A few weeks ago, I shared a note on my Substack about the things I wish someone had told me on day 1 of my first job, the start of my career in an iconic city like NYC. They were short, practical and addressed the things I knew would’ve made my journey a lot smoother and given me more options today. So here are the things I wish I had kept in mind before the golden handcuffs syndrome took hold.
1. Time Is Your Greatest Asset – Start Investing Early
Building good money habits from the start should be your top priority. Not because you’re money hungry. But money equals options, and it’s always nice to have options. Am I right?
Start from day one. Even if it’s just $5 a month. Just start. You’re building a habit that will compound over time. Time is on your side; you can’t lose. For more on my opinion on money habits I wish I knew back then, check out: 5 Things I Would Tell 25-Year-Old Me About Money Habits.
When I started my career, I don’t think there were as many options as there are today to enter the investment world. Or maybe there were, but I wasn’t aware of them. Either way, if you’re reading this, you no longer have the same excuse I did. We have so much access to information via our networks and social media that there really is no excuse not to be informed. Now I will also say this: be smart, be discerning. Take every piece of advice with a grain of salt (including mine). Do your research and be wise about your money.
2. Golden Handcuffs ≠ Safety Net
Despite what we’ve been told all our lives, graduating, picking a career, and sticking to it for 40 years does not guarantee wealth. These days, it can barely guarantee giving you the ability to afford eggs. Having a ‘9-5’ has its benefits… literally(for my US folks). But if there’s one thing I wish I’d focused on sooner, it’s having a side hustle.
If you’re anything like me, you picked a career that seemed stable of paper. Evidence and time showed how successful people became going down this stable path, and all we have to do is pick it and stick to it. But the truth is, the world is ever changing, and it seems as time goes by, changes are happening at an ever-increasing pace. I once heard a marketing expert say that by the time you learn about best practices in an industry, it’s outdated. And this applies here.
Now I’m not saying that 9-5 doesn’t have its perks, it does. However, this idea that it is the end-all be-all doesn’t benefit you in the long run; it benefits the system. So while you work that 9-5, consider additional avenues to make money. Experiment, make it fun, don’t be afraid to fail. Now is the time when failing feels less existential versus when you no longer have the 9-5 and making it work is integral to your daily survival.
3. Health is Non-negotiable
I started working at 24 years old. Man, what a time. I could function on 0 hours of no sleep, watch a movie without falling asleep, eat full-course meals at 2 AM with zero consequences, and be blissfully unaware of parts of my body that now ache for no reason years later. A time was had.
Unfortunately, I didn’t realize those days were numbered, and the bad habits I picked up in my formative corporate years continue to haunt me presently. What are these bad habits:
- No breakfast and running on 2 cups of coffee until noon
- Skipping lunch
- Working 12-hour days and eating dinner at 10 PM
- Working 24 hours straight
- Only taking a limited vacation each year
What did it cost me? A lot. That’s what I’ll share for now. It cost me a body I recognized, my quick wit, and the carefree attitude I had.
Nothing is worth your health. So from day one, commit yourself and stick to it. Take the lunch breaks, the vacations, and that 8 hours of sleep. And remember, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
4. Fun, Friends, and Travel
Oh man. Of all the things, this one hurts the most. In my early career, I’d skip hangout invites in favor of working late or studying for some accreditation I was told was crucial to my life. I wish I had invested more time in the ‘frivolous’ things in life. I discovered my love of travel in my mid-30s; I wish I had found it ten years before. I often wonder how different my life would be. My outlook and perspective definitely would’ve been different.
So please. Prioritize this. I think I’m starting to understand the “youth is wasted on the young” phrase. Now I’m not saying not to work hard and take time to build your career. I’m saying don’t put your life on hold doing it.
5. Permission to Change Your Mind
I read something on threads today from msnewslady, “Treat your job like a lease, not a lifelong contract”. Despite what we’ve been sold as millennials, especially, what you study in college doesn’t have to be what you do in your career, and your first job doesn’t have to dictate the next 40+ years.
So whatever you do, do it well, but keep your eyes and mind open to change. And please remember, change doesn’t mean you failed; you’re allowed to grow and move on.
If you’re in the middle of figuring out your next and don’t know where to start, let’s chat. I built 75 +7 Reset for you.
P.S. Join my newsletter and check out my Golden Handcuff Diaries on