Ask HN: You're 27 again. What would you do differently? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: You're 27 again. What would you do differently?

#41

Post by codegeek » Sun, Jul 11, 2021, 5:02 PM UTC

sethammons wrote: post #26

codegeek wrote: post #10

This is very applicable to me. - I would save and invest a lot more than I did. In my case, I would have an additional 500K-700K easily if I just saved when I was 27. I am almost 40 now. This is without compounding. Kids, don't waste all your disposable income. I was making six figures in my mid 20s and had no obligation except some student loans and I blew money like crazy (Bought BMWs etc). I don't regret all of it…

What do you regret about the business? Doing it too late and having too many responsibilities?

Doing it too late even though it is never too late :).

Re: Ask HN: You're 27 again. What would you do differently?

#42

Post by cowvin » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 6:11 PM UTC

brodouevencode wrote: post #14

40 year old here. A few things: - Forget about seeking a 'safe' job. Go find a startup to join. Don't worry about having to sleep on someone's couch. - Save more. - Go ahead and get that master's degree. It's pretty hard when you're married and have kids. - Get into better shape and stay that way. At 40 losing weight is so much harder than it was back then.

Hah I worked at a startup when I was younger and it was a terrible experience. The owners basically wanted to us to all work endless hours for their financial gain. They always had the excuse that they didn't have a lot of money but at the end they reaped all the financial rewards.

If you are thinking more of being one of the owners of a startup, that might be better advice. Also, don't exploit your employees if you go that route!

Re: Ask HN: You're 27 again. What would you do differently?

#43

Post by maelvathk » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 10:27 PM UTC

- I would marry the love of my life.

- I would NEVER accept that job offer

- I would leave the country (I'm not from the United States)

Re: Ask HN: You're 27 again. What would you do differently?

#44

Post by stefanos82 » Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 11:21 PM UTC

Back then I didn't know what I wanted from my life; now I know that I have regretted it greatly for choosing majoring in Computer Science and dealing with computers.

Actually it's my greatest regret of all time.

If I could get back in time, I would have traveled back in my teen years with videos and photos to prove my failing future so I could convince myself to take things lightly and just live without caring about tomorrow.

Just find any job to make a living and enjoy your life; don't be harsh to yourself, it's not worth it.

Technology lost its spark for me; I use it only for leisure, nothing more.

Re: Ask HN: You're 27 again. What would you do differently?

#45

Post by metaloha » Thu, Jul 15, 2021, 9:06 PM UTC

Venkatesh10 wrote: post #40

metaloha wrote: post #19

I had changed careers and gotten out of computers (IT and dev) at about that age. I should have stayed kept out of computers instead of coming back to them.

What did you move into?

Audio recording and production. I had been a musician for a couple decades at that point and did some schooling and got my AES engineering certification, but didn't move to a city where audio jobs would exist (in more plentitude than here) and pay well. In hindsight, I realize that I could have managed the move with only moderate risk and likely could have gotten a great reference from a well-known engineer. Instead, I sat at home, in the dark, smoking and drinking and sliding back into coding.