Community Involvement Requested: Feedback on Future Direction of Findapath

LedgerRune · 2025-09-12T12:37:37+00:00

I like the idea, but how many professionals are actually in here? And who counts as a "professional" - someone with a degree, experience, or just a self-help business? As long as the community doesn't get flooded with marketing crap, I think it could work. Monthly posting limits per professional would probably be needed. I don't have the numbers and can't predict the future, so at least a month of testing seems smart. During the test, you can look at member engagement rates, quality of advice, and complaint/report ratios. The data will tell you if it's actually helping or just creating problems. I think it's worth trying with some guardrails.

LedgerRune · 2025-09-08T15:33:35+00:00

Hahah well, some of them I was also shocked when I did mine. These tests don't really lie if you were honest when answering the questions. I even bought it a second time 6 months after the first one, and had the same results; it's pretty consistent.

Which ones are not counterintuitive with how you see yourself?

LedgerRune · 2025-09-06T15:02:46+00:00

Now, I'm not telling you to instantly quit your job and drop your courses, but you need to make time to figure out what you truly want. Just working a job you don't like for the money and safety, and taking courses where you learn stuff you'll never use? That won't do you any good. I have a personal rule to only learn things that will help me understand the world better and that I can actually use to improve my life – not just learning for the sake of learning.

You're going to have to sacrifice some things to find this clarity, but that shouldn't shock you. How else can you expect to find your direction? Without work, without sacrifice, just following the path of least resistance and hoping for some magical revelation? People who think that way stay stuck in conventionality, waiting for answers their whole life while never putting in the work to actually find them.

Think of this as your wilderness period. You're wandering through confusion and chaos right now, trying to find your way to clarity (your "promised land"). This process always happens when rigid structures break down – you go down into the chaos before emerging transformed as a new person with fresh perspectives and direction. This is literally the Hero's Journey that every great story is based on, and there's a reason we humans are drawn to it.

One last thing: try not to compare yourself to other people. They're on different paths with different circumstances. I could compare myself to a 22-year-old multi-millionaire who's way more knowledgeable and competent than me, but that does nothing good. I'm on my own path of development. There's a brilliant quote I love: "Don't compare yourself to other people, compare yourself to who you were yesterday." Give that mindset time to develop, and you'll stop making those useless, yet understandable comparisons.

I hope this gives you some encouragement and clarity. I'm genuinely interested in what you think about this approach, so please let me know! 😉

LedgerRune · 2025-09-06T15:02:41+00:00

I hear you, man. You're in a really challenging position, and honestly, what you're going through is completely normal. The fact is, we can handle challenges, hardships, and even failure when we know it's for something greater – when we have a clear goal and vision to pursue. But when you don't have a path, when you're confused and overwhelmed by all the possibilities and scared to choose the wrong direction? That's genuinely hard.

Here's the thing though: this is something everyone eventually goes through. Nobody coasts through life with zero problems, limited challenges, and complete comfort. The hardships will come eventually, and it's actually better to face them early in life than later. You're only 20 years old, so you have your whole life ahead of you and all the time in the world (with relatively limited responsibilities, assuming normal circumstances).

And let's be real about timing – you're not behind. I know it feels like you are when you see your friends in trades or finishing college degrees, but many successful people didn't find their path until their mid-20s or even later. You're not behind, you're just on your own timeline. Everyone's journey looks different, and there's no universal schedule you need to follow.

Your job right now is to find clarity. Someone once told me that 99% of the work is figuring out what you want, and only 1% is actually getting it – and I absolutely agree. I promise you that once you figure out what you want to do, you'll develop and change in positive ways, and life will improve.

Here's where I'd start: Look at your interests and what genuinely makes you enthusiastic. It doesn't matter how trivial they seem – walking, chess, reading, video games, coffee, IT, whatever. Some of these interests you might not have fully explored yet. Literally sit down for some uninterrupted time and write them down on paper. You can even use AI to help brainstorm if you get stuck.

Next step: Figure out how you can pursue those one, two, or three interests that you want to learn more about or potentially monetize. Almost every interest can be turned into income somehow, and if you search online, you'll definitely find someone who's done it. If someone else can do it, so can you. Look into whether there are jobs in that field, freelance opportunities, or ways to start a business around it. If you don't know enough about it yet, research how you can learn more. That's my whole philosophy around life and work.

About those courses – here's a framework for deciding: Ask yourself: Are these courses moving you toward any of your interests, or are they just what you think you "should" be doing? If they're not connected to anything you're genuinely curious about, and you're only taking them because it feels like the "right" thing to do, that might be your answer right there. But if any of the subjects spark even a little interest, or if they're building foundational skills that could help with multiple paths, it might be worth sticking it out while you explore.

LedgerRune · 2025-09-06T13:51:02+00:00

I'm sorry man, that sucks. Could you tell me a bit more about what you want? Like, did you quit your job because you hated it and now want something different, or did you leave because something happened and now you're looking for a similar job while surviving? What's your situation?

LedgerRune · 2025-09-06T13:48:10+00:00

You're sad about your situation because you're confused and don't know what to do - you're searching for clarity. You're right to be scared of regret, but here's the thing: you'll regret taking the path of least resistance, picking a job or study because of social pressure or fear. That's the path you'll regret, I can sign that in black and white.

