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[Thread]: 18 Things I Wish Someone Would've Told Me When I Was 18
1.) The college you attend doesnât matter as much as you think it does, UNLESS itâs truly a top 10 program at a top 10 university (see: entrepreneurship at Babson).
1.) The college you attend doesnât matter as much as you think it does, UNLESS itâs truly a top 10 program at a top 10 university (see: entrepreneurship at Babson).
2.) Be an engineer. Seriously, if you have the capacity for it, be an engineer. Youâll have job security and solid wages forever.
3.) Donât let fear hold you back. Learn to quiet your lizard brain and always ask yourself, whatâs the worst that could happen? Donât be careful, donât move slowly and donât compromise. Taking risks will separate you from the people who are scared to, who are comfortable.
4.) Learn personal finance. It amazes me how terrible people are with money. Avoid credit card debt at all costs. Learn to automate your finances so that you donât have to think about them and everything is systematized to work for you.
5.) DO NOT take out student loans unless you absolutely have to (see number #1).
6.) Work for free. @charliehoehn's Recession Proof Graduate is the best primer youâll read on the subject. Acquiring unique and significant experiences from/with intelligent people in your field will really separate you from your peers.
7.) Unleash your inner entrepreneur â the ability to make money on the side when youâre in a pinch⊠thatâs real job security. Companies are not as loyal as they were âback in the day.â If you get laid off, side project money can sustain you until you get back on you feet.
8.) Chase the 
, not passion. This will be counter intuitive to the advice you normally hear, but very, very few of you truly know what you want to do when youâre leaving college, much less high school. Passion isnât something you find, itâs something you cultivate over time.
, not passion. This will be counter intuitive to the advice you normally hear, but very, very few of you truly know what you want to do when youâre leaving college, much less high school. Passion isnât something you find, itâs something you cultivate over time.
9.) Stop being so entitled. We got a trophy for participating and now we think we deserve $60,000 and a corner office fresh out of college. The truth is you donât and nobody owes you anything. Put your head down, start grinding and prove yourself.
10.) Never stop learning. Ever. Read books, read blogs, watch TED talks, but donât ever stop learning. Americans watch insane amounts of 
every evening. I think The Wire is phenomenal, but build in a couple of hours a week to learn something new. Itâs a great way to get ahead.
every evening. I think The Wire is phenomenal, but build in a couple of hours a week to learn something new. Itâs a great way to get ahead.
11.) Find a way to separate yourself from your peers. Whether itâs a niche youâre passionate about or just something you have an aptitude for, find a way to be a little different.
12.) Always, always do what you say youâre going to do. Part of this is managing expectations, but beyond that itâs about building trust that will serve you well in the workplace. Your integrity is your most valuable asset â treat it as such.
13.) Be likeable. People hire people they like & would want to work with. Your managers can teach you what they want you to know, but they canât teach you to be an awesome person. If the qualifications are even marginally close, the person they like the most gets hired every time
14.) No matter how awesome a potential significant other is on paper (i.e. heâs tall, sheâs smart, his family is great, sheâs wealthy), you canât make it work unless thereâs excellent chemistry. And IF there is excellent chemistry, those other things matter less than you think.
15.) Stop eating so much crap. Youâll probably have lots of boyfriends/girlfriends, tons of different jobs & live in countless places, but you only have one body. Eat healthy and work out. A poor diet and a lack of sleep adversely affect your entire life.
16.) Experiences are worth more than gadgets. I realize our phones are an extension of us now, but aside from that, youâre going to remember the spring break trip you took with your friends way more than your PS3. Simplify your life; you donât need more stuff.
17.) Ask for help. Many people have too much pride to ask for help, but very few people âgot to the topâ alone. Try to provide value to the other person first, but donât hesitate to ask for help.
18.) It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it. Youâve probably heard this before, but there are few statements as true and as important to your happiness as this one.
/FIN
/FIN
