Why do the Rich Hang Around the Rich?

It’s not worth explaining.

This might juxtapose what you would expect to hear from me. As an educator.

Isn’t my job to teach and explain things in simple and intuitive ways? Yes.

But, I am not referring to teaching in the traditional sense.

I am talking about explaining the unacquainted.

I have learned the hard way – I cannot change what someone believes.

I can only play into what they do believe.

Take this example.

I loved taking the SAT and applying to colleges. It was fun. It was a game.

You might have resented the entire process from start to finish.

I cannot convince you otherwise.

But, what I can do is play into your resentment (existing belief) by saying something like…

Knowing how frustrating the college admission process is, we have a solution that has helped hundreds of students efficiently navigate the process all with less stress and anxiety.

And, that’s exactly my value proposition.

I cannot convince you that it is fun to apply to colleges or jobs. But, I can convince you based on what you already believe.

Let’s go a step further.

What about people who have not experienced what you have, and as a result, do not share your beliefs.

Well, you leave them behind.

There is no point trying to win them on board.

You can’t until they go through the experience. Themselves.

For example, when I started working in the education industry, I would tell the founder of the business to increase prices. Hire more people. Inorganically market the product.

From the outside, these seem like logical solutions.

But, only the entrepreneurs know.

Things are not black and white.

Spending $1 in marketing will not necessarily generate $2 of sales.

There are a lot of other factors you do not consider that the entrepreneur knows.

Why? Because they are in the weeds doing the work itself. I was not.

They know that the marketing efficiency might not hold true.

Bigger yet, they know the limitation of resources.

They know the order of prioritizing the limited resources.

So to try and explain your belief to someone who has not lived through that experience.

Well, it’s just not worth your time.

There is a difference between ramping someone up versus having to explain something to someone with no experience.

In one case, someone is volunteering to learn. In the other case, they are friction.

I really like talking about business.

But, I found it hard to evoke the same energy and the answer I was seeking from my friends.

They never fully understood what it is I am trying to do, why it excites me, and the problems that I was facing and trying to solve.

The awesome part about writing is I attract people that have done it. Or are curious.

And those conversations last long.

They inspire both parties. Those conversations lead to the solutions we see today.