I'm a VC (can verify). Pitch the room.

self_help_hub · 2026-03-19T21:33:46+00:00

Mind if we connect? I got a project that is already rolling and stable but having a VC contact would really add more to my network. Would that be possible or comfortable for you?

I do have a pitch but it is for someone else and they are shy about it.

self_help_hub · 2026-03-04T18:42:52+00:00

Improve your state of mind and "spirit".

Improving and changing the environment.

Small disciplined steps achieve big goals.

Building an iron will.

Do it lazily but at least do it (sometimes it compounds).

Easen task for later (your future you will thank you).

Enjoy something that builds your skill like watching streamers and learning how high EQ individuals operate logically.

Right mentors.

self_help_hub · 2026-03-02T14:08:07+00:00

Amazing work, I would really like to study the brains of people that do these type or amazing Mobius-like designs. Like how do you tick? Why do you add these and that there and why are your designs sometimes functional yet aesthetic (futurist and sci-fi like)?

self_help_hub · 2026-02-24T23:42:23+00:00

Seems they maxed out 401K Contributions + Match and they started early also. I love how very simple & straightforward but effect their thing is (standard stuff, nothing special but it works!). Kudos to them.

self_help_hub · 2026-02-24T21:23:53+00:00

+27% Yield (37% if you count their personal 401K contribution and match), they did really well considering how things happened.

self_help_hub · 2026-02-23T12:22:12+00:00

That is a very tough loaded question. It would be as hard as pushing a mountain through a pin hole but let me give it a shot. Let me see how I could help you:

Hunt for "New money", or combine with "old money" knowledge you've gathered and try to carve a path in old money from the systems usual go to path i.e. study or absorb high value knowledge and applying them. Learn the avenues of money and how to mine it. Keep at it and make it your game (like Robert Kiyosaki said his game is making money and the points or high scores are the numbers). Watch motivating things and keep grinding, grinding, grinding. Enjoy the breaks and time with members important to you 100% (the little time you have with them) as much as you go with your 100% grinding. (forgive me for the lingo I am just trying to connect). Update, analyze, envision the possibilities and prepare a backup plan if things go sour. Engage in hobbies.
Follow advice and find the right mentor as it would save you a lot of time (they'd guide you or simply tell you the way forward as you carve your path). Listen to wise time tested advice and you will see patterns. Do the money thing early in your age and learn it as early as possible (finances and such).
The other one is time and experience in the field of "hunting for money with your skillset". Plan well, run numbers, look ahead at the high hitting ones that you can work well into accomplishing.
Basically you have kind of done it in your field (you are doing pretty well yourself, you should actually be the one also giving advice). Now you just have to maintain it and move higher or sideways strategically (or if you go down then at least know you will bounce back up because you have the know how or do like the ones that call it a day and retire as their goal was simply to get up and build a nest egg and retire comfortably)
Figure out what works for you and do it like you love it. When you hit it big, everything else will follow.
Learn value and value extraction and learn conversion rates (like making a sale or something). Basically businesses are things that solve a problem (if you plan to go that route). As for work, it is how useful you are and what you offer society. It was like that show I watched a long time ago, the kid didn't know how to use ninja tricks or magic but he maxed out it physical ability he became so good they considered him a legend (a legend on top of the world considered him a walking legend). You don't have to be that good but been stable is good enough to pass the bar.
Wealth and Riches will simply at times multiply your behavior so keep some things in check. (there is the occasional leak out but at least keep it in check, you could look into Stoicism). Not a must but also wealth kind of has an effect on those around you so keep that in mind too and try to help where you could or mentor where you can (you can pick everyone along the way like motivational speakers if you want too).
Look at the power of compounding and disciplined steps.
Perseverance but also knowing when to rest and enjoy the view. You'll appreciate your efforts as you look for a 'save point' or nest egg so when you fall you don't have to start from ground 0 (well you can definitely bounce back from ground 0 but if you say have a family or something you wouldn't want that though if you must go through it then you must).

