How Important Are My 20s?

I've been going down a rabbit hole of Jordan Shanks videos emphasising the importance of your 20s.

Also, from all the podcasts that I listen to, there is a great audience of young 20 year olds wanting to know the next best move is in their career, life, etc.

Read on if you're in your 20s. And want to hear a man's two cents.

Work Life Balance Is Bullsh*t

Recently, I did a couple of interviews to become a car salesman.

In the industry, we work from 8am– 5.30pm. 55 hours a week is common. Is that okay with you?

My response is from my current understanding of where I'm at with life,

"Yes. From my own reflection, especially for my young age, I don't think I can afford to have 'work life balance'."

The best life outcome is where you're able to integrate your work with your life. Essentially, the work you do fulfils a greater life purpose.

To the staunch believer of work life balance may say,

"What time, then, will I have for myself?"

The great opportunity that the internet and modern life has given us is choice. You can choose what work you go into. Or even, what work you want to create for yourself to produce value for the greater community.

Shanks also elucidates that inhibiting the idea of 'work life balance' frames work as 'bad', and anything other than work being 'good'. Inherently, I do not believe work is bad. What is though is doing work that serves no greater purpose.

"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how."— Friedrich Nietzsche

Often attributed to Viktor Frankl, a survivor of Auschwitz, shares the same quote emphasising the importance of establishing a strong 'why' to endure and hardship.

In the context of work, perhaps it's finding a better 'why'?

I credit the Asian culture in Australia for their strong work ethic. Their 'why' is their families, not wanting to live back home, to provide better opportunities for their children than what they had.

And to the skeptics and sloths,

"I don't want to work all the time."

Who says this has to be forever, my friend? In fact, is it a possibility to find or create work that makes it enjoyable to look forward to each new day.

The kind of work that makes you sad when you fall asleep, knowing there's more work to be done.

(That one was from Shanks as well)

"30s Is The New 20s"

In spirit of Hormozi,

"Your 30s are your 30s. And your 20s are your 20s."

What I think is phrase is breeds complacency. Permission to waste your 20s to the whims of hedonism.

For what happens when you are in your 30s, and did not grow up? How would it treat you? A man child? Someone who was lost?

Shanks again makes note that society tends to be more forgiving of 20 year olds. The best way to analogise this concept is going to the night clubs.

If you're 20, you are accepted into the decadent party. If you're 30, or God forbid 40, it's like,

"What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you have a family and kids?"

Perhaps it has to relate to societal expectation of what age you're meant to start adopting responsibility.

Choose A Path And Pursue It

Up until the age of 20, I've worked in eight different roles that span across retail, customer service, marketing internship, golf attendant.

When you're fresh out of high school, the chances of knowing what you want to do as a career is low. Of course it is. Because at that point you might have only worked at a fast food place, retail or a grocery store.

Doesn't help that you're still formulating your identity and what it means to be 'you'.

The advice Shanks gives is,

"Choose a path and go down it."

Even if you reach your 30s hating the path, you at least have the knowledge of what you don't like. For what is better? Having spent your 20s without an overarching narrative, or one where you walked the path?

The example Shanks gives is being an inexperienced 30 year old in a job interview. After years of travelling abroad, you end up with a resume that is scattered or not very notable.

That is not to say you cannot travel or experience experiences. Yet, you must ask yourself what life you want to create for yourself that will not want you to escape from it.

(For this reason, I don't see myself returning to Japan any time soon)

Prioritise Skill Acquisition

From every person I have watched and listen to, they mention that your 20s is the time to hone in on your chosen craft.

When going to each job, think of what new skills will be learnt to help more people in the future. Or even if you do not have the opportunity to have a job that provides skills, spend your spare time studying and learning.

What does studying look like? Reading, watching YouTube videos, practising in your spare time.

When it is time to be in the hot seat of an interview, you have the hours of practise and material studied to be confident. To be an equal with the person interviewing for the role.

Perhaps due to the globalisation of work and people are getting better at their jobs, there's a higher barrier to entry for entry-level jobs.

It's not sufficient to be good, but better.

(Good is stagnant. Better is in motion)

Shifting Into High Gear

Alex Hormozi proposes this be the working week of a young man,

"Work 12 hours a day. 6 days a week. You'll realise that you're not made of glass. And, you have it in you to do what it takes."

Work comes in seasons. For some, you may need to put in the hours to get a project done.

Then, Jordan is on the same spectrum adding that as a 20 year old we have a lot more energy and time. And when it comes to not being very skilled, those are the only two things we have leverage over.

Again, I think in terms of what is a better problem to have? To learn to work a lot, then getting a point in career to step back and delegate.

Or, having to learn how to work hard in the first place.

The Regret of 30 Year Olds

You either work in your 20s, wishing you lived them up. Or live up your 20s, wishing you worked more. Choose which regret you want. – Chris Williamson

Another problem of modernity, the abundance of choice. It becomes a question of regret we're willing to live with?

Do we become the 20 year old who focuses on study, work and building his own projects? Abstaining from alcohol, partying, drugs.

Or, indulge in the hedonistic lifestyle, pushing our days of labour away to our 30s?

From what I've read, no one really regrets having worked in their 20s.

Offhandedly, I think of not attending my high school graduation after party. Do I regret not staying up until the sun came up with the same peers I spent my Senior years of high school?

No, I don't think so.

The same reason why now, having gone to the nightclubs enough to count on one of my hands, I don't go.

I know what it instills for me. There is no joy in observing debauchery and drunkenness. To let my presence and exchange of value validate it.

Atypically, after 10pm at the clubs, I tend to fuck off.

(Another reason I don't go to the clubs has to do with reputation. I do not want the connotations that night clubs bring to associate with me. As well, how embarrassing to be seen in such a place if I practise beliefs that are against its establishment?)

You Are The Asset You're Investing Into

"Don't invest in the S&P500. Invest in the S&Me500." – Alex Hormozi

Adds onto the idea of skill acquisition. Perhaps the greatest return in income you will have is learning more skills. Sometimes, these skills can be bought by buying other people's times.

These could be courses, coaching, education, etc.

The one thing that the Government cannot take away from you is your skills and education. That was something Alex was taught by his Iranian father who had his family's assets seised by the government.

The Direction Is More Important

In writing all this, Shanks makes the point that the individual actions you take do not matter. What matters more in the grand scheme is the direction in which you go in.

It's for this reason I advise that even if you are indecisive in what path to take, at least walk in a general direction.

"When you stop growing, you're dying."– William S. Burroughs

If you place too much importance in individual actions, you will mistake the forest for the trees.

Compound effect > Individual actions

(The relationship between action and compounding effects is akin to the relationship of faith and works. You cannot compound if there was nothing to compound in the first place. Same for faith, there must be fruits of one's labour.)

Authenticity

Be you.

And I'm not talking about what your peers want. Are the actions and direction you're taking in your interest, or in the interest of gaining validation from your peers?

That is why there is a culture of being financially worse off. It's better to buy the designer brands and new shiny object in order to impress strangers and feel better about yourself.

If the ability to feel good about yourself rests on external validation, then there is no true control over one's happiness.

The only path to shortcut external validation it is being your authentic self. A person who can see the bigger picture of their trajectory.

Back To The Original Question

How important are your 20s?

I'd say pretty fucking important.

There will be no other time in your life where you have the same energy, mental and physical capacity and ability to go all in.

I know it might sound cliche that 'you only have one life'. But, don't waste 12.5% of your life thinking you will make up for it.

You can't, and you won't.

Time keeps marching forward.

And, what are you going to do about it?