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Ask HN: If you are 30+, what advice would you give to your 20-something self?

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Re: Ask HN: If you are 30+, what advice would you give to your 20-something self?

#3
From a work perspective:

1. Listen, a lot 2. Understand other's perspectives. For this you need to know exactly what they do and how protective they are of their turf 3. Ask pertinent questions not only to improve your knowledge but also to show your are listening 4. Be prepared to bide your time. Opportunities happen outside of your control but they are coming eventually.

Re: Ask HN: If you are 30+, what advice would you give to your 20-something self?

#4
Even elite University education in STEM is a terrible investment. All the people boostering it are recipients of multiple selection filters or from different age cohorts and really have no idea what the fuck they are talking about.

When you do the math - it's terrible compared to almost any other alternative - even minimum wage jobs.

This doesn't apply if you have a wealthy family and can be assured of a job with dad's company or other connections - but for a blue collar kid university is not a good route to fortune in the UK.

The level of effort required and the wages are simply not commensurate and everybody who thinks so is delusional because they're not comparing and contrasting the effort with other options. The stats are all skewed by confounding factors like half your class will be going to work for Goldman Sachs.

Modern universities are a way of manufacturing poor people with stunted ambitions, not upward social mobility.

Re: Ask HN: If you are 30+, what advice would you give to your 20-something self?

#6
Time goes by faster the older you get, so enjoy your youth. I’m 55 and while I did a lot in my 20s and 30s, I wish I did even more.

Also, don’t let yourself get too far out of shape. It is much easier to maintain than it is to get back into shape if you fall out of shape.

Lastly, some advice someone once told me: Ask yourself every year, Am I making 20% more than I did last year? Do I like the people I work with? And, am I learning things I interested in? If not, consider changing jobs.

Re: Ask HN: If you are 30+, what advice would you give to your 20-something self?

#7
3 very fast ones that will make a large difference

1) Adopt a learning mindset. There are no failures or wins just opportunities to learn. So, learn from them.

2) Make 1, 5, 10 year life plan, follow it and review it. Any plan is better than none.

3) Open a brokerage account and invest monthly in a s&p 500 fund. Never move it or withdraw from it so 40 years from now you'll be very happy you did.

One last one, have fun! Life seems long but in reality, it's very short.

Re: Ask HN: If you are 30+, what advice would you give to your 20-something self?

#8
You are not defined by your job or pay level, do not become compulsive about the ‘social prestige’ 1 job gives over another

Watch more Sadhguru videos on YouTube to get a better view on life.

Don’t learn java as your first programming language.

Start spreadsheets on a bunch of life areas instead of just scrounging together data every time a form or tax return needs to be filed (job, living location, investments, etc)

Re: Ask HN: If you are 30+, what advice would you give to your 20-something self?

#9
post #8

You are not defined by your job or pay level, do not become compulsive about the ‘social prestige’ 1 job gives over another Watch more Sadhguru videos on YouTube to get a better view on life. Don’t learn java as your first programming language. Start spreadsheets on a bunch of life areas instead of just scrounging together data every time a form or tax return needs to be filed (job, living location, investments, etc)

> Don’t learn java as your first programming language.

I have to ask why you would give yourself this advice? I know enough java to know that I dont know java...

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