<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Shoshin]]></title><description><![CDATA[renaissance notes]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DAYu!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b3a918-f2cc-4cd4-9c49-f633542ecce6_943x943.png</url><title>Shoshin</title><link>https://almanack.horden.net</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:40:36 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://almanack.horden.net/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[horden@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[horden@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[horden@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[horden@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[The Secret With No Secret]]></title><description><![CDATA[There's a treatment that makes you smarter, leaner, more attractive, and harder to kill.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-secret-with-no-secret</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-secret-with-no-secret</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:44:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d2966b59-27d0-4d45-87be-bd4ca4196e4d_1200x1180.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>Scientists have discovered a revolutionary new treatment that makes you live longer. It enhances your memory and makes you more creative. It makes you look more attractive. It keeps you slim and lowers food cravings. It protects you from cancer and dementia. It wards o&#64256; colds and the flu. It lowers your risk of heart attacks and stroke, not to mention diabetes. You&#8217;ll even feel happier, less depressed, and less anxious. Are you interested?</p><p>Matthew Walker PhD</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>I&#8217;m about to nerd out</p><p>There exists a &#8220;treatment&#8221; out there, scientifically, not just theory, proven to:</p><p><strong>Mind</strong></p><ul><li><p>Sharpen focus and cognitive performance</p></li><li><p>Enhance memory consolidation and retention</p></li><li><p>Improve learning capacity, before and after studying</p></li><li><p>Build creativity by fusing unrelated ideas into new insights</p></li><li><p>Improve logical decision making</p></li><li><p>Build &#8220;muscle memory&#8221; and motor skill proficiency</p></li></ul><p><strong>Mood &amp; Emotion</strong></p><ul><li><p>Regulate emotions and stabilize mood</p></li><li><p>Reduce anxiety at the neurochemical level</p></li><li><p>Soften the pain of traumatic memories</p></li><li><p>Help you read and decode other people&#8217;s emotions accurately</p></li></ul><p><strong>Body</strong></p><ul><li><p>Repair and restore the body overnight</p></li><li><p>Fine-tune metabolism and regulate appetite</p></li><li><p>Balance and regulate hormones</p></li><li><p>Reduce muscle fatigue and restore physical energy</p></li></ul><p><strong>Disease &amp; Longevity</strong></p><ul><li><p>Dramatically boost immune function</p></li><li><p>Reduce risk of cancer</p></li><li><p>Protect against Alzheimer&#8217;s disease</p></li><li><p>Lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes</p></li><li><p>Slow the effects of aging</p></li><li><p>Extend lifespan</p></li></ul><p><strong>Presence &amp; Performance</strong></p><ul><li><p>Make you physically more attractive</p></li><li><p>Increase productivity and earning capacity</p></li><li><p>Sharpen social perception and interpersonal accuracy</p></li></ul><p></p><p>Oh yeah, and if you don&#8217;t do this treatment, everything gets worse.<br>While this may sound like a lie, nothing here is inaccurate in the slightest.<br>People would pay millions for a dose.<br>The thing is? It&#8217;s literally free.<br>Its name?</p><p>Sleep.</p><p></p><p>We all think we get sleep.<br>Thinking time in bed is time asleep.<br>Oh how we are so wrong.</p><p></p><p>I recently acquired a Whoop and it has brought so much clarity.<br>Turns out that I wasn&#8217;t getting enough sleep, so I changed that.<br>By consequence, every aspect of my life has improved.</p><p><br>Suddenly I have the energy to run and workout every morning.<br>My speech has gotten sharper and more conversational.<br>My focus has reached levels unknown to me.</p><p>Im just, better.</p><div><hr></div><h1>Become</h1><p>It makes literally zero sense to not maximize sleep.</p><p>It makes every single aspect of your life better if you get good sleep.</p><p>It degrades every aspect of your life if you get shit sleep.</p><p>Go sleep.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[After the win]]></title><description><![CDATA[The danger begins when hunger forgets its name.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/after-the-win</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/after-the-win</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:48:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/86fbcb39-c4ff-4e3d-851f-6a60e7219207_736x736.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>Peace has cost you your strength. Victory has defeated you.</p><p>Bane</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>The essence of this phrase usually passes through the mind without resistance.</p><p>It&#8217;s cinematic. Dramatic. Interesting.</p><p>Then we live it.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>There are endless stories of people achieving <em>fuck you money</em>, <br>selling their company, landing the role, getting the body, <br>the status, the thing that we all want.<br>And then&#8230; nothing&#8230;</p><p>&#10240;<br>They stall. They drift. <br>They dissolve into leisure disguised as freedom.<br>The moment of success is often the most dangerous because the chase ends. <br>Robert Greene said:<br>&#8220;The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril.&#8221;<br>We stop doing the very things that made the win inevitable in the first place.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>It hit me after my first half marathon.