When I was 16, I was busy planning out my 20s and began to envision how they would play out.
I even created milestones:
- Enter university at 17
- Graduate in 3 years, at 20
- Grad school by 22
- Enter business, kill it
- Be comfortable by 25
- Wealthy by 30
I never thought about life after 30, but already we see a problem. This plan I had laid out, ignores life!
Number 1? Done.
Number 2? Check.
Number 3? Of course, I planned this.
Numbers 1 through 3 was accomplished and I felt like a king, however, at the same time I was struggling.
In this plan, I never imagined attending university at the height of the global financial crisis.
I never planned to graduate in one of the worst job markets in almost three decades.
I never planned that it would take almost two years to find a stable career opportunity.
I never planned in entering a career path, only to realize that I despised it.
I never planned in being laid off, as rapid technological advances took their toll in an industry I spent 7 years in.
I never planned on redefining success at each point throughout my 20s.
I
never planned that I would feel inadequate, because I felt I was not
making the milestones I set for myself—throwing my mental game off
track.
In short, life threw some curve-balls
and emotions came into play. What you think you will do throughout
university may not be what you actually want to do. This is what life is about: trying, doing and pivoting.
So what do you do? Do you sit there, lash out and blame the world for standing in the way of your success?
Or, do you take action, put in the work, hustle and create opportunities for yourself?
Opportunities
come and go, jobs come and go and industries are shaped and destroyed
in a span of five years. That is quick! Adapting is vital and taking
action is just as important.
The best part
is that you have the internet at your fingertips to help. You could
build a personal brand, create an online digital business, or become a
thought leader on a certain subject. It is there to get you started, and
people will become your greatest advocate.
A few things to remember:
- Connecting age with success is a wrong connection to make. No correlation.
- You’re only 24, though. Time is definitely on your side, you’re just getting started.
- As long as you are trying new things and creating new and valuable experiences, then that is important. You will find what you enjoy doing enough, to the point of mastery.
- Start doing. Stop making excuses for yourself.
- This is important: Define what success means to you. Focus on building a path that you enjoy and if success is monetary, that will follow. Believe me, that will follow.