I was asked this question recently, and although it’s not something I’d very much recommend to do, I have been thinking about it. What I could have done differently, if only I had known what I now know.
That’s really a futile effort and a fool’s errand. You really gain nothing from this exercise, because even if you think “I wish I had caught that trend before it became big”, that thought isn’t what’s going to help catch the next trend.
It’s more of a philosophical drill, it can’t help me but maybe it can help a hypothetical current 20 year old me? I hope so.
So looking back, if I could go back to being 20, I probably would not have gone to university. Instead, I would have invested in doing some computer science courses and building my skills to set up my own online business.
I would have worked on myself mentally to instil the belief that I can do it. That, to paraphrase that boring investment advice disclosure, past failures do not indicate future performance. I know now that you can re-invent yourself at any point in life. I wish somebody had told me that back then, when there wasn’t that much to re-invent.
However, the big problem is that truthfully, even knowing what I know now it’s unlikely that at 20 I would have had the maturity, self discipline and vision to undertake that. It’s unlikely I would have had the faith in myself and someone else to believe that it is possible.
The key message for me to anyone who’s 20 would be to not stress over it. Leaving aside illegal activity, nothing that you do at 20 is irreversible. Do what you feel is the right thing for your future. You can always change later.
Hope that helps
Jon
Human Action 