<br>I stopped running for a few months, just &#8220;taking a break&#8221;. <br>My target was gone, so was my urgency.<br>So I signed up for another race and started running again. </p><p>&#10240;</p><p>The same pattern showed up in my character.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>In 2023, I established a habit of journaling daily. I would take an hour and reflect, realizing areas of improvements and actualizing them.<br>After high school, it became every other day, with inconsistency on the rise.<br>Why? Because I thought I was &#8220;there.&#8221;</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>Charismatic enough. Socially solid enough. Established enough.<br>In my head, I had reached a kind of internal <em>fuck you status</em> in relationships.<br>I had the evidence to back it up, but this stunted my personal growth.</p><p>&#10240;<br>Realizing this, I made it a point to start from 0 daily.</p><div><hr></div><h1>Become</h1><p>After the win, act as if nothing is secured.<br>Don&#8217;t live off momentum. Don&#8217;t borrow from yesterday.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>Start from zero everyday.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Initiative Gap]]></title><description><![CDATA[The people I&#8217;m closest to all share one thing: I approached first.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-initiative-gap</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-initiative-gap</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:15:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3b030c48-deb3-46cf-b73a-a3740b3bd1a6_736x919.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>Fortune favors the bold.</p><p>Latin proverb</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>Around 9pm a few days ago, I was outside doing calisthenics and stretching.<br>On my walk back, I saw a guy zoom past me running at night, phone flashlight on.</p><p>I paused, looking down at my crocs.</p><p>I had every excuse not to do it.<br>I had just worked out.<br>I&#8217;d already run earlier.<br>My neck was strained from trapezing.<br>My whoop sleep score.</p><p>&#8220;Fuck it.&#8221;</p><p>I caught up to him and struck up a conversation, saying it&#8217;s rare to see people running at night, a true display of character.</p><p>We talked and he asked if I do this often.</p><p><strong>At that very moment, my mind went to another realm.<br>&#8220;Oh shit, I do&#8221;</strong></p><p>Every meaningful relationship I currently have began the same way.<br><em><strong>It was with me.</strong></em><br>Rock climbing, the bus, in class, the gym,<br>I took the initiative and approached first.</p><p>This time, it was mid-run.</p><p>He turned out to be a genuinely interesting guy. Shared values. Similar drive.<br>We run together at 9pm, daily.</p><p>In retrospect, I have never regretted approaching someone.<br>Maybe you haven&#8217;t either.</p><div><hr></div><h1>Become</h1><p>Become the person who takes the initiative.<br>Most people never do, which is why there has been an increase in loneliness.</p><p></p><p>There&#8217;s a high chance something beautiful lies on the other side.<br>Experiences. Brotherhood. Love.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Last Luxury.]]></title><description><![CDATA[In a world addicted to display, privacy has become the final form of wealth.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-last-luxury</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-last-luxury</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:12:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8ccb4fc9-61d5-4f58-b29c-a076a2752d5c_367x347.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>The Walled Garden.</p><p>The outside world shouldn&#8217;t know what grows inside.<br>From within, it blooms with peace and serenity.<br>The gate does not open to applause,<br>but only to those you trust with the keys.</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>I will be focusing on romance because I&#8217;ve seen this happen quite a bit to my peers.&#10240;</p><p>In the modern world, relationships are paraded like trophies.<br>A couple gets together. They post. They &#8220;soft-launch&#8221;.<br>Yayyy, the world claps and watches.&#10240;</p><p>And sometimes, it ends.</p><p>But, what follows is never quiet.<br>In that moment of weakness &amp; confusion, the crowd arrives.<br>Speculation replaces truth.<br>Absence becomes evidence.<br>Silence becomes suspicious.&#10240;</p><p>A thing that was once treasured becomes available to the public.<br>Everything gets twisted, and people ask, &#8220;what happened&#8221;<br>when it&#8217;s the last thing you want.<br>Even if you don&#8217;t read the comments, you feel the weight of them.&#10240;</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>According to the law of exposure,<br>More people = more perspectives<br>More perspectives = possibility for distortion.&#10240;</p><p>Soon it&#8217;s no longer yours, but something to be judged, interpreted and a whole lot else by people you don&#8217;t even know.</p><p>I&#8217;m not saying that it needs to be a secret.<br>It&#8217;s preservation of what&#8217;s important.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>This is not unique to romance.</p><p>It applies to:</p><ul><li><p>Family</p></li><li><p>Money</p></li><li><p>Kindness</p></li><li><p>Possessions</p></li><li><p>Plans</p></li><li><p>Growth</p></li></ul><p>Displayed = Commentated on<br>Commented on = Influenced<br>Influenced = no longer pure</p><div><hr></div><h1>Become</h1><p>In an age of broadcasting who has what,<br>The rarest signal and sign of respect is restraint.</p><p>Make the public a dead zone.<br>No announcements, no pictures, no proof.<br>Leaving rumors as they are. (where&#8217;s y&#8217;all sense of humor?)</p><p>Not because you&#8217;re hiding, <br>but because some things grow best unseen.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to 10x your progress.]