A thoughtful question popped up in my Facebook group: “What advice would you give to those in their early 20s, or what would you go back and tell yourself?” I thought it would be interesting to kick off my bio page with some intriguing thoughts.

Your 20s: A Time for Transformation

Ah, the 20s—a time of boundless energy, endless possibilities, and the occasional questionable decision. If I could hop into a time machine and have a chat with my younger self, here’s the wisdom I’d share, sprinkled with a bit of humor and reality checks. Your 20s are a transformative decade, often filled with new experiences, opportunities, and challenges. It’s a time when many young adults make crucial decisions about education, careers, and finances. While traditional paths like college can be beneficial, they are not the only route to success.

Listen to an AI Generated Summary in Podcast format here:

My Journey in the 20s

My 20s were in the early 2000s, right after 9/11. When I was growing up in the 90s, I was pretty sheltered, I would say. Hard not to be, growing up on a massive farm in the rural country where the nearest friend was miles away, but we still had the internet, even though it was dial-up. I had this inkling in the back of my mind that the internet would someday be an absolute requirement for life. Little did I know that my career path would take me into the depths of technology and open my mind to the wild possibilities of income streams.

However, in the 90s, college was absolutely drilled into everyone’s head. Probably because most of our parents never went or had the money to go. At that time, going to college meant that you would be making more money than the average person once you were out. What they didn’t tell you is that you would incur massive debt because your parents didn’t have the ability to send you in the first place. I honestly dreaded the idea because, at the time, what I was interested in didn’t exist. It wasn’t until several years later, and several thousand dollars later, that I figured out that no schooling could prepare you for a skill set that didn’t exist in a traditional four-year degree at a university.

No, what I had to do was go to one of those trade schools, which ended up being DeVry—massive error on my part in terms of learning a specific skill set, and way too much money spent. Everything I learned, I learned on the job through trial and error, and finally got good enough at what I was doing to become marketable. That ended up being VMware, and here I am today, 11.5 years in and doing pretty well in my career. Also, during the early 2000s, cloud technology and technology, in general, were not what they are today, obviously. So this begs the question, if I were in my 20s today, in 2024, what would I do differently? Here’s what I have come up with.

Reconsider the Traditional College Route (Just Don’t Do It)

The idea that a college degree is essential for success is completely outdated. A waste of time, energy, and money. While higher education can provide valuable knowledge and connections, it often comes with a hefty price tag. For many, the debt incurred from student loans can outweigh the benefits of a degree, especially if the field of study does not guarantee a high-paying job. Unless you are going to be a doctor, a lawyer, or a teacher, or some other role that definitely requires a lot of study, just don’t do it.

Consider Alternative Education Paths: (Learning is Free, or Super Inexpensive)

  • Online Courses and Certifications: Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer affordable courses in various fields, including digital marketing, coding, and web design.
  • YouTube and TikTok are Free: If you want to learn something new, just open up YouTube and TikTok and get on the side of the algorithm that shows you the videos. If you don’t know how to do something, chances are, someone else can teach you.
  • Apprenticeships and Internships: Gaining hands-on experience can be more valuable than classroom learning. Look for opportunities to work with experienced professionals who can mentor you.

Prioritize Financial Independence

One of the most empowering steps you can take in your 20s is to achieve financial independence. This involves earning a steady income, saving diligently, and making smart investment choices. If you can, stay with your parents and save as much money as possible. Or find roommates and find the cheapest living possible for a year or two. I’d rent for a couple of years, and save up enough money to buy your first fixer-upper. Do the work yourself. Teach yourself how to do things, and research how to fix it on your own first. If it’s too big of a job, find a professional who is reasonable and ask them if you can watch the work, or even help out (just like an apprentice). You will find that having these skills in manual labor will save you a ton of time and money in the future, especially if you need to get a contractor to do some work for you. At least you will know that they are not taking advantage of you. Don’t eat out too much. Learn how to cook at home, stop going to Starbucks every morning. If you like coffee, buy a good coffee machine and learn to make it at home. Again, TikTok and YouTube are gold mines for this. Same principle as before. If you learn this skill early on, when you start having a family, saving money by not eating out as much will be a blessing in disguise.

