10 Things to Do to 10x Your Success before You’re 30
“If I was taking advice from people like me when I was your age, I’d be SO much farther ahead now.”
The other day, I was reflecting on the amazing things I’ve done up until now.
In the past three years alone, I’ve started a business, spoken across countless stages, been featured on various podcasts and sites, launched a crowdfunding campaign, published a book, nearly doubled my income, and now I’m journeying into a new frontier: Parenthood.
However, during this time, I’ve also made a huge amount of mistakes. I’ve invested into things and people I shouldn’t have. I’ve missed opportunities because I was too busy focusing on those bad investments. I’ve made bad decisions both at work and my business which have lead to costly rework and wasted time.
While I was reflecting, I remembered a conversation I had with on of my mentors during our first lunch session. I had begun explaining the need for a mentor because I wanted to do all of these great things, but I also wanted to avoid as many mistakes as possible and thus wanted to talk it over with someone who has a bit more life and business experiences.
He seemed truly impressed. “If I was taking advice from people like me when I was your age, I’d be SO much farther ahead now,” he said.
Now, I’m providing you with the same opportunity I was presented with: a chance to learn from someone else’s mistakes and experiences.
Below are 10 things to do to 10x your success before you’re 30. Even if you aren’t in your teens or twenties, this advice will prove invaluable along your goal-setting journey.
1. Find a mentor. Just like I have, you want to find yourself someone who can give you advice on your journey. Ideally, your mentor will be someone who has a lot of experience in the area you want to break out in, and is willing to devote time to help you 10x your success in that area.
2. Create a 1-Year and 5-Year Career plan. Is where you are in your career right now where you want to be in one year? Five years? Of course not! As a fellow goal-getter, we always are looking to improve. So as you look at your career, provide yourself with some direction. Where DO you want to be at these major milestones?
Now, the most common follow-up question I’m asked after I make this recommendation is, what if things change? My answer: Change with it. You can always enhance, modify, or completely pivot from your current direction. Simply make the changes to reflect your current course and revise as necessary.
3. Make budgeting a habit. When I got my first job out of college, I had no idea what to do with all the money I had. I could have easily taken the extra bump in funds and spent it lavishly. However, seeing how others (including my family) have struggled financially in the past, I was determined not to let that happen to me.
Budgeting is THE best way to control where your funds are going. If you truly want to enjoy financial freedom before you’re 30, create a budget and stick to it.
4. Create a nest egg. Now that you’ve created a budget, ensure it includes a savings component. You should always have money tucked away, available for use only when you absolutely need it. I recommend you have at least 10% of your yearly income stashed away for future use. I have been doing so for years and I’ve never been without.
5. Travel. This is a recommendation I sincerely wish I heeded when I was in my twenties. At the time, I was so focused on my career that I never really traveled much. Aside from a couple trips to the Caribbean and the UK, I did not do much more travel than that during that decade.
It’s important to be on the grind, but it’s also important to gain a new perspective as well. Travelling (even on a budget) can really help to develop an appreciation for your own life and the things that you only get to see on TV.
6. Find a Shared interest group and attend regularly. Another thing I missed out on early in my twenties is finding shared interest groups. Whether it’s MeetUp groups or conventions, mixers or the golf course, find people that are interested in the same things you are. This provides a way to network and possibly open the doors to future opportunities.
7. Set up a Retirement Plan. Also as part of your savings, begin putting away some money for retirement. If your company has a matching 401k plan, take advantage of the free dollars they are providing and at least match the max they are contributing (usually 4-6%). If you can do more, 10-15% of your income would be best. From here, you are ensuring your long-term future will be bright.
8. Learn about investments and invest if possible. There are a ton of different ways to build wealth, from equities to real estate to business ownership to life insurance, and it’s usually only the ultra-wealthy that take advantage of this opportunity.
You don’t necessarily have to begin investing at this point in your life (especially if you haven’t begun saving your nest egg or retirement). If nothing else, research the types of investing strategies that may appeal to you. Some are high-risk, high reward, while others are slow and steady. Determine the best ones for you so when you are ready to invest, you know how you are going to do it.
9. Start giving. Most people refuse to begin their giving early because they feel they don’t have much to give in their twenties; the reality is, many are coming out of college with a mountain of debt and jobs that barely pay enough to cover the bills.
However, I firmly believe in Paying it Forward First (PFF) as a means to building wealth and making an impact. Give what you can, even if it isn’t much or even if it isn’t money. Donate blood to the local blood bank, volunteer for your local homeless shelter, raise funds for your favorite cause… all of these activities don’t have to cost you a dime and you’re still helping others. Plus, you never know who the individuals you’re helping are, or the individuals you are volunteering with. You may make the valuable connections needed in order to 10x your success before you’re 30.
10. Invest in nontraditional education. I remember talking with my friend whose close relative was racking up hundreds of thousands of student loans and financing everything from their cars to their home with them. Their shocking logic, however, was what truly astounded me. They figured they can borrow for everything they want now and later on in life just file for bankruptcy to make it all go away. Or die, whichever came first. WHAT?!?
Instead of that foolishness, look into the various ways to educate yourself without having to earn yet another degree (or three). For instance, you can read self help books, take specialized training courses, earn certifications, go to conventions, and attend seminars geared to help develop you into the person, worker, and/or entrepreneur you want to become. Continue to learn and grow and watch as you blow right past the competition and reach phenomenal results before 30.