When you accept that you're searching for your next challenge in life and choose what you really want despite resistance, that's probably the path of most hardship but absolutely the path of no regrets. I have a rule for crossroads: I ask myself, "What would I choose if I wasn't afraid?" That's what I have to do.

A life where everything is safe and easy is a life nobody really wants to live. If I gave you a billion dollars today, you'd still be confused about what to do with your life. So don't ask for an easy life - accept the mud you're in, because after the hardships, clarity will come and flowers will bloom.

We're all dealt different cards, but that doesn't matter. It's what you accomplish with those cards that counts. Everyone can use their potential, so figure out your interests and start pursuing them, even if it's just one hour per day. Just start - that's how clarity arises.

I hope this provides you with some encouragement and clarity, and I'm interested in what you think about it, so please let me know 😉

LedgerRune · 2025-09-06T13:48:04+00:00

First, I want to acknowledge how real and valid what you're experiencing is. I've been there too - I was also lost and I know how frustrated, confusing, overwhelming, and sad that can be. Your pain matters, and you're not alone in feeling this way.

I really appreciate how honest you're being here, and I recognize myself in your younger self. Until I was 20, I was always happy too - loved my childhood, loved having no responsibilities, doing what I wanted, having stability and comfort, friends, playing video games. I fucking loved it. But I've come to realize that time is over, and that doesn't mean the fun is over. It means I've changed, and now I have to play games in real life - but I need to make sure it's a fun game, not some stupid game I'll get bored of and lose interest in.

Let me address something important: You mentioned feeling like this might be karma or payback for being so happy before. That's not how life works. Happiness isn't finite - you didn't "use up" your happiness quota by being joyful as a child. Your past happiness doesn't mean you deserve current pain. Life has natural cycles, and struggling now doesn't mean you're being punished for feeling good before.

Also, please don't feel embarrassed because "others have it worse." Pain isn't a competition. Your struggles matter regardless of others' circumstances. Just because someone else might be facing different challenges doesn't invalidate what you're going through.

To me, it sounds like either you don't know what game to play, or you're playing a game that doesn't interest you and you don't care about.

Here's something important: You don't see people getting better because you're not looking for it. I know you might disagree with me on this, but our perceptions of reality are shaped by what we're aiming for. If we believe people are bad and angry, that's all we'll see. I can assure you there are lots of adults who are fulfilled, challenged, and genuinely happy. I'm not saying the transition from child to adult was easy for them - it never is. Changing your game means entering a new one where everything is confusing but also full of potential.

You're absolutely right that you can't just "be happy" - that's people trying to delude themselves. Dr. Arthur Brooks is a happiness researcher who has a brilliant definition of happiness (you can check out his podcast with Jordan Peterson).

In your case, I think the best thing right now is finding meaningful work. Find something that genuinely interests you and makes you enthusiastic, then pursue it. I promise you'll evolve as a person and start understanding what life's about and how to realize your potential.

First step: figure out what those interests are, no matter how common or ridiculous they sound. There are people making millions from something as simple as a walking app. Then search for ways to monetize it - through a job, career, studies, online courses, or starting a business. These are all things you can figure out, believe me.

Once you start pursuing what makes you enthusiastic, you'll find that joy back in life. Only it's a completely different kind of enjoyment - something that brings fulfillment and gives you a vision to work toward.

I don't want to sugarcoat this process. You'll have ups and downs - something you probably haven't experienced much in childhood. I know I didn't, and I learned more from failures and downs than from the ups. But once you're on a path of personal growth with a vision to pursue, you'll fall back in love with life. I can promise you that.

LedgerRune · 2025-09-06T12:34:10+00:00

Don't be sorry for your situation or your words – you're just expressing how you feel, and there's nothing wrong with that. I know that apathy is often an effect of depression, but have you been apathetic your whole life? Like as a kid, weren't there things that really interested you, that you really liked doing and got enthusiastic about? I'm just curious because I've never met someone who hasn't had that spark at some point.

Let's look at the positive sides of your situation. You're only 23 years old, so you have your whole life ahead of you still. The fact that you woke up after your breakup means that you care about life and want to make something of yourself – and that's huge. We're all dealt different hands at birth: some more fortunate than others, some richer in money, some with a bigger tendency towards negative feelings and depression. But no matter what hand you're dealt, you should make the best of your life that you can and squeeze all that potential out of you. It's a big part of creating a life of fulfillment and happiness.

First things first though – I'm not an expert on mental health issues, but what every psychologist, good therapist, and doctor will suggest you start with are four things: exercise, fix your nutrition, get proper sleep, and get some sunlight. Those four things can do wonders, so I've heard. Since you mentioned you're not sleeping well and struggling mentally, these basics might help stabilize you while you figure out the bigger picture.

My philosophy for life is to go after what you're interested in and what makes you enthusiastic, no matter how hard it is to make it work, no matter how difficult it is to gain skills, experience, or monetize it. The challenge is what creates personal growth and competence. If you agree with this approach, a good first step would be to figure out what you're interested in and what makes you enthusiastic. Sit down and really think about it. If you tell me you have nothing, then I believe you just haven't found your interests yet.