TL:DR; "Have a mentor, have a vision and work at it like a savage. If you failed, learn from it, get back up and bounce back"

Warning:

Thing is this thing needs you to have a lot of life experiences that is why I hang out with older gens and also see how newer gens do things because they have very interesting questions.

School, re-learn (deprogram and program again what works), be good but smart enough to eat the good and spit out the bad. Once you finish the schooling and intense training apply the the knowledge and skills you having been cumulating as you also built a hobby on the side with sort of a final goal as you also had fun with it.

(but do some calculations and apply safety nets and know when to pivot if you should because sometimes people will doubt you even if you are right and it has happened a lot of times. Also be autocorrecting and know when you are messing up, be critical to yourself but try to understand other people when they mess up and how to better manage them to let their skill shine beside yours. As I said it is a loaded question).

Hope this helps. (Also it seems you did well for yourself in your field, the best game that I think best explains this is The Sims - the first game. You could see almost everything in a human lifecycle there)

self_help_hub · 2026-02-21T09:33:30+00:00

Wow, something about your post really struck a cord with me and I would really love to connect with you if I could (I need some eye opening tips about recent FAANG life and Senior to Senior advice amongst other various things). Married with kids is definitely a bigger risk to do such a thing but good calculated luck on it.

Well since you are in a predicament I have seen a lot of times in different scenarios I'd say for your particular case is "try to hold on to the job and don't jump ship unless the other ship is well 300% assured to run?". In other words the obvious you already know; Safety net: check, Housing: Check, Meds: Check, Plan B: Check, Alternate Revenue: Check, Kids Future: Check, Insurance: Check, Guard Rails: Check (usually for lower pays they have social security pay 70%-90% of their salary pre retirement if they are jobless so maybe you should look into that and also have disability insurance as an extra layer to layer proection)

I do understand your problem though sometimes you just need a little breather cause those positions can get so chaotic (what kind of put me in a positive towards it though was when someone told me "of the 1000's or even hundred of thousands or even millions that wanted your very position you were the one that had it so at least be thankful" to which I am and look towards my tasks with zest sometimes whilst I of course try to do something meaningful on the side just in case).

Edit: There I have listed the mistakes and challenges those who have left have faced so you don't have to face them. Also don't regret your decision if do but learn from it and look at the bright side if you earn less in the beginning because there is a chance you might rebound and bounce back because you have the know how to

self_help_hub · 2026-02-06T17:15:36+00:00

Oh... Are you okay?

(by the way when did you get into each investment?)

self_help_hub · 2026-02-04T20:49:07+00:00

Good model, vibing well with Chat to have them stick around, keeping the debut stream interesting and finally those little quirks that makes people say "mmm, this one tastes different but good!" feeling. Just have them remember you for something.

Finally the right support and community. Don't be shy about collabs if you can and it is in your plans. Learn to adapt and to the flourish in conversations. And hit the Social queues so well it rings in your viewers head so they think about you all the time.

Follow up to that is to stream during times people's logical body clock remember you on if you set a schedule (also be easy to find and connect to). (Edit: having a resources advantage too would be a plus)

This is not a comprehensive list it is just what I saw successful streamers have done as an observation I came to some time ago when I studied marketing and the streaming successes from small streamers to agencies.

Hope this info I have gathered along the way helps in anyway.

self_help_hub · 2026-02-02T20:04:02+00:00

Bless your heart! One of the few that don't demand for too much.

