In your early twenties, it’s realistic to think that you have 10 years of freedom to pursue your goals before ‘settling down’, getting a real job, buying a house and starting a family. Do you wish you had known in your twenties?
The average age of a first-time parent in Australia is 30 (and rising). The average age of a first-time homeowner in the United States is 33.
With these stats in mind, it’s obvious that your twenties are a unique time in your life. Want to see the world? You can. Want to study for 10 years?
You can. Want to start your own business? You can. Want to do nothing? You can.
I’m not saying it’s impossible to pursue your goals after your 30th birthday. It just gets harder. There are more external factors that influence both your time and your decisions.
When I reflect on my twenties, I spent the first half of it failing university and having an incredible time at college.
Would I have done things differently? Yes and no. Yes, I could have pursued my goal — of starting a business — sooner and with more focus. No, because I made lifelong friendships that I wouldn’t change for a second.
The longer you wait to start a new life, the more settled you’ll feel where you are and the older you’ll be. You’re only in your early 20s once and the time goes by quickly. If you want to try something new, now is the time.
The early 20s. The mid-20s. The late 20s. It’s crazy how much a person can change in a span of 10 years and not even by force. It happens so fast. It feels like yesterday I was 23 and complaining that everyone at the bar looked like they were 21.
Now, I’m almost 27 complaining that I want to look 21 again. I don’t have the same interests that I did when I was 23, but there are certain things I would love to go back and tell myself to do differently.
I am close to 72 now but still learning about life every day. Here are the things I wish I had known about life better in my 20’s:
Known in your twenties … focusing on value-add
In everything we do, we should focus on adding value. Gear efforts to results rather than work. Begin with the question, “What results are expected of me?” rather than with the work to be done, let alone with its techniques and tools.
You’re not losing friends. You’re finding out who the real ones are.
As I progressed from my early 20s to my mid-20s, I started to notice I was losing touch with a significant amount of people. To me, it seemed like I didn’t have as many friends as I did before and that upset me.
However, I soon realized I was actually growing closer to a smaller amount of people which was, in fact, better than having “50 close friends.” In fact, having “50 close friends” is basically impossible.
Making and executing effective decisions
Results most often depend on making effective decisions. I learned that an effective decision is always a “judgment based on dissenting opinions rather than on a consensus of the facts.”
What is needed are few, but fundamental decisions. What is needed is the right strategy rather than razzle-dazzle tactics. Act on the strategy and pay attention to follow-through.
Related post: Lessons Learned in Life … Class Continues Daily
If you want to move somewhere new, do it NOW
The longer you wait to start a new life, the more settled you’ll feel where you are. You’re only in your early 20s once and the time goes by quickly. If you want to try something new, now is the time.
Develop a vision
Vision. I am always fascinated by this skill. And it is a great skill to have in our view. Does it mean you see everything? Certainly not. It does mean you have the ability to see what many cannot. And then act on these.
Vision doesn’t count without action. And not without managing the needed action required to implement.
That idea of staying the course for the long term has been a key to success. Vision requires the long term. Be stubborn on vision and have flexibility on details.
Build on innovation
Learning from others is always been important to me. For example, I have learned innovation from Amazon. They have one of the very best innovation cultures in an industry built around constant innovation and change.
Don’t wait to do something until you have more money
If you have to save money to do something, start saving now. Don’t think you’re magically going to have money to do something in a few years.
When you have more money, you’re going to spend more money on everyday things and as you get older, you’re going to have more things to spend money on.
Unless you win the lottery or sell your start-up, you’re not going to suddenly come into a lot of money. Do what you want to do when you want to do it.
Known in your twenties … experiment and change
Remember, change and innovate, BEFORE you have to. Change is a big part of the reality in business. New ideas are the lifeblood of business. And the basis for creative change.
Your life will be in constant change mode, and that is a good thing if you lead change in direction of your success goals. To do that most successfully, you should try lots of new things continually. For things you like, get very good at them by lots of practice. But keep trying new activities.
I love this quote from Jeff Bezos:
If you double the number of experiments you do per year you’re going to double your inventiveness.
If you ask the best business leaders, they’ll tell you that experimentation is imperative for their business. It’s how new innovations are born and how they stay competitive in the market.
Experimentation is everywhere and is always happening.
Keep in touch with connections
People you used to work with. People you’ve met at networking events. People you’ve been introduced to by others. You want to keep in touch with everyone, even people younger than you.
You never know who is going to be working where and in what position later in life.
Known in your twenties … your career is not your life
This was probably the most difficult of my lessons, particularly early to mid-career. To be successful in this lesson, you should develop a breath to your list of activities and always put family and friends first.
To do both well, think about activities that maximize your friends and family, like coaching your children’s sports teams.
Not everyone is going to like you
And you’re not going to like everyone back. Stop caring so much about what people think of you and stop trying to please everyone. Just be yourself. Those that like you will like you, and those that won’t, won’t. That is life.
Dedicate yourself to continuous learning
I am a big believer in continuous learning. You should always seek to be flexible and keep several alternative paths in front of you.
Always be on the lookout for ways to reinvent ways for self-improvement. My most favored quote on continuous learning comes from Charles Darwin:
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
Known in your twenties … don’t chase titles
In relationships OR in your career. Find what YOU love — not what you think “looks” good on paper (or on Facebook) — and go after those things.
Grow kindness
All of these life lessons get better when you have a strong foundation in knowing how to be kind to others. I have never found a better way to stay happy.
Kindness costs you nothing and you’d be surprised how much it can do for your own happiness.
Save your money
You don’t need to buy a new outfit for every night you go out. You don’t need to spend tons of money on an apartment, especially when you can live at home.
Just because you’re making money doesn’t mean you should spend it. Save as much as you can.
Always look to find something to make you laugh
Another important factor in your happiness is enjoying a good laugh as often as you can. Making fun of yourself and your own mistakes is a great place to start.
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More reading on learning from Digital Spark Marketing’s Library:
9 Things to Know About Creative Visual Design Content
8 Presenter Mistakes That Are Rarely Made Twice
Know These Great Secrets of Collaboration and Co-Creation
How Good Is Your Learning from Failure?
Mike Schoultz is a digital marketing and customer service expert. With 48 years of business experience, he consults on and writes about topics to help improve the performance of small business. Find him on G+, Facebook, Twitter, Digital Spark Marketing, and LinkedIn.