Subscribe to Steve Lee
<100 subscribers
Share Dialog
It’s already been over 10 days since you came into this world. I’m excited to watch you grow and curious about how your presence will shape my life.
I’ll try not to see you as someone less mature than me just because you’re young. I’ll see you as your own person. I won’t try to trap you in my standards just because I’ve ‘developed’ more. I’ll stand by your side so your life can unfold on its own.
When we talk, I’ll look into your eyes. Even when I have to say, “Sorry, not right now,” I’ll say it while staying fully present with you—not distracted by my phone, or lost in thoughts about the past or future. Even when I’m upset, I’ll explain why—still looking you in the eye.
Some of my questions might sound silly or random, but I’ll keep asking. “Why is the sky blue?” “Why does that person look sad?” “Can you describe that taste in this color?” “What picture comes to mind when you hear this music?” I already can’t wait to hear your answers.
As your uncle MB said to me last week—if you're a boat rowing forward, I don’t want to be the anchor that holds you back. I want to be the lighthouse—shining light far ahead when your path feels unclear and showing you many possible routes when you feel lost.
Rather than pulling you in one direction, I’ll be like the guardrails at the path you are walking—barely visible but always there—so you can run freely, explore boldly, and take risks to discover new experiences.
I want to sweat with you—climb mountains, play tennis, toss a ball until sunset, and build sandcastles in the hot sun. I want you to feel the sweetness that follows doing something hard you enjoy.
When you hit walls in school, work, or life, I’d like to be someone you can open up to. Just like even now, in our 30s and 40s, your uncle HK and I still often talk to your grandfather.
As you grow, you might get influenced by things others have made in this world. But I will help you keep your unique color that can’t be copied, and keep walking your own path.
I know I’m far from doing all of this well. But at the very least, I’ll be a dad who’s always trying. Thank you for choosing me as one of your life partners. Welcome to this world—truly.
Rather than advising you on what to do or what you must become, I want to help you focus more on building your inner attitude and mindset—something you can rely on no matter what you do. The greats—whether in investing, chess, writing, baseball, or music—seem to have all polished similar traits to get where they are.
Comparing yourself to others can sometimes be a healthy source of motivation. But I hope it never distorts your path or decisions, or makes you lose yourself—becoming just a side character in someone else’s story. If I ever sense that happening, I may gently—or at times firmly—remind you of who you are.
No matter the outcome—good or bad—I’ll first praise the effort you put in. If it ends in failure, I’ll say, “It’s okay—maybe it’s the start of a new path.” And if you hesitate to try again, I’ll remind you: it’s not failure unless you stop
Early on, I want to show you things school won't teach—money, investing, entrepreneurship, and meditation. These will help you build a strong foundation, no matter what path you choose.
I’ll try to show you good habits through my own actions. More than that, I hope you can gain the habit of making good habits. That’s one of the best gifts your grandfather gave me, and I really want to pass it on to you.
When you hit puberty and my words start to sound annoying—when you don’t want to hear me, or even begin to dislike me—I won’t give up on you. Even if you turn away, I’ll be here, quietly standing by. I’ll believe you’ll come back. And I’ll do my best to embrace you just as you are, in that moment of your life.
I don’t want you to respect me for what I’ve achieved, but for the attitude, mindset, and values I’ve tried to live by. What I’ve done may not—and shouldn’t—mean much for your life. But those qualities might support you, even just a little, as you live your own.
Whatever you choose to study or do—I’ll support you. But I hope you can make that choice after a lot of deep conversations with yourself. And whatever it is, I hope you try it deeply—so deeply that you sweat and get completely into it. If you do, you’ll not only find joy and passion but also experience frustration, pain, and failure. Learning how to accept and deal with those things is one of the most valuable assets you’ll carry for a long time.
Rather than focusing on things in front of you that shake easily, I hope you find your own steady North Star—and learn to enjoy the journey toward it. The goal isn’t just to break through the finish line, but to become someone who learns that the journey itself, falling down, getting back up, and moving forward again, is what truly matters.
If you must fight, let it be with yourself—not others. The version of you inside you will sometimes be your best teacher—perhaps even better than me—guiding you toward what’s truly right for you.
Like a small drop of water wearing a hole through stone over time, I’ll try to show you how to use the magic of time and compound effort—not just in investing, but in everyday life.
There will be things in your generation’s culture that I don’t understand, maybe even want to reject. But instead of resisting, I promise to stay curious. I’ll keep asking, listening, and learning from you.
Steve Lee
No comments yet