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's all about the people.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/how-to-10x-your-progress</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/how-to-10x-your-progress</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 26 Oct 2025 02:51:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/36a2a8be-7204-4563-aa2d-ba2af97a723d_640x640.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together</p><p>African Proverb</p></blockquote><p>&#10240;</p><blockquote><p>Go do something great and your network will instantly emerge. </p><p>Naval Ravikant</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>This is a deviation from my usual &#8220;one quote&#8221;, but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up, I hope you like it.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>Seven months ago, I started a project called &#8220;Altiora&#8221;,</p><p>with a general vision for ambitious individuals to connect.</p><p>For the first five months, I worked on it alone and things were really slow.</p><p>My skillset only extended to web design, and Altiora nothing but a shell.</p><p>I was bored, not knowing what to do nor what path to take.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>A month later, I started university and I found it quite difficult to find &#8220;my&#8221; people.</p><p>People who shared the same drive as me, as I found most clubs and communities to be lacking.</p><p>I didn&#8217;t want to entertain college vices, I wanted to learn, I wanted to improve, I wanted to become better.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>This resulted in me putting Altiora on the map.</p><p>Stickers were placed across campus, which later attracted my core team.</p><p>It only has been a month, and we have literally 10x&#8217;d the progress I made alone,</p><p>with massive operations and onboarding cycles underway.</p><p>It&#8217;s very beautiful and enjoyable to build alongside a team with shared values, my team.</p><p>I absolutely love every meeting and interaction, as leaders should;</p><p>especially getting to know them on a personal level.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>Without Altiora, my great project, I would&#8217;ve had a difficult time finding people who shared my values.</p><p></p><div class="pullquote"><p>Brutally honest math:</p><p>If you&#8217;re in the top 10%, 90% of people will not match up.</p><p>That means every 100 people I talk to, only 10 I will really like.</p></div><p></p><p>Altiora bridged that, the premise was simple: to build a network worth belonging to.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>The greatest companies in history were built by cofounders, not lone visionaries. </p><p>I&#8217;ve learned that true growth happens in environments where ideas clash, sharpen, and evolve into something greater.<br>And you need people for that.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>In an era where everyone&#8217;s chasing virality, the real advantage lies in <strong>community</strong>. </p><p>A circle that elevates, challenges, and holds you to your highest standard.</p><div><hr></div><h1>Become</h1><p>With the advent of social media, connecting has never been easier, but alignment has never been rarer.</p><p>Reach out.</p><p>Tell your story.</p><p>Build something that attracts the people you want.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p><p></p><p>btw - <a href="http://altiora.co">altiora.co</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[You leveled up the wrong character.]]></title><description><![CDATA[How to win the game. (you stop playing it)]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/you-leveled-up-the-wrong-character</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/you-leveled-up-the-wrong-character</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:44:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1aebf4bb-faf0-480c-99fc-a8c346dc46a4_1140x1228.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>To me, the real winners are the ones who step out of the game entirely, who don&#8217;t even play the game, who rise above it.</p><p>Naval Ravikant</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>This is a sequel to &#8220;<a href="https://almanack.horden.net/p/burn-the-boats">burn the boats</a>&#8221;.<br>That story was about eliminating the way back, so the only way is forward.<br>But here's another idea:</p><blockquote><p>What if you never boarded the boat in the first place?</p></blockquote><p>&#10240;</p><p>Let&#8217;s talk about something familiar:<br><strong>Video games.</strong></p><p>&#10240;</p><p>Chances are, just like me, you poured time and soul into getting good at these games.</p><p>You leveled up, ranked high, got the clout.</p><p>Sure, you got better, but life didn't change much.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>There&#8217;s a strange phenomenon happening among the top players.</p><p><em>Some of the wealthiest, most elite players </em>in the world are now saying the same thing:</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;If I could go back&#8230; I wouldn&#8217;t play again.&#8221;<br> &#8220;I regret building a virtual character when I should&#8217;ve built myself.&#8221;&#10240;</p></blockquote><p>They didn&#8217;t fail.<br>They won, in the wrong arena.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>I&#8217;ve been there.<br>Indulged in this illusion, this psy-op.<br>Winning what didn't matter, and losing sight of what did.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>What did I do?<br>I walked away.<br>Deleted every single account.<br>Some may think that is extreme.<br>Well, I argue that extreme people get extreme results.</p><p>Afterall, winning the wrong game is worse than losing.</p><p>&#10240;</p><p>This isn&#8217;t just about video games.<br>It's about every artificial game designed to keep you from becoming better.</p><p>Fame.<br>Gossip.