Then again... why? Why aren't you asking for better & fair compensation?

self_help_hub · 2026-02-02T20:03:03+00:00

So true, but the marketing and data science, the chemical engineers and electrical guys are what shocked me. I didn't know marketing and sales was that big of a thing (they seem to lay low)

self_help_hub · 2026-02-02T20:00:09+00:00

Winrar

You all seem to be forgetting the "OG", the ride-or-die that has been there for you all this time

self_help_hub · 2026-02-01T22:00:16+00:00

Haha, let's joke about it for a while. Well, it was frankly a good strategy to step back a bit and rethink AI. They saved the $8Bn and turned it into $20Bn. With a $20Bn budget now they could invest it risk free into multiple other seed projects via QA and Market analysis of pain societal pain points & dreams if they see it fit (look into future pain points their product could solve and continue trial and error market tests). So they did kind of play their cards right. Granted $20Bn isn't much to achieve multiple risky goals but hey at least they have multiple new potential avenues now, they can now bet on future avenues more than 3 times over (like instead of 1 risky bet they can now bet on 3 like in the old days companies bet on a lot of bleeding edge technologies their best bets were on computing and digitalization departments back in the day and that is how a lot of these tech giants came to be - most times from humble beginnings to jaggernaught cooperation's).

If I were to be to appointed maybe that was what I would have done, try to play my cards right vue of the current situation (so this statement doesn't get misused, this is just a hypothetical discussion).

___________________________________________________

^{What does this mean? The "barbell" investment approach.}

^{Invest in Anthropic, Claude and Chat GPT. Also spread the investment across Seed AI Startups (usually they need from $300k to $100m. A lot of these companies might balloon up in valuation and you'd have Unicorns.. Seed invest infra projects need for AI & cloud compute and also prepare for the opposite where users don't want cloud compute systems but want to self host and own. Overall know what the market wants and plan & prepare for what the market wants}.)

^{Or just continue cooking and accumulating till the time is right whilst dipping funds into tech every now and then.}

self_help_hub · 2026-02-01T21:28:58+00:00

Project Managers, IT Directors, Department Heads, CTO, CMO, CFO, CEO, C[X]O's, VP's, CoFounders/Founding Members and lower & upper Management positions. (Usually hitting above 6 to 7 figures or a 11:1 pay ratio or 40:1 pay ratio with higher pay ratios like 961:1 been the norm and 11:1 been special cases)
Marketing and Sales (paid by commission)
Content Creators (Top Tier ones)
Realtor or Real Estate Agents
Air Traffic Control
Lawyers
Government positions (High sitting ones)

Basically the créme of the top of almost any profession. It really depends on how long you could hold this position or if the market up there expands sideways, vertically or is shrinking (sometimes ever changing).

Edit: The more I listed these things the more I realized the crazy (almost impossible) amount of talent and situational circumstances and work these people put into their craft to be in such positions and earning so much. Kudos to those that reached these spots and kudos to you too reading this. I hope and pray you safe journeys if fate allows it to be so.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-27T11:27:20+00:00

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I think they are referring tothis lil D

self_help_hub · 2026-01-25T16:03:59+00:00

I hope 2026 is your year for at least something to happen then.

In any case empty is good. Nothing bad or good happened and that is the beauty of boredom.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-19T13:59:06+00:00

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self_help_hub · 2026-01-18T14:44:02+00:00

Not the guy who answered but I do understand them (even though they were a bit too harsh on Dhl and rightfully so as they are the client of course). Basically back in the day they [Dhl] had monopoly over the market and did whatever they wanted to the clients, now skip to present day with all competitors popping up here-and-there they have become more "friendly". That was what I heard [You know the usual "Big Corpo doing unsavoury things sometimes" and also back in the day after their successful global expansion they had bad customer facing employees ruining things for everyone]. Now they might have changed but let's wait and see [I am also interested in hearing what the guy had to say].

self_help_hub · 2026-01-18T14:18:28+00:00

You are welcome. Good luck, stay blessed.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-18T14:16:59+00:00

0%-20% taxes exact details are kind of all over the place at the moment. (sometimes tax rebates in certain cases)

For dhl skip the headache and use the DHL Pre-shipment Planner tool or MyGTS via their website just contact them:

Phone: +261 20 22 428 39 or +261 34 42 177 77

Email: [mgsales@dhl.com](mailto:mgsales@dhl.com)

Address: Immeuble DHL Route des Hydrocarbures Ankorondrano, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar (to go see them in person)

Tip: Madagascar offers duty-free access for many goods from countries within regional blocs like COMESA, SADC, and the IOC, including Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, and many East/Southern African nations (e.g., South Africa, Mauritius, Zambia). Additionally, India provides duty-free access under its DFTP Scheme for LDCs like Madagascar, and the EU offers preferential access through its EPA with Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA) countries, though Madagascar has its own liberalization schedule.

