Things I Should Have Known at 20
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Things I Should Have Known at 20
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Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20
#2I thought this was going to be BS, as I do all numbered lists [1], but it's actually pretty good. Here's a TLDR, but the elaborations on each point are worth reading:
1. The world is trying to keep you stupid.
2. Do not have faith in institutions to educate you.
3. Read as much as you can. Learn to speed read with high retention.
4. Connect with everyone, all the time.
5. Don’t waste time being shy.
6. If you feel weird about something during a relationship, that’s usually what you end up breaking up over.
7. Have as much contact as possible with older people.
8. Find people that are cooler than you and hang out with them too.
9. You will become more conservative over time. For this reason, you need to do your craziest stuff NOW.
10. Reduce all expenses as much as possible.
11. Instead of getting status through objects (which provide only temporary boosts), do it through experiences.
12. While you are living on the cheap, solve the money problem.
13. Learn to program.
14. Get a six-pack (or get thin, whatever your goal is) while you are young.
15. Learn to cook
16. Sleep well
17. Get a reminder app for everything
18. Choose something huge to do
19. Get known for one thing.
20. Don’t try to “fix” anyone.
[1] Change the title to "Things I Should Have Known at 20" http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20
#3#21: Floating navbars are an abomination and make your site incredibly frustrating to read on a mobile device -- especially in landscape mode. At least put an X button on that thing.
Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20
#4Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance (Dave Barry)
Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20
#5It is a pretty solid list.
I am 25 and these are things that would have helped me at 20.
I am trying to accomplish some of these now.
3. I used to read a book per week. I stopped and now I need to get back.
9. I never thought I would be a conservative person. I see the difference between my younger cousins and I.
10. I am jobless. I definitely am trying to eliminate costs.
13. I started taking Udacity classes. I have a business degree. It has been harder than I imagined. I still am motivated to learn more languages besides python.
14. I go to the gym six days per week. I ride my bike everywhere I go.
20. A very simple statement. That is very true.
Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20
#6If I could go back to when I was 20, i'd have myself memorize this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_(psychology)
Would have saved me 3 agonizing years.
Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20
#7According to this, I'm actually doing pretty good for being 21.
Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20
#8Interesting list, but the presentation and layout is terrible.
Limiting the size of the page horizontally improves readability.
Limiting the size of the page vertically is just annoying.
Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20
#9I think #8 is silly at best. I'm not even sure I know what is meant by "cooler," but whatever the definition the statement does not seem like sage advice from an elder. I am 32 now; I got over thinking about who was cool and who was not when I was 15.
I would add something about not burning bridges.
Re: Things I Should Have Known at 20
#10This is a fantastic list, though I have to nitpick on this one:
>2. Do not have faith in institutions to educate you
Except if you learn the fundamentals, instead of the specifics. Learn paradigms and methodologies, instead of individual systems and practices. This way as time goes on you've always got something to fall back on.