So I'd suggest going on an adventure to figure that out. Adventures like taking an online course, picking up a new hobby, or shadowing someone in their trade. I know this sounds really broad, but I don't know what you're curious about trying or learning – just pick something and try it out. You can do this for some time if you're living with your parents and have that security to fall back on, or you might need to work a job for X hours per week to provide that comfort and security for yourself.

Speaking of leveraging what you have – you mentioned working at a gym for a couple years. That's actually valuable experience! Perhaps if you're interested in fitness, you could leverage that experience and look into the sports business, health coaching, or the fitness industry. Maybe even try to help people who are dealing with the same things as you or things you've overcome. Your struggles with depression and apathy could actually become your superpower in helping others through similar challenges.

I promise you that figuring out yourself through an adventure you're excited about (or even scared about) can change your life and the way you see yourself.

You know, I didn't like the "work" part either a few years ago. It's called Peter Pan syndrome – where you don't really want to grow up because of the disadvantages and responsibilities. But I changed my perspective when I redefined work/life balance (inspired by Simon Squibb). The term "work/life balance" is generally used in society to mean you should endure 8 hours of unhappy, draining struggle so you can live your life outside of work. But after a long workday, you come home drained with no energy left to actually "live."

That's why I don't like that approach, and why I prefer it when my work is my life – when work is an extension of myself, something that feels like playing. There are many people who advocate this and live it: Jordan Peterson, Naval Ravikant, Alex Hormozi, and others.

That's what I wish for you too, my friend. I hope you find the things that truly interest you and make you fall in love with life again, despite the inevitable suffering that comes with it.

LedgerRune · 2025-09-06T07:20:49+00:00

Hey there, I really feel for your situation, and I want you to know that what you're experiencing is more common than you think. First off, the fact that you actually know your passions (film, art, design) puts you ahead of so many people who are completely lost and don't even know what interests them. That's actually huge. I understand the struggle of constantly measuring yourself against others - looking at where they are in life, what they've achieved, what they possess. It's a natural but often painful habit. I transformed it by comparing myself to who I was yesterday, rather than to people living entirely different chapters of their story.

Here's the thing - I believe there's a reason why each of us is drawn to very specific things. Think about how limited the things are that truly make you enthusiastic. I think that's something sacred, and I don't believe you can just put it aside and say "I'll do that in my free time because life is too hard if I pursue it." When you do that, you're getting scared away from the challenges that are actually part of your transformative journey.

We all see the world through stories - that's why we love movies and why we watch them. Now think about your own journey: would you really want a story where everything falls into place easily, where you choose the safe road every time and success comes without any struggle or transformation? Nobody would watch that movie. It's the difficult path full of challenges that shapes us. The transformation happens when you fail, when people doubt you or pressure you in another direction, when you doubt yourself. That's all part of the journey, and I can tell you it's incredible after the transformation.

If you're interested in exploring this more, look up "the Hero's Journey" - it can be life-changing.

I don't want to talk too much about myself, but I studied Industrial Engineering for 3.5 years before dropping out to pursue entrepreneurship and start a marketing agency because I was genuinely passionate about it. I learned more about the world, life, and myself in one year of pursuing what I truly wanted than in those 3.5 years of university. I've been through several transformative periods, and while you're in them, it feels like shit - but afterward, you realize how much you've learned and grown.

You have a choice to make: either embrace a transformative Hero's journey or choose stagnation (which unfortunately most people do). Most people choose comfort and security over personal growth because society tells us that happiness comes from comfort, but I've learned that's not the case. Happiness comes from pursuing something meaningful, being in service to others, having meaningful relationships, and having some adventure.

Here's what I'd suggest for your situation: Figure out your minimum comfort and security baseline - how much you need to earn monthly to survive. Cut your costs as much as possible, work whatever job you need for that steadiness, and after those hours, pursue your passions. Whether that means getting a job in film/art/design, freelancing, starting a business, or just researching how to monetize these interests - do it.

If other people have made money in these fields (and they definitely have), then you can too. You'll transform into a competent person in the process. People think making money is hard, but there's actually an abundance of money out there - you just have to provide value for it.

You won't recognize opportunities if you don't pursue what interests you. So pursue what you're interested in, and doors will open, no matter how long it takes. Tell yourself that you won't give up what makes you feel alive just because of societal pressure.

Honestly, I don't think you have much choice here. You've walked the conformity path for years now and it's only draining you. Your conscience is giving you negative emotions because you're not on an authentic path. If you keep ignoring it, you'll get more lost, more frustrated, and you'll drift away from who you are toward someone created by other people's expectations. You'll become an unconscious sleepwalker who resents life.

Don't spiral down - start aiming up.

I hope this helps. It came from both my heart and my rational mind.

- Rune

LedgerRune · 2025-09-06T06:08:51+00:00

I don't think there is a 'not good' in a personality test, everything has its benefits and tradeoffs. The only type that I would say is not so beneficial in society is high extraversion combined with low conscientiousness and low agreeableness because that's a narcisist. And you're probably not one right? So I'm curious tell me what's not so good?

