Hidden progress

 The topic of unrequited work gets very little attention in today's social media-driven world, where tangible outcomes are everything. You could have worthless content, but standing next to a Lambo gains you instant credibility as a guru. You could have a completely lackluster business idea or product, but getting that Series A round from a VC firm validates and elevates you in everyone's eyes. 

The most under-appreciated folks-- but also often the most invigorated ones-- are the ones who grind away in the background, doing what they love, with little to nothing to show for to the outside world...for a long time, and sometimes never. Think of the athlete who trains and practices as an amateur, with few recognizing their potential until they make it big. It takes quite a bit of self-determination and self-confidence to keep at it while the odds of making it may seem so slim at times. 

Trading is in a way of a loveless endeavor, where only your determination gets you through storms that should have drowned you along the way, where simply stopping has many short-term benefits, and where actually making it to the other side actually alienates you from the majority (it's "lonely at the top"). It's at odds with today's societal pull toward instant gratification, and takes a level of mental toughness that few will tap into. 

Those who value hidden progress in anything are a rare breed these days, but those are the ones that will practice in the background and develop something truly special. Coupled with self-awareness and using feedback to shape one's actions, they might develop qualities or products that seem like magic at the end of the day, that seem simple and easy. So easy on the surface that it's, once again, unrequited by society. 

Ultimately, it's not about the Lambo to get validation from others, but about doing it for the love of the game and about validating yourself...to yourself. The feeling of being able to control your own thoughts, actions, and outcome in life is like no other. Hope everyone has a chance of experiencing it in their journey. Society would be better for it.