#207 The Importance of Those Around You (24/05/2026)

Behind every company, there are people running it. Often, when we analyze people's successes and failures, we spend a lot of time dissecting what they did and didn't do, trying to reverse engineer their success or avoid similar failures. But one thing I rarely mention, yet is incredibly important, is the person by your side. This is someone many people overlook but is extremely crucial. The kind of person your partner is, and their attitude and approach towards you, directly impacts whether you succeed or not, perhaps even more than what books you read, or your decisions regarding hiring, management, or work.

First, let me clarify that what I'm about to say assumes you have a significant other, whether it's your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife, someone who is by your side most days. You spend a lot of your non-work time with them. This person, I must say, can have a huge impact on you. For negative impacts, I think everyone can imagine them: they might see you haven't made progress yet and, not understanding what you're doing, tell you to rethink things, or perhaps demand you do this or that, consuming all your free time and preventing you from being yourself. These are the negative aspects, and everyone knows that if your partner is like this, it's hard to succeed. But what about the opposite? I'm not here to say you need someone who is incredibly supportive of you, no. Instead, I want to say that the best kind of person to find is someone who doesn't care too much about what you do, someone who doesn't interfere much. This type of person is the best. If, in your life, you can find someone who doesn't interfere, allowing you to continue working on your days off without them bothering you, I think that's the best kind of person. Of course, different people click differently with others, and this is just my own opinion and what works for me. In the past year or two, I've been more passionate about work than before. I think it might be because some very anxious or unsettling phases have gradually passed, or I've adapted, and coupled with the development of AI and computer systems in the past year or two, I've started to systematize certain parts of my work. This allows me to work "off-hand" and dedicate more of my heart and mind to work, starting to enjoy it more. It's a bit like learning to swim; at first, simply floating and moving is a struggle, so how can you enjoy it? Only when you start getting the hang of it can you begin to find some enjoyment.

Regarding your significant other, this is a sensitive topic, but I think that if we're speaking honestly, it's an undeniable aspect. My wife has her own way in this regard. She's generally somewhere between knowing and not knowing what I'm writing or doing. For example, right now, I'm writing my weekly review alone at night. She'll call out and ask what I'm doing? And when I say "writing my weekly review," she won't ask anything else. Some people might find this undesirable, but I actually think it's the best way.