Back when I was stuck in the traditional 9-to-5 grind, I made a strategic call: do just enough to keep the paycheck coming, but don't drain your energy. The real move? Channel that remaining focus and mental clarity into building income streams outside the job.

Looking back, that was probably my best career decision.

Most of my friends are still trapped in that cycle—desk, meetings, exhaustion. By the time they get home, they're too wiped out to think about side hustles, crypto plays, or anything entrepreneurial. When I mention this time-management approach, they get it intellectually, but execution is another story.

The thing is, traditional employment doesn't reward your ambition—it just wants your compliance. If you're serious about building wealth in crypto or Web3, you can't afford to spend all your mental horsepower on someone else's mission. Protect your energy. Reclaim your time. That's when the real opportunities emerge.