I have high levels of respect for redphone. A great articulator of info in this space
1. If you haven’t already, gtfo of your hometown. Moving solo to a city where you know basically nobody unlocks two things: (1) You’re the author of your own story. You choose your friends and vibe based on who you want to become, not proximity; (2) Your environment sets your floor and ceiling. Change the environment, change the trajectory.
2. If you’re dating someone who’s genuinely wifey material in your late 20s, don’t fumble it lightly. Quality women who want partnership get locked down by their late 20s, early 30s max. After that it gets way more complicated. Don’t let a great thing slip away chasing some imaginary perfect scenario. Getting married is ultimately a decision (and that decision is you deciding to nut up).
3. Take lower pay, mid location, cringe job title. Just make sure you’re in an industry you actually care about. Grinding up in something you love beats pivoting your entire career at 35 when you finally admit you hate what you do.
4. Get financially literate. Read Rich Dad Poor Dad if you’re starting from zero. Then open a Robinhood account, grab some assets, and stack wealth while you sleep. Compounding is real but only if you start early.
5. If you’re “never having kids,” don’t lock into that identity too hard. I was the same in my 20s. Had them in my 30s and realized this is literally what we’re here for. All my fears about being a selfish or terrible dad vanished the second I met my kid. You’re just all in. You’d die for them without thinking. No way to explain it until you’re there. It’s just magical.
6. People don’t really care or think about you even a fraction as much as you think they might. They’re caught up with their own shit. Getting them to share that shit with you is how you forge real relationships. Care about others, and they’ll care about you.
7. You’re going to fuck up and do embarrassing shit. Good. That’s not failure, that’s tuition. The guys who never embarrass themselves never actually tried anything.