Ask HN: What were some of the biggest mistakes you made when you were young? I'm graduating this May and considering many things that could be huge mistakes (both personally, and career wise). If I'm going to fuck everything up, I'd at least like to do it in a way that hasn't been done before. |
Of all the things I f**ed up, the worst was spending money I didn't yet have on things that I didn't really need to impress people I didn't really care for.
Spending far less than you earn and investing in tangible, durable assets (not shares, crypto, NFTs, etc). Real Estate is good if you can make it positively geared. Houses are good when they provide you with a home and can generate some income. But not so good when they drain your surplus funds on repairs and overheads (insurance, property taxes, etc.
And the other silver lining is i'm not even 40 and my kids are almost grown up, I have a lot of freedom, whereas some of my friends are just starting their families, or struggling with infertility etc and I sort of see that and think what a drag at this age, having to change nappies and do night feeds etc. I'm so glad thats not my life.
I say this to say, avoid mistakes. But don’t look to reinvent the wheel, roll your own crypto, all that. I’m sure deep down you rather screw up and be able to have someone help you troubleshoot your issue with you, or for there to be up-to-date and standard documentation accessible to you.
If you’re going to mess everything up, the one thing that I can think of that would obliterate your determination to rectify and ostracize you from otherwise helpful people is to do it in a way that has never been done before.
As someone (presumably) older than you, please, no surprises.