This article is written in English for international readers.
When pursuing any goal, I always keep in mind three essential elements: ability 💪, time ⏰, and money 💰. One or more of these can be sufficient to achieve something, and they can compensate for each other. Specializing in just one may yield results on its own, while combining them can create synergistic effects.
These three elements vary greatly from person to person. Some are born with abundance in all areas; others lack one, two, or even all three. Just as some children are born with a silver spoon, others face serious illness or hardship from an early age—our starting conditions differ enormously.
What matters here is not praising or aiming for perfect balance. Rather, when resources are limited—or entirely scarce—we must think carefully about how to make the most of what we have. In those very constraints, choices, and ingenuity, our true individuality and life direction emerge.
💪 Leveraging Ability
Ability encompasses knowledge, experience, skills, judgment, physical strength, mental resilience—essentially the "quality" needed to accomplish something.
For instance, someone skilled in IT can write their own programs and build efficient work or investment systems. In my view, a highly skilled person could earn a living with just a computer and their body.
When knowledge and experience combine, they produce not only standalone results but also greater impact when paired with the other elements.
💰 Leveraging Money
Money accelerates outcomes. Even with ability and time, a lack of funds limits the scope of challenges. Conversely, without ability or time, money alone cannot be used efficiently.
Money can save time or "rent" abilities from others. Like the other elements, it serves as a substitute for time or ability.
⏰ Leveraging Time
Time flows equally for everyone, but lifespan is unequal. It is a finite resource unique to each individual.
With good health maintenance, it can be extended; the opposite is also true.
Warren Buffett once said: "If you knew you could only own one car for the rest of your life, you would take very good care of it." Time is a precious resource that can be converted into ability or money, while also being the very source of a rich life.
When I had neither money nor strong abilities, I had to spend time—essentially my life—to earn a living.
Combining the Elements (💪×⏰ ・ 💪×💰 ・ ⏰×💰 ・ 💪×⏰×💰)
Greater results come not only from using them individually but from combining two or all three. Which elements are you strong in? Which combinations are you currently leveraging?
💪×⏰ (Ability + Time)
Even with strong ability, insufficient time limits mastery and challenge. Abundant time with low ability yields modest results. A programmer investing long hours to build unique tools or investment systems exemplifies this powerful combination. A sponsor 💰 could propel it further.
💪×💰 (Ability + Money)
Funds allow ability to shine fully. A skilled trader with substantial capital can diversify risks and achieve larger returns. An IT engineer purchasing cloud resources for large-scale experiments works the same way. Capital can also shorten project timelines, effectively saving time.
⏰×💰 (Time + Money)
With both time and money, one can hire experts, invest in education, or maintain health. Consulting medical or fitness professionals to improve lifestyle can extend healthy lifespan and enhance physical/mental capacity over the long term.
This is what I aspire to. One of my mottos is the Japanese saying: "An idle petty person invites mischief." When someone unworthy has excess time and money, they often cause trouble. With surplus in these areas, I believe we should pursue growth 🐣.
💪×⏰×💰 (All Three)
When all elements align, results can grow exponentially. Those abundant in them will likely accomplish great things. I quietly envy those with good balance across all three.
🧭 Reflecting on My Own Three Elements
Now, how do I fare?
I have perhaps 40 years left. "Only 40 years remain" or "Still 40 years ahead"—perspective changes everything.
Considering depression and neurodivergence, or healthy lifespan in general, it may not be that long. Yet precisely because it is limited, the value of time stands out.
Financially, my current assets are around $100,000. This is neither enough to live indefinitely nor insignificant. I can buy a house or car, but doing so would deplete it—an exquisitely delicate amount. That is why I think daily about how to use and grow it.
As for ability, self-understanding is a lifelong theme. What am I suited for? What do I enjoy and can nurture?
One clear strength is that I love writing. Another is creating spaces where people enjoy themselves, much like facilitating board games.
No matter the ability, an environment is needed to exercise it. I believe a path always exists and want to keep walking forward.
⏰ The Time I Can Remain Myself
Having discussed the three elements, the one I value most is time—not mere biological lifespan, but the period encompassing health, cognitive function, and the movements of the heart (sensitivity, passion, judgment). In short, the time I can truly remain myself.
At 42, influenced by depression and neurodivergence, I already feel cognitive decline and reduced sensitivity in daily life. It brings anxiety that the day I cease to be myself may come sooner than expected. To me, that feels like "dying while still alive."
Even so, I remain conscious of how I use my time. Efforts to extend healthy lifespan, habits that keep the heart engaged, and maintaining intellectual curiosity—these daily actions are investments to maximize the time I can remain myself.
🍀 The Element of Luck (Era, Environment, Timing)
Separate from the three elements is another crucial factor: luck (the era we live in, environment, timing).
Even with all three elements, poor luck can limit outcomes. Conversely, good luck can produce major results despite shortages in the others. Preparation is key to attracting luck.
As the saying goes: "Do your best and leave the rest to heaven."
Conclusion: Living with Awareness of the Three Elements and Luck
Ability 💪, time ⏰, money 💰, and luck 🍀—each exerts power independently, and combinations amplify it further.
Yet what I focus on most is the time I can remain myself ⏰. As long as cognitive function and the heart's movements remain intact, ability, time, and money retain their value.
That is why I continue refining my abilities, preserving health and mind, maximizing resources, and preparing to welcome luck.
How much of the three elements (💪×⏰×💰) do you possess?
Are you preparing to leverage them and invite luck 🍀?
Life's outcomes arise from accumulated effort and favorable winds of chance. From this moment, consider stacking choices true to yourself and living richly in the time you have.
Thank you for reading this article.
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