7 Lessons I Learned in My 20's

1 — Fail Hard

Failure is your medicine. Take it often. Every time you fail, you have a grand opportunity to learn from your mistakes. Make time to create crappy work. Do it quickly. Prioritize failing on your own free time without the backlash within a workplace.

2 — Experience Everything

Be curious like a shark. Take sample bites and reject if it’s not tasty chum. Pursue opportunities that construct your worldview. Que my eight months in non-profit casework. If I threw my brain in a blender pressed crush, it would produce the same results as the burnout when I left. And I am grateful for it.

I spent eight months landing on my face, until I landed on my feet. I stretched my skillset to their absolute max, and left knowing exactly what I do not want to do with my life.

3 — Do What You Want

I promise you, other than (maybe) your parents, few people (if any) are thinking about you. People are drowning in their own lives, their own concerns with getting from point A to point B. PIvoting in your career, your interests, and hobbies are a natural sign of growth. Seek it aggressively. Take those internships when you don’t have a mortgage rendering those pursuits nearly impossible.

4 — Travel Solo

Your friends will have other things to do. Other plans, other relationships. Be safe, and don’t wait for other everyone. Just don’t.

5 — Stop Multitasking

In a distracted world of smartphones and instant gratification, simple is rare, simple is good. Do one thing at a time, in short bursts, and with complete focus. Finish the task, let it go, and move on to the next thing. Your brain will thank you.

short bursts of focus > cramming

6 — Value Time

Time is your most valuable perishable resource. You can’t “make” or “kill” time. It’s there, ever-moving, ever-consistent. I’m not telling you that twelve-hour Netflix binge was wasteful. Reschedule it during your day off.

Value your time with other people. Do not be late, do not keep people waiting on you. Once you do that, you have the power to hold others accountable for wasting your time waiting.

7 — Reject #nonewfriends

“No New Friends” is a DJ Khaled song. It doesn’t have to be your key to success. Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are. Don’t waste time with people who treat you like dirt, or remind you how much you’ve changed as they’re clinging to that high school version of you. There will be people who come into your life, and it’s as if you’ve known them forever. They understand your mannerisms, they like to celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday, too.

Seek out people that bring peace in your life.

Seek out the ones you can sit in comfortable silence.