<br>Drama.<br>Social validation.<br>Celebrity scandals that don't affect you.<br>Shows that leave you entertained but empty.<br>Comment wars, leaderboards, follower counts.</p><p>There&#8217;s a reason the most fulfilled people don&#8217;t play these games.</p><p>&#10240;<br>(notice how I didn't say successful?)</p><div><hr></div><h1>Become</h1><p>In a world full of superficial leaderboards,<br>Be the one who opts out to build something real.</p><p>Train the real character, your character.</p><p>Your body.<br>Your mind.<br>Your soul.<br>Your relationships.<br>Your leverage.</p><p>Your real life is the only game that is worth playing.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Burn the boats]]></title><description><![CDATA[The way forward begins when there's no way back.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/burn-the-boats</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/burn-the-boats</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2025 18:32:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/aa4b16b5-318e-4f59-9b2c-8599df06e8b5_699x400.webp" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>A long while ago, a great warrior faced a situation which made it necessary for him to make a decision which insured his success on the battlefield.</p><p>He was about to send his armies against a powerful foe, whose men outnumbered his own.</p><p>He loaded his soldiers into boats, sailed to the enemy's country, unloaded soldiers and equipment, then gave the order to burn the ships that had carried them.</p><p>Addressing his men before the first battle, he said,</p><p>"You see the boats going up in smoke. That means that we cannot leave these shores alive unless we win! We now have no choice: we win&#8212; or we perish! </p><p>They won.</p><p>Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to burn his ships and cut all sources of retreat.</p><p>Napoleon Hill</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>In middle school, I poured thousands of hours into video games.<br></p><p>Eventually, I came to a harsh truth:<br>It wasn't even <em>zero</em> sum.<br>It was <em>negative</em> sum.</p><p></p><p>Every aspect of my life degraded,<br>my mental state from raging and trash talk,<br>my physical body from junk food and ruined posture,<br>my social life was literally pixels on a screen.</p><p></p><p>there wasn't any real world leverage to be gained.<br>I remained the same person&#8230; only worse.</p><p></p><p>I would quit for a while but I always kept coming back.<br>The lurking of my untouched accounts,<br>the possible games and my stats;<br>And with that, the negatives all came back.</p><p></p><p>I reread that story. I burned my boats.<br>I deleted everything, every account, every save file.<br>Thousands of hours, gone in seconds.<br>No escape. No reset. No return.<br>The only way for me is forward.</p><p></p><p>So far, this decision has been very rewarding.<br>With my time and clarity reclaimed,<br>I am in the pursuit of actual leverage.</p><p><a href="http://horden.net/#endeavor">horden.net/#endeavor</a></p><div><hr></div><h1>Become</h1><p>Burn the boats.</p><p>The longer you're on the wrong train, the more expensive it is to get back home.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Secret of Gatsby]]></title><description><![CDATA[he did it all for a gaze.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-secret-of-gatsby</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-secret-of-gatsby</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2025 17:43:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f326d475-b0a0-4c3d-b61a-73c23c193152_650x832.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>" The desire for sexual expression is by far the strongest and most impelling of all the human emotions, and for this very reason this desire, when harnessed and transmuted into action other than that of physical expression, may raise one to great accomplishment. "</p><p>Napoleon Hill</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>Hill was no spiritual guru.<br>He was an investigator who dedicated over two decades,<br>interviewing the most successful men of his era, to unlock the truth of wealth.<br>Edison, Ford, Rockefeller, Schwab, Carnegie.<br>Names known by their last.</p><p></p><p>He discovered that the drive behind their genius,<br>wasn't money, but rather energy. The raw desire for expression,<br>often ignited by the presence or idea of a woman.</p><p></p><p>We all know the story of Gatsby,<br>the man who vanished, built an empire, and returned,<br>not for validation,<br>but rather, for the eyes of a single woman.<br>Today, the modern man posts on social media, hoping <em>that one girl will see.<br></em>I'm sure many of you can attest to this, as can I.</p><p></p><p>I am no spiritual person, but I have lived this.<br>In the past two years, I&#8217;ve grown in nearly every dimension,<br>Physically, mentally, socially, creatively.<br>And two radiant women were the fuel behind much of my drive.<br>Their mere presence just drove me to become better,<br>To become someone worthy of their gaze.</p><div><hr></div><h1>Become</h1><p>I only have a small clue how to write a &#8220;become&#8221; section for this.</p><p>I just know this shit is real.</p><p>I&#8217;ve felt it.<br>Maybe you have too.</p><p>If you feel it, don&#8217;t run from it.<br>Harness it.</p><p><br>Build something she&#8217;d admire, even if she never sees it.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[You were born to be bold.]]></title><description><![CDATA[its innate.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/you-were-born-to-be-bold</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/you-were-born-to-be-bold</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:04:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/39f570c7-a0ab-4a31-a0b8-000c4267c744_980x894.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>" Timidity is dangerous: Better to enter with boldness. