A lot of guys will give me sh1t for this, but
social skills >>>
money. I have a pretty solid 'career'--it's temporary. I didn't begin my 'career' til I was 27 and I doubt I'll need it by the time I'm 29. But I had some background from some side projects I did when I was stumbling around in my early 20s. A couple months into the job and I turned down a leadership position that would've put me comfortably into the 6 figures--I don't need it.
My work history is all over the place, but I'm very good with people (which is a skill you can practice). I'm very good at conveying value (which is a skill you can practice). I'm very good about asking for what I want (which is a skill you can practice). I have a very solid side hustle, which I believe will be full-time by 2020 that I only got into because I was risk-tolerant and had time to learn those skills that other people didn't, because they were nose-to-the-grindstone before they even knew what they wanted. And most of them still don't--since they just do what everyone else is doing.
Bro, you have exactly one life. Of that, you have probably 25 years where you're old enough to do anything you want, and young enough to go do it. At 18, you have idea WHO you are, WHAT you like, and the things YOU CAN BE GOOD AT. That's not a knock on you. It just is what it is. Any decision you make before the age of 25 is a shot in the dark--if it works out, you got lucky. You just haven't experienced enough life to make informed decisions. You're lucky; I admire the fact that you're open to advice; when I was 18 I had it all figured out, and I paid the price for that.
Here's my advice.
- Have fun. The people in your age group will never be more available or have less responsibilities than they do right now. Enjoy it. This is a chapter of your life you won't get back.
- Live outside your comfort zone. Put yourself in as many new situations with as many new people as you possibly can. This is the only way you'll get a feel for what you like, what works socially, and it will open doors you'll never knew existed if you just stick with some small town clique.
- Work hard--but do it for you. Even when I was drifting, I was working. I was learning things and trying things out. This is the time to invest in yourself--you'll never have more energy, more time and less responsibility than you do right now. Have an idea of what you want to accomplish? Start today and work your azz off. You might be years away from seeing results, but you have time. If you never see results, at least you learned work ethic.
- Live for yourself. The people you hang with? In 7 years, a lot of them won't be there. They'll be working careers, dating b1tchy women, you'll drift apart. Don't base your decisions of their approval. Your parents? They already got their shot at life. They won't respect you if you don't take yours. Don't base your decisions of their approval. The hottest girls in your life right now? You won't want to fvck them in 7 years. Don't base your decisions of their approval.
- Avoid addictions. Drugs, alcohol, and oneitis can set your life back drastically. Avoid the hard stuff (including BPD women lol). In the next couple years you'll see people you know and love ruin their lives with that stuff.
- Stay in shape. This is big. Want to have the option to have fun when you're 27 and single? Being in shape makes it so much easier. Plus, failure to exercise can lead to depression.
- Meditate. Thoughts and emotions become habits. You have control over both--though it doesn't seem like it because you don't remember when the thoughts and habits you have now started. Work through them. Have thoughts that hold you back? Rewire them. Have emotions that aren't productive? Practice new ones. I spent a lot of time in really dark places and based some decisions with real-world stakes, based off of sh1tty thought patterns and limiting beliefs.
- Leave your house!!! 99% of the games you play, movies you watch, whatever, will be totally forgotten. That time will be gone. The experiences you have with real-life people? Those are what you'll remember. Meet everyone you can and put yourself in new situations. The people you really connect with with? Cherish that. Some of the friendships you're making now will be worth more than you can imagine over the next few years.
- Take chances. See a girl you want? Do it. She'll never be the exact same girl she is in this exact moment ever again. You usually only have one shot. Get an opportunity? Take it. If it's a mistake, you'll learn from it. 'What ifs?,' those are what will kill you.
- Live honestly. Embrace who you are, what you like. Talk about things that interest you. Try to fvck the girls you want to fvck. Someone violate your values. Call them on it.
- Use condoms.