Find a job that you’re excited
to wake up and go to every morning. And if you can, save a little
money! Having a little financial freedom will allow you more room to
pursue your passions freely.
We’ve been called pre-adults, emerging adults, millennials, the
defining decade and the lost decade. We graduated during the worst
economy in recent memory and pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps to
recover what was lost. We’ve been told 80% of life’s most significant
events take place by age 35, but listened to other 20-somethings
daydream about “taking some time off,” presumably to spend more time
gaming. We have an intuitive sense that the foundation we lay now will
continue to carry us throughout life. We’ve seen lists on “20 Mistakes
You Don’t Want to Make” go viral and helped make it happen. One thing is
clear: we’re searching for answers on how to make sense of this messy
life we’re leading. I know, because this is my generation.
A few months ago, I spent an embarrassing number of days subsisting
on ramen and canned beans. Working from a “home office” translated to
“homebound,” because who has money for a $14 cocktail from the nearby
dive bar? My cupboard resembled Old Mother Hubbard’s — read: bare –
and going to a thrift shop transitioned from a hobby to a verb:
“thrift-shopping.” I could feel the judgment vibes from everyone who
wrote me “We believe in you!” cards for graduation.
The truth is, my 20-something experience isn’t so unusual. So, I
turned to some established success stories and carefully curated their
secrets. If you spend sleepless nights wondering whether you’re on the
brink of the next big thing or teetering dangerously close to spending
the rest of your life in your parents’ basement, read on. Here’s what
those who have gone before (and lived to tell the tale) have to say
about 20 tips to make the most of your 20s.
1. Don’t be afraid to jump at an opportunity. “In
your 20s, you’re still early in your career and life, so you not only
have less serious obligations (mortgage, family), but you also aren’t
entrenched in your work networks and what you’ve built as your career
story. That’s not to say to jump willy-nilly, but when an opportunity
presents itself that seems really unique or interesting, go for it! As
someone who started in accounting, then went to investing, and am now in
media, you never know where your experiences will lead you.” – Kara
Eschbach, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Verily Magazine
2. Don’t waste your time in a job you hate. ”Find a
job that you’re excited to wake up and go to every morning. And if you
can, save a little money! Having a little financial freedom will allow
you more room to pursue your passions freely.” – Chelsea Brownridge,
Co-Director and COO, Ignite Good
3. Stop complaining. “You are ultimately responsible
for your own happiness and success. If there is something you see wrong
in the world, you can do something about it!” – Maurya Couvares,
Founder, Scripted
4. Pick up the phone and make a cold call. “Don’t
buy into what others may prescribe for you; go after your passions.
Don’t be afraid to make that cold call, speak up in a meeting, or try
something that scares you every now and then. Ask for what you want and
you will get there a lot sooner than you think! There are no limits to
what you can accomplish.” – Danielle Deabler, NPR, creator of
“Generation Listen”
5. Write down your non-negotiables. “Your 20s are a
time to be selfish and to figure yourself out, what you like and more
importantly what you are not willing to tolerate. Figuring out your
non-negotiables is a must to happiness in the personal and professional
areas of your life.” – Rhoda Tamakloe, Senior Program
Coordinator, Kaplan Educational Foundation
6. Follow through. “Set goals each month and meet
them.” Enough said. – Penelope Trunk, renowned career coach, author,
entrepreneur from Brazen Careerist, blogs at Penelope Trunk.
7. Be revolutionary. “Don’t be afraid to be radical
in thought or action. This is your time be in that state of mind.
