything
  • principles are only principles if they cost you money.
  • give respect, get respect
• bring home a winner (associate with people of good moral characters)
• contrarian's corollary: the herd is always wrong.