What would you tell your 18 or 25 year old self?

[GravyBoat]

Dont' marry her!

don't marry him!

Marry eachother!

 

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[jason91]

For you 25 yr old+ guys out there, if you could go back in time, and tell your 25 year old self something, what would you say?

I'd tell my 18 year old self to forget the naysayers and decide on what you want to do, who you want to be. Don't waste your time trying to follow others expectations of you. Be true to yourself and your stronger assets - do not compare yourself to others - simply work on improving your own strengths.

 

[Tristan2k0]

How many of you fastlaners feel it would be beneficial to start hustling/business around 19 years old? Or would you focus on creating good strong discipline and healthy habits to carry on for the rest of your life? Would you do both? This is my dilemma. This gold mine (Thread) has ran kinda dry, lets spark some new life into it

 

[tnzk]

I'm 25 myself, so reading this all is really good. Chazmania said it best in the quote below, but right now I've decided to focus on an internet-based business. No, I'm not going to do that slimy one-page sales funnel with 40,000 word copy to try weasel people out of money for my regurgitated guru advice. But I figured the right internet-based business is this:

A laptop and the internet are all the assets you need to run your business. Therefore, you can conduct business anywhere in the world.

That epiphany hit me like a truck when I was reading TMF . All of a sudden I envisioned earning money on the French mediterrenean coast in one month, then earning money in Singapore the next month. Then if I wanted to, I could drive across the States while still doing business and earning money.

As an aspiring multimillion dollar filmmaker, I realised my number one dream is difficult to get off the ground without much capital. Right now I could spend $50,000 making a short film or a low-budget feature. How about I put that money into building a sustainable long term business instead of putting my eggs in one film that producers and film festival judges could potentially reject (violating the Commandment of Control). Furthermore, I realised I might not even want it at the moment: if you can't move a film with little money fast enough, do you want to be chained to one location trying to hustle favours from local talent (you need an office team, a production crew, community support etc) for over five years to get one small film off the ground?

Sod that, I thought. I saw MJ's solid case and decided I can make any movie I bloody well please using the net profits from a money tree. And I could start that with a laptop and the internet. I'll come back in five to ten years and make two 5 million dollar movies per year just because I can.

Another thing I'd tell my 25 year old self (i.e I'm telling myself now), is that you must play the long game. Any business that aspires to short term cash injection is also doom to quick failure. It's how MLM's make money: get the 'short term' cash of wannabe millionaires who burn out within months while the next lot come through and are dazzled with voodoo sales talk. The long game is actually proof that the barrier of entry in your area is high and therefore indicative of a fastlane.

Hmmm... now I'm wondering whether I should hold myself accountable on these forums and within a year post pictures of myself doing business around the world =P. It's definitely a goal I've started working towards right now!

I would tell my 25 yr old self:

- Think in terms of starting a need driven business that can create strong cashflow (exploding income) and save as much of it as possible to invest in cashflowing assets and re-invest in the business, to keep compounding income.
(I kind of did it the other way around where I learned how to invest 1st but was making small incomes so therefore took/taking a long time to reap investment benefits. Think MJ's example of catching the wave at the crest instead of a 1000 miles out at sea.)

- Create an internet based business. (I'm way late to that party!)

- Reputation is priceless, don't ever do anything stupid that may tarnish it.

 

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[MKHB]

For you 25 yr old+ guys out there, if you could go back in time, and tell your 25 year old self something, what would you say?

Great Question.

The small things:
Stop taking pictures with your shirt off.
Stop taking pictures with money.
Stop taking pics with trendy stuff- the group photo with you and the menacing scowl and the oversize clock necklace will forever be on gam gams wall.
Stop surfing constantly- get out of the fxxxing water get something going.
Stop making everything about $$$ and the predictions of the great wealth to come, I said predictions not actions.
Stop calling everyone a naysayer that doesn't fall head over heals for latest shiny object pursuit.


The biggies:
Listen to your parents, even if they are not Fastlaners they contain a lot of wisdon and are a great source to ID needs/opportunity.
Spend more time with your friends and family (especially elderly) and tell them how much you appreciate them, absorb their wisdom.
Make life long friends with those that share your values, not just similar business aspirations, but values.
Never lie/steal or take advantage of anyone, it will haunt you forever.
Give without any concern to getting back.
Listen, and learn at all times not matter how hopeless or menial you think the situation.
Always think like a producer/owner/entrepreneur.
Buy a home immediately, go ahead and travel the world and pursue your dreams but have a sanctuary where you can always come back to regroup.
Learn and practice how to sell, the one thing you will sure to be doing your entire life.
Don't need to beat yourself up, you will encounter a lot of people willing to do this for you.
Lighten up, don't let your emotional state determine your destiny.
Go to Big Sur at least once- it is a surreal place.
(For the Guys) Don't be a whore or as it is fashionably called "a pimp" taking advantage of young women is not cool.
If your Father, be a good one or be ready to be judged very harshly by your kids, if not.
If your a husband, be aware that this person could have more of an effect on your life than any job, any business,anything, both good and bad- so proceed with the utmost integrity.

