A wanna-be entrepreneur losing sanity through comparisons and a thirst for wealth.

That was me. I credit social media addiction, a lack of self-control, and entitlement as my fuel through my sophomore year in high school.

The tale begins in august 2018 as I began my second year at Los Gatos High School.

Earlier that year, I had lost much of my parent’s invested cryptocurrency money through a combination of scams, crashing markets, and irresponsible fund management.

The end of my day-trading investment run left me on a search for internships and other profitable opportunities.

Outside of financial technology, I learned the ins and outs of ecommerce/dropshipping, social media marketing, search engine optimization, and affiliate marketing. Unfortunately, my quest for alternate routes to wealth and passive income led me to Instagram.

Instagram business culture.

By design, Instagram is an addictive and brainwashing social environment. Entrepreneurs leverage this ecosystem to fool and finesse others for their personal benefits.

This process includes faking or inflating profit margins, lying to followers, and selling mediocre products while building a personal brand. Additionally, these ‘experts’ flaunt rented luxury vehicles, real estate, and cash to entice viewers.

Instagram business influencers are just as miserable as average people but distort their image through lies to make people buy into their fake lifestyle. TikTok has recently exhibited similar features in their business community.

If you want to know which ‘influencers’ or entrepreneurs to avoid on social media, I recommend following Baller Busters (@ballerbusters). Their enforcement against bad actors on Instagram has even got the attention of The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/11/style/baller-busters-online-scams.html

My advice to readers is to avoid opportunities that seem too good to be true. Understand that the “Fake it till you make it” approach on social media is flawed and takes a toll on mental health.

Let me explain.

In 10th grade, I became heavily invested in these fake leaders and content creators. I was riveted by the lavish Los Angeles rooftop pictures and the Gucci belts strapped around the individuals’ waists.

I fell victim to consumer culture and secretly wished to acquire material possessions. I hate to admit how much I wished to live through someone else’s lifestyle.

Throughout the academic year, I would go around preaching how college is a scam. I would mimic the words of others to build my ego. This practice took a toll on me and my reputation among several upperclassmen.

Nihilism and debauchery saved me.

Thankfully, my careless persona saved me from drowning deeper in Instagram’s algorithm. I do not remember who or what directly taught me about nihilism or existentialism. It could have just came out of my unconscious, or I may have learned about it through a YouTube video.

Basically, I began believing that life is meaningless and that our primary goal is to just live. This belief system instantly took wealth off my mind’s pedestal and replaced it with pleasure.

From March 2019 onward, I began pursuing things I truly enjoyed rather than engaging in social media politics or trying to prove a point. Along the way, I briefly participated in high school party culture and drug experimentation.

My mentality had gone from anxiety-driven to the pursuit of happiness. Obviously drugs and partying are not sustainable forms of pleasure; they can be the polar opposite for some. Nonetheless, the experiences I had near the end of my sophomore year alternated my scope in life and opinions on finance.

Today, I m still active on my official Koosha Azim Instagram account. I use the app for promoting my legitimate ventures while laughing at memes and my friends’ direct messages.

Becoming indoctrinated in this toxic social media realm has taught me that people, rich or poor, should learn to not take themselves too seriously. We have one life to live.

Live your life, write your script, and build your image.

Unfortunately, most kids will grow up brainwashed chasing money, status, and fame while abandoning their originality. Break out of the herd.

You are greater than the scammers and con-artists using internet mechanisms to prey on others.

Question if you would be doing what you are currently doing if money was not involved. Even most of the rich ‘influencers’ you see on your feed lack satisfaction in their lives.

Stop chasing something on your screen and go conquer your ambitions. Progress starts from within.

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