17 Lessons I Learned in My 20s
As I approach my 30th birthday, I am struck by the many life lessons I learned in my 20s. In these ten short years, I have experienced many emotions and challenges and grown in ways I never could have anticipated. In this article, I will share some of the most important lessons I have learned in my 20s and how they have shaped me.
1. Document Your Life
After college, I began to notice a fading recollection of my childhood. Birthdays, holidays, friend dates had Innocuously slipped from memory. This realization caused alarming discomfort. To counter this from happening in the future, I now employ two strategies:
After college, I found myself increasingly unable to recall moments from my childhood. Birthdays, holidays, and cherished friend dates had innocuously slipped from memory. This realization brought a disconcerting discomfort. To prevent further loss, I've since adopted two strategies:
After college, I started noticing a fading recollection of my childhood. Birthdays, holidays, and friend dates had innocuously slipped from memory. This realization caused alarming discomfort. To prevent this from happening in the future, I now employ two strategies:
Writing: I delve into event details to expand and solidify memories.
Photography: Photos act as triggers, helping recall the events surrounding a specific moment.
Documenting life holds significance for various reasons. It aids in remembering and reflecting on crucial events, people, and experiences, providing context and meaning to one's life. Additionally, it serves as a valuable legacy for future generations, offering insights into family history. Moreover, life documentation serves as a therapeutic and creative outlet, fostering self-expression and reflection.
2. Go to Events
Post-college, I initially focused on sending out countless resumes. Yet, one of the most impactful decisions was engaging in events. Connecting with like-minded individuals is vital for personal growth. Events serve as valuable networking opportunities, with attendees sharing common goals, making it likely to find mutually beneficial connections.
After graduating, my initial strategy revolved around inundating potential employers with resumes. However, I soon discovered that attending events proved to be far more impactful. Engaging with like-minded individuals became essential for my personal development. These gatherings not only provided valuable networking opportunities but also facilitated connections with individuals who shared similar aspirations, making it easier to forge mutually beneficial relationships.
3. Say Yes to Most Things
Embracing a positive outlook by saying "yes" aligns with a growth mindset. Openness to meeting new people not only expands your network but also broadens your business reach. This fosters increased interest in you, as people tend to favor agreeable and open-minded people. To attract more opportunities, consider incorporating "yes" into your responses. This simple word has the potential to guide you on an incredible adventure.
4. Take Risks
In your twenties, embracing risky behaviors becomes more feasible with fewer responsibilities. During this period, the impact on dependents is minimal since, most likely, no one is relying on you yet. However, these circumstances are temporary. As people start families, the tolerance for risk decreases significantly. Initiating a business or crashing on a friend's couch might be less socially acceptable. Seizing the opportunity during this unique phase is advisable – consider starting that business with your friend, exploring different cities, and booking one-way tickets!
5. Stop Staying In
Adopting a more flexible mindset can lead to meaningful experiences. While some may think sacrificing youth for hard work is necessary, it's often an excuse. Fun can be had without significant expenses; a budget trip of $300 to $500 can create invaluable memories. Remember, the enjoyment of experiences is about attitude and the company you keep, not the amount spent.
6. Your Perspective is Your Superpower
When I began writing, I focused on topics where I believed I had expertise, aiming to provide significant value to the reader. However, I soon recognized my expertise spanned only about 3 to 5 subjects, leaving me with limited certainty in my writing topics. Contemplating my next article, I even considered gaining expertise in a new area. Then, inspiration struck while watching Gary Vaynerchuk’s vlog. In its introductory sequence, he emphasizes having "your perspective," leading me to realize I could write from expertise and my unique viewpoint. Understanding that people are intrigued by diverse perspectives, I overcame my writer's block.
7. Don’t Let Ideas Die in Your Head
We often let numerous great ideas slip away without realizing it. These ideas, once gone, may never be recaptured. Life works in unpredictable ways, and an idea can change your life and someone else's. Creating ripples in the universe with your thoughts and ideas could bring about significant change. Investing time, money, and resources in making your ideas a reality might lead to your next big opportunity. I believe in the value of creation – it transforms your life and attracts opportunities. Creating digital content is akin to constructing billboards on the social media highway; each post, DM, connection, or cold email could catalyze life-changing moments daily.
8. Pretend You Are Best Friends
To ease my nerves around unfamiliar people, I adopt a strategy: I imagine them as childhood friends I've known for years. This mental shift helps me converse comfortably, leading to a relaxed atmosphere that benefits both parties and makes the experience more enjoyable.
