Greetings Leaders!
I’ve been thinking about this for awhile as I watch the friends of my son and daughter enter their 20s and graduate from college. With all the uncertainty out there, what advice can I give to them as they begin their journey into adulthood? If you’re in your 20s or early 30s, or know someone who is, read on for some valuable tips.
- To be successful financially takes hard work and planning. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Now is the time to lay the groundwork for your financial future. This means investing some time into learning new skills. Use your 20s to go to college or a trade school. Failure to do this will almost certainly handicap you.
- Have a plan! Whatever you are doing, or want to do, success never happens by accident. If you haven’t sat down to plan your future, the one you inherit won’t be the one you had in mind.
- Take a free skills assessment online. Find out what you might be good at. You can always change your mind later, but you have to start shooting for something. If you don’t have a target, you’ll have nothing to shoot for, and end up missing entirely.
- Practice delayed gratification. If you’re in your 20s, you shouldn’t be driving something that costs more than $25,000. Even that’s a lot. With the exception of a car and house.. NEVER – EVER – buy something you can’t pay for in cash. While in your 20s, your credit card is for emergencies only!
- Start an emergency fund by putting aside a portion of your salary every month into a savings account.
- Become financially savvy. Read a few books on finances. Rich Dad Poor Dad, the Millionaire Next Door, Suze Orman.
- Pay attention to what is going on in the world. You should never be surprised when an industry or organization goes bankrupt.
- There is no easy path to success. If it’s too good to be true, it usually is!!! Meaning – there is no “sure” thing.
- While skills are important, enthusiasm and good people skills open more doors than you can imagine. Read How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
- Believe in the future. Believe in yourself. Believe in your country. There are opportunities out there. You just have to find them.
All the best
All the time
JT
