Learn Hard, Work Smart
I like to think of life as a game—and whether we realize it or not, we’re all choosing which one to play. In the wealth game, the rules are simple: trade effort and risk for status or money.
Some go all-in—founders, traders, artists—chasing nonlinear outcomes. Others, like most salaried employees, play it safe: low risk, steady output.
But there’s a third group—rare, but growing—who optimize for both effort and outcome. They don’t work more, but they work smarter. They learn fast, take calculated risks, and design systems that compound.
The first time I saw this in real life, it was a guy named Gavin. Calm, low-stress, always optimizing for time freedom—and still getting outsized results. Since then, I’ve started calling people like him “Gavins.”
What sets Gavins apart isn’t how hard they work—it’s how they think. They build around three core ideas: compounding, leverage, and systems.
1. Compounding
Compounding means that today’s inputs yield bigger returns tomorrow—and even bigger ones the day after that. It’s the opposite of linear effort equals linear reward. It’s acceleration, not speed.
To compound, Gavins spend time building assets—things that continue to create value long after the work is done. These might be businesses, software, content, code, audiences, reputations, or systems. But not all assets compound. A compounding asset produces exponential output with diminishing effort over time.
They follow four rules that help their assets compound:
Flywheel
They build flywheels—systems that don’t just grow, but improve with usage. Gavins design systems that feed on usage: the more people use them, the stronger they get.
A classic example is a marketplace. As more users join, listings grow, reviews build trust, and the platform becomes more valuable for everyone.
Contrast that with client work: no matter how many projects you’ve done, each new one starts from scratch. No flywheel. No momentum.
Scale
Gavins avoid work that needs them every day. Their energy goes into building systems that keep working without them—courses, content libraries, automations, software. Things that are built once, then deliver value repeatedly.
They design businesses that don’t become jobs—ones that serve 1,000 people as easily as they serve 10.
Control
Compounding only works if you control the thing that’s growing. Gavins prioritize ownership—of platform, audience, product, or code.
They’re not at the mercy of algorithms, bosses, or gatekeepers. They own the domain, the audience, the system.
To them, a 1,000-person mailing list they own is worth more than 10,000 followers they don’t.
Upside
Finally, they make sure they benefit from what they build. Gavins don’t rent their time—they invest it.
They keep equity. They license intellectual property. They own the brand, the relationship, the profit.
Because if you don’t capture the upside, compounding doesn’t matter. Your best work just compounds for someone else.
Together, these four principles—flywheel, scale, control, and upside—turn everyday effort into exponential return. Gavins don’t just build assets. They build engines—engines that get faster, stronger, and more valuable, even while they sleep.
But remember: compounding is a long game. You need to stick around for it to work. (More on that in the systems section.)
2. Leverage
“Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the earth.”
Gavins live by this idea.
If compounding multiplies your output, leverage amplifies your input. Compounding turns small wins into big ones; leverage makes each move hit harder.
Gavins are obsessed with leverage—but in a smart, intentional way. Not because they’re lazy, but because they want to do more with less. They use it to amplify what matters and eliminate what doesn’t.
The forms of leverage they use are inspired by Naval Ravikant’s framework:
- Labor – People doing work for you. Powerful, but permissioned—you need to hire, manage, and pay them.
- Capital – Money working for you. Also permissioned—you need access to funding or cash reserves.
- Code – Software that scales infinitely with near-zero marginal cost. Build it once, and it keeps working.
- Media – Content that spreads your message while you sleep—writing, video, podcasts, or brand.
These are the classic four—but Gavins also find new forms of leverage that are just as powerful—and often more accessible:
Knowledge
One great decision can outperform a hundred hours of hard work. Gavins build mental models, develop playbooks, and refine intuition—not just through study, but through messy action and feedback loops. It’s how they move faster and smarter, with fewer mistakes and more momentum.
Distribution
Gavins don’t build in silence. They embed distribution into everything—by growing high-trust audiences, nurturing real relationships, and showing up consistently.
They prefer a small, engaged community over a noisy, passive following. To them, reach is a system, not a lottery.
AI
AI is today’s most underestimated lever. Gavins use it to automate the boring and accelerate the complex. Design, code, writing, research, strategy.
It’s like having ten interns and a cofounder, available 24/7.
And the best part? Leverage also compounds. The more leverage you apply, the more value you create—and the more leverage you unlock.
Start with permissionless leverage: code, content, and AI. You don’t need a team or investors. Just skills, curiosity, and the willingness to learn hard.
3. System
Compounding is the theory. Leverage is the fuel. But how do you actually operate this way—day after day, decision after decision? That’s where systems come in.
Gavins don’t just hustle. They build systems that help them consistently choose the right idea to work on, do it in a high-leverage way, and stick with it long enough to see it compound.
Here are the principles that shape their systems:
Clarity
Gavins always have a clear answer to two questions: what do I want to achieve? And how will I get there?
The answer may evolve—but it’s never fuzzy. They avoid drifting. They make deliberate bets, and recalibrate often. They do this through regular reflection—weekly, monthly, quarterly—ensuring their actions stay aligned with their goals.
Space, Not Just Ideas
They don’t just chase trends. They find a space they understand, ideally one that’s growing, and look for the right problem to solve within it.
They start with distribution in mind. They lean on unfair advantages—skills, insight, access—to unlock high-margin opportunities.
Learn Hard
Every experience is an experiment. Gavins build memory, not just momentum.
They’re aware of every tool and technology out there—but go deep only when there’s a clear return. They learn what they need, apply it, reflect, and refine.
Stick Around
They design their lives—income, buffers, support systems—to stay in the game.
They maintain optionality—side projects, equity stakes, reusable tools—so they can play long enough for compounding to do its work.
Because none of this matters if you get knocked out early.
A good system removes friction. It saves time, reduces decision fatigue, and keeps you focused on what matters most. Start with a rhythm—weekly, monthly, quarterly—to track progress and reset direction.
Final Note
To wrap this up, a small confession: my friend Gavin isn’t exactly as perfect as I’ve described here. The truth is, this “Super Gavin” is a composite—part Gavin, part people I’ve learned from, and part the person I hope to become.
This essay isn’t just an observation. It’s a working blueprint. Something I’ll keep updating as I learn, refine, and build. A tool to stay clear about how I want to operate.
And if it helped you think differently about how you want to work and build—then it’s already compounding.