Most Important Lessons to Learn in Your 20s

Written By Chris Keith

Most Important Lessons to Learn in Your 20’s.

On June 15, I officially turned 30.

This is an opportunity to take a look back and think about / contextualize what you did over the last 10 years. In your 20's, ideally, you have went through some pretty metamorphic changes. Personally, professionally, from a maturity standpoint, an income/asset standpoint, perspective standpoint, etc.

It's actually incredible how much changes. I’m a completely different person from 10 years ago. Proud of that.

There are likely a handful of reasons this is such a volatile/changing time. The main reason being that we're still so young, lol! We’re still figuring out who we are as human beings! Think back to yourself right out of undergrad - how much has changed for you? My legit THOUGHTS are different now.  

In that vein, these changes are absolutely instrumental in who you will continue to grow to become as you age, and become a contributing member of society (an adult). Don’t ever let someone tell you ‘you’ve changed’ and use it in a negative context. Personal growth and development is instrumental in becoming a sophisticated individual.

Anyone with the opposite mindset is generally a negative person, and should be at least limited from an interaction standpoint as they are more worried about themselves / do not want you to succeed. That sounds harsh, but it's generally true. Be critical about who you choose to consider friends/mentors and who you spend time with, as it plays a massive role in what you will become. You’ve got to be vigilant about time spent. 

Here are the top lessons (from my perspective) to try and come to terms with during your 20s:

WHO ARE YOU? 

  • What is actually important to you?

  • What actually brings you fulfillment?

  • What get you out of bed in the morning? (Not meetings - actual driving forces)

  • If money was no longer a thought, what would you do with yourself?

  • What do you want to do for the rest of your life?

  • What are your superpowers? (what are you ‘best in the world’ at)

PERSPECTIVE

  • Stop caring so much about what others will say/think

  • Can’t Live your life based on the expectations other people have of you (my tweet) 

  • Stop competing with others - compete with you

  • Life is Not a 0 Sum Game

  • Take Others As They Are

  • Act Like You've Been There Before 

  • You need therapy, everyone does. How you choose to do it is up to you.

  • Growth is GOOD. You need to look back at yourself a year ago and think you were an idiot.

  • Build The Life You Want To Live. Every day. Chop Wood.

  • Stop Playing Status Games. Get into the business of wealth creation games. (external vs internal motivation)

  • IT WILL NEVER END

THOUGHT PROCESS

  • Be an Eternal Optimist - WITH ALL THINGS - this WILL change your life

  • Abundance Mindset

  • Systems Thinking - Build them - You fall back on your systems 

  • Perpetual Curiosity - the learning really begins once school ends

  • Play the Long Game - avoid getting caught up in the hype/getting rich quick

  • Stop Judging People / Control What You Can Control 

  • Focus on Taking Action - Most People Are Caught in Motion

  • Be proactive with your time not reactive - (turn off notifications)

  • Technician vs. Manager vs. Entrepreneur Mindset

HUMAN INTERACTION

  • We Live In a World of Grey - Stop treating it with a black and white approach

  • Listen Less to What People Say - Watch What They Do 

  • Communication is EVERYTHING

  • People can get you everything you want in life, but you gotta ask (tweet)

  • People don't change, but you can condition them (link to don’t shoot the dog) 

  • With tough convos - Timing / Message / Delivery 

  • You can be right, and miserable

TIME 

  • Valued above all

  • Avoid wasting it on anything you don't love or want to be doing

  • Minimum Wage Jobs vs. What you should be doing

  • We overestimate what we can do in 6 weeks/months - underestimate what we can do in 6 years!

  • What you work on and Who you work with is more important than hours worked

  • Greatness Takes Time - (The Last Dance) 

  • Play Long Terms Games With Long Term People 

  • Do things that scale

WEALTH

  • How to Get Rich (without getting lucky)

  • No one is getting rich off of salary - NO ONE

  • Wealth comes from ownership

  • Generally, You Get What You Pay For 

  • Value is perceived completely differently by everyone

  • Become Antifragile (multiple income streams) 

  • Learn to Build. Learn to Sell. You’ll be unstoppable.

  • EVERYTHING Compounds (Flywheel Concept) 

SALES

Reading this is easy. Understanding and implementing is hard + time-consuming. 

Good luck out there - keep chopping wood! Feel free to reach out with specific thoughts @itschriskeith on twitter.

IT WILL NEVER END.

Chris Keith
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