Things you should have done in the past

[lamergod]

Have you guys ever regretted doing something back when you were a teenager that would help improve your career or life now?

I have been thinking about my past and I kind of regretted not networking myself better and I should have gotten in to stocks earlier.

What are yours?

 

[Reynard369]

I should have done at least one internship when I was in college. Ideally two. One at a publishing house and one at a literary agency. It just kinda slipped my mind, and now I'm behind the eight ball somewhat. Luckily I have good work experience, so that should hopefully make up for it.

 

[Piobaire]

I should never have started cooking meth and probably that Russian prostitute ring, now that I look back on things, was better left alone.

 

[Reynard369]



I should never have started cooking meth and probably that Russian prostitute ring, now that I look back on things, was better left alone.

No, what you should have done was started cooking meth, then written a TV show about it, moved to Hollywood, sold it, and made millions and garnered lots of awards.

 

[Piobaire]

I should never have started cooking meth and probably that Russian prostitute ring, now that I look back on things, was better left alone.

No, what you should have done was started cooking meth, then written a TV show about it, moved to Hollywood, sold it, and made millions and garnered lots of awards.

I had thought of that but was too busy with the Russian thing...

 

[Radagast]

There was a thread awhile back about advice you would give to your younger self. I can't seem to find it but if you can dig it up I recall there was some good insight in there.

Career: I would have job shadowed anyone who would have let me. I definitely was very naive about what working life would be like.

Personal: Would have never started drinking. I've never had an alcohol problem but when I lay down the pros vs cons of drinking, it's starkly obvious I would have been better off abstaining. I still haven't given it up though.

And I should have finished the last grade of Royal Conservatory Piano. My sister who finished the whole program makes a nice side living teaching piano.

 

[bmathe02]

Should have prostituted my self for some quick dirty money.

 

[Master-Classter]

wish I'd started saving earlier... seems kindof standard but still, wish I had.

 

[lamergod]



There was a thread awhile back about advice you would give to your younger self. I can't seem to find it but if you can dig it up I recall there was some good insight in there.
Career: I would have job shadowed anyone who would have let me. I definitely was very naive about what working life would be like.
Personal: Would have never started drinking. I've never had an alcohol problem but when I lay down the pros vs cons of drinking, it's starkly obvious I would have been better off abstaining. I still haven't given it up though.
And I should have finished the last grade of Royal Conservatory Piano. My sister who finished the whole program makes a nice side living teaching piano.

You mean this one? http://www.styleforum.net/t/199684/if-i-knew-when-i-was-20-what-i-know-now

 

[Radagast]

^ Yes, that's the one.

 

[Maximator]

2 things.
1. Study a lot harder. I'm a pretty smart guy(or so I've been told) but never had the discipline to study properly. So while everyone else was doing their homework and studying for exams, I was off dreaming up devices for landing on the moon and other very fascinating, but utterly irrelevant things.

2. ALWAYS have at least 2 months worth of money saved somewhere. Having experienced a meltdown of my personal finances to critical levels(we're talking 10 USD and a bag of rice being all my worldly assets), that's something I never EVER want to experience again. Alas, the money is soooo easily spent. especially if you seem to have a lot of it...

 

[Ace_Face]

Smoked less weed and banged more co-eds.

 

[dufferin1]

Calling out my ex on Twitter. We could have been best friends and probably have worked it out but I had to make that stupid remark on Twitter. Lost my best friend to it.

 

[MaxFlex]

When I was a teenager and started my first part time job my dad sat me down and told me about the "wonders of compound interest" and if I start saving now I could be rich in my 40's. Needless to say I had more immediate uses for the cash on the weekends and oh well...

So two weeks ago I sat down with my oldest son (16 y.o.) and explained to him the "wonders of compound interest" and I saw the same disinterested look on his face my Dad saw back then. Oh well, at least he can't say I didn't warn him...

 

[Lord-Barrington]



When I was a teenager and started my first part time job my dad sat me down and told me about the "wonders of compound interest" and if I start saving now I could be rich in my 40's.  Needless to say I had more immediate uses for the cash on the weekends and oh well... 

So two weeks ago I sat down with my oldest son (16 y.o.) and explained to him the "wonders of compound interest" and I saw the same disinterested look on his face my Dad saw  back then.  Oh well, at least he can't say I didn't warn him...

 

There's a reason everyone regrets not saving more when they were young and yet no one can get their kids to do it. I just think it's way too hard for a kid, who breaks his back mowing lawns or flipping burgers, to take what little cash he/she makes and not want to go out and spend it.

I found it way easier to save when I started working a white collar job. Back when I was doing manual labor and a 10 hour shift ended, you're so euphoric all you want to do is go out and blow all your cash to forget your exhausting and crappy work day.