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid. "</p><p>Robert Greene</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Story</h1><p>There are many, many variations of this saying,<br>Maybe because it's so foundational.<br>Nike&#8217;s motto is to - &#8220; Just do it. &#8221;<br>The Latins said - &#8220; Fortune favors the bold. &#8221;<br>Naval puts it bluntly - &#8220; If there's something you want to do later, do it now. There is no "later". &#8221;</p><p></p><p>I decided to close my highschool chapter with grace,<br>writing raw letters to phenomenal people who shaped me.<br>In the process of doing so, I felt it:<br>The doubts, looping in my mind,<br>&#8220; Is this too much? &#8221; , &#8220; What will they think of me? &#8221;<br>I did it anyway, and I couldn't have wished for any other ending.</p><p></p><p>I fail to recall any circumstance, where I regret being bold.<br>Never regretted putting myself in new environments.<br>Never regretted approaching the beautiful girl. <br>Never regretted learning, even if I looked stupid in the beginning.<br>I am very grateful that I took the leap in those moments.</p><p></p><p>Boldness always led to clarity of what I wanted, which proved very, very rewarding.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Become</h1><p>Boldness is actually something innate.<br>We were bold, before society taught us to think twice.<br>Before the fear of judgement, failure, or embarrassment.<br>Any child learning is a testament.</p><p>You want to bold for a reason,<br>Because it's what we were meant to do,<br>What we were meant to be.</p><p>You don't need to become bold.<br>You just need to stop pretending you're not.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[On making life beautiful]]></title><description><![CDATA[flowers.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/on-making-life-beautiful</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/on-making-life-beautiful</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 2025 03:12:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/77e1b084-5fc5-4259-a9b0-5f966fd6ffb4_1195x933.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>" Carrying flowers, particularly a bouquet, makes life all the more worthwhile. "</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Story</h1><p>There are a few actions in life that shift how joyful your life can be.<br>Carrying flowers in public is one of them.<br>Symbols of appreciation and effort.</p><p></p><p>I was never taught to get people flowers as a kid, partly because I was insecure.<br>I feared how people saw me, that I was &#8220;feminine&#8221; or something if I held flowers,<br>that I would get laughed at or portrayed as soft or weak.<br>In retrospect, I find it to be one of the stupidest thought processes of my life.</p><p></p><p>When I started making my mom bouquets for mothers day,<br>what followed was family, love and connection.<br>When I started making bouquets for other people, presenting them in public,<br>I drew in respect from men and admiration from women, <br>a very pleasant experience, like I helped restore a little faith in humanity.</p><p></p><p>Something deeper goes on an unconscious level,<br>For women, flowers symbolize romance, effort, and intention.<br>That a man is secure enough to love, and bold enough to show it.<br>I passed by many strangers who smiled, and commented,<br>&#8220;Who&#8217;s he giving those to? What a lucky girl.&#8221; were some that made me really happy.</p><p></p><p>For men, it's a flex. Not of muscle but a display of character.<br>And people feel it, without words being said.<br>It&#8217;s like &#8220;aura&#8221;, the quiet proof you know what matters.</p><p></p><p>I'm making this a frequent habit, with how much joy it has brought into my life.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Become</h1><p>Start getting and giving flowers, seriously.</p><p>It's one of the most beautiful actions one can partake in.</p><p>Kudos to you if you make it yourself too,</p><p>Disdain the low effort, the plastic packaging with a barcode.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[You are both stone and artist.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Chisel your life.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/you-are-both-stone-and-artist</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/you-are-both-stone-and-artist</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 20 May 2025 00:25:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3f9948a4-1d41-4f72-8df5-2624e071d784_1697x1068.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>" Working on yourself like clay should be one of your greatest and most pleasurable life tasks. It makes you, in essence, an artist&#8212;an artist creating yourself. "</p><p>Robert Greene</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Story</h1><p>I overheard someone say they hate their job.<br>Unsure if they should quit.<br>Laughing about it like it was normal.<br>And I thought that, &#8230; maybe that&#8217;s just the adult life.<br>Unless you design a life you don&#8217;t need to escape from.</p><p>I spoke about it with a friend, and we shared thoughts,<br>Because honestly, my life needs no escape.<br>Its like I've reached escape velocity.<br>Everything I do compounds,</p><p>When I journal, clarity comes</p><p>When I train, power comes,</p><p>When I create, purpose comes</p><p>There's a unique kind of joy I get from this,<br>from becoming better as an individual.<br>from being the story.</p><p>The unexamined life begs for distraction<br>not because it&#8217;s empty, but because it&#8217;s unshaped.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Become</h1><p>Designing a life you don&#8217;t need to escape doesn&#8217;t mean it&#8217;s free of struggle.<br>It means the struggle feels worth it.<br>Because it&#8217;s part of something you chose.</p><p>You are the artist.<br>Your life is the marble.