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I was in denial about this for a long time, but the fact of the matter is that your overall outcome is almost entirely determined by your outliers. If you take all of the investments I've ever made, including going to work as an early hire at Google, the I've won. If I leave out Google, then I've lost. If I leave out my single biggest loss, then I've won again. If I leave out my next biggest win, then I've broken even.

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Did "not spending 1 more year as an employee at Google" cost you more or less than all of your later wins?

More. And by a huge margin. Leaving Google early was by far the most costly financial decision I've ever made in my life. But I don't regret it. You have to focus on the money you made and not the money you didn't make or you'll be miserable no matter what happens because no matter how well you do you could have always done better in hindsight.

Very interesting, thanks for responding.

You bet.

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