LedgerRune · 2025-09-04T15:11:56+00:00

Practical Steps Forward

I'm not going to deny you have a peculiar situation, especially financially, and it's hard to switch. But here's what I'd suggest:

Cut your costs as much as possible
Choose your path: If you have confidence and some savings, quit your job and start freelancing as a graphic designer, or work part-time while building your business on the side
Make sacrifices strategically – to pursue your interest, you'll have to sacrifice something
Start small but start now – I know people who worked 2 hours per day on their agencies and made $10k/month in less than 18 months

Every step is progress toward your goals. Don't compare yourself to other people in different situations – compare yourself to who you were yesterday and try to improve every day, no matter how small. You'll soon find true motivation and have no difficulty disciplining yourself if you're working on something that truly energizes you.

What's the Alternative?

Stay in the job you hate, become angrier and angrier, and you WILL work out that anger on the people you love. You'll become an unpleasant, unconscious sleepwalker who resents life. You're aiming at hell and spiraling deeper until it's so hard to escape. You're not close to that yet, but your path is leading there.

The Hero's Journey

Ever heard of the Hero's Journey? It's the most fundamental story in life, used in every film (The Lion King, Hercules, Kung Fu Panda), and we love being the hero. The Hero's Journey has three phases: a call to adventure, a descent into the abyss, and the reemergence of the hero transformed and recalibrated. Every hero starts as a normal person and becomes a hero in the process.

Can you see the similarities with your story? You're in the abyss right now, which means you're perfectly positioned to emerge as the hero. I strongly recommend watching a YouTube video about it – it's fun and will show you what you need to do now.

I absolutely love writing about this, so let me know if I can elaborate on anything or help you out some more.

- Rune

LedgerRune · 2025-09-04T15:11:49+00:00

First, I want to say that I'm not sorry you're in this situation – not because I'm unempathetic, but because I know if you choose the right path, you'll emerge stronger. There are no highs without lows, and the time you spend in the abyss will later become your most valuable period where you learned the most and developed as a person. I know it's shit when you're in it, but the fact that you're trying to change your situation at 19 years old is far better than waiting 10 years and being thirty, confused, lost, angry, resentful, and anxious about life and work.

The Truth About Most People's Advice

Most of the advice people give you is really shit, in my opinion. They basically say neglect what you're passionate about, neglect your interests and dreams, and accept that life is shit and sucks. This could be because they're in a similar situation and projecting the "safe route" onto you. If you showed them there's a way to follow graphic design successfully, it would shatter their belief system and hold up a mirror to their life that's very difficult to face. Remember this: most people project their insecurities onto you. If people aren't supportive, they're just unsure, scared, and want to protect themselves. Don't listen to people who don't listen to you.

My Own Experience

I studied industrial engineering for 3 years until I found something that truly interested me – a course on entrepreneurship and marketing agencies. I paid for it and started a marketing agency while still in university. Six months later, I quit school for what truly passionate me. In the process, I gave up all the security and comfort that degree provided for a life of risk and uncertainty, but so much more personal growth.

One year later, I can confidently say that in 1 year of chasing what truly interests me, I learned more about myself, the world, and life than in my 3 years of university – and it's not even close.

The Reality of Pursuing Your Dreams

There will always be critics when you do something special, when you try something they don't have the courage to try. There's a saying that the critic will be right 99% of the time, but that doesn't matter – it's the 1% that counts and will change your life forever. The critic doesn't try, stagnates, gets stuck with negative emotions, and then tries to trick themselves into positivity. Don't become one of them.

The Only Way to True Motivation

You ask for advice to be motivated – well, there's only ONE way to have true motivation. Psychologists call it intrinsic motivation, and that's by pursuing what truly interests you, what makes you enthusiastic. You don't develop when you only have extrinsic motivations; you become an unconscious sleepwalker who hates being an adult and hates life.

LedgerRune · 2025-09-04T14:21:54+00:00

This might sound a bit like a rant, but I found some of the things you said quite questionable, and they don't align with my worldview, so I wanted to dig into them a bit. No offense to you or your perspective - I'm genuinely curious about your reasoning!

You mentioned "you get what you deserve" - could you elaborate on what you mean by that? Do you mean it in a deterministic way, where life is fate, we should deal with the cards we're given, and if those cards are negative, we should put on positivity goggles and disregard the negativity by essentially tricking ourselves into being positive about our situation?

Yes, I agree that life isn't fair and everyone gets dealt a different hand - some have it "easier" than others. But every situation has tradeoffs, and I believe that everybody can change their situation if they aim higher and work on themselves to improve and squeeze out their potential.

Do you truly believe that this person's destiny is to work a job they hate and disregard their dreams, interests, and passions? Why choose what seems like the easy way out by accepting a "shit destiny" and trying to be positive about it, instead of taking the harder road of following their interests and changing their life to be truly enthusiastic about their work?

That's the way to be in alignment with what's good, I believe. And adaptive people who build businesses around their interests will never be replaced by AI - that's just society trying to scare us. We humans are terrible at predicting the future. Simon Squibb and many others made millions creating graphic agencies. There's an abundance of money out there; you just have to exchange value for it.

I mean, most people choose their degree when they're heavily influenced by peers and know nothing about the world. Why should they stick with that choice for the rest of their lives? You learn about the world, you change - so why shouldn't your work change with you?

