If you could be 20 again, how would you live your life?

[Isaac Jordan]

Great topic.

I'm still in my early twenties, but already I wish I had followed Roosh's advice here and prioritized growth over comfort, at least in the context of my career.

I found a cushy corporate job upon graduating, and while it enabled me to build a comfortable lifestyle, it was in an industry that didn't really interest me where I was constantly surrounded by people I didn't much care for.

Two years later, I've got money in the bank and a decent looking resume, but not that much in the way of a truly developed skill set. I wish I had taken a lower-paying job in an industry that I enjoyed where I could wake up and challenge myself every day, rather than sleep in and take Friday afternoons off. There will be enough time to relax in my 30s and 40s once I've achieved financial independence and mastered a lucrative skill set.

 

[Brian Boru]

I'm surprised no one else has mentioned languages. Being able to speak 2-3 languages at an advanced level provides you with opportunities your peers simply won't have, especially considering that there are better long term prospects for both career and women abroad than in America. I would recommend Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian (no particular order) as these three offer the most return on investment. Pick one to start with and spend an hour a day at it. You'll like the benefits, I guarantee it.

 

[Redthumb]

Why Portuguese?

 

[Skye]

Brazil man.

 

[lowbudgetballer]

I'm just about 40. I'm doing ok but would probably change everything about my life. I'm definitely not living on a beach in Southeast with an internet connection and a tube of lube in my pocket.

As scorpion said, employment skills. And don't sell yourself short--stay out of low-wage, dead-end jobs. Avoid college, unless it's a community college teaching a trade for the area in which you live.

Were I 20 again, I'd try to work oilrigs 3 months on and 3 month off, invest, and spend the 3 off-months partying and raving in Phnom Penh, Koh Phangan, and Goa (all dead in this day and age).

Now, I'd probably move to Vegas, Houston, Miami, or Phoenix. And, I'd definitely learn Spanish.

I was planning on the military earlier in life, but didn't pursue it due to a failed a security clearance. Had I gone through with it, I would have banked as a contractor in Iraq right after 9/11.

Possibly take up martial arts, but I had already done that anyway. . .

Over the years, I have walked away from a couple good university jobs in Asia teaching American Lit. In a lot of ways, I regret that.

lowbudgetballer

 

[Yeti]

I would have used high end escorts and get Oneitis and women being special snowflakes out of my system.... would have saved me a world crap in my 20's.

Oliver Stone's father took him to a prostitute at the age of 16, so that he could lose his virginity.
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jul/18/oliver-stone-chavez-wall-street

That way, he got over his pubescent anxiety (some of it, anyway). Seems like a great idea.

 

[ash093]

If I were 20 again, (I'm 21 now) I'd have started studying this forum, as well as this thread here. You basically just got (for free and no trial and error) a crash course into the nuts and bolts of how to be a well rounded successful man.

 

[The Reactionary Tree]

Every 16 year old boy should be exposed to RVF. It will save their lives.

 

[whoishe]

From someone who is not happy where he is at 34 two most important things I've missed 10-15 years ago are:

1) Mentor(s) - one thing is to spend time with high value people, other one is to learn from them. I failed at #2.
2) Weightlifting or/and martial arts training.

In my case this two things would probably change a lot.

 

[OneIdea]

I'm 46. This is what I'd tell my 20 year-old self:

1. Make friends with the right sort. Avoid the so-called "cool kids" of your 20's, the losers and posers and drinkers and stoners who are going nowhere. They're cool at 20, losers at 40. Instead, make friends—good friends—with ambitious, smart, low-key guys. Some will be dweebs, others considered uncool, but by the time they're 45, they'll be the winners, while the posers and losers and so-called "cool guys" of your 20's will be on unemployment.

2. Bang escorts and hookers—lots of 'em—to get rid of Oneitis and fear of women.

3. Don't be afraid of risks, or of failing. Fear of failure often impedes success. Corollary to this, always-always-always shoot for the moon. I was advised to apply only to state schools—instead I applied to Ivy League schools, while kids with better grades and scores were too intimidated. Guess what, I got into two Ivies (and no, they weren't UPenn or Brown or Cornell, they were real Ivies).

4. Learn to sell, learn to negotiate, and learn to haggle. A friend of mine gave his three kids each $100, told them to go to those guys selling fake Rolexes on Union Square, with the condition that whoever bought the most number of fake Rolexes for $100 would be excused from their chores for a month—best lesson ever.

5. Learn to pimp. That is, understand that to make money—real money—working is not enough. You have to get OTHER PEOPLE to work FOR YOU. In other words, pimping. You have a company, get the programming contract for 10,000 hours of work—then get the bitches (programmers) to do the work, while you get the money. The essence of capitalism.

My 2¢.

