Life at 28
Today I turn 28. Officially out of the 27-club and in my late twenties. I know people always say this, but 28 definitely came faster than expected.
For the last few years, on my birthday, I have written a piece on Medium about what I’ve learned in my life thus far. These are meant to be reflective articles, lessons I’ve learned along the way that I hope to incorporate in the upcoming year.
I hope some of these will resonate with you.
If you’re going to do it, do it!
We spend years procrastinating on things that may only take a few hours. If you want to do something, block off some time, get it done, and move on with life.
Wasting time vs taking your time
Recently I’ve come to realize the difference between wasting time and taking your time. In an effort to not waste-time I often rush through things. This tendency to rush often backfires and causes more problems.
It’s important to remember that taking your time does not mean procrastinating or being lazy, it means approaching things with a sense of purpose and intention. So, don’t be afraid to take your time. Staying calm while working through a task is more enjoyable and yields better results.
Good intentions don’t always have good outcomes
In the opening chapter of this book, the author highlights how a well-intentioned, heavily funded, major charity project ended in disaster. I highly recommend the book to anyone that wants to have an impact or create a better world.
In one of my previous posts I wrote, If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
I don’t think this is the best mindset when you are first starting out. If you want to accomplish something in life, I think moving fast is the key. When you go fast, you will go somewhere. Eventually, you will find ways to move faster and faster until you’ve gone further than people trying to go together.
Once you are going as fast as you can, you will find other people going as fast as they can. That is when you want to start going together.
Read 80,000 hours
I’ve been aware of 80,000 hours organization for years now, but I’ve only recently started taking their work seriously. If you’re thinking about the impact and legacy of your work, I would highly recommend it as a resource.
If you want to learn something, get a job doing it.
If you’re in a job right now, think about what you can be learning — both soft and hard skills. The best way to make sure that you’re learning is to be in a position where you’re constantly challenged, AND where you have the freedom to experiment and make mistakes.
Don’t tear your ACL
Unfortunately, I’ve seen too many kids tear their ACLs early on in life. We need to remember that pain is not gain. When exercising, it’s not just about pushing yourself to the limit. It’s about understanding your limits and working within them. Taking the time to learn proper form and technique can mean the difference between a lifetime of injury or a lifetime of strength and mobility.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, everyone is on steroids. Work out, and stay healthy, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t look like [INSERT INSTAGRAM BRO SELLING SUPPMENTS].
Mentors and Proteges
I find myself in a unique position of not only having mentors but also proteges — young people who ask for my advice thinking I have something useful to say. This dynamic reminds me that the mentor-protege relationship is a two-way street. It’s important to be respectful of your mentors and patient with your proteges.
As a Protege
When it comes to mentorship, sometimes mentors like to talk. When someone older and more accomplished than you speaking, you should listen. You can dismiss their advice after they are gone, but it’s important to at least hear them out and consider their point of view.
As a Mentor
As a mentor, it’s important to remember that while you may try to advise your proteges, sometimes they will insist on making their own choices. In those situations, it’s important to do your best to advise, but also to accept that you can’t control anyone. Sometimes you have to watch other people make mistakes. It’s important to not take it personally and to continue to be a supportive guide for them.
When it comes to how you approach life, do what works for you. Everyone has advice and opinions but at the end of the day, everyone is different. What works for one person might not work for another. Listen to others, and share your ways, but don’t force something upon yourself if it isn’t working.
As I reflect on my life so far one thing that stands out to me is my obsession with extreme sports. The type of activities that require constant vigilance to prevent life-threatening situations. I don’t know where this obsession comes from. Maybe I’m trying to compensate for something.
But as I collect cool skills and even cooler pictures, I’ve come to accept that not everything has to be a one-up. You don’t have to one-up every adventure with another more dangerous adventure. Sometimes you can just take a walk — and that's ok too.
