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I thought I’d have accomplished a lot more today and also before I was 35 (2020)

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Re: I thought I’d have accomplished a lot more today and also before I was 35 (2020)

#21

Post by martin_a »

asplake wrote: post #9

Personally, I’ve done some of my best work in my 40’s and 50’s. And so different to anything I was capable of doing in my 20’s and 30’s. The funniest thing is that I chose not only my university degree but also my optional modules based on a career choice that I moved on from well before I was 30. I don’t generally do regrets, but older me would tell younger me to relax a bit. There’s plenty of time and lots of thing…

> I don’t generally do regrets, but older me would tell younger me to relax a bit.

Me now (35) would love to tell that to me (15), too. All the grey hairs for nothing.

Re: I thought I’d have accomplished a lot more today and also before I was 35 (2020)

#22

Post by onion2k »

I had six voice mails

This is what I would consider a significant measure of success - people wanting to talk to you (assuming they're actual messages, and not robocall spam). Whether they're from friends who want to chat, contacts who want to work with you, or just random updates about interesting things that for some reason someone thinks you should know about, having people out there think about you enough to fire up the dialler on their phone and try to reach you is pretty cool. There are so many other things they could be thinking about.

Re: I thought I’d have accomplished a lot more today and also before I was 35 (2020)

#23

Post by rkagerer »

The beginning of the article mentions a few examples of distractions. So much of the modern web is developed by people who've made a scientific study out of gaming your emotions and vying for your attention.

Focus is a priceless resource.

When I need to put my head down and concentrate, I try to shut off distractions. Like many developers I know, sometimes it means I gravitate to working late at night when the rest of the world leaves me alone.

Re: I thought I’d have accomplished a lot more today and also before I was 35 (2020)

#25

Post by ilrwbwrkhv »

AussieWog93 wrote: post #6

Poor bastard. I think a lot of older people really don't understand this, but our generation (late millennials, or at least middle-class late millennials) were genuinely fed the lie our whole life that we were special and could do anything. At some point, you have to admit to yourself that you're just an ordinary human being and Elon Musk has something special that you don't have. Only when you're in this mindset can…

Unfortunately the truth is something much simpler: sheer petty luck.

Re: I thought I’d have accomplished a lot more today and also before I was 35 (2020)

#26

Post by dagw »

asplake wrote: post #9

Personally, I’ve done some of my best work in my 40’s and 50’s. And so different to anything I was capable of doing in my 20’s and 30’s. The funniest thing is that I chose not only my university degree but also my optional modules based on a career choice that I moved on from well before I was 30. I don’t generally do regrets, but older me would tell younger me to relax a bit. There’s plenty of time and lots of thing…

Yes. I'm 43 and I'm feeling that I'm only now just hitting my stride, career wise, with good idea what I'm actually good at, want to do and can contribute. 20-40 was basically floundering around, trying things, learning things and working out what I wanted to do when I 'grew up'. And looking back, I wouldn't want to have had it any other way.

Re: I thought I’d have accomplished a lot more today and also before I was 35 (2020)

#27

Post by dagw »

gonzo41 wrote: post #19
AussieWog93 wrote: post #6

Poor bastard. I think a lot of older people really don't understand this, but our generation (late millennials, or at least middle-class late millennials) were genuinely fed the lie our whole life that we were special and could do anything. At some point, you have to admit to yourself that you're just an ordinary human being and Elon Musk has something special that you don't have. Only when you're in this mindset can…

Elon had starting capital. Never forget that he had the ability to have a soft landing all his life.

Elon had starting capital.

So do millions of people. The vast majority end up doing absolutely nothing of interest or value with it.

Re: I thought I’d have accomplished a lot more today and also before I was 35 (2020)

#28

Post by cik »

There's something cross cultural here that just doesn't cross. I can't relate. I'm responsible for me - my success, my failures. I also sure as hell better check on my neighbour and lend a hand.

Fulfilment comes from within, not externally. Results driven fulfilment comes from the gradual achievement of small goals, slowly combining into larger goals. They can be as small, as simple as reading a book.

The best advice I was ever given was 'finish what you start'. Rather than skim articles in newspapers, I forced myself to read (awful) articles from the beginning to end. Eventually that morphed, and I now make choices on when to skim, what to leave behind - what's a sunk cost fallacy and what isn't. But the point was to break the pattern, to achieve small things, and build on them.

I take the same approach with my kids. Get a win, then get another win.

Re: I thought I’d have accomplished a lot more today and also before I was 35 (2020)

#29

Post by powersnail »

My disillusionment is not on a personal level, but rather, on a societal level. I thought that I would become successful enough to, well, make a lot of differences in how the society works. Now being an actual part of the society, I don't see how I could accomplish any of my childhood ambitions. Even if I'm 20x richer, with a much higher social status, they are beyond me.

I suppose that the younger version of me have gone too far in pride, and too little in understanding. Which I've made peace with. But a lingering consequence is that I really don't know what to aim for anymore, not inspired by any visions, not particularly excitable. From a day-to-day point of view, I settle for being helpful to my fellow human beings. On a grand scale, though, I'm quite lost.

Re: I thought I’d have accomplished a lot more today and also before I was 35 (2020)

#30

Post by bmitc »

bryanrasmussen wrote: post #17
bmitc wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just to note, this piece is in the humor section. Like most humor, it’s likely a constructed story based on real events or feelings. And also like most humor, it’s relatable. I think your advice to move forward is still relevant though.

The title is also obviously supposed to be funny.

I actually thought it was a serious article at first, as it resonated pretty strongly with me. Haha. But then I definitely got a satire feel from reading it.
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