Working Notes on Agent Systems/Brad Zhang

@teach_fireworks / X longform

Even if you don't pursue millions in life, if you want to be a little rich and settle down, it's not that easy in the current environment and new model.

Even if you don't pursue millions in life, if you want to be a little rich and settle down, it's not that easy in the current environment and new model. On the one hand, a small...

December 2, 2025 · 2 min read

Even if you don't pursue millions in life, if you want to be a little rich and settle down, it's not that easy in the current environment and new model.

On the one hand, a small number of people are making great progress, while the majority of people spend most of their energy worrying about unemployment, not being able to pay off their house loans, not being able to keep up with their children, not daring to spend money, and being afraid of getting sick.

Is there a method that works for most people?

My thinking is: Throw away your illusions, stop worrying about the lost wealth, and look at what you have in your hands now that can make you earn money steadily and continuously.

Looks like, maybe just work, right?

If you are a middle-aged man, exercise for ten minutes every morning, start taking some vitamins, liver-protecting tablets, smoke one pack less...

It is these small but repeated little things every day.

These little things add up to form the daily life of ordinary people, mentality, physical condition, emotions, etc.

Most people are still controlled by their environment, and they want to live a good life, so they engage in internal friction, contradictions, risks, and speculation.

Therefore, do a little bit beforehand, and when your situation is stable, you might as well refer to these good suggestions from Brother Smile.

When you have no appetite, there is no point in any delicious food.

Visual summary

Article argument map

Generated from the post's content graph

FORMATTOPICCAPABILITYMARKETcoversFORMATlongform noteTOPICagentic devtools
Mermaid outline
flowchart LR
  format-long_post["longform note"]
  topic-agentic-devtools["agentic devtools"]
  format-long_post -->|covers| topic-agentic-devtools

Visual structure

Essay structure map

Built from summary and key paragraph positions

Even if you don't pursue millions in life, if you want to be a little rich and settle...THESISEven if you don'tpursue millions inlife, if you want tobe a little rich andSIGNALEven if you don'tpursue millions inlife, if you want tobe a little rich andOPERATORIf you are amiddle-aged man,exercise for tenminutes every morning,IMPLICATIONWhen you have noappetite, there is nopoint in any deliciousfood.
Mermaid outline
flowchart LR
  thesis["Even if you don't pursue millions in life, if you want to be a little rich and settle down, it's not that e..."]
  signal["Even if you don't pursue millions in life, if you want to be a little rich and settle down, it's not that e..."]
  operator["If you are a middle-aged man, exercise for ten minutes every morning, start taking some vitamins, liver-pro..."]
  implication["When you have no appetite, there is no point in any delicious food."]
  thesis -->|frames| signal
  signal -->|develops| operator
  operator -->|lands in| implication

Source: View the original post