Escape the Treadmill: 'Enough' Changes your Focus

FOMO

Do you ever feel that slight, persistent, nagging voice whispering, "You should be doing more?"

It’s the voice of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), and it’s especially loud in our professional lives. Today I was chatting with a colleague, Tony Silva, about Real Estate. He mentioned that the reporting team is exploring a whole bunch of Exciting technologies—Snowflake, Databricks, and so on. Immediately, I felt a tinge of FOMO. Should I too learn Databricks? I recalled that Medha Khurana, one of the people who inspired me to start blogging, had recently written a guide on Databricks.

The pressure to compete and stay relevant feels constant. It can easily lead us down a path of anxiety and scrambling.

Realization

Then, I remembered a quiet truth that changed my personal blueprint for success. I read a short article noting that both Bill Gates and Warren Buffett attributed their success to one word:

I realized the power was unlocked when I hit my arbitrarily defined retirement net worth target in 2022. That achievement wasn't just a change of circumstance, but a profound shift of identity. Thanks to my retirement savings and the power of compounding, my net worth can fluctuate about twice my annual salary within a month, and it doesn't bother me.

This ability to let go of the need to "get ahead at work" meant I could reframe my message. My time can be spent on hobbies like AI art, learning, or reading, instead of chasing new tech trends.

What’s In It For You? This isn't about the number. It's about finding your “Enough.” Once you define that point, you stop competing on noise and start connecting on meaning. You can then apply Focus to what truly matters to you, transforming your day-to-day life.

Lessons in Value: Honesty and Observation

When you shift your focus, simple, everyday transactions reveal surprising truths about value and integrity.

The Price of Convenience: I used to order Tajin chili lime seasoning to-go packets from Amazon for $7.36 for a pair of 25g packets. I was recently shocked when Amazon sent me 8 packets instead of 2 that I paid for. After returning six of them at Whole Foods, noting I was sent extra, Amazon even credited me for the price of one packet. 🤦But then Eileen discovered Costco sells the seasoning for only $10 for 2 x 400g bottles. That's about 11.77X or 1,177% cheaper!

Honesty Pays: My father instilled honesty in me, and he used to quote something which I now realize is a Bible verse:

Proverbs 10:2, “Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value…”

This past week, I had a chance to test this truth. I immediately returned an extra "mental models book" Amazon had just sent me. ($30 list price but 50% off).

On Wednesday, after lunch with Eileen at a Chinese restaurant, we shopped at Aldi, a low-cost grocery store. When I got home, I realized my wallet was missing! 😦I panicked, but in rush-hour traffic, we rushed back. The cashier, who was in break, had kept my lost wallet in the cash register.

Some call it karma, but my experience confirmed it: Honesty pays.

Movies

I used to regard the original 2009 "Avatar" as the greatest movie I've ever seen, but honestly, I am not too excited to see the third one in the series this year.

These days ordinary AI enthusiasts can easily create short animations. For example, to demonstrate Pareidolia—the random faces we see in everyday objects, I quickly created this.

Because I devoured Enid Blyton books nearly six decades ago, I’m instead really looking forward to the simple wonder of The Magic Faraway Tree movie in March 2026.

Algorithms will change, and platforms will rise and fall. But the need for stories that move people? That’s permanent.

Please comment and let me know if you find this story-telling style of blog post engaging.