12 lies you were told growing up:
Aadit Sheth@aaditsh
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Jun 19, 2025
~3 min read
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12 lies you were told growing up:
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Lie: There are no such things as stupid questions.
In fact, there are.
At school, you can ask anything.
But in the real world, it's a waste of time.
Don't ask things that are easily google-able. It's a disservice to both parties).
You'll seem lazy, and annoying.
In fact, there are.
At school, you can ask anything.
But in the real world, it's a waste of time.
Don't ask things that are easily google-able. It's a disservice to both parties).
You'll seem lazy, and annoying.
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Lie: Reading will make you smarter.
Being forced to read at a young age will only cause you to hate reading.
When curiosity inspires you to pick up a book, you'll learn how to learn fast, think well, and extract tangible actions.
Being forced to read at a young age will only cause you to hate reading.
When curiosity inspires you to pick up a book, you'll learn how to learn fast, think well, and extract tangible actions.
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Lie: "You must work hard to find success in life."
Working hard is overrated.
Other factors are more important (h/t @naval):
• What you work on
• Who you work with
• The relevance to society
Working hard is overrated.
Other factors are more important (h/t @naval):
• What you work on
• Who you work with
• The relevance to society
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Lie: "It doesn't matter where you are from."
It matters where you come from.
Born in an upper-middle-class family gives you way more opportunities in life than someone born in the slums of India (on average)
The internet minimizes the opportunity gap but it will always exist.
It matters where you come from.
Born in an upper-middle-class family gives you way more opportunities in life than someone born in the slums of India (on average)
The internet minimizes the opportunity gap but it will always exist.
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Lie: "You should know what you want to do with your life by the time you graduate college."
Some of the smartest and wealthiest people I know are still figuring it out.
They're trying different and new things everyday.
Everyone's timeline is independent of one another.
Some of the smartest and wealthiest people I know are still figuring it out.
They're trying different and new things everyday.
Everyone's timeline is independent of one another.
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Lie: Education ends after university.
"After I finish these 4 years, finally I can stop studying." — every college student ever.
As long as you keep the child-like curiosity in yourself alive, learning will be lifelong.
"After I finish these 4 years, finally I can stop studying." — every college student ever.
As long as you keep the child-like curiosity in yourself alive, learning will be lifelong.
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Lie: "If it's important, I'll remember."
This is a huge life we tell ourselves when we forget something.
The smaller, forgotten things may have improved your quality of life marginally.
Do yourself a favor: Write stuff down.
It's a lifesaver.
This is a huge life we tell ourselves when we forget something.
The smaller, forgotten things may have improved your quality of life marginally.
Do yourself a favor: Write stuff down.
It's a lifesaver.
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Lie: The end goal is to be famous.
First, I wanted to be rich and famous.
Then I just wanted to be rich. Fame is overrated — too much drama.
Your peace of mind is the highest form of wealth.
First, I wanted to be rich and famous.
Then I just wanted to be rich. Fame is overrated — too much drama.
Your peace of mind is the highest form of wealth.
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Lie: Success is linear.
Our brain tricks us to think that the more effort we put, the more results we get.
But success is not linear...
"Success comes slow and then all at once." — @shl
Our brain tricks us to think that the more effort we put, the more results we get.
But success is not linear...
"Success comes slow and then all at once." — @shl
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Lie: Mega-successful people made it on their own.
They didn't. You can almost never do it on your own.
The 5 people you surround yourself with, inspirations, co-founders, teachers, location all come into play.
If you want to go far, spend time understanding your environment.
They didn't. You can almost never do it on your own.
The 5 people you surround yourself with, inspirations, co-founders, teachers, location all come into play.
If you want to go far, spend time understanding your environment.
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Lie: An exam defines your worth.
School teaches you how to do well on a test. But it doesn't define success or your self-worth.
I know a lot of people average at school and exceptional at life.
It's about priorities and self-worth.
School teaches you how to do well on a test. But it doesn't define success or your self-worth.
I know a lot of people average at school and exceptional at life.
It's about priorities and self-worth.
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Lie: If you do more, you are more productive.
Doing more means more context switching. Which equates to more time wasted.
The most productive people do less but better.
Doing more means more context switching. Which equates to more time wasted.
The most productive people do less but better.
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We’ve been told lies all of our lives but not due to wrong intentions but the difference in perspectives in the world.
This is my understanding of the world.
If you found a new perspective, share and reply to the thread so that Twitter shows it to more people:
This is my understanding of the world.
If you found a new perspective, share and reply to the thread so that Twitter shows it to more people:
Aadit Sheth@aaditsh
12 lies you were told growing up:
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I share audience-building and business tips - follow @aaditsh if you liked the thread!
I share audience-building and business tips - follow @aaditsh if you liked the thread!