I was strongly inspired by Charlie Hoen’s Recession-Proof Graduate Guide which I read going into my senior year in college. I re-tooled the advice to work for me (which basically meant NOT working for free) and I set out to interview every engineering firm in the Spokane and Couer de’Alene area. I wasn’t asking for a job - I was asking for advice. I generally asked the following questions:
I HAVE NO IDEA! I am a clueless 26 year old! :) But see below for advice and stories from others that have really shaped how I feel about this question.
I was strongly inspired by Charlie Hoen’s Recession-Proof Graduate Guide which I read going into my senior year in college. I re-tooled the advice to work for me (which basically meant NOT working for free) and I set out to interview every engineering firm in the Spokane and Couer de’Alene area. I wasn’t asking for a job - I was asking for advice. I generally asked the following questions: Understand the power of compounding. On personal finance, I got this right. The longer your money is in the market, the greater the effect of compounding. One week of diligent financial planning before 25 can literally save you millions over a lifetime. On learning, I got this wrong. I found a barrier to learning things that I wasn’t heavily invested in. It seemed impractical. If you’re not going to become an expert, if you’re not working towards becoming the top 1% and carving yourself a niche, what’s the point? Before 25, I had six months of unemployment with this fear of investing time learning skills I didn’t see myself becoming an expert in. Three months into my next job, I was learning the same skills I was previously fearful of committing to -- in order to find a way out of the skill-set I had just signed a contract to become an expert on. For the first time, I realized how much learning seemingly dissimilar things has overlap and compounds your knowledge of many skills. Janet: "I would tell myself to start thinking about your financial future. Your life changes as you age. In many obvious ways, but also how you are perceived by employers and where you add value. I’m at this juncture. The traditional path is one way and it’s no longer as viable. When I talk to recruiters or executives they say, "Oh you’re so senior… and you made so much money….” It’s both the perception that you have no runway and the fear you’ll ask for too much. And it’s crazy. Really it is crazy. And at this point in my career I don’t just want to be the cog in the wheel at one of these places, but that’s where you make the money. Frankly, this is the kind of thing people your age don’t get. Yes, Computer Science is where you want to be. But this college isn't. Find a better school. Get a better divorce lawyer, one that can see how timid you are and fight for you - get what you deserve. Don't use fucking credit cards. No, seriously. STOP! Trust your gut - if someone is draining you, leave 'em in the dust. You'll take too long, and they'll take some of you with them. You don't have to be friends with everyone. Spend more time in .NET, you'll need it for, like, the rest of your career. Exercise. Like actually do it. Seriously, your metabolism is slowing way down and it's hard to go back after this. Stay in therapy longer. All in all, if nothing changes, you'll end up pretty ok. "Ha, I wish I knew so much at 25. For one, I wish I knew a fraction of what Kate Catlin knows now! For example, I wish I knew the importance of exercise, taking care of one's body and not using/abusing drugs and cigarettes. I also wish that I had better money management skills in my mid 20's, as it is important to plan for financial stability, in addition to health and wellness. Finally, I wish that I better understood at 25 the importance and value of other's over oneself. I am grateful to have figured these things out, alongside the love of my life and my kids, that I never thought I wanted at 25!" "Don't chase the pussy, chase the money.
"Oh man. My biggest mistake was when I was buying my first house. I got GOT you know what I'm saying? They really sold me.
Do your OWN research before you buy a house. Don't trust what nobody tells you." Here's the most practical advice I can share with you:
It's a huge target, but I think that it's something everyone should strive for. Terry: "Well I suppose I'd just tell myself everything I know now."
Kate: "What if you just had to boil it down to a couple things?" Terry: "Well then... Number one, pay attention to what you do for a living and make sure it's something you love. Number two, make sure you're putting money away for when you can't do it anymore." "Find something your really good at and then just kick ass at it. But I mean, REALLY kick ass. When I started my business I worked 29 days out of 30, super long days, because I had a goal and I wanted to make it work. But make sure that when you're done, you can just be done. I saved all the money and was building this place up on the weekends. I mean it was a shit-hole when I bought it. But then when I left my business, I came up here and had it all." Follow your heart, trust your gut, and strike while the iron is hot.
You're a better person than you think you are. Happiness comes from freedom. Freedom is having the clarity to see what's in front of you, the grit to do something about it, and the money to make it possible. (P.S. 25-year-old me: You have to practice; I'm still working on this :) Live within your means, don't borrow money, payments make you a slave. Have a few months in the bank, and save 15% for retirement. If you find yourself stuck in something that makes you miserable, you can get out. Life it too short. Aspire to be the kind of life-partner you want to meet, and try to get 1% better every day. Most of life is just showing up. Oh and one last thing, 25 year old me: Get off of your ass! The good life is like a bike tour: travel light, talk to strangers, try to live on $10 a day, do new things, and spend every dime...every ounce of energy...every day...on adventure.
Don't waste time in jobs that aren't taking you somewhere you want to be. Make intentional career choices and always look ahead to where each position is taking you. The right job can be fun while also allowing you the (financial, time, location) flexibility to also achieve your other aims in life.
Save money. Spend smart. Travel is especially expensive, but a great goal is to explore nearer to where you live. A trip doesn't have to be exotic to be exciting. Get to know wherever you are currently living like you grew up there. Take time to chill out. Mental health is important, and like all other areas of health it doesn't come for free. Learn to apologize and mean it. If you don’t mean it, figure out why. If it’s a good reason to not mean it, seek outside advice on the topic. Sometimes it’s important to suck it up and apologize even if you don’t mean it, because a main part of any relationship is compromise.
It’s ok to make mistakes. Learn from them, make yourself better, and do not make the same mistakes again. It’s ok to have no idea what is around the bend for you. Life takes many different paths, and changes can come when you are least expecting them. Everything in moderation. Unless you are allergic to it. In the same vein, be willing and open to try most new things at least once before deciding on them. Unless, of course, you are allergic to them. Read Mr. Money Mustache. He will change your outlook on life and help you save your money and make it work for you. Talking about money, pay yourself first. Read MMM, you will find out the how/why. People keep talking about children. I don’t know if I will have them. They are a part of the human experience, yes, but so are many other things. I just wanted to provide another viewpoint and let you know that it is ok to not have them if you do not want. It is also ok to have them. It is even also ok to change your mind throughout life. Unless you have kids and then 10 years later do not decide you want them. You made that commitment, already. Deal with it. Listen to your heart, but temper it with reason and understanding. We are human, and our heart and feelings are a major part of us. I was going to put something on here about marriage/long-term relationships, but Erika has covered it nicely. I do want to add that love alone is never enough to make a relationship or marriage work, and that it takes an open line of communication and trust, too. With that being said, find someone who makes you feel things you have never felt before, and love them wholly and completely. Communicate with them, trust them, love them, and you will overcome anything.
Hal is the jolliest man I'd ever been in a car with. He had 3 pieces of advice:
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AuthorKate Catlin-- some woman who loves biking, learning, sales and thinking about being a better person. Categories
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