Robust Trust

Example 1

Until age 18, I lived in Russia. I invested through the central government bank. I paid income tax. I was a good citizen. And then Russia attacked Ukraine and tried to draft me into the war. My investments disappeared overnight due to sanctions. I felt betrayed by my country.

There are 3 ways to update your strategy after this:

Option 1: Stop trusting

Move to a shack in the woods. Stop paying taxes. Generate your own electricity. The cost is that you can't trade your specialized skills for mass produced goods and services.

Option 2: Don't update your strategy

Keep being a quiet little citizen of your country. Don't criticize the government online, try not to think about your family and friends in Ukraine getting bombed. Sometimes the government will take away your rights, but what are you gonna do - leave?

Option 3: Become Robust

Leave. Go to Kazakhstan. Store money in dollar bills. Be prepared to move cities or countries. Don't buy more stuff than you can bring with you. Be prepared for the government to suddenly start hunting you.

Example 2

When I was 17, I only had one friend. Extremely good friend. One day he found a girlfriend, and suddenly stopped paying attention to me. I fell into depression. I was betrayed.

There are 3 ways to update your strategy after this:

Option 1: Stop trusting

No relationships - no problem! The cost is that you are now incapable of long-term collaboration, intimacy, or sincere friendship. But you won't get hurt!

Option 2: Don't update your strategy

Forget the betrayal. You're yearning to get back what you had, so find another friend, and trust them with all your heart again. Enjoy yourself until you get abandoned again.

Option 3: Become Robust

Have fallback relationships. Rely on multiple people from separate groups. Have both remote and local friends. Be prepared for sudden hostility from anyone. Learn to quickly build a network around yourself.

Google promises you unlimited storage. They will take it away.

Your lover promises you comfort. They will take it away.

Your country promises you democracy. They will take it away.

If you trust no one, you'll miss a lot of opportunities.

If you put all your trust into something , you'll be a victim.

If you want to be free, be strategic about your trust.

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