Ask HN: What were/are you doing at age 25? What would you change?

#1

Post by gravy » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 8:08 PM UTC

For those of us without something to compare this stage of our life to, I was hoping to get some insight on how people handled/are handling their lives at around 25. At least for me, only being 2 years into my job I still feel like I'm thrown into a pit (a consequence of the job offer I took, I suppose, and complacency).

As for the second question, what advice would you give a 25 year old you?

Re: Ask HN: What were/are you doing at age 25? What would you change?

#2

Post by mkempe » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 8:14 PM UTC

State at 25: Pursuing a PhD, in large parts because I won a non-negligible prize for my Masters thesis and the non-PhD billionaire prize-maker encouraged me to pursue academics instead of business; also, nobody in my family had ever pursued a PhD. Overall a waste of many, many years. Should have followed his example, not listened to his words.

Advice: Don't waste your time with academics and the petty politics of university faculties. Go create; market and sell; make money.

[added] Up to the end of college I had been writing code since high school, fully financing my studies with software sales and royalties.

Re: Ask HN: What were/are you doing at age 25? What would you change?

#3

Post by meagher » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 8:23 PM UTC

be prepared to move where the action/great people are and optimize for learning. the connections/friendships and knowledge you acquire now will compound over the rest of your career.

i'd rather work with people i like working with on interesting things, than "dig holes" for slightly more compensation.

disclaimer: current 25 year old.

Re: Ask HN: What were/are you doing at age 25? What would you change?

#4

Post by meowface » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 8:31 PM UTC

Currently 25. Not really sure where I'm going or even what I'm doing (remote dev job, currently), but I think one thing I'm starting to learn and appreciate is that personal meaning and fulfillment matters a lot more than money or even "career". (Though I also appreciate that a majority of people can't flexibly make such a choice and need to provide for their families.) Also that I shouldn't hesitate leaving jobs I'm seriously dissatisfied with.

Re: Ask HN: What were/are you doing at age 25? What would you change?

#5

Post by rossboss » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 8:32 PM UTC

mkempe wrote: post #2

State at 25: Pursuing a PhD, in large parts because I won a non-negligible prize for my Masters thesis and the non-PhD billionaire prize-maker encouraged me to pursue academics instead of business; also, nobody in my family had ever pursued a PhD. Overall a waste of many, many years. Should have followed his example, not listened to his words. Advice: Don't waste your time with academics and the petty politics of uni…

What would you say to someone who is around that age working full time and halfway through a CS masters (struggling through it)?

Re: Ask HN: What were/are you doing at age 25? What would you change?

#6

Post by blowski » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 8:32 PM UTC

meagher wrote: post #3

be prepared to move where the action/great people are and optimize for learning. the connections/friendships and knowledge you acquire now will compound over the rest of your career. i'd rather work with people i like working with on interesting things, than "dig holes" for slightly more compensation. disclaimer: current 25 year old.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. For the record, I'm now 36.

For me, after turning 30 it became much harder to attend meetups, learn new things, build side-projects, work on open-source stuff. I now have so many more commitments, and my brain seems to have slowed down.

So my advice is to take advantage of all that free time and mental energy you typically have in your mid-20s. As you said, your bank balance will thank you later.

Re: Ask HN: What were/are you doing at age 25? What would you change?

#7

Post by AnimalMuppet » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 8:33 PM UTC

On my second job, learning how to code better. Still needed to learn how to be less of a jerk...

Re: Ask HN: What were/are you doing at age 25? What would you change?

#8

Post by spsrich » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 8:34 PM UTC

Be in a business area that is expanding, where you are working with and continually learning from top quality people (colleagues and clients)

If you feel like you're treading water, or are in a back room kept far away from clients, move on !

Re: Ask HN: What were/are you doing at age 25? What would you change?

#9

Post by 0x7f800000 » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 8:36 PM UTC

1. Playing World of Warcraft all day, every day.

2. Stop.

Re: Ask HN: What were/are you doing at age 25? What would you change?

#10

Post by toyg » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 8:38 PM UTC

Go out more, meet more people, take more chances. Your social life will likely never be as lively as it is now, especially if you build a family at some point. Try different things. If you don't like your job, quit; your best moments always come when you overcome laziness enough to throw yourself into deep waters.