20 Things I Should Have Known at 20

Original author: Julien Smith. Translation by Vitaly Chuzha (hDrummer).

I turned 37 recently. Here are 20 things I wish I had known when I was 20.

1. The world is trying to keep you stupid.

From bank fees and interest rates to miracle diets — it's easier to extract money from uneducated people and easier to manipulate them. Educate yourself as much as possible if you want to achieve wealth, independence, and happiness.

2. Don't blindly trust educational institutions.

The education system becomes outdated faster than curricula can change. It's better to learn through leadership and practice. By the time an institution teaches something, the world has already moved on.

3. Read as much as you can.

Master speed reading with high retention. If other people read 2-3 books per week, you can read at least one. Reading is the single most reliable way to absorb the accumulated wisdom of humanity.

4. Constantly communicate with everyone.

Become a master communicator. Find the best in people and appeal to those qualities. Your network and your ability to connect with others will be the single greatest asset in your life.

5. Don't waste time on modesty.

Modesty is the belief that your emotions should dictate your decisions. But the opposite is true. Make decisions based on rational analysis, not on how uncomfortable something makes you feel.

6. If something unpleasantly surprises you in a relationship,

that is probably the exact thing you'll feel relieved about when you end it. Trust your instincts about red flags — they rarely lie.

7. Spend time with people older than you.

They already know what you'll learn later. The decision-making frameworks of your peers won't help you nearly as much as the hard-won wisdom of those who came before you.

8. Find people who are better than you and spend time with them.

Don't try to be the average member of a group. Strive for excellence. Surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow, not those who make you comfortable in mediocrity.

9. Over time, you will become more conservative.

Your environment will create a "status quo bubble." That's why you should pursue your craziest ideas now — later, you'll be too afraid. The window for bold action is smaller than you think.

10. Minimize your expenses as much as possible.

This will create a financial buffer that enables you to pursue your most ambitious plans. Freedom comes from having options, and options come from having savings.

11. Build your status through experiences, not possessions.

A trip to Paris is worth more than a new wardrobe. Research consistently shows that experiences increase life satisfaction far more than material purchases. Objects depreciate; memories appreciate.

12. If you're living in poverty, solve the money problem first.

Plan with increasing horizons: first weeks, then months, then years, and eventually five-year plans. You can't focus on self-actualization when you're worried about next month's rent.

13. Learn to code.

Programming is the closest thing to a superpower available to ordinary people. Even if you don't become a professional developer, understanding how software works will give you an enormous advantage in almost any field.

14. Don't gain excess weight while you're young.

Your hormones are working in your favor right now — don't squander that advantage. It's much easier to maintain fitness than to reclaim it.

15. Learn to cook.

It will simplify your life, save you money, and transform a daily necessity into a genuine pleasure. Cooking is one of the few skills that pays dividends every single day.

16. Get enough sleep.

Sleep is critical for effectiveness. Sleep deprivation doesn't make you more productive — it makes you slower, dumber, and more prone to mistakes. Protect your sleep like you protect your salary.

17. Get a note-taking app.

Don't trust your brain's built-in memory. Write everything down. Ideas, observations, things you want to remember — externalize them. Your brain is for having ideas, not for storing them.

18. Set yourself a big, audacious goal.

Let serendipity help you. When you have a clear, ambitious goal, the universe conspires to help — opportunities appear that you wouldn't have noticed otherwise. With a goal, far more will happen than without one.

19. Become a specialist in one thing.

Spend five years developing mastery rather than wandering aimlessly. The world rewards depth, not breadth. A person who is truly excellent at one thing will always outperform someone who is mediocre at many things.

20. Don't try to fix people.

It's better to find those who aren't yet broken. You can inspire, you can lead by example, but you cannot fundamentally change someone who doesn't want to change. Invest your energy in people who are already moving in the right direction.