5 Key Things I learned in my 20's
October 1st, 2009 in Uncategorized. 13 Comments
1. Use your 20’s to build a foundation for your 70’s. Create deep roots that will give you a foundation for when you are older. Finishing well means starting well.
2. Don’t worry about climbing the ladder. There’s no longer a ladder anyway. It’s more like one of those spiral staircases. And sometimes you are going across or down when you think you might be climbing. So don’t worry about it. Spend your 20’s learning and having life experiences. Travel, explore the world, take on projects that seem fun.
3. If your “career” path doesn’t make sense to anyone except for you, it’s okay. My 20’s: college at University of Oklahoma, wrangler on a guest ranch in Colorado, management consultant, business development officer, Magazine and media company, strategic business plan developer. WOW. That is all over the map. But God was orchestrating steps very clearly for what was next in my story. And continues to do so.
4. Be diligent and aggressive in developing your friendships and relationships. Create a core group of close friends who you want to do like with. This group may change a bit over the years, but it is imperative to find a circle of trust that you are committed to and they to you.
5. Figure out who you want to be, not what you want to do. Who you are is more important that what you do or where you live. Spiritually, financially, family, emotionally, relationally. Find two or three older, wise “sages” that you can learn from and count on as help.
13 Comments
Tom Martin
October 1, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Love you post, filled with great advice. Right after reading it, someone sent me this on FB. Inspiring video message on finishing well.
http://tinyurl.com/mmnbk9
Can’t wait till Catalyst next week!
boyd bettis
October 1, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Brad,
Thanks for this list. I’ve been told a handful of the things you’ve posted and have been more focused on doing the above…this helped reinforce it.
Also…wish I could be there next week, but my wife will be going into labor next week! maybe next year…or maybe you’ll need some help again with west coast…always looking for an excuse to go to cali.
Hope all is well bro.
Terrace Crawford
October 1, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Brad,
You are so right. Great post — and very reflective for me. I’m staring down age 32 come December 1st. I’m told the 30s are the best decade of your life. We’ll see.
–Terrace Crawford
http://www.terracecrawford.com
http://www.twitter.com/terracecrawford
Doug Young
October 2, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Awesome stuff. I am glad I found this.
Kristie Jackson
October 2, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Great post. Number five is so fundamentally important and unfulfilled in my own life until recently (in my mid 30s). Do you have advice for how to identify sages? And more importantly how to develop these mentoring relationships. This whole post is far-sighted and wise–I wish I were those in my 20s!
Brody Bond
October 2, 2009 at 1:14 pm
6. Screw up. Fail. Get used to it so you can experience grace and leave fear behind.
Lisa
October 2, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Good stuff, Brad. I know you guys are crazy busy with Catalyst. I know it will be an amazing year – you’re a great job. Have fun!!
bradlomenick
October 4, 2009 at 4:33 am
thanks for the feedback everyone. what do you think is missing? Brody mentioned one – get used to failing. that is a great point. what else is missing?
Brian Russell
November 3, 2009 at 1:12 pm
You touch on this in #5, but I would highlight the idea of surrounding yourself with people more experienced, more knowledgeable and more gifted than you…particularly in your fields of interest.
George Fooshee
November 14, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Brad, friend just gave me The Poor Will Be Glad. Saw your rec and decided to check you out. Good going. Will pass this on to Michael and Amy. Did you know that our Brad Bankston was a wrangler at JVL for a couple of summers and one winter–a cook before that. Read some in Harvard Business School Alumni about the Revolution. George Fooshee
Dene' Hopkins
May 17, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Brad, you’ve become a remarkable man. I am impressed by your wisdom! Finding a sage or mentor is indeed a thing to do in your 20’s – I wish you lived closer to my son so that you could mentor him. He’s quickly becoming a great young man – seems he knows twice as much as I did at 24. You seem to have a lot in common. Proud of you! Glad to say that I babysat for you back in the day!
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