My Learnings: #62

Charlie Munger once shared a surefire recipe for a miserable, unsuccessful life: rack up debt, surround yourself with fools, and stir in daily drama. Avoiding these pitfalls virtually guarantees long-term success and fulfillment. His golden rule? Steer clear of the three D's: debt, dumb people, and drama—a principle I've found profoundly true in my own experience.

On debt: If your plan requires borrowing, it sucks—rethink how to execute with your own money, or better yet, little to none. Life has taught me you rarely need cash to start; energy and effort suffice to create and achieve so much. Don't borrow what you can't repay.

On drama: Life delivers plenty of unavoidable real crises—illness, loved ones' tragedies, economic downturns—without you manufacturing more. Keep unnecessary conflicts out, as drama compounds and erodes your short life. Don't create problems; focus on peace. Remember, money isn't the only thing that compounds. Problems and drama compound as well so keeping them out of your life is critical.

On dumb people: It sounds harsh, but associating with fools or toxic individuals brings intolerable consequences—avoid them to enjoy life. Surround yourself with a few trusted, admired, respected people instead. Refuse to mix with negativity; you only need quality connections.

Simply avoid debt, drama, and dumb people—that's all it takes. (As heard from Charlie Munger on a possibly AI-generated podcast based on his writings.)