<br>Pick up the chisel and start carving.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Journey]]></title><description><![CDATA[What else is there to enjoy?]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-journey</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-journey</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 04 May 2025 13:54:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/fdcbefb5-08cc-4e57-a2cb-ed1e4751c166_382x570.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>" The journey is the reward. "</p><p>Chinese proverb</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Story</h1><p>This makes more sense with time,<br>because we begin to live it more.</p><p></p><p>We always say we&#8217;ll be happy <em>when</em>,<br>we achieve the goal.<br>we get the person.<br>we earn the title.<br>attain some sort of fad benchmark.<br>But in reality, it&#8217;s the process of getting there that beauty lies.</p><p>When I ran my half marathon,<br>finishing was cool and all, but I wasn&#8217;t most proud of that.<br>It was the highs, the lows, the grind, and the setbacks,<br>The amazing people who supported me,<br>That made everything worthwhile.</p><p>Chances are,<br>the years you suffered,<br>the days you struggled,<br>the moments you questioned everything,<br><em>Those were the most meaningful periods of your life.</em><br>Because they made you who you are now.<br>You made that magic,<br>You <em>became</em> the story.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Become</h1><p>Learn to enjoy the process.</p><p>the journey of becoming better as an individual.</p><p>Because the journey isn&#8217;t the obstacle, it&#8217;s the way.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[become better, attract better.]]></title><description><![CDATA[How to get what you want]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/become-better-attract-better</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/become-better-attract-better</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2025 16:40:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e1d5643b-1a7b-4c48-be1c-fd599bb693dc_823x979.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>" The better you become, the better you attract. "</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Story</h1><p>You may know this as the law of attraction, <br>that life mirrors who we are becoming.<br>Its the motto of my life.</p><p>When you level up,<br>mentally, physically, emotionally <br>you naturally start to attract better people, <br>better opportunities, and better experiences. <br>It's not about chasing things, but rather<br>about becoming the kind of person who naturally draws those things in.</p><p>It ties back to an old idea<br>&#8216; as within, so without. &#8217;<br>Your internal world shapes your external world. <br>If you're constantly growing, your environment will eventually rise to meet you.<br>It simply has to.</p><p>When I took my growth seriously by focusing inward,<br>circumstances began meeting me at my level.<br>I stopped needing to force connections.<br>The right people, great people, started showing up.<br>Mentors, friends, even opportunities.<br>It wasn't about luck, but alignment.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Become</h1><p>The raw truth is:</p><p>You don&#8217;t attract what you want. </p><p>You attract what you are. </p><p>So if you want better, become better.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stab me in the front, please.]]></title><description><![CDATA[A true friend will call you out.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/stab-me-in-the-front-please</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/stab-me-in-the-front-please</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 20 Apr 2025 12:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d07b9f0d-8cea-4c24-9bb1-9bda79a8907b_1170x1170.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>&#8220; A true friend will stab you in the front. "</p><p>Oscar Wilde</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Story</h1><p>I had my wisdom teeth removed last week. <br>I rested to the extreme, <br>doing the bare minimum, <br>eating like shit, <br>and getting nothing done.</p><p>Then two hours ago, I hit up a friend to rock climb. <br>He said yes.<br>I took a quick nap and when he showed up, <br>I tried to bail.<br>But he didn&#8217;t let me.<br>He called me out on my bullshit.</p><p>I'm so glad he did.<br>I had my best day that week.<br>Climbing all the way to the top,<br>Learning this sick ass hip throw judo move that I fell in love with.</p><p>He pushed me to unlock the &#8220;muscle up&#8221;.<br>I hesitated, but he believed in me more than myself.<br>He pushed and motivated me.</p><p>I ended up making more progress in an hour than I did in prior months.<br>And if I keep at it, I&#8217;ll probably have it down by next week.</p><p>Like damn.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Become</h1><p>It&#8217;s rare to find friends who care enough to call you out on your bullshit.</p><p>To <em>stab you in the front</em>, with the sole intent of growth.</p><p>Just know, if you find someone like that,</p><p><strong>That's a friend for life.</strong></p><div><hr></div><p></p><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Enjoy life.]]></title><description><![CDATA[You&#8217;ll never be this young, this healthy, or this alive again.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/enjoy-life</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/enjoy-life</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 15 Apr 2025 04:48:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/000b5973-ad22-4fb1-bb03-d500cde98f7e_562x680.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>" 20 years from now you&#8217;d give anything to be this exact age, exactly this healthy, in this exact moment. Take a second to enjoy it. "</p><p>Richard Webster</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Story</h1><p>This has to be the most profound shit I have come across in a while.