I’m basically sacrificing my twenties for a better life later on...
"I’m basically sacrificing my twenties for a better life later on. I’m putting my head down, grinding, and really trying to get these companies started. And the thing is, I legitimately really, really enjoy it. Sometimes it causes friction with my family. My grandma’s old school and she’s like, ‘You should get out of your room, take a walk, go to a movie, get ice cream.’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t want to get ice cream. I don’t want to go see a movie. I want to spend those two hours working on a business instead.’ And, yeah, I think at times it does feel like I'm spread too thin. But I like working on this business. And I like building other businesses. I’m working toward something and it’s not money. I don’t want another car or another phone. The goal is freedom. Freedom to do whatever makes me happy. And that's what I hope everyone else is working towards too — internal happiness."⠀
I did this in my 20s. Now I'm 32, significantly more successful and knowledgeable, and I have some thoughts looking back:
Good luck!
Hey Courtland, thanks for this valuable insight. Really refreshing to hear this from someone who lived it and is not completely out to try to "correct" your current living style. So far it's been a lot of that, so it's good to hear a different/experienced perspective.
Every single one of these bullet points hits 🎯, so thank you.
Hey Hiram!
I was in your situation 2 years ago, and I'm still kinda are (I'm 22 now).
All I can say is that extremes are never good, and I learned that lesson in the hard way.
After devoting ~2 years as a software developer, I grew in the industry, got some clients and managed to make a living out of this, with a very high salary for my country.
That was awesome, but I ended up with a very, very small social circle, which depressed me a lot and influenced negatively in my work. I was very unmotivated.
Now, for the last ~3 months I've been investing a lot on my social life and put on hold my business (doing just the necessary), and things are feeling awesome again.
It's okay to invest a lot of time on your dream, but you cannot neglect the other important ares of your life, because you will feel the side effects sooner or later.
Just my 5 cents.
Good luck!
Hey Ignacio, thanks for sharing your experience. I completely agree with and respect your approach. I'm not advocating for a 24/7 "hustle culture" that we often see portrayed.
And I'm really glad you got to experience both sides and now you're really happy. It probably took that difficult to realize that the lifestyle you were living is/was not for you at the time. But you realized it, and adjusted accordingly.
I think everyone is different, and situations vary, and there is an infinite number of variables that affect someone's approach (and we can talk about nature vs. nurture too). For the time being, this is the approach that I've chosen to take because it feels like this is what's right for me at this time. It definitely won't be like this forever, and I understand that. That's what makes us human, after all.
Something could change my life tomorrow, and this interview would be immediately outdated. So I totally get it, and you're not the first to tell me. And I definitely appreciate you telling me as well, and sharing your experience. I love learning from otheres, drawing on others' experiences, and trying to come up with some formula that works for me. So seriously, thank you for sharing. Very helpful/insightful.
Happiness is part of the journey. Do what makes you happy but don't chase something you might think makes you happy one day. Chances are, it won't.
Oh I'm not, that's what I'm trying to express. In the words of Warren Buffett, I'm trying to plant the tree now so I can sit in the shade later on. I think it just got lost in translation.
Young 20-something year old here 🙋♀️freedom was always a goal of mine (still is, actually) but lately, I've made freedom part of my creative process for thegoodstartup.com rather than a destination set somewhere unknown in the future. Ever since then, I don't think that far ahead anymore because who knows how long I'll be around to reap the rewards of my hard work. It sounds like you're in a similar boat, where you're doing these things, building these companies, etc just because you can! If you legitimately enjoy it and it's impacting others positively, keep at it. That's why I wouldn't call it "sacrificing your twenties" if you're having a good time
I agree. Too much changes too soon and it's not good to be stuck in the past/future. And maybe "sacrificing" isn't the best term. (This is from a phone interview with IH so it translates different verbally vs. written.) But I completely see and understand your point. I'm sort of pulling from two directions. I do enjoy what I'm doing in terms of the content and personal/professional growth that I've had on this "solopreneur" journey, where it gets difficult is with extremely limited time, resources, lack of help (though I don't expect it because it's the decision I've made to start another side project when I still have another 2, etc.), when practicality hits (e.g. tight budgets, student loans, rent money, etc.) so that's what makes it difficult. I realize I just threw a lot out there but I hope that makes a bit of sense.
we are in the same situation :(.
Don't approach it with a frown Hamza, keep plugging away. Your grit will be tested but if you start to enjoy the process rather than the destination it really is much different. I know it's easier said than done, and of course the every day burdens of reality exist (bills, medical, rent, other necessary expenses), but you have to be practical and make the decisions that are right for you.
This comment was deleted 3 years ago.
Yep, that's kinda where I'm at right now. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy hanging with friends of course, but I just want to be very purposeful about allocating my time. If I'm going out, then let's go out. But that Saturday/Sunday morning I'm back to my computer putting out fires and continuing to push the side hustles.
I think it's about being diligent and doing what matters most. Family matters. Friends matter. Health matters. So make sure you're prioritizing.
I'll give you a good example: I just started playing racquetball the last 2-3 weeks. Never had played before that in my life. Realized it was a lot of fun, and a good way of incorporating cardio into my life (because I don't do much cardio). My friend recently got really into rock climbing and wants to go rock climbing with me. For me, it's not as much fun. But he really enjoys it. So I'm going to make an effort to go every once in a while, but not a part of my routine. I, for example, would much rather spend time playing basketball/racquetball/soccer instead of rock climbing. For my friend, it would be the opposite.
My point in explaining this is that time is limited--so try to prioritize and think in terms of marginal utility. What's most important to you? When you have the opportunity to do something, is there a better use of that time? Would you rather go out with friends or catch up on sleep? Work on your project or take an hour to relax and play video games? I don't think any one of these answers is "right", I'm just saying that you need to make your choices and be happy with them. Sometimes you do need to go out and have fun with friends. Sometimes it's good to take a break from that big project and just slack off for a bit. It's about whatever is specifically right for you, and only you.
This comment was deleted 5 years ago.
It's different for everyone, but choosing to build something from scratch and take a plunge by yourself altogether is a sacrifice because it means less time for friends, family, maybe some health sacrifices need to be made at time (poor eating habits to save money, etc.), and other factors. It means that while my friends are out partying and drinking every weekend, I'm at home working on client deliverables or my own entrepreneurial ventures. It means less time spent watching my little sister grow up. It means less time spent with my grandma as she gets older. It means making those sacrifices and more for a chance at building something bigger than myself. Those are the sacrifices to me.