 

[GiroudJD]

Don't take out student loans.

 

[mtb_fanatic]

I would tell myself this: "Thank you for taking action towards building multiple businesses. You could of not started at a better time when your young and healthy".

 

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[Alan LT]

Maybe this is just me, but does anyone think that the mistakes they made were meant to happen. Does anyone think sometimes it's better to go through painful experiences than to just be told not to do something & not understand why?

*Sorry if I worded this wrong. This was just a thought. I'm not even 25 yet lmao.

 

[Kingmaker]

"You just need to solve one thing at a time… Step by step, day by day, solve one problem and it all works out. But if you try to solve the whole thing before you even get started, you’re never going to get started.”

+

How to deal with problems that come up:

"There are going to be fires all over the place. Keep it simple:
just focus on the one, most important fire."

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Maybe this is just me, but does anyone think that the mistakes they made were meant to happen. Does anyone think sometimes it's better to go through painful experiences than to just be told not to do something & not understand why?

Yup, that's why I say it's useless to warn folks that the fire is hot (i.e. Comm. Control) when most people need to feel the burn. Once you're physically charred from the experience, you never repeat the same mistake again.

 

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[Cesare]

I haven't reached the age of 25 yet but I'm currently reading a book by Donald Trump and on one specific page he writes that you should always set up a prenuptial agreement if you want to marry.

 

[BellaPippin]

Refuse to judge yourself for the time already wasted, that was in ignorance, now you know, no excuses from now on.

This one hit home, and I just turned 26 by the way. I tend to dwell on the fact that what I am striving to do 25-30 y/o I could have started at 20-25 (like many others). But it was not until I traveled to another country that I was fully convinced there was a better way of living and started immersing myself in learning about it. If I hadn't done what I did in my early 20's maybe I would not have started what I have now.

 

[mws87]

Yup, that's why I say it's useless to warn folks that the fire is hot (i.e. Comm. Control) when most people need to feel the burn. Once you're physically charred from the experience, you never repeat the same mistake again.

Couldn't agree with this more. Let's be honest, what usually happens when you try to provide insight to someone in hopes of guiding them in the right direction? Most of the time, they never listen. "I told you so" wouldn't exist if they did.

However, if I somehow managed to time-travel and give advice to my younger self, it wouldn't be that much different than what everyone else here said. Don't get into debt, don't listen to this, don't listen to that, etc. The biggest piece of advice I would give myself: START NOW

 

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[The Irish Guy]

Don't take your foot off the gas just because you're a big fish in a small pond or ahead of your peers, turning your back on what got you where you are today for just one year can open the market you're dominating to new hungry competition and you can become stale and out of fashion very quickly...

 

[Jesse Dallenbach]

Great question here...I am 36 now.

- read good quality books over and over again
- meditate more
- spend/save money more wisely
- don't use credit cards to pay for stupid shit
- don't discard potential friends, mentors, co workers--because some of them could end up being very important figures in your life
- learn to let go of toxic people/habits
- don't succumb to the power of pussy so much (hard one to do!)
- take life/goals/health way more serious--make a concerted effort to complete tasks/goals and maintain productive daily habits
- take more risks, the ones that succeed often take the leap that others are to afraid, lazy or unaware to make (still working this one to this day)

Lastly don't listen to your 36 year old self WTF does he know! J/K...err maybe ;-)

- Jesse

 

[chiara.tuni]

I'm 24...and I'm not talking to my-self in past, but my-self in the future :-D

 

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[Joseph Wilson]

This is a great thread.

At 25 i was just starting my first oilfield job.
I'm only 28 so it's only been almost 4 years, but I've done some really stupid stuff over the last few years so maybe this stuff will save someone else from making the same mistakes:

1. Stay way from the 'biz opp/make money online/work from home/home based business' world, marketing guru's, solo ads or anything else that doesn't get an ROI. Save your money for something productive. Spend your time developing useful skills like copywriting, web development, coding (php skills would be useful right about now), app development etc... instead of searching for a magic bullet, secret system etc... just don't be a sucker in general. I'm embarrassed to admit how much money I blew here. If you're in this world and you're spending money instead of making money then just get out. You're the customer(sucker) not the business owner(con artist).
2. Read facebook and googles TOS more thoroughly before you start advertising so you don't have to advertise under a false identity.
3. Work more and don't spend any money that you don't need to spend.
4. Stop chasing easy women at bars and look for an actual partner.
5. Make friends with the business owners you've been meeting at cigars shops instead of the knuckleheads you've been meeting at bars.
6. Keep an eye out for a cheapduplex that you can pay cash for and rehab yourself so you can live rent free and maybe rent half of.
7. Don't buy that jeep in fort collins. It's a POS and will cost you a lot of money in the end. Save up until you can buy something with less miles.
8. When the f150 starts acting weird just go ahead and replace the fuel filter instead of waiting for it to stop working completely and you're stranded at the gym.
9. Drink scotch instead of beer so you won't get fat. Stop eating ice cream for the same reason.

