Listen.

If you’re young and have people over 45 in your life, this is for you…


You may roll your eyes because they can’t do anything with modern technology.


You may think some of their ideas are strange and maybe even fanatical.
Maybe their opinions are outdated. Maybe they’re not progressive enough for you. Maybe you think they don’t understand how you feel.

But you should listen.


Here’s the thing: experience is one of the greatest teachers in the world. If you’re under 25 you have far less than most people over 45.


Experience births wisdom. Experience gives you common sense. Experience brings a strength and tenacity to your life that nothing else can.


I’m not saying you swallow everything they have to say, or that you should roll over every time they tell you to do something.


I’m just asking you to listen.


I have serious gaps in my thinking at 21 (everyone does- it’s part of being young!) Listening to people with the advantage of age has helped me broaden my horizons and learn what really matters.


Dismissing what they have to say does me no good. Pondering their ideas (even if I completely disagree with them) has only been good for me.


Seriously, just listen.


P.S. I understand that not every person over 45 is worth listening to in this aspect. If that’s the case for you, start actively looking for people older than you who can be active voices in your life. It’s one of the best investments you’ll make.

A Promising Career Strategy for the Modern Teen

Gone are the days where it’s necessary to go into debt to start a great career.

What if, instead of going to a 4-year university, you did this:

  1. Pick 8 skills that can make you money.
  2. Study each one for 6 months.
  3. Get certifications if you need to, but focus more on finishing projects that showcase your proficiency in the skill.

Examples of the kind of skills I’m talking about: Photography

  • Copywriting
  • Programming
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Facebook Ads
  • Options Trading
  • Personal Training
  • Video Editing
  • Sales
  • Content Writing
  • Graphic Design
  • Public Adjusting
  • Interior Design
  • Hair Styling

…and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The point isn’t to exhaust any of these skills or master them completely. It’s to get a base foundation in the skills so you can build on them later and make money using them.

By the time your peers graduate, you would have not 1, but 8 potential sources of income. By this time you probably know which one(s) you enjoy the most and can double down/ start making money doing something you love.

This approach also frees you up to get a full-time job while you’re studying if you choose to do so.

So you’re…

  1. Saving money on student loans.
  2. MAKING money while you study.
  3. Finding out what you love.
  4. Setting yourself up for future success.

We live in a world where Harvard and other universities have free online courses with certifications. Coursera and other platforms offer verified courses in practically everything. Even LinkedIn has oodles of resources and certifications.All of this is at the fingertips of the people who choose to leverage it.

Be one of those people.

P.S. Stay tuned. I’ll be writing more on this topic in the future!

Taken in 2018 in Atlanta.