This isn’t an easy question to answer, especially when you’ve been fortunate enough to be among the most successful members of your peer group by any definition of either “success” or “peer group,” but it’s a worthwhile exercise in reflection and gratitude all the same. So let’s do it!
What do I wish I knew 10 years ago ? What would I tell Pete just coming out of undergrad ? Here are a few things :
- Take 1-2mg of melatonin an hour before bed instead of lighting up a bowl of weed, it does the same thing.
- Postface your typically blunt commentary and advice with “I’m just teasing” or “I joke,” particularly with close friends and family.
- Take it easy on your brother, he’s the only one you have.i
- Keep diving deep, that’s where truth and beauty lie.
- Don’t worry about a “normal” career path, seek leverage.
- You can’t be too good at selling, practice the craft.
- Your school grades don’t matter and never did.ii
- Mind your exposure to oil prices, they won’t go up indefinitely.iii
- Learn to program computers.
- Read books older than you are.
- Ask yourself more frequently, what’s the worst that could happen ?
- Don’t take your eyes off of technological innovation for a split second.
- Watch your posture, use a desktop for 90% of your screen time.
Now what do you wish you’d known a decade ago ? What advice would you give your younger self ?
___ ___ ___
- Not that I’m trying to be my brother’s best friend (I’m not trying to be anyone’s best friend, come to think of it), but when trying to push those around you closer towards excellence than the socialist cultural default of mediocrity, I can tend to push too hard and too fast when really the best tasting meals take time! And what are we if not food ? ↩
- Other than for the lulz of being chauffeured in a Maybach with a license plate reading “28GPA”. ↩
- But that doesn’t mean that Alberta isn’t still the best place to make it big, as long as there are fish around. ↩