Advice for my 16-year-old self (in today's world):
1. Your first job (16) should be as a waiter
Developing soft skills, dealing with difficult customers, and working with immigrants, convicts, dropouts, addicts, single moms, and people who don't even have passports will teach you more than you could ever learn at an Ivy League school.
Your second job (18) should be as a bartender.
Successfully navigating the drunk and entitled will teach you lifelong skills, and your results are measured nightly in the form of tips.
And it’s more fun.
1. Your first job (16) should be as a waiter
Developing soft skills, dealing with difficult customers, and working with immigrants, convicts, dropouts, addicts, single moms, and people who don't even have passports will teach you more than you could ever learn at an Ivy League school.
Your second job (18) should be as a bartender.
Successfully navigating the drunk and entitled will teach you lifelong skills, and your results are measured nightly in the form of tips.
And it’s more fun.
2. College is mostly a scam
Load up on college credits in high school, go to a state school (like UT), focus on having fun and networking, then graduate debt-free in 2-3 years and travel the world for a year.
90% of college kids already use AI to complete assignments, and most elite universities are indoctrination camps, so what’s the point?
Load up on college credits in high school, go to a state school (like UT), focus on having fun and networking, then graduate debt-free in 2-3 years and travel the world for a year.
90% of college kids already use AI to complete assignments, and most elite universities are indoctrination camps, so what’s the point?
3. Look outside your social circles
Diverse experiences with people from all backgrounds are more fulfilling than echo chambers.
Cliques are dumb.
The Asian kids at my boarding school sat at the nerd table. 10 years later, I moved to Hong Kong, and learned that they owned the nightclubs and racehorses, and drove orange Lambos.
Diverse experiences with people from all backgrounds are more fulfilling than echo chambers.
Cliques are dumb.
The Asian kids at my boarding school sat at the nerd table. 10 years later, I moved to Hong Kong, and learned that they owned the nightclubs and racehorses, and drove orange Lambos.
4. Don’t emulate social media bros
Emulate the 40yr olds who are at the country club at 2pm on a Tuesday.
Emulate the 40yr olds who are at the country club at 2pm on a Tuesday.
5. Understand that the world is changing fast
Success should be defined as doing what you love and doing it well. Where you go to college and what your first job is will not, and should not, define you as a person.
So, don’t worry about it.
Success should be defined as doing what you love and doing it well. Where you go to college and what your first job is will not, and should not, define you as a person.
So, don’t worry about it.
6. The secret to happiness is accepting your reality
Never stop trying to improve your reality, but along the way, accept it.
Anything else breeds negativity and resentment.
There will always be people richer, smarter, and better-looking than you, in ways that don’t seem fair.
Accept it, and play your hand.
Never stop trying to improve your reality, but along the way, accept it.
Anything else breeds negativity and resentment.
There will always be people richer, smarter, and better-looking than you, in ways that don’t seem fair.
Accept it, and play your hand.
7. Devote at least 10 hours a week to self-education
You can learn more, for free, from YouTube in a week than you can learn at Harvard Business School.
Feed and nurture an intellectual curiosity. We live in a world of free university courses, YouTube tutorials, podcasts, and even Instagram health and fitness guides. There’s an infinite amount of knowledge at your fingertips.
And it never hurts to be knowledgeable and conversant on an eclectic range of topics; it makes you a better and more interesting person.
If Elon can teach himself how to build a rocket, you can teach yourself how to play the violin or why solid state batteries will make solar viable and enable AGI.
You can learn more, for free, from YouTube in a week than you can learn at Harvard Business School.
Feed and nurture an intellectual curiosity. We live in a world of free university courses, YouTube tutorials, podcasts, and even Instagram health and fitness guides. There’s an infinite amount of knowledge at your fingertips.
And it never hurts to be knowledgeable and conversant on an eclectic range of topics; it makes you a better and more interesting person.
If Elon can teach himself how to build a rocket, you can teach yourself how to play the violin or why solid state batteries will make solar viable and enable AGI.
8. Don’t wait for the perfect pitch
Real life is not baseball. There’s no free trip to first base, and you’re not limited to three strikes. Just keep swinging, and your “luck” will improve.
Real life is not baseball. There’s no free trip to first base, and you’re not limited to three strikes. Just keep swinging, and your “luck” will improve.
9. Drinking isn't a fulfilling hobby
Alcohol is terrible for you, even in small quantities. It increases cortisol, which causes stress and anxiety, disrupts your sleep, destroys fitness progress and muscle recovery, increases estrogen and decreases testosterone, diminishes productivity, and causes long term cardiovascular damage.
It also damages the prefrontal cortex, which impacts memory, impulse control, and cognitive ability.
Occasional drinking is fine, but what’s the point? It’s never been easier to abstain from alcohol, and it’s important to start young. You'll discover that you don't need it socially; it's more fun to be present.
Learn how to navigate the world without it.
Alcohol is terrible for you, even in small quantities. It increases cortisol, which causes stress and anxiety, disrupts your sleep, destroys fitness progress and muscle recovery, increases estrogen and decreases testosterone, diminishes productivity, and causes long term cardiovascular damage.
It also damages the prefrontal cortex, which impacts memory, impulse control, and cognitive ability.
Occasional drinking is fine, but what’s the point? It’s never been easier to abstain from alcohol, and it’s important to start young. You'll discover that you don't need it socially; it's more fun to be present.
Learn how to navigate the world without it.
10. Never harp, worry, or wallow in fear
It doesn’t help.
It doesn’t help.
11. Swap the podcasts for books
Reading allows you to borrow someone else’s brain, and have a conversation with the most consequential minds in history.
Keep physical copies (trophies) and amass a meaningful library over time.