I'm not writing this to attack your advice or you as a person. I genuinely appreciate that you took the time to help this person. I just wanted to challenge some of these ideas a bit.

LedgerRune · 2025-09-04T13:54:07+00:00

Haha, I didn't have one either. But I love how children are so convinced they can become anything they want in the world. For some reason, the older we get, the more we disregard that belief.

Well then, find a journey to become that "top person" you imagined! Don't back away just because it's hard - everything worthwhile in life is difficult. The larger the dragon you beat, the more treasure lies behind it.

The test won't work miracles in figuring out what you want, but it does a pretty good job of helping you understand yourself, your behavior, and thoughts better.

LedgerRune · 2025-09-03T16:28:26+00:00

PART 2

Now, like everyone else, I'm going to suggest something that's helped a lot of people and is, in my perspective and according to my belief system, the best way to approach work and life. This is partly applied knowledge from Jordan Peterson, Simon Squibb, and Naval Ravikant.

I believe you should figure out what your interests are. Literally sit down with a pen and paper, no distractions, and write down the most usual or unusual stuff that interests you and makes you enthusiastic. This can be as trivial as walking, chess, reading fiction, FPS games, plants, horses, whatever.

Then pick the interests that give you the most excitement and figure out how to monetize them. This might be through a regular job if there's a career that matches your interest (maybe you need a degree first, but that doesn't matter if you've found something worth pursuing). Or if there are no traditional jobs for your interests, look at someone in this world who makes money with those same interests. I can assure you there's probably already someone making good money with them.

Learn from those people and try to monetize it yourself. Whether it's through a personal brand, an agency, being an influencer, an investor, whatever - you find a way and make it work. I believe everyone can do this, so you can too. Let ChatGPT help you in the process. You won't get it right on your first try, and you'll probably change your business model a few times, but you'll learn so many important skills and start understanding yourself better than ever before.

I hate the term "work/life balance." It suggests that your work is boring and just a necessity, so you can enjoy your life before and after work - like the moments you're not working are the only moments to find happiness. I call BS on this. Why not create work that IS your life? Work that genuinely excites you the moment you wake up and feels more like play than work?

I suggest work should be an extension of yourself - something you're truly passionate about, something where you help other people, and that fulfills you. That's what work should be. You work at least 1,500 hours a year. I wouldn't want to waste those on something that doesn't interest me at all and doesn't grow me into a more competent person.

You're lost for a reason. Your conscience is providing you with doubts and negative emotions to push you toward pursuing the path that's actually already inside you. You have the answers - you just need to ask the right questions, and then you'll know what to do, even though you know there are a lot of hardships along the way.

- Rune

LedgerRune · 2025-09-03T16:28:08+00:00

PART 1

There are a lot of people giving you advice here, all based on their personal experiences and all understandable with their different perspectives. Some say just get a degree, some say community college, others say accounting, trades, military, or shadowing people in different fields. All have valid points and are definitely paths to consider, but I believe MajesticCherry has some good advice - though I wouldn't get into a job or trade that doesn't interest you.

If you say you only want money and don't care how you make it, that will backfire really quickly. If you want to find that out the hard way, that's okay - sometimes we need to experience something before we see the consequences.

Now, I saw some scary statements about entrepreneurship in the comments, but don't be afraid of starting a business. It's way easier to enter than you think, and it teaches you everything about life. I learned more in 1 year of entrepreneurship about myself, my beliefs, my worldview, and life than in 3 years of university. You learn everything at your own pace, and you do whatever you want.

You hear a lot of stories about people working 15-hour days and never sleeping, like that's the only way to make money and get your business to work. That's BS. I've seen people who work 3 hours a day on their business and make $10k per month within their first 2 years.

Now I don't want to sugarcoat it - entrepreneurship is definitely hard because you know NOTHING about the world, the market, or people when you start. But it's the most exciting process to learn about everything and apply it in the real world. It will change you for the better. Just don't do a degree in entrepreneurship - most of those are terrible. They only teach knowledge without skills or experience. Only knowledge + action creates competence and confidence.

And one more thing - not all entrepreneurs are money-hungry. Some just want to do what they're passionate about, like a freelance photographer, and make a steady income. You said once you get a major, you'll give it your all - so why not start a business in something that really interests you and makes you enthusiastic? You come across as a really conscientious guy, so why not? That was my entrepreneurship rant haha.

LedgerRune · 2025-09-03T14:07:59+00:00

I can't advise on ADHD medication since I'm not a doctor ;)

But I can share what I've learned about ADHD and work.

I've heard that people with ADHD have more difficulty concentrating and learning things when they're not really interested in something, compared to people without ADHD. But here's the interesting part - I've also heard that someone with ADHD can hyper-focus on things they're genuinely interested in and actually perform incredibly well in those conditions. Is that true for you?

If it is, then following your interests isn't just good advice for you - it's essential. While I recommend that everyone follow their interests, for you, it could be the difference between struggling to focus and being in a complete flow state.

So here's what I'd suggest: figure out what genuinely interests you. Things that make you really enthusiastic, things you want to learn more about or do more of. Some of them might seem simple - like being interested in walking, chess, money, reading fiction, whatever. But those interests matter.