</p><p>I loved it so much, I got it printed and placed it right above my desk.</p><p></p><p>At times, I glance at it. </p><p>The world gets quieter.</p><p>The pressure fades.</p><p>And I remember:</p><p>This moment?</p><p>It&#8217;ll never come again.</p><p></p><p>I think about how far I have come, </p><p>and I can't even believe that I'm so content with myself&#8230;</p><p>that genuinely, If i was on deaths door,</p><p> I could die knowing I've lived a good life. (when tf did I become so spiritual?)</p><p>That I would go out with peace.</p><p>I haven't even graduated highschool yet&#8230;</p><p></p><p>There&#8217;s something beautiful about being here</p><p>not chasing</p><p>not planning</p><p>not building</p><p>just being.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Become</h1><p>Seriously. Appreciate the moment.</p><p>Take five seconds.<br> Breathe.<br> Smile.<br> You&#8217;re still here.</p><p>And that&#8217;s enough.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Art of Going Slower]]></title><description><![CDATA[What if the grind is the very thing holding you back?]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-art-of-going-slower</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-art-of-going-slower</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 02 Mar 2025 06:34:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/91ae1b96-8161-4d7b-a6a9-03b78506a66a_648x520.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>" Instead of asking, 'Have I worked hard enough to deserve rest?' ask, 'Have I rested enough to do my most loving, meaningful work? "</p><p>Nicola Jane Hobbs</p></blockquote><p>&#8203;</p><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>Hustle culture.</p><p>Most of us have subscribed to it, glorified it, and wore it as a badge of honor as we tie our self-worth to it.</p><p>Our professional life excels at the expense of everything else.</p><p>Our relationships, body, mental health deteriorate and we enter a phase dubbed &#8220;burnout&#8221;.</p><p>&#8203;</p><p>My life cycled through this stage in Q4 of 2024. I would go all-in for a week, working at full speed; only to crash and achieve nothing the next. My career was accelerating, but as a person, I was on a downward trajectory.</p><p>Then it hit me.</p><p>I didn&#8217;t need more hustle. I needed <em>balance</em>.</p><p>I started prioritizing rest, taking long walks, deepening relationships, and letting my mind breathe. And by consequence, my life improved in every aspect.</p><p>Although my speed at which I grew slowed; over time, it proved more sustainable, more fulfilling.</p><p>The days of burnout cycles and procrastination disappeared, and with it, came a sense of clarity and control.</p><p>&#8203;</p><div><hr></div><h1>Become</h1><p>This Wednesday, I had lunch with my mentor. I asked him about periods of stagnation, those moments where progress feels slow.</p><p>He paused, looked at me, and replied with two simple words:</p><p><em>&#8220;Just chill.&#8221;</em></p><p>Maybe progress isn&#8217;t about speed, but knowing when to slow down.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Carve your words]]></title><description><![CDATA[The way you speak tells the world how to treat you.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/carve-your-words</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/carve-your-words</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 24 Feb 2025 03:38:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/4a41f320-017b-4816-bb3c-bc002ecbba9d_626x417.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>" Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall. "</p><p><em>Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.</em></p></blockquote><p>&#8203;</p><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>It's no shocker that we enjoy listening to great speakers and people who can get their point across effectively.</p><p>A few days ago, I was amongst two speakers.</p><p>As they spoke, I began to admire one of the speakers more, a man who spoke with conviction, and eliminated the use of filler words like umms and ahhs.</p><p>The more I paid attention, the more interesting he became, so I set my eyes out to speak to him.</p><p>We had a short but insightful conversation. And it all started because I was drawn to how he spoke.</p><p>&#8203;</p><p>As I came to reflect upon my own life, the better I spoke, the better my life got.</p><p>Our communication skills are the bridge between who you are and how the world sees you.</p><p>If you can&#8217;t articulate your thoughts, your true potential remains hidden.&#8203;</p><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Become</h1><p>Learn how to speak.</p><p>Start recording yourself, analyze your speech, and refine your delivery. The way you speak shapes the way the world listens.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Psychology of Presence]]></title><description><![CDATA[The way you dress is the way the world treats you.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-psychology-of-presence</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/the-psychology-of-presence</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 16 Feb 2025 06:47:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a1a05a1a-dbc7-4da2-a735-ac43da8b1532_466x640.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p><em><strong>Enclothed Cognition&#8203;</strong></em></p><p>The concept that what you wear, shapes how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you, influencing confidence, behavior, and presence.</p></blockquote><p>&#8203;</p><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>I used to blend in everywhere I went, <br>until I realized how much power there was in looking the part.</p><p>A few years ago, I did not care how I dressed. I would go out like I just woke up.