- high IQ. EQ is average. As a listener, he is average (perhaps better than me;). Both he and me talk too much.
- .. he can be competitive and competent in academic or theoretical domains.
- .. Dean’s list NUS B.Eng (stronger than me), graduating 10 years after me.
- I think he cracked many elite technical interviews as quant or trader candidate, but somehow didn’t get an offer.
- slightly lacking worldly wisdom but I was probably similar at his age.
- defensive of his own stance. Can be more flexible.
- slightly condescending esp. towards people without his knowledge and intellect.
- good at accumulation and time utilization — moonlighting, xx, personal trading,
- good at investment analysis but see section below.
— opinionated, pessimistic… I have seen such attitudes, perhaps Tanko, XR, Shanyou (on tech interview)
We all have our share of setbacks, adversities, failed struggles. He was quick to develop his (probably valid) explanations of his setbacks, but he doesn’t stop where he should. He then (画蛇添足) became confined, imprisoned (in his worldview) by those explanations.
He doesn’t seem to notice that confinement, perhaps because of limited introspective capacity (my strength), or because of intellectual arrogance — too confident about his explanations.
It’s vital to recognize that Most of our explanations are highly incomplete and biased. His explanations tend to glorify himself and blame others.
— wellness priority? fitness is apparently a low priority for him.
He does recognize work stress. So I fully support his decision to forgo those “high careers” due to 高处不胜寒, even though he may have the required intellectual capacity. I used to see that capacity as wasted but I believe he knows himself better. Work-life balance is his higher priority.
— immigration: he has strong opinion about Chinese nationality. No right or wrong. I think it doesn’t benefit him, and probably limits his choices without him acknowledging.
He doesn’t like the U.S. job market, partly because of political tension between U.S. and his 祖国 ? I feel this is like making a decision and finding justifications for it. I might have the same tendency.
— career path
By age 37, I had cracked open a huge (possibly growing) job market not only on WallST but also in Singapore. I was able to change job (with repeated success) to keep up my income and also to compensate for my professional limitations. He surely has his limitations too but he doesn’t seem to acknowledge them.
His first 10 years were far more successful than mine, but after he left b@a in 2017 he had ventured into a domain that’s very niche and possibly shrinking. He actually likes the new domain, working there since Mar 2018, but I guess it does limit his job choices. I guess he will become an old-timer on his current job. He doesn’t have many other job opportunities in Singapore, so his increment pace is at the mercy of the big bank. Not ideal but he is satisfied. Actually my situation is also considered by lsagain and many as non-ideal, but I’m satisfied, almost semi-retired. Mellowing up for both of us 🙂
He is probably a very strong interviewee, but it didn’t help him as greatly as in my case.
Somehow, I have a very biased, partial evaluation of his moonlight business. I feel it won’t grow a lot. Would remain a great, valuable recreation.
— investment: current income ^ windfall
Clearly, current income is not his priority, so he won’t be able to reach semi-retirement stage very early as I did at 44. I think windfall profit is his investment goal. Therefore, I think he may achieve higher return rate than me.
I guess my risk capital size is larger than his, so his profit amount may not exceed mine at, say my age 50 vs his age 50.
Good at investment analysis, but his analytical vision (few have an eagle’s vision) tends to make him risk averse. In contrast, I’m fool-hardy with HY/PE and overseas rEstate. I think he is mostly into well-known stocks. I cast my net much wider though I don’t touch hot low-div stocks.
In my tanbinvest blog I have several posts on Kun’s views. I think he tends to look down on unorthodox investment products/methodologies.
— my personal priorities in the big picture
Even though I spoke to him a lot about investment, immigration and career domains, for me those are minor issues, to be put aside. There are very few real investment decisions or job decisions within 2Y. No immigration topic to analyze.
Like him, I have my analytical IQ and I want to apply it on my priorities. I want my center stage to be occupied by 1) healthy longevity and perhaps 2) career longevity and 3) parenting.
already moved to dhost.. 