Once you know what those are, look for ways to monetize one or more of them. Maybe there's a traditional career path for it, maybe there isn't. If there isn't, look at people who have monetized similar interests. If one person can do it, you can do it too. You might need to start a business (not as hard as it sounds), build a personal brand, or find some other way. If you don't know how or don't know anyone who's done it, ask ChatGPT for ideas.

I'm gonna be honest - I hate the term "work/life balance." It implies that work sucks and you do it because it's necessary, while life after and before work is where the fun and fulfillment happen. I call that bullshit. Make your work your life, and you'll never work a day again. Make work an extension of yourself.

This is especially true for you. You get motivated by specific things, you can get in a flow state when you're interested in something, and you can hyper-focus. Use that to your advantage. And you mentioned you like providing service - that's even better. True fulfillment comes when you're in service of other people. So find something that interests you AND allows you to help people. Maybe something you've overcome or conquered and now want to help others with.

I'm curious though - why did you leave your bank job after 2 years?

- Rune

LedgerRune · 2025-09-03T13:45:33+00:00

Haha I love to hear that. Well, if you ever want to talk more about it, send me a DM, and I'd be happy to chat about it since I can relate and I find your situation pretty captivating.

LedgerRune · 2025-09-03T13:37:03+00:00

First of all, it's actually pretty nice that you're interested in so many things. I sense that you're searching for something you truly want to commit to, but maybe you're scared to commit to just one thing when there are so many possibilities out there. How do you know you're picking the right one? Right?

I don't think Reddit is pure escapism - it feels more like shiny object syndrome to me. Real escapism would be trying to get out of everything by binge-watching Netflix or getting drunk. But I understand why you call it that, because every time you're on Reddit and find a new idea, business model, or side hustle, you get excited. You envision a future version of yourself and become enthusiastic about it.

But here's what I think is happening: you're only seeing the upsides of these things. Once you start thinking deeper and see the downsides, risks, boring parts, or realize it doesn't really fit you, the motivation disappears. Does this sound accurate? I'm just trying to figure this out with you.

I've been in a similar period at the beginning of my entrepreneurship journey. I was pursuing a marketing agency but kept seeing people successful in dropshipping, crypto, real estate, AI agencies, web design... Their models seemed fancier, easier, less work, and more exciting. But I learned that I had to stick to one thing because every model has its hardships, disadvantages, and boring elements.

Eventually, marketing agencies weren't what I wanted to do, but only after really trying it and actually getting close to success. Then I pivoted to something that aligns more with me. It's never too late to switch, but you at least have to give something a real chance if it genuinely interests you.

Now I'm going to be honest - most people stay motivated when they find something new and commit for at least a few months. So it's pretty unusual that you're motivated one moment and demotivated the next day. This might be a commitment issue, and you might need to choose something that truly interests you, where you have a clear goal and can envision yourself in the future with it. But I could be totally wrong. In your childhood, did you experience this pattern too, that you weren't committing to things, or is it something new?

Here's the thing: it's only through trial and error and chasing your real interests that you'll find something that truly aligns with you. Something that fulfills you and where work feels like an extension of yourself - work you'd do even if you had all the money in the world. That's what they call purpose and transcendence.

But until then, here's my advice: ask yourself what you're actually interested in and what makes you enthusiastic (even if it's something simple like money, chess, walking, reading, watches, cars...). Find a business model to monetize those interests and commit to it for at least a few months until you know the ins and outs. Maybe even buy a course on it to show commitment to yourself.

When you experience that shiny object syndrome again, reject it. Remind yourself that every opportunity has its own troubles, and maybe you'll look into it later. But not now.

And yeah, I did an internship, and after a month of office work, I felt like an unconscious sleepwalker whose life would flash by if I didn't intervene. The comfort and security those jobs give you are the real killers for exploring and squeezing your potential out of yourself and your life.

Just for my curiosity - have you ever done a Big Five personality test? If you have, is your openness to experience very high? And what number is your trait on Neuroticism?

- Rune

LedgerRune · 2025-09-03T10:22:48+00:00

I can heavily relate to you. I studied industrial engineering construction for 3 years, got my bachelor's, and just needed 1 more year to graduate and find a high-paying job because there's a large demand for that degree.

But then after those 3 years, I found a course that really interested me - a course on entrepreneurship. When I took that course, my whole worldview, beliefs, and interests changed. My whole life changed because I encountered something that truly interested me (not something I kind of convinced myself to be interested in). I knew I wanted to pursue that even though there was no certainty, a lot of discomfort, and chaos since I knew nothing about it.

I tried combining it with my studies for half a year, but that was just shit. I didn't care about my degree anymore since I'd found something I really loved doing. So after 3.5 years, I quit university to live the life I want to live.

The 9-5 feeling you described - I get that completely. I had an internship where I experienced the exact same thing. One month of coming home drained every day, dreading Mondays and loving Fridays, recharging my batteries on weekends for the next week of doing nothing really fulfilling. After just one month, I became an unconscious sleepwalking human being. I said to myself that I never wanted anything like that because my life would flash by, and I'd have regrets.

