4 ms·

For Heaven’s Sake, Finish It Off In Your 20′s

1 points by npguy 14y ago

nostrademons 14y ago
So, counterpoint: I'd argue that it's much more important to spend some of that time in your 20s putting in the effort learning how to stay hungry and stay foolish. Then you have the whole rest of your life to accomplish great things. I'm 31. I'm working on a project with a low chance of success, but it will change the world if it does succeed. (Granted, it's done as part of a large organization, but I also haven't ruled out startups if the large organization ceases to be a good place to innovate, and now I have the financial wherewithal to do so.) The main difference now vs. when I founded a startup at 26 is that now I know the chance of success is low, but I don't care. Because I've learned that just because I don't see a solution immediately doesn't mean that one doesn't exist. And that this is what I want to do, my basic needs are taken care of, and so it really doesn't matter if it doesn't work, I'll be happier having tried. And that other things that would otherwise be distractions are only distractions to the extent that I let them be so - my friends will be there when I want to invite them out, my bills are on auto-pay, and I have the right to say "no" to other projects at work. Your 20s are a time when you outgrow most of your insecurities and learn who you are and what you really care about. If accomplishing great things or founding a startup or just plain innovating is one of them, then you can do that for the rest of your life. If you're just doing it because the Internet says you should, then you won't be any happier having finished it off in your 20s than if you spent that time learning about yourself.
- npguy 14y ago
  Excellent points. But what are your views on the ambition getting a reality flavor part? You hear that from many gurus, that when you are young, you just don't know what is not possible?
  - nostrademons 14y ago
    That's a positive, as long as you don't confuse "reality" with "fear". If you're more able to assess risk and determine whether your idea has a chance of working without actually having to build it, that can only help you. The problem is that many people swing from one extreme ("It's guaranteed to work! I'm gonna be a millionaire!") to the other ("It'll never work! I better keep my day job.") If you can understand shades of gray and make calculated risks, it only gets better with experience.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]

1 points by npguy 14y ago

So, counterpoint: I'd argue that it's much more important to spend some of that time in your 20s putting in the effort learning how to stay hungry and stay foolish. Then you have the whole rest of your life to accomplish great things. I'm 31. I'm working on a project with a low chance of success, but it will change the world if it does succeed. (Granted, it's done as part of a large organization, but I also haven't ruled out startups if the large organization ceases to be a good place to innovate, and now I have the financial wherewithal to do so.) The main difference now vs. when I founded a startup at 26 is that now I know the chance of success is low, but I don't care. Because I've learned that just because I don't see a solution immediately doesn't mean that one doesn't exist. And that this is what I want to do, my basic needs are taken care of, and so it really doesn't matter if it doesn't work, I'll be happier having tried. And that other things that would otherwise be distractions are only distractions to the extent that I let them be so - my friends will be there when I want to invite them out, my bills are on auto-pay, and I have the right to say "no" to other projects at work. Your 20s are a time when you outgrow most of your insecurities and learn who you are and what you really care about. If accomplishing great things or founding a startup or just plain innovating is one of them, then you can do that for the rest of your life. If you're just doing it because the Internet says you should, then you won't be any happier having finished it off in your 20s than if you spent that time learning about yourself.

npguy 14y ago
Excellent points. But what are your views on the ambition getting a reality flavor part? You hear that from many gurus, that when you are young, you just don't know what is not possible?
- nostrademons 14y ago
  That's a positive, as long as you don't confuse "reality" with "fear". If you're more able to assess risk and determine whether your idea has a chance of working without actually having to build it, that can only help you. The problem is that many people swing from one extreme ("It's guaranteed to work! I'm gonna be a millionaire!") to the other ("It'll never work! I better keep my day job.") If you can understand shades of gray and make calculated risks, it only gets better with experience.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]