dumb

1/1/2026

I always thought I was too “dumb” to understand math. During my school years, it was evident to me that for some kids math was easy, and for others like myself: painfully difficult. This belief shadowed me for years, a constant reminder that while believe I am smart… I’m not THAT smart. The struggle wasn’t because I wasn’t capable, but rather, I was simply missing a shit-ton of pre-requisite knowledge.

It’s like trying to defeat a Elden Ring boss… at level 1. It’s like walking into a movie halfway through—you can’t understand the plot because you missed the beginning. The same goes for learning complex subjects like math, CS, whatever.

The gap in comprehension wasn’t due to a lack of ability but rather a gap in prerequisite knowledge. So here’s a gentle reminder: You’re not dumb—you just might not have all the prerequisites yet. Building from the Ground Up Realizing this, I decided to rebuild my math skills from the ground up. I revisited the basics I had glossed over or misunderstood in the past. Going further back in my material, picking better learning methods and practicing like hell.

Do You Know What You Want? Clarity Is Non-Negotiable.

Most people fail because they lack clarity. They have vague, soft goals and wonder why they never hit them and are never satisfied. If you want to win, imagine a future that truly excites you—and be specific about it. Don’t say you want to be rich. That’s some vague bullshit.

Bad example: “I want to be successful.”

Good examples: “I want to lead a team of 10 engineers building products that advance SOTA AI.”

“I want to earn $500K a year as a product manager for a top-tier tech company.”

“I want to build a SaaS business that generates $100K in monthly recurring revenue within three years.”

Your goals need precision. DO NOT BE A COWARD. Vague goals are for vague people. Be honest with yourself about what lights a fire inside you.

Control What You Can Control

Most people set themselves up for failure by aiming for outcomes they can’t fully control.

Don’t be that person.

Instead of saying, “I’ll learn X by the end of the day,” set a goal you can control, like, “I’ll study for three hours.” You can’t guarantee learning something in one sitting, but you can guarantee showing up.

Consistency > Perfection. It’s the daily grind that builds the results. Stack up those small wins, and soon enough, you’ll be miles ahead.

This process was slow, often humbling, but it was necessary. Each foundational concept I mastered laid the groundwork for more complex theories and problems. Failing a day doesn’t mean you’ve failed your mission. Perfectionism is the enemy here. You’re going to have bad days. It’s inevitable. The real damage isn’t the day you failed; it’s what you do next. The worst mistake? Beating yourself up and letting it destroy your momentum.

The real mistake is letting one slip-up snowball into something bigger. Don’t do that.

Get up. Recalibrate. Move forward.

Have I turned THAT smart yet?

Hell no. In fact, I’m still pretty dumb. But I’m slowly getting there.