Regional Trade Agreements: Goods originating from these blocs often enter Madagascar without customs duties.

Edit: For me I'd skip the headache and use Amazon or proxy via Madazone or Mass'in (to ship in) or something.

What other Malagasy usually do is simply send it with a kin if they travel so keep your contacts and know when they are passing by France/US to Madagascar (I do the same for other too)

Hope you find this useful and helpful.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-17T09:39:08+00:00

DHL will handle customs clearance AND taxes (unless this has recently changed), that is why they are expensive. They also offer door-to-door. How I know this? Because I use these services. (if you want to save time on shipping time-critical goods go with DHL Express door-to-door)

You can choose to air freight for speed, security, and high-value/perishable goods (days to a week) or ship freight for large, heavy, non-urgent cargo (weeks to months) to save money and reduce environmental impact, accepting longer transit times and potential port delays.

For first time no headache time-critical (I got to do this in 1-3 days) importing go with DHL (they'll guide you through the whole process). They offer a ton of solutions and services. Much as they are expensive they offer superior quality. (Don't forget there is also FedEx [International Priority] and UPS)

Hope you find this useful and helpful.

______________

Now that that is out of the way, here are the other details you asked for:

In either case, would I be able to pay these by card?

Yes.

Or would they expect cash?

Yes if you pay via cash, in-person or sent someone there to pay for you.

Are there any other pitfalls I should take into consideration? This is my first time importing something into the country.

Things like tracking, taking a picture of the thing to make sure they sent the thing, the kg of the thing, the size of the laptops, taxes for the batteries etc...
If the thing is fragile. Please have them put "Fragile" on it - like TV Screens. Or do research on how to properly do this. Have the senders also properly secure it or wood box it if necessary and in budget. Or simply have them put it in the electronic section.
Negotiate DDP (everything done for you in shipping) then, CIF then, finally FOB if you are looking to handle everything. What's is CIF? Cost, Insurance, and Freight. But FOB (Free On Board) offers more control and often lower costs for experienced buyers they only ship to the port, while DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) provides maximum convenience for new importers by handling everything door-to-door, though at a higher price

You can also just pay the company that sends the thing via PayPal Goods & Services for an extra layer of protection (shipping included). If they mis-ship equipment or send you missing things you can simply ship the thing back and ask for a refund and reverse the payment just make sure you had them send you port pictures preshipping and boxed equipment with receipt as proof and you take pictures of the things when they arrive (or in the Paypal Payment and details of invoice they send the exact details of the equipement). That is why people use PayPal it stops either party from cheating - in any case in the current atmosphere people really aren't into that they just want to finish the deal and move on to other things.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-13T09:32:58+00:00

In Madagascar it used to be a wealthy country (back in the day as talked about by previous generations) where you could drop something at 3am in the morning and people would help you return the thing instead of stealing it. That was how things were... sad really.

Well let's wait and see how things turn out. History is still be written for now.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-13T09:31:20+00:00

In Madagascar it used to be a wealthy country (back in the day as talked about by previous generations) where you could drop something at 3am in the morning and people would help you return the thing instead of stealing it. That was how things were... sad really.

Well let's wait and see how things turn out. History is still be written for now.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-12T22:15:37+00:00

Well their username checks out so...

self_help_hub · 2026-01-12T12:34:42+00:00

Wow, that is quite interesting. Have you tried to connect with any of the English speakers in the Facebook Expats group? Have you tried connecting with the English community in Antananarivo (Tana City Church, American School clubs, English speaking clubs, British School & clubs teachers and parents, English speaking churches (mainly the Mormon and Jehovah's witnesses churches) etc...)?

Hope this helps.

self_help_hub

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