In this video, I share a hilarious but sobering story about my younger brother’s transition from a "new school" liberal mindset to a reality-checked conservative one. It all started with his first big software engineering job and a $20,000 signing bonus. I break down the exact moment he realized that "gross pay" and "net pay" are two very different things—especially when $8,000 disappears before it even hits your bank account.
Financial Realism vs. Idealism
I explain how earning money fundamentally changes your awareness of economics. Once you start producing value and seeing the government’s cut, your political and social priorities often shift. This isn't just about politics; it’s about the awareness that comes with financial responsibility. When you have skin in the game, the math starts to matter.
The Pursuit of Excellence
Beyond the tax talk, I dive into the importance of personal agency. I touch on why betting against assets like Bitcoin might be a mistake and why "taking the wheel" of your own life is the only way to live. This video is a call to action to stop settling for a mediocre existence and instead strive to be the most excellent version of yourself in 2026. It's about crushing your goals, owning your results, and understanding the world as it actually is.
3. transcript
Transcript: My younger brother was young wasn't making my money new school. He was Liberal. Soon as he got a job, he got a job in software engineering and he got a signing bonus of 20 thousand dollars and then he was so excited and then he called me. He said, hey man, i just got my signing bonus and the it was 20 grand, but they only deposited 12. I was like. Yeah, he's like where the other 8 thousand i like, that's taxes. He's like 40 percent. I was like, welcome to the Conservative Party because once you start making a little bit of money like you, start to be more aware of these things, so it does. It does matter. But yes, gary Stevens in. I agree with some of the stuff, he says, i don't think bitcoin's going to zero. I think that's kind of silly and absolutely should take agency of your own life and try and crush it to the best of your ability, like what a lame existence to not try and be the most excellent version of
4. hashtag
#taxes #finance #money #softwareengineering #career #signingbonus #politics #conservative #liberal #economics #bitcoin #crypto #personalagency #successmindset #excellence #growth #adulting #wealth #financialfreedom #selfimprovement #discipline #hustle #viral #shorts #2026
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