Throughout history, progress has been led by young folks who pushed the
boundaries of the acceptable (just check out how old the Founding
Fathers were). Promise, you can do that while still taking full
advantage of Netflix unlimited instant streaming.” – Taylor Jo Isenberg,
National Director, Roosevelt Institute | Campus Network
8. Do that thing you’re afraid of. “If you’re scared
of heights, skydive. If you’re scared of public speaking, join the
Toastmasters Club. If you’re scared of failure, do something you know
you aren’t good at, in front of people, if at all possible. Facing small
fears will make you a bolder and braver person in all other aspects of
your life and the big scary decisions – moving across the country,
quitting your job, starting your own company – won’t seem so scary.” –
Rachel Hurley, Independent Consultant
9. Be willing to embarrass yourself. “The
possibility for greatness and embarrassment both exist in the same
space. If you’re not willing to be embarrassed, you’re not willing to be
great. The biggest risk of our twenties would be never taking any risks
at all.” – Paul Angone, author of 101 Secrets for your Twenties,
founder of AllGroanUp.com
10. Accept failure. “The number one thing I learned
about how to make the most of your 20s was to accept failure and welcome
it as the stepping stone success. Fortunately, I had many opportunities
in my 20s to learn this lesson. My later success would not have been
possible without learning from these early failures. At the time I
wouldn’t have minded fewer failures, but they’re not only part of life,
they’re a valuable part of life.” – Arianna Huffington, author, Chair,
President and Editor-in-Chief of Huffington Post
11. Stop talking and start listening. “Our default
during this time can sometimes to be to assume we know most of the
answers. Even if you do, the outlook, perspective, vantage point (right
or wrong) of another will expand your horizon and context. Go into
everything with a humble assumption that you can learn something from
every single person in the room, then listen first and ask questions
after.” – Azita Ardakani, Founder, LoveSocial
12. Look ahead. “Being behind isn’t about comparing
yourself to other people. You’re behind in your 20s if you can’t get the
life you want for yourself by your 30s or 40s. Dare to be intentional
with your life, and to be real with yourself about what you think you
may want in 10 years. If that’s too scary, ask this question: If I keep living my life exactly as I am now, do I like where I’ll be in five years? If
not, then something needs to change because that’s where you’re on
track to wind up.” - Meg Jay, clinical psychologist and author of The
Defining Decade: Why Your 20s Matter – and How to Make the Most of Them
Now
13. Make time to stop and reflect. “Reflecting will
allow you to see the signs that the world is giving you about your
purpose. Once you find that purpose, jump at every opportunity to live
for your purpose. And hold on tight because it’s going to be a bumpy
ride.” – Rey Faustino, CEO and Founder, One Degree
14. Don’t take yourself too seriously. ”I think the
best way to make the most of your 20s is to not waste time being
anxious. I had so many new experiences in my 20s, both personally and
professionally. I was able to enjoy myself the most when I didn’t let
nerves get in the way. Most of the stuff I was worried about never
happened anyway!” – Anya Wallach, Producer, The Random Farms Kids’
Theater
15. Discover your purpose and origin. “If you
believe in a Creator, then know your Creator in order to discover your
Created Purpose. If you don’t believe in a Creator, then believe there’s
a legitimate reason why you were put on the planet. That gives you
genuine purpose. And purpose is a fuel that’s non-toxic to yourself and
others.” – Alice Rhee, two-time Emmy winning TV producer, Senior
Producer, PostTV
16. Choose your friends wisely. “The biggest lesson I
learned in my twenties was to look around at the people I was hanging
out with. Are they using their time and talents wisely? Have they
decided what and who they want to be in life? Your circle of influence
defines who you are.” – Amy Palmer, multiple Emmy-nominated TV host,
Founder & CEO of PowerWomenTV
17. Know that you’re more than your job. “In your
20s, it’s easy to rush through life to get as much as you can as quickly
as possible. We like to push themselves to the limit, throw ourselves
in the fire and never think we are never going to get burnt. But we do.
Instead, think about what makes you happy. You are more than your job.
You are a multi-faceted person. Slow down, breathe, and take the time to
realize you can create your own happiness in your life, and that
doesn’t just mean in your job.” – Amanda Slavin, CEO &
Founder, Catalyst Creative
18. Be honest. “I learned to make the most of my 20s
by being honest with myself, honest with my relationships, and honest
with how I see myself in society. This alone has created an unequivocal
sense of freedom.” – Tinia Pina, Founder and CEO, Re-Nuble
19. Realize that your 20s are going to fly by. “No
joke. The time is going to pass anyway. You’ll be 30 before you know it.
And when you wake up 30, the only question will be whether you gave it
your all. Just go for it! You might fail, but at least you had the guts
to try. If there’s something you want to do, then just go do it! Don’t
wait.” – Gene Gurkoff, Founder, Charity Miles
20. Don’t rush. “So many people in their 20s are in a
hurry to get to where they want to be: graduated, established,
promoted, in love. Your 20s are a time where it is ok to make mistakes
as long as you learn from them. Don’t be in a rush to be who you are
going to be. Just enjoy being who you are.” – Alicia Quarles, New York
Correspondent, E! News
Remember, YOLO!
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