Most of that is stuff that I'm doing now, but it's all a little tougher without the oilfield income. Except the learning part. That's easier since I have even more free time now.

 

[Rethagos]

I'm 20yo right now, so... yeh...
I'd tell to my 15yo self:
-If you rely on school to provide you with all the knowledge you need, you're dead meat.
-If you wish to be liked by all, it's fool's errand.
-If you don't do your own thinking, others will do it for you.
-Forget these "moderation in all things" and "humility gets you everywhere". Look at others and ask yourself "What did this moderation and humility bring them? Are they happy with what they've got?"
-Pick up weights and train, this will teach you some discipline.
-Drop fiction books, but keep reading. Just write "best business books" in Google.

But I probably would not have listened.

 

[Dami-B]

I'm 24... so what will i tell my younger self from a second ago

I will tell him 5 things

1. Write down every single skill you have acquired from conception to this date, and see how you can maximize those skills to add value into someone's livelihood, business and life.
2. Never stop learning, its the greatest asset you can have
3. Forget those girls. Get your mind in order. Start taking action towards your dreams no matter how little
4. Forget those thoughts. Life is a gift. Never ever ever give up on life
5. Keep believing in God, Never lose faith

 

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[absh3ikh]

Hey man, I'm 22, but what Iv learned so far:

Love yourself (be healthy physically mentally spiritually) in order to better love the world, others and life.

- Be healthy ( exercise, eat well, relax/meditate, rest well)
- Learn about the world ( read for an hour minimum of high quality material - great books, extra study can come from online videos/blogs/forums and seminars/courses/mentors )
- Start making the world a better place (get into the mindset of providing value, solving problems. start small and build momentum to do big things later)
- Enjoy life with loved ones (fun family friends) Take the time to smell the roses too - travel, party etc. You'll be healthier, more inspired, and productive in your work this way. Take time to pick up some skills as you'll be short of time as commitments in life come later. Learn a language, self defence etc.
- Stay single and don't waste money on dates or consumer goods. You have a decade or so till your hormones calm down (around 30/35 for men) so don't fall in love and marry during this time, its just your hormones playing with you. Plus when your in your 30's and much more stronger, smarter, successful and social you'll attract much more higher quality women into your life.

Also realise that "play" is an important part of life. While you play ( enjoy life with loved ones ) you de-stress, stimulate your brain in different ways for better creativity at work, learn about the world in a dynamic way through exposure and through people, network, develop relationships and social skills that can help with work, become healthier as you laugh and connect with people. Obviously certain ways of enjoying life can be bad long term such as too much bad food, porn, drugs, alcohol, partying, social media so watch out for that.

 

[Delmania]

1.) Get in shape
2.) Get help for your depression
3.) Get involved with social groups
4.) Don't be in a rush to get married
5.) Look into entrepreneurship

 

[Imgal]

I'd tell myself to aim higher. I thought I was setting impressive goals, but having now ticked them all off I'm wondering where the hell I could have been now.

Don't 10x your goals. 1000x your goals. At least.

 

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[SEBASTlAN]

1. Focus on what you're good at.
2. Don't go into retail!
3. Do your research on any purchase that will affect you for >6 months (car, apartment)
4. Get a business partner.

 

[PureA]

1. Focus on what you're good at.
2. Don't go into retail!
3. Do your research on any purchase that will affect you for >6 months (car, apartment)
4. Get a business partner.

"If having a partner was good, God would have one."

RIP Peter

 

[Jon L]

1) in 2005, buy as many shares of Apple stock as you can.
2) stop worrying about what other people think about you
3) find several mentors that are where you want to be
4) stop worrying about what other people thing about you.
5) Quit preparing to live and actually live...try stuff.

 

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[SEBASTlAN]

"If having a partner was good, God would have one."

RIP Peter

Well if you're Christian you'd know He had 2 =P

 

[finances5]

I'd tell my 25 year old self to get more constructive on how you spend your time. And focus more on growth and less on "moving sideways" type of activities or issues.

 

[Erin]

I'd tell my 25 year old self to get more constructive on how you spend your time. And focus more on growth and less on "moving sideways" type of activities or issues.

1. Don't get in debt
2. Don't work for someone else
3. Stay in college and get your law degree
4.Don't get in debt

 

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[Michał Kóska]

- Stay single and don't waste money on dates or consumer goods. You have a decade or so till your hormones calm down (around 30/35 for men) so don't fall in love and marry during this time, its just your hormones playing with you. Plus when your in your 30's and much more stronger, smarter, successful and social you'll attract much more higher quality women into your life.

Totally disagree with this one. Loneliness can kill you.

 

[Longinus]

The only good thing on facebook right now is that it sends me reminders on what I posted 5 years ago. It reminds me how I evolved from sidewalker to slowlaner, and luckily keep evolving every day.

Most important thing:

Stop wasting time and money trying to become the new Metallica.
"If you can dream it, you can achieve it" is a scam.