By default, we are built to chase.
More, faster, now.
It’s hardcoded.
We chase approval. We chase numbers.
We chase money because somewhere along the way, we realized money buys choices.
It gives us room. Time. Autonomy.
So no, money isn’t evil.
But here’s the problem:
We’re never satisfied.
And that’s why I’ve had to rethink how I look at money, compounding, and wealth.
Not just as a resource…
But as a relationship.
Here’s what I’ve come to believe—
There’s “rich,” and then there’s wealth.
One is loud.
Fast car. Fast decisions. Fast life.
The other is quiet.
A paid-off home.
Years of compounding.
Choices made with intention, not pressure.
The older I get, the clearer it is:
I don’t want to be loud rich.
I want to be long-term wealthy.
Not that I don’t want a fast car.
I do.
But the difference is—
I want it after I’ve earned the freedom to say no to it.
Desire isn’t wrong.
But knowing what’s good to have versus what’s needed to thrive—
That’s the kind of clarity that builds real wealth.
Wealth doesn’t look like what we think.
It’s not the person posting screenshots.
It’s not even the person with the highest income.
Quoting Naval here:
Yes, money will solve all your money problems. But it doesn’t get you everywhere.
The first thing you realize when you’ve made a bunch of money is that you’re still the same person. If you’re happy, you’re happy. If you’re unhappy, you’re unhappy. If you’re calm and fulfilled and peaceful, you’re still that same person. I know lots of very rich people who are extremely out of shape. I know lots of rich people who have really bad family lives. I know lots of rich people who are internally a mess.
A calm mind, a fit body and a house full of love must be earned
Wealth is often…
The person with no debt
The person who lives well below their means
The person who doesn’t need to perform wealth, because they’re actually building it
Quiet money.
Quiet habits.
Quiet power.
It takes time. A lot of it.
The biggest lie social media sells is that wealth is quick.
Start a business → 6 figures in 6 months → live on a beach.
But what you don’t see:
→ The years of learning without return
→ The nights spent working instead of spending
→ The small, consistent habits that don’t get likes
Wealth is slow.
And that’s why most people never build it.
The compounding no one talks about
Everyone understands compounding… in theory.
But no one wants to wait long enough to watch it kick in.
It’s boring at first.
You’re saving $100/month.
You’re showing up daily.
You’re not seeing flashy results.
But compounding isn’t just about money.
It happens across multiple dimensions:
Money → your investments outgrow your income
Reputation → people trust you because you kept showing up
Skill → you’re exceptional because you stuck with it
Leverage → your past work starts working harder than you
That’s when momentum hits.
That’s when things move.
But only if you’re still there to catch it.
Being loud is expensive. Being long-term is freeing.
You can spend the next 5 years trying to look rich.
Or the next 5 years becoming someone who never has to prove it.
The person with freedom.
The person with time, ownership, clarity.
That’s the kind of wealth I care about.
Not the kind that burns hot.
The kind that lasts.
So yeah — wealth takes time.
It’s not sexy.
It’s not a shortcut.
It’s a slow, beautiful burn.
Built on trust.
Built on restraint.
Built on your ability to keep going when no one’s watching.
And maybe, that’s what makes it so powerful.
Talk soon,
– kanishka
in case you needed a reminder :)