Thread by @solomonking

To every fresh graduate (and student) asking "What's Next?", here's the no-bullshit response.

0. Your Health. Everything you dream of is meaningless if you're unhealthy.

You're at your peak right now, so eat well, drink moderately, practise fitness. Your body will thank you.

1. Work. It's time for the real grind. The world will only reward you for the effort you put in. At this stage, you'll only be exchanging your time for money. That's it.

Work hard. Understand the job, understand the company, understand the industry.

Then start working smart.

2. Wake up. Dress up. Show up. Step up.

I don't care whether it's your own hustle, a job, a family business, etc. Always show up, always step up.

Whatever you choose to do today, do it to the best of your ability. Nothing hurts (and sucks) like regret years down the road.

3. Learn. A lot of tough very life lessons are coming your way. Learn from them. Grow from them.

Learn. You need to build your skills to begin earning more either through higher pay or diversified income. You have to study more than you ever studied at school.

4. Toughen up. The world of work is chaos. There is hurt. There is pain. There are people who will drive you insane. And the places and people that were your refuge will disappear.

You will have amazing days, and you'll have really, really bad days. Wade through the storm.

5. Be patient. True legitimate success takes time. The things you're dreaming about now will not arrive for the next 5-10 years. But if you're intentional about continuous growth, build your skills, and work diligently and patiently, you will be successful.

6. Master money. Learn how to save from Day 1. Save 20% of EVERY SINGLE payment you get.

Master this one discipline.

This is a deep personal regret for me. But let's just say broke at 30 slaps different.

Save. Save. Save. You'll be surprised how much you'll have in 10 years.

7. Understand Time. It's said that we overestimate what we can do in 1 year and under-estimate what we can do in 10 years.

Pace yourself, look at the big picture, break down your goals into 10-year, 5-year, 2-year, annual, and monthly goals and you'll be unstoppable.

8. Focus on you. Stop comparing yourself to Celebrity X or Influencer Y. While you're wishful thinking, they're grinding. Some of these celebrities work harder in 1 day than you'll wish to work in 1 month.

Focus on you, grow into yourself, let Future You become your hero.

9. Compound Interest. Learn it, understand it, master it, leverage it and you'll discover a (slow) but extremely effective roadmap to wealth.

Also, compound interest comes with Patience (point 5) and Money Mastery (point 6). These three are inseparable.

10. There's no quick money. Don't chase instant wealth dreams. You know the ones I'm talking about. "There's a ka deal here." "If you buy X and convince five friends to buy X and they also..."

Those roads only lead to heartbreak.

Be patient, be consistent, be intentional.

11. For the love of Batman, please learn to write well, spell well and have proper grammar. Communicate well and professionally. Your writing is almost always the first interaction people will have with you, and you know what they say about first impressions.

12. Keep hold of what's important.

In all of this, don't forget to make time for friends and family.

The older you get, the more friendships die or fade away and the harder it is to make new friends.

Spend time with family, you will start losing them and regret is a bitch.

13. Enjoy life.

It's not all about money or wealth. Find your purpose, be kind to others, practise empathy and above all, take the time to stop and be thankful.