Key Financial Strategies:

  • Invest in Real Estate: Real estate is a long-term investment that can provide stable returns. Whether it’s purchasing a home or investing in rental properties, holding onto real estate can be a solid financial strategy. Start out with a fixer-upper and live in it while you are fixing it up. It might suck for a couple of years, but the feeling you get by knowing you’ve done it yourself will be extremely rewarding and will also help you down the line. I’ve sold 2 properties that I have lived in and rented out. Selling them was one of the worst decisions I made. They are worth more than double what I sold them for now.
  • Avoid Unnecessary Debt: Be cautious about taking on debt, especially for non-essential items. Focus on saving and investing instead. There are a ton of apps that make saving and investing easy these days. Track politicians and their trades. They usually seem to do pretty well once in office, so why not take advantage? Save as much money, as fast as possible early on. Invest some of it, and save most of it. You never know when you are going to need an emergency fund.
  • Do not buy a new car: Dumbest mistake I’ve ever made. Buy something used, that is reliable. Preferably with cash. Don’t spend more on it than you can afford if you need to get a loan. Save the money for when you actually can afford a new car, and you will appreciate it more.

Build Marketable Skills (Not Just in Your Career Path)

In the digital age, skills like digital marketing, web design, and coding are in high demand. These skills can often be self-taught and offer the potential for lucrative careers. You need to have multiple skills in order to survive in the modern age, especially with Generative Artificial Intelligence. If you are not using ChatGPT, Claude, or Llama right now, you are going to be left behind. This is akin to the internet in the 90s. Had I not started understanding internet technology then, I can’t imagine where I would be now. It’s very scary to think about.

Skills to Focus On:

  • Digital Marketing: Learn how to promote products and services online, from SEO to social media and affiliate marketing.
  • Web Design and Development: Creating and managing websites is a valuable skill that can be applied across various industries. Its so easy to do now with no-code builders.
  • Coding: Understanding the basics of programming can open doors to numerous tech-related opportunities. You don’t have to be a serious coder, but understanding the concepts of code are extremely beneficial.
  • Generative AI: This is an essential skill that is going to force companies to rethink how they hire employees.
  • Automation: Everything can be automated. Tools like Make.com are extremely easy to use, and there are plenty of videos out there of people that are showcasing what automation can do for any business. This is a side project I am working on right now.

Create a Personal Brand

In a competitive job market, standing out is essential. Building a personal brand can help you establish your reputation and showcase your expertise.

Tips for Building Your Brand:

  • Develop an Online Presence: Use social media, a personal website, or a blog to share your insights and experiences. I would RUN to TikTok and start making your brand. It doesn’t have to be anything super special, just you. Get enough followers and start doing TikTok Shop. Funny enough, people are making hundreds of thousands of dollars by promoting products. Affiliate marketing has been around longer than the internet, so no reason why you can’t do this too as a side hustle. Stack that cash!
  • Network Actively: Attend industry events, join online communities, and connect with like-minded professionals. Find a Facebook Group, a meetup, a Discord channel, or even Reddit. You will pick up on success stories that can help you build your brand even further.

Surround Yourself with the Right People

The people you associate with can significantly influence your mindset and opportunities. Surround yourself with ambitious, intelligent individuals who challenge and inspire you. Find people who are smarter than you, ask a lot of questions, and don’t be too shy. Most, if not all, of these people were in the same boat you are at one point in your life, so their experiences can help guide you to furthering your goals and aspirations.

Cultivate a Positive Network:

  • Mentors and Role Models: Seek out mentors who can provide guidance and support.
  • Peer Group: Build relationships with peers who share your goals and values.

Conclusion

Your 20s are a time to explore, learn, and build the foundation for your future. By considering alternative education paths, prioritizing financial independence, building marketable skills, creating a personal brand, and surrounding yourself with the right people, you can set yourself up for long-term success. Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to navigating this decade, but with the right strategies, you can make the most of these formative years.