This picture was me at 22 years of age and just starting out in my career.
Honestly, I was weak.
Why? I was worried about other people’s opinion.
I know I am not alone when I say there was huge pressure on us as teens or young adults to have everything figured out by our mid-20’s.
Career, family, house, and the rest.
You don’t need to have your shit figured out at 25, or even 30.
I interviewed for my first fulltime position at 21 and didn’t get the position.
Second time around I went for it again and got it.
I thought these guys were stupid. They were willing to pay me a fulltime $35K salary to essentially educate me so I can go off and start my own business.
Then, the years passed.
Why didn’t I start earlier? Because I was a scared and weak.
I should have been willing to look stupid.
When you are just starting out you are almost certainly going to suck. Who cares…!
I went to university for the first time at 30. This is not the point where I started to ‘learn’.
I was also 31 when I started my first ‘real’ business. This is when I started my first day of real-life business school.
Do I wish I had taken the leap earlier, yes.
I’m now in my late 30’s and know I am just starting out. I can’t believe how young you are at 25 years, or even 35 years.
Let me be explicitly clear. I am not yet successful. I have not yet ‘made it’.
I’m also not an expert. There are a number of people who have more important roles within my company.
I hope to look back in a few years and go ‘how ridiculous was that’. Or ‘how awesome was this’.
Hopefully this means I have learnt valuable lessons.
Go easy on yourself.
I know that fear, and your relationship with time is one of your biggest weaknesses.
And keep in mind that sometimes high risk is a practical choice.
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