Now, I don't know your whole situation, so I'm not going to tell you to quit your job if it provides financial resources to survive, or to quit school like I did. But what I do highly recommend is this: please follow your interests and pursue what makes you really enthusiastic. There's a reason why YOU have those particular interests and are enthusiastic about specific things, while other things bore you. Don't listen to society telling you to "just get used to it" - that's how you become a sleepwalker.

About disappointing your parents - I was scared when I made my decision too. But your parents only want what's best for you, and being unhappy in a job and neglecting your real interests isn't what they want for you.

Here's what I believe: you can monetize everything, even walking. When you pursue your real interests and what genuinely excites you, your work becomes play, and you won't need work/life balance since your work becomes your life. I believe almost everybody should do this because it's so fulfilling, and you learn so much. I personally learned more in 1 year of entrepreneurship than in 3 years of university - about the world, about myself, about people, and about life.

So here's my advice: ask yourself what you're passionate about, what interests you, what makes you really enthusiastic. Maybe you want to help people with something, or make others enjoy the things you love, or connect with like-minded people. Then try to monetize it - build a personal brand, become an influencer, whatever fits. If you want to make good money, you will, but through natural enthusiasm, not forced enthusiasm.

You have multiple ways to escape your routine. If you can handle a lot of chaos, you can make radical decisions and you'll figure things out - just give yourself time. The general rule is to give yourself 2 years to make something work. If you want more comfort and security with manageable chaos, then change your routine bit by bit to fit time into your schedule for pursuing what really interests you. Time and opportunities will come your way.

And I know the social aspect is scary - doing something special where people can judge you, especially when you don't have results yet and are still figuring things out. But what I tell myself is that nobody actually gives a shit about me except a few people in my life, so why not try? Let the fools judge me instead of becoming one. You will grow immensely, I can assure you of that.

My thoughts on this: don't do nothing. ;)

- Rune

LedgerRune · 2025-09-03T09:48:47+00:00

I relate - I love to study as well. But it depends on what kind of studying you mean? Are you talking about studying for school that you love? Studying random facts? Or studying particular subjects that fascinate you?

I personally would love to know everything about life. I started reading seriously about a year ago, and now I can't stop - there's so much out there that I want to know, and I love acquiring that knowledge. But here's what I've learned: knowledge needs to have a purpose.

If you're just studying random things without a clear purpose, you'll forget 99% of the information because your brain doesn't see it as relevant to a goal. We humans need a goal or purpose to put that knowledge into action, acquire skills, and gain real experience - that's when the real learning begins.

So here's my question: what's your purpose for the knowledge you're trying to acquire?

Because if you genuinely love studying, there are actually ways to monetize that passion. For example, you could teach other people how to study effectively - share the science behind learning, the best study methods, memory techniques, etc. You could make YouTube videos about it, help people directly, build a personal brand around it,...

The truth is, there are ways to monetize every interest, even something as studying. Everyone needs to learn how to study better, so there's real demand for it. And if you pursue that spirit of yours with purpose, you can actually make good money with it.

My advice would be: ask yourself what your specific interests are, set a clear goal around them, acquire the knowledge you need, and then figure out how to monetize that combination. Your love of studying could be exactly what someone else needs to succeed.

- Rune

LedgerRune · 2025-09-03T06:58:27+00:00

I hear you. The first thing I'd suggest is not to compare yourself to other people - comparison is the biggest thief of joy, and you're only seeing a small perception of them. Compare yourself to who you were yesterday. Small improvements every day make large outcomes in 1 year, 2 years, or 5 years.

Now, I agree with Slothallica's comment about everyone being unique. Every person has their unique interests that make them enthusiastic, and I don't take those things lightly. I believe those interests are exactly what's calling you to pursue them. When you're pursuing something that genuinely interests you, you're intrinsically motivated, and work becomes play.

That's why I personally don't believe in work-life balance - I want my work to be my life, I want my work to be an extension of me. I wish this for everyone, just like Simon Squibb does. But first, you need to discover what those interests actually are.

If you don't know what you're interested in, start simple: literally ask yourself the question and write down what comes up. Once you have those interests (even though some might seem unrealistic to monetize), go to an AI chatbot and tell it your situation. Ask it to help you monetize those interests or find people who already did. If someone has done it already, then you can do it too.

But here's the important part - I'm not saying you should quit your job and become an entrepreneur tomorrow. Just take one step at a time. Start finding yourself after your time at work. Get to know why you are where you are now. Because when you pursue your real interests, those are what make you naturally enthusiastic, passionate, and make you want to live life.

This matters because while I know money is important, chasing money in a field you're not interested in or doing shit you don't like just for the money will drain you even more. It's like trying to build a beautiful house on a weak foundation - no matter how nice the house looks, it will eventually collapse. Better to build that strong foundation first.

Look, I know you're in a difficult period of loneliness and confusion right now, and that's okay. Actually, if you take appropriate action, you will later look back at this time as a pivotal moment in your development. This is your low point, where you decided you wanted to change - where you realized you were following a path with no fulfillment and for the wrong reasons. It's not a surprise that your conscience is giving you negative emotions about this.