Reading allows you to borrow someone else’s brain, and have a conversation with the most consequential minds in history.
Keep physical copies (trophies) and amass a meaningful library over time.
12. Write daily—for reflection, idea generation, and preserving memories
Therapy isn’t real (for most people), but reflection is important. Writing is a valuable tool for reflecting and for idea generation.
My drunken journal of notes and memories in banking gave me a NYT bestseller. But more important, many of those memories would’ve been forgotten had I not written them down. I just wish I had done more of it.
Therapy isn’t real (for most people), but reflection is important. Writing is a valuable tool for reflecting and for idea generation.
My drunken journal of notes and memories in banking gave me a NYT bestseller. But more important, many of those memories would’ve been forgotten had I not written them down. I just wish I had done more of it.
13. Lift weights, and get better educated on health and fitness
In a world where 50% of men are obese, it’s never been easier to demonstrate high-value status physically.
Adopt better habits at a younger age with greater priority on weight training and muscle-building.
Diet is not rocket science: Keep a simple “calories in, calories out” approach; emphasize proteins while minimizing consumption of sugar, alcohol, seed oils, processed foods, sodium nitrates, factory-farmed proteins, and exposure to microplastics.
In a world where 50% of men are obese, it’s never been easier to demonstrate high-value status physically.
Adopt better habits at a younger age with greater priority on weight training and muscle-building.
Diet is not rocket science: Keep a simple “calories in, calories out” approach; emphasize proteins while minimizing consumption of sugar, alcohol, seed oils, processed foods, sodium nitrates, factory-farmed proteins, and exposure to microplastics.
14. Focus on hobbies that will last a lifetime
You might not ever “retire,” but as soon as your money starts making more money than you make in a year, you should take control of your time and focus on wealth-building, passion projects, and leisure activities.
You won’t regret having developed a passion for hobbies that last a lifetime. For me, it’s fly fishing, ranching, photography, golf, and backgammon.
You might not ever “retire,” but as soon as your money starts making more money than you make in a year, you should take control of your time and focus on wealth-building, passion projects, and leisure activities.
You won’t regret having developed a passion for hobbies that last a lifetime. For me, it’s fly fishing, ranching, photography, golf, and backgammon.
15. Don’t waste much time watching pro sports
Spending an entire Sunday watching football, or letting the outcome of a game dictate your mood is a waste of time and energy. Instead, play a competitive sport for as long as you can.
The same goes with watching TV. Minimize the consumption of all mainstream media, limited to only basic awareness of what people in echo chambers are digesting to understand the zeitgeist. And instead of binge-watching Yellowstone, go ride a horse or get SCUBA certified.
Spending an entire Sunday watching football, or letting the outcome of a game dictate your mood is a waste of time and energy. Instead, play a competitive sport for as long as you can.
The same goes with watching TV. Minimize the consumption of all mainstream media, limited to only basic awareness of what people in echo chambers are digesting to understand the zeitgeist. And instead of binge-watching Yellowstone, go ride a horse or get SCUBA certified.
16. Focus on the habits, not the goals
Achieving a goal is only a momentary change. You need to change the systems that lead to the desired results.
Focus on the habits and “the score takes care of itself.”
Achieving a goal is only a momentary change. You need to change the systems that lead to the desired results.
Focus on the habits and “the score takes care of itself.”
17. Nurture a handful of close friendships
I’m not superstitious but if you smile at the world, the world smiles back. Cut negative people out of your life and sever unreciprocated relationships.
It’s so obvious, but you can literally choose your friends.
I’m not superstitious but if you smile at the world, the world smiles back. Cut negative people out of your life and sever unreciprocated relationships.
It’s so obvious, but you can literally choose your friends.
18. Ignore the boos; they usually come from the cheap seats.
Most people aren’t thinking about you, but even if they are, who cares.
Most people aren’t thinking about you, but even if they are, who cares.
19. Say "Thank You"
Not Thanks, or Thx, or Cheers.
Thank you.
Not Thanks, or Thx, or Cheers.
Thank you.
20. Be skeptical
A significant portion of everything you’ve been taught, from the textbooks to the news you read, and what you’ve been told to revere and aspire to, is a lie.
The people respected by society - academics, doctors, business leaders, and government leaders - are not all-knowing or even all that smart, and certainly not impervious to criticism or without sin.
A significant portion of everything you’ve been taught, from the textbooks to the news you read, and what you’ve been told to revere and aspire to, is a lie.
The people respected by society - academics, doctors, business leaders, and government leaders - are not all-knowing or even all that smart, and certainly not impervious to criticism or without sin.
21. Always maintain a positive outlook
Even if something “bad” - like losing a job or love interest - happens to you, you won’t really know if that event was actually good or bad for another 5 or 10 years.
And the answer is within your control.
Even if something “bad” - like losing a job or love interest - happens to you, you won’t really know if that event was actually good or bad for another 5 or 10 years.
And the answer is within your control.
22. Have a plan
You cannot rely on the government; no one is coming to save you.
Be prepared for social, political, and economic turmoil, even if it is a low probability event.
You cannot rely on the government; no one is coming to save you.
Be prepared for social, political, and economic turmoil, even if it is a low probability event.
23. Manual labor is therapy
A suntan is not bought; it is earned.
And the man who cuts the firewood gets warm twice.
A suntan is not bought; it is earned.
And the man who cuts the firewood gets warm twice.
24. Watch the sun rise
It’s self-explanatory; take an early morning walk: Fresh air, vitamin D, exercise, more productive days, quiet reflection, and much better sleep.
It’s self-explanatory; take an early morning walk: Fresh air, vitamin D, exercise, more productive days, quiet reflection, and much better sleep.
25. Go to bed tired
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