 

[heavy]

I'm 46. This is what I'd tell my 20 year-old self:

1. Make friends with the right sort. Avoid the so-called "cool kids" of your 20's, the losers and posers and drinkers and stoners who are going nowhere. They're cool at 20, losers at 40. Instead, make friends—good friends—with ambitious, smart, low-key guys. Some will be dweebs, others considered uncool, but by the time they're 45, they'll be the winners, while the posers and losers and so-called "cool guys" of your 20's will be on unemployment.

2. Bang escorts and hookers—lots of 'em—to get rid of Oneitis and fear of women.

3. Don't be afraid of risks, or of failing. Fear of failure often impedes success. Corollary to this, always-always-always shoot for the moon. I was advised to apply only to state schools—instead I applied to Ivy League schools, while kids with better grades and scores were too intimidated. Guess what, I got into two Ivies (and no, they weren't UPenn or Brown or Cornell, they were real Ivies).

4. Learn to sell, learn to negotiate, and learn to haggle. A friend of mine gave his three kids each $100, told them to go to those guys selling fake Rolexes on Union Square, with the condition that whoever bought the most number of fake Rolexes for $100 would be excused from their chores for a month—best lesson ever.

5. Learn to pimp. That is, understand that to make money—real money—working is not enough. You have to get OTHER PEOPLE to work FOR YOU. In other words, pimping. You have a company, get the programming contract for 10,000 hours of work—then get the bitches (programmers) to do the work, while you get the money. The essence of capitalism.

My 2¢.

Great stuff OneIdea. Interesting #2...I've wondered if this would help my game, even if it just gives me more experience in what girls are willing to do.

 

[RaccoonFace]

Any other suggestions for a young guy like me besides the ones that have already been given?

 

[Alpharius]

I would take Roy off the grid and not have a social security number for Roy!



But seriously, like the video suggests, I'd do more to live an amazing life and not take the safe and secure road everyone suggested to me.

 

[hydrogonian]

1. Would have realized that the environment at the University that I was attending was teaching me bad lifestyle habits, and either transferred or dropped out in favor of something more focused.
2. Would have joined the Air Force (can't think of a better way to spend the early twenties) after backpacking around Europe for a while.
3. Would have read "Mode One"(helpful for me). Subsequently, I would have been more direct with some women I let slip away.
4. Would have started reverse pyramid training (leangains)(doing that now).
5. Would have begun to learn to paint in watercolor and oil (doing that now).
6. Realized that people never change and sought quality people over interesting and exciting people with demonstrated issues.
7. Learn how to function without pot and alcohol (the latter would have been socially more difficult). Without either, I now feel more or less better than I ever have.

 

[CleanSlate]

I would be doing what I am doing now - see thread in my sig.

I may be 16 years late, but traveling the world, experiencing different cultures, and even learning a few new languages while slaying some poosy at a young age sounds far more fulfilling when that's all been done by your mid-30s... and you could start a family at that age when you're ready for it. You'd have so much world experience to back yourself up, instead of being 4 years away from the age of the 'mid-life crisis' and only realizing that you want to travel.

 

[travolta]

If I were 20 again I'd travel (I started traveling at 22 which was smart), find a mentor (luckily found one when I was 24), learn to dance (started doing this recently at 27), learn self defense (I still have to do this), bang more 18 year olds, bang less older women. As somebody else mentioned already, it's much easier to bang 18 year olds when you're younger. I also would have held off on going to college and decided if it's for me. I have a bachelor's degree but it was a waste of time. Try starting a business instead. Give yourself a few years after high school to decide to go to college or not, only go if you genuinely want to learn about something, otherwise it's a waste of time.

 

[Rush87]

Delete

 

[Mikeyd03]

Currently in mid twenties. Would like to bump this thread as the focus of the forum has changed.

 

[Douglas Quaid]

Avoid college and invest that money for retirement. There were huge returns the decade after I graduated high school, but this would have been the right move for me in general. Nothing wrong with college when it's done right, but it isn't necessary for me to reach my goals.

Avoid alcohol. I had a legitimate problem with it, so completely avoiding booze may not be necessary for everyone. But now that I don't drink, I've realized how many people do abuse it and that it isn't necessary to have fun. I actually have significantly more fun while sober, even at bars.

Hang out with better people. They weren't bad people, but looking back we had little in common and I wasted a lot of time with them. Even spending time alone would have been better.

Explore the US sooner, looking for a better place to live. There are actually a lot of really nice places still out there, but everyone thinks they need a trendy, large city to have fun. To me, they are way too left-wing, overpriced, dirty and overcrowded. I prefer medium or even smaller cities, especially since I don't care about most of the amenities of a large city.

Develop interesting hobbies, especially ones that are outdoors. They don't have to be expensive and it's significantly more fulfilling than work will ever be.

 

[NoMoreTO]

I wouldn't get drunk so much. I drank too much when we partied. If I could go back I would probably still go out, but less, and wouldn't turn every weekend into getting smashed.

I don't think the younger generation is like this, but for me, I missed a lot of opportunities with girls, and weekends because I was out partying too hard.