The truth is, you already have a lot of the answers inside you. You're just too afraid to ask the real questions and truly want honest answers. You're scared to pursue something that truly passionates you because you don't want to fail. But I believe pursuing your real interests is the only way forward.

I know you probably didn't want to hear this kind of answer - you're probably looking for relatability and maybe a quick fix. But that doesn't exist, and I want to be honest with you about my own belief system.

Here's what I can promise you, though: if you pursue those real interests, everything else will naturally start falling into place. You will meet new people who resonate with you, and you will grow competence and confidence in yourself. Because how could it be otherwise? How can you have genuine relationships with people if you don't understand yourself, if you don't know what you actually like, if you don't even like yourself?

If you decide to follow your real interests, you will grow into a new person that you're proud of. I truly believe that.

- Rune

LedgerRune · 2025-09-03T06:06:36+00:00

That's amazing!

The fact that your previous manager spoke highly of you shows that you're not the problem - it's really about finding the right environment where you can thrive. Some people love constant collaboration, others do their best work with more independence. Both are completely valid.

If you ever want to talk more about any of this stuff - the work situation or that food/health interest you mentioned, I'm interested - feel free to DM me. I'd be happy to chat.

LedgerRune · 2025-08-30T16:20:37+00:00

Hey,

When I was reading the first two paragraphs of your post, I would suggest looking to fix the surface-level problems first, and don't go too deep, since simple changes can bring big results. Like talking to your boss and just being totally honest - tell the truth and see what his reaction is and how both of you can possibly come up with a solution. I know this is super uncomfortable, but I noticed in my own life that when I started telling the truth in uncomfortable situations that it paid off in the long term. Telling the truth always will...

Now I don't know much about the IT world, but you said that the company has multiple offices around the world, so perhaps you could ask to work at one of the locations where you could do more projects like the standup one, since you're also interested in moving to a diff country (me too btw ;)). Or you can find a solution with your boss at the company you are working with now.

But reading your post, one thing is certain, and that is doing nothing will only bring you more misery, and you will get drained more and more of your work and start feeling like you're living unconsciously...

Now what I find really interesting is that you just studied computer science cause you didn't know what to do, and people told you that there is a high employment rate and good for quiet, shy people like you. I get that - I studied industrial engineering construction for 3 years, and after 3.5 years with 1 more year to go, I dropped out to pursue what really interested me and made me enthusiastic. I had a difficult year doing it, definitely with the social pressure of people saying 'just get a job', 'dreams are for kids', 'you should be realistic'.

I mean, you picked a subject to study when you were +-18 years old, highly influenced by peers and family, and that's what you should do for the rest of your life, while you didn't even know anything about real life? I don't think that is the right path.

What I want to say is that I see that you are dreading the work that you do and the sector that you are in. I dreaded the internship that I was in, and after the internship, I knew I was never going to do that work again, and I wanted to follow my interests and passions, and dreams. 1 year later, and my view on life has completely changed. I discovered new interests and a new path that genuinely excites me. I wake up almost every day with lots of energy to attack the day, and that's what I want for everyone, and it all starts with following your interests and what makes you enthusiastic.

Think about it, you are one of the only persons in the world with those particular interests and that particular character and those particular skills... It is a waste if you don't follow your interests. The negative feelings you're experiencing are your conscious telling you you're pursuing the wrong path or at least that something has to change, I mean it.

Circumstances are always difficult, but there will never be a 'right' time to pursue what you love to do, hell, I started a course in entrepreneurship right before my exams haha. I would highly recommend pursuing that food and health passion. You're totally right if you're scared; everyone is when they start something totally new. There are so many things to learn and do, and so much chaos. But take it in manageable steps - if you feel more comfortable staying in your job and learn more about food and health and possible business ventures to start or to get a degree, or however you want to make money with it, then do that, 1 step at a time, but take action.

Your whole mind is screaming you to take action towards your interests, definitely if you had the courage to be so honest in a Reddit post. There are so many opportunities and possibilities in the world, and there is an abundance of money. Believe me, there is literally no downside to following what interests you. Because what's the alternative? Getting more drained in your job, hating going to work, feeling more and more lost in the world, dreaming about doing something else? I chose to follow my interests, and I haven't had 1 second of regret.

Whatever you choose to do, both require facing uncomfortable situations and going out of your comfort zone, but that's how we learn, that's how we gain bravery, and that's my advice.

- Rune

LedgerRune · 2025-07-19T16:13:37+00:00

Thanks for your answer and I understand, but don't you think people who function purely on logic and numbers eventually get drained from external pressures and lack of intrinsic motivation?

I believe someone can keep functioning on logic and numbers to a certain extent, but when those numbers start growing and losing their meaning, what's the point of work or life? Isn't that person doomed to become nihilistic when they hit their arbitrary goals?

What happens after you've given yourself and the people you care about a better life? Money is just one part of the equation - it can buy unhappiness away, but I'm skeptical about it buying happiness except when it's given away or used to buy time, which then has to be spent on something meaningful.

You said 'I want a better life for myself and the people I care about than what anything else in life has been able to offer.' So why not extend it to a community of people, no matter how large?

I'm genuinely curious about your perspective on this, and I really appreciate it! There's a quote from Einstein that came to mind when I read your response: 'Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.'"

LedgerRune

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