To An 18 Year Old Me
I recently met a guy on the internet who was 18 years old and unsure what to do with his life.
He was an introvert, certain that he was smart, but also certain of being lazy.
This is a list of life hacks I gave him.
- Fall in love with life and be utterly grateful that you, specifically, was given this opportunity to make a real difference in the world.
- Don’t give in to the nihilistic culture of the day and turn off all news sources.
- Get addicted to using tutorials on YouTube as leisure time, in whatever field you find even somewhat interesting. Also get addicted to motivational videos because, despite how cringe they may seem, improve your mindset drastically and make you more mentally resilient.
- Go on Upwork and find something that slightly interests you. Then take that field of study and get addicted to tutorials in it. As you get better, sell your services on Upwork. Start selling yourself before you feel like you’re ready, because you’re probably ready.
- There is no shortcut, therapy, or life hack to feeling good about yourself. The only thing that works is by being good at something. No one can take that away from you, not even yourself.
- Cold email anyone you find impressive. If you see them on TV, 5% chance they’ll respond. If they’re an expert in your field but not widely known, 30% they’ll respond. Ask about career advice, any question on your mind, and keep your email as short as possible (maximum two sentences).
- Never ever victimize yourself and always believe that your brain is in control. This is the only way to overcome addiction, fight against apathy, and to make the world a better place.
- Leadership, communication, and sales are essential skills, but you should learn a craft as your main endeavor. This might be programming, music, or electronics.
- Explore and go down the interesting paths. Waste time. Be bored. Travel the world. Get inspired. Go be alone. If you’re an introvert, this can often be a superpower because nearly no one will be on the internet as much as you and learn as much as you as a result, if you follow the above advice.
- Learn through projects and invite friends to collaborate with. Find friends who are excited about craftsmanship and dislike politics. Friends should give you energy, not take it. Find those and be one yourself.
- Host random events at your house at regular intervals that intellectually stimulate you and give you social energy. This should be possible even as an introvert with the people you feel safe with.
- Curate your social groups. It’s super valuable making a 10 person peer support group (read: cult) with people that share your vibe. This can take 10 years to find but it’s worth it. Go to conferences for the things you like and share your interests wholeheartedly. Own your vices.
