Most people don't know how to use their true potential; they're often influenced by others' expectations. But everyone needs an owner's manual to make the best of their life.

This manual isn't something we find outside ourselves - it's inside. It's not about figuring it all out; it's about letting it out. Writing down this "manual" can be helpful, but it's challenging to capture the details of my true self in clear instructions. Fortunately, various psychological assessments can help clarify and offer useful insights.

Here's what resonates within me:

I love playing mental games, especially those with a focus on numbers. I also prefer single-player games, where I can control the outcome. I'm drawn to studying systems - particularly those that explain how things work on a grand scale. I enjoy being a generalist rather than a specialist.

It's just as valuable to know what doesn't interest you as it is to understand what does. Occasionally, old colleagues share office happenings with me, but I find office politics and managing others' expectations uninteresting. I usually want to wrap up these conversations quickly. According to Dr. Arthur Brooks, a professor at Harvard Business School, people are driven by one (or more) of four idols: Money, Power, Pleasure, and Fame. After some reflection, I've realized money is my motivator. Yet, I live a modest lifestyle and have little interest in luxury or anything not practical. My attraction to money is rooted in the independence and convenience it offers.

Being true to yourself and acting on it requires courage, and finding the right vehicle to stay true while achieving success takes wisdom. Read your owner's manual each year. Stay aligned with it, and don't drift away.

"People calculate too much and think too little." - Charlie Munger