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Ask HN: What do you wish you knew in your early twenties?

32 points by AndriusSutas ↗ HN
I ask this question to people in my life who, by my standards, "made it". It's usually a person who successfully sold his startup, is leading research field expert or otherwise distinguished in his career (e.g. a president of huge corporation).

The question is vague for a reason - to not bias the person. I am interested to hear about everything: technical, financial, social, professional, etc. My thesis is that while we cannot look forward in time (well, not yet) it is easy to look backwards and connect the dots. Hence, I ask this question to learn what's ahead and get prepared for it now.

There are few things that usually come up, for example: be humble, work backwards from end-goal, hard work is basis for most things, it's often worth scarifying short term goals for a longer term pay-off, learn to appreciate simple things in life.

So, HN audience, what do you wish you knew in your early twenties? It would also be great if you could tell how old are you, where you are now, how long it took you to get there and how.

18 comments

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Todd
Two categories: now and future. First, future. This is where most people give advice. Develop your passion and follow it, etc. This is important. You must dedicate time and effort to becoming good at something--hopefully something that pays well or can be turned into an asset.

With regard to startups, I suggest working for a larger company for a short time to learn how larger companies operate, then maybe joining a startup. This step can be skipped if you have your own ideas or drive. Finally, start your own. Building an asset that you own part of is the only way to get ahead in a meaningful way in a shorter amount of time. Note that while doing this, you should max out a 401(k) or other retirement vehicle as a hedge. This may not be possible during certain stretches of the startup cycle, but minimize them.

Now the now. Enjoy your youth. That is the one thing you don't get back. Develop an interest in one or more sports. Exercise. Meet lots of people and date before or until you settle down. Finish your education. It gets harder over time. Travel.

MichaelCrawford
I wish I had known what C's assert() macro was. I spent a lot of useless time in debuggers. While assert() won't replace a debugger, using assertions reduces the need for tedious debugging.
dasq
I love how everyone is all about life lessons, and here you are talking about asserts :)
collyw
Your body deteriorates. I still stay fit, which I thought would be enough. I mountain bike and kayak. These days every time I fall, it hurts. And it takes a longer time to recover (as do the hangovers). Enjoy the physical advantage that you have now while you are young as it won't last forever. I say that as someone in reasonably good shape, just turned 40.
crikli
Debt is for suckers. Pay cash.
coralreef
Could you expand on that?

I like to pay with credit card, get air miles.

eswat
I also try to pay in plastic as often as possible for travel and cashback rewards. Assuming you pay your card on-time, we’re the minority. For most a credit card is just a debt machine and if those same people had to pay with tangible cash they’d probably think twice about spending more than they earn (which I assume is the sentiment of the OP).
digisign
I've always lived this way and vastly prefer it, but it was a big problem this year when I applied to rent a new apartment.

No credit history? denied. Apparently the cars I've purchased have expired from my credit report, I didnt know that happens after 10 years, but it does. Shameful, to push people to credit... any ideas how to solve this issue?

NeutronBoy
Cash and credit have nothing to do with debt. Buying shit you can't afford has everything to do with debt.
wallflower
That before you know it, you will be a decade older. And if you were partially insane (according to Einstein's mis-attributed definition) and did the same thing over and over for years (not just in your career), you've not done much for you.

Time is the most important thing we all have. How you spend your time determines if you are investing your time or, rather, as we all do - from time to time - just wasting it.

Since you are old enough, look at your Gmail account - the old emails from years and years ago - how many of those people do you still keep in touch with? projects? ideas? trips? plans? What is still the same?

lscore720
In advance, sorry for the long-winded response. My answer: once you have enough money to allow you freedom in life (different definition for everyone), you're set and do not need a penny more - with the exception of funds for charitable purposes.

I earned a business degree from a top program. I don't mention this to boast, but rather because this was an unknowing introduction to the greed hammered into young college students' lives before their minds have fully matured (not to mention the media and literally everywhere else you look/hear). I entered the real world with a limitless need for more - see George Carlin's view on "stuff". It just becomes habit.

Fast-forward to the market crash - suddenly, unemployed, broke after failed idealistic business attempt, and negative net worth (food stamps suck). Did I mention I bought a condo at the exact peak of the market with almost $0 down? My area of specialization was financial planning/wealth management and I found myself bankrupt. Don't get me started on the masses who aren't even fortunate enough to receive a single lesson in personal finance.

Fast forward to last year, when I semi-retired. I'm still pinching myself. I went through a bleak period in 2009/2010 when I couldn't find work, was broke, and experienced that all-too-typical loop of becoming less and less hirable. I finally found a commission-only job as a technology recruiter - that's right, your favorite professional is posting on HN (let's try and keep it civil, we're not all the same!). The combination of being broke, hungry, and finally understanding the value of a dollar & folly of my ways was the perfect formula. I worked my tail off and saved $ like a madman, which brings me to this incredible point today.

ADanFromCanada
This is a great story. A treasure trove of experience and great advice in 3 short paragraphs.
dogstraightup
What point is that today? Just curious as I am also a technology recruiter in my early/mid 20's. Shoot me a message if you can!
lscore720
Howdy. Just the point I started with in my reply: once you have enough money to allow you freedom in life (different definition for everyone), you're set and do not need a penny more - with the exception of funds for charitable purposes. That'll be different numbers for different people.
eswat
Don’t back out of anything – shy of walking into a dark alley in downtown Winnipeg at night – just because it scares you. Your ability to take risks and just shrug off the bad results will diminish with age.

So use this time to do the stupid shit that scares or embarrasses you. You’ll think you can keep that youthful, playful and joking spirit you now have throughout life because that’s what you believe you are. But society will shape you into its dull, conforming image and it’s hard not to let it happen. So fight to mitigate it now by experience as much as you can.

ljsocal
While it is true that you cannot "connect the dots" looking forward, you can improve your future prospects by making sure that the "dot" you're on today is a meaningful one.