9. Find Another Room
Knowledge, akin to wealth, tends to be unevenly distributed within a social system. Yet, decentralizing information through the internet bridges this knowledge gap. I employ two effective learning strategies to amass substantial knowledge:
Inquisitiveness: I firmly believe that those who pose numerous questions learn acceleratedly. Asking many questions has been a key tactic in my quest for knowledge.
Surround Yourself with Brilliance: Actively seek out individuals who surpass your own intellect. Learning from people who make you feel like the least knowledgeable in the room provides invaluable insights. Whether through platforms like YouTube, Twitter, or personal interactions, engaging with those wiser and smarter introduces new concepts, ideas, cultures, and perspectives. This exposure can lead to transformative experiences that may reshape your life. And, of course, sometimes wisdom can be found in unexpected places, even from a call to your grandma.
11. Get Good at Writing
I favor writing over speaking as it enables me to shape my message, enhancing communication effectiveness meticulously. The power to select precise words and organize them persuasively is a formidable asset. Edward Bulwer-Lytton's renowned quote, "The pen is mightier than the sword," underscores the influence of the written word over physical force. Proficiency in this skill empowers one to compellingly persuade others to contribute their time, money, and resources.
12. Develop Second-Order Thinking
To make informed decisions, understanding the logic behind previous ones is crucial, as illustrated in the Parable of Chesterton's Fence. When faced with an obstacle, one can either remove it or investigate its purpose. Fences aren't random; they're erected with intention. Without grasping that intention, accurately assessing the fence's rationality is impossible. Ignorance of our past can lead to unintended consequences during reform. Hence, comprehending the reasoning behind current conditions is essential before making changes. Rather than assuming incompetence, empathy and curiosity often reveal underlying reasons. Younger individuals may still be developing their critical thinking, relying more on emotions than logical reasoning.
13. Change Your Mind as Much as You Need
It's natural for perspectives to evolve; embracing change based on new information shows growth. While others might express frustration, maintain empathy without letting it hinder informed decision-making. Adapting and learning from changing viewpoints fosters personal growth, encouraging openness to new ideas and experiences.
14. Be The Best Version of Yourself
maneuver in a way that allows you to be the best version of yourself.
Do activities that make you feel like the best version of yourself.
Hang around people that make you feel like the best version of yourself.
Live in a location that makes you feel like the best version of yourself.
Don’t settle. You deserve to reach your full potential.
16. If You Can, Do Both
When faced with two options, contemplate pursuing both. Surprisingly, you may find that you're capable of handling both tasks. This approach proves advantageous as it opens avenues to explore various possibilities, offering valuable insights for better decision-making. Moreover, engaging in both options fosters flexibility and adaptability, providing multiple paths. This proves particularly beneficial in scenarios where one option might not unfold as anticipated, increasing your likelihood of success and enhancing overall outcomes.
19 Lessons I Learned in My 20s
Self-Awareness & Foundation
Document Your Life – Memories fade faster than you think. Write them down. Take the picture. Leave proof you were here.
Get Comfortable With Being Alone – Solitude isn’t loneliness. It’s where you figure out who you really are.
Be the Best Version of Yourself – Choose places, people, and habits that make you feel unstoppable.
Your Perspective is Your Superpower – No one sees the world exactly like you. That’s your advantage.
Taking Action & Creating Opportunities
Go to Events – One handshake can change everything. Show up.
Say Yes to Most Things – Opportunities rarely announce themselves. Say yes and find out.
Take Risks – Your 20s are the safest time to gamble on yourself.
Don’t Let Ideas Die in Your Head – Write it, build it, share it. Ideas rot when they’re trapped inside you.
Create More Than You Consume – Consumption entertains you. Creation changes you.
Treat Yourself Like a Business – Don’t go cash flow negative. Invest in yourself like you’re your own best stock.
Buy Assets Early – Get money working for you as soon as possible. Time in the market beats timing the market.
Skills & Thinking
Find Another Room – If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.
Get Good at Writing – Words can move people, open doors, and change your life. Use them well.
Develop Second-Order Thinking – Before you tear down the fence, find out why it’s there.
Change Your Mind as Much as You Need – Growth means upgrading your beliefs, not clinging to them.
Simplicity, Fulfillment & Perspective
Don’t Overcomplicate Your Life – Simplicity is a superpower. Cut the noise and keep what matters.
Happiness Comes from Productiveness – You can’t always control joy, but you can control what you create.
The Best Work You’ll Ever Do Is for Your Parents – No paycheck matches the pride of helping the people who raised you.
Alcohol Ain’t Worth It – Clarity outlasts the buzz every single time.