</p><p></p><p>As a consequence of my low effort, my interactions were quite stale.</p><p>That changed when I took up a summer law internship. Wanting to fit the role, I upgraded my wardrobe.</p><p>The style? <br>Timeless and refined. <br>My wardrobe consisted of quality sweaters and various types of trousers.</p><p>&#8203;</p><p>I began dressing like this daily, slightly elevating if the occasion calls with a statement piece or a coat.</p><p>Ever since I started doing this, my quality of life has improved.</p><p>Strangers treated me with more respect and courtesy.</p><p>Opportunities seemed to present themselves more often.</p><p>Conversations flowed easier &#8212;people were eager to talk to me.</p><p></p><p>I do not mean this from an egotistical standpoint, <br>however, <br>I have gotten more compliments in the past few months than the rest of my life combined, due to the way I presented myself.</p><p></p><p>Dressing well in a way, became a self-fulfilling prophecy. <br>The better I looked, the better I felt, the more capable I became.</p><p>&#8203;</p><div><hr></div><h1>Become</h1><p>There's a reason most fields relating to success require you to look the part.</p><p>(lawyers wear suits, doctors wears medical coats)</p><p>Start dressing how you want to be addressed.</p><p>&#8203;</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[I upgraded myself IRL]]></title><description><![CDATA[One challenge, once a year. change your life.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/i-upgraded-myself-irl</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/i-upgraded-myself-irl</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 09 Feb 2025 04:43:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/00f8c90e-8538-4b25-9782-8298ddba1bc9_736x1284.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p><em><strong>Misogi </strong></em></p><p>The concept of tackling a single, transformative challenge once a year. A challenge so hard that it impacts the rest of your life; redefining <em>who</em> you are.</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>Six days ago, I ran my first half marathon. </p><p>A feat that if you were to tell me one year ago, would&#8217;ve said never. </p><p>I wasn&#8217;t a runner. In fact, I hated running. </p><p>I registered on a whim, stemming from a deep desire to prove something to myself. </p><p>Race day came; of course, it had to rain.</p><p>Started off by meeting people, however I had to leave them to run my <em>own</em> race. </p><p>The first few miles were quite nice, keeping an 8 minute pace. </p><p>The rain kept getting in my ear, eliminating any chance of music. </p><p>At mile 6.31, I started getting painful cramps in places I've never had. </p><p>I started rethinking life, not even being halfway finished. I wanted to quit. My mind started comparing how easy gym sessions were compared to this, making my past struggles pale in comparison. </p><p>I then reminded myself that this would be the point that I would grow as a person, redefine myself, and the story that I would one day tell. </p><p>When I finished, a sense of accomplishment surrounded me, like I had just upgraded my character in a game.</p><p>I literally just leveled up. The journey became beautiful at the end, being all rewarding. This not only redefined how I viewed myself, but created a new uplifting habit. Running.</p><p>This was a mini Misogi for me, stay tuned.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><h1>Become</h1><p>What's your Misogi?</p><p>What&#8217;s the one challenge that scares you, excites you, and has the potential to transform who you are?</p><p>Do it.</p><div><hr></div><p></p><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[You are the project.]]></title><description><![CDATA[work on you.]]></description><link>https://almanack.horden.net/p/you-are-the-project</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://almanack.horden.net/p/you-are-the-project</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Horden Huang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jan 2025 19:53:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/414605ef-fc5a-4a08-8af7-6cae896b23c6_599x1010.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Perspective</h1><blockquote><p>" You are your greatest project and your most rewarding story."</p><p>&#8203;- Horden Huang</p></blockquote><p>&#8203;</p><div><hr></div><h1>Story</h1><p>Think of the stories we stay in our minds:</p><p>When Luke leaving Tatooine, <br>Gatsby reinventing himself,<br>the friend who turned his life around. </p><p>What makes them compelling isn&#8217;t comfort, but change.</p><p>Throughout the course of my life (although a short 18 years),<br>nothing has brought me more joy nor fulfillment than my personal growth.<br>I&#8217;m sure many of you can agree that,<br>We are the main characters of the stories we enjoy sharing.</p><p></p><p>Why? </p><p><br>Because of struggles to become the story.<br>The sleepless nights, the rejections, the lonely moments when no one believed in us.</p><p>That becomes our plot. <br>The pain we try to avoid is the very essence that makes our life worth telling.&#10240;</p><p></p><p>There&#8217;s a reason why individuals regret the corporate grind.<br>They were sacrificing building themselves for a superficial gain.<br>The long hours, with the tradeoff being sanity, health, relationships for money and status.<br>Many experience a midlife crisis of the gap of who they wanted to be and who they were.<br>Some leave to pave their own path, with joy of what&#8217;s ahead.</p><p></p><div><hr></div><h1>Become</h1><p>Every dollar in the stock market compounds at 7&#8211;10% a year.</p><p>Every hour invested into yourself can return 10x daily,</p><p>in charisma, in confidence, in the way people respond to you.</p><p></p><p>Reinvent you.</p><p>&#8203;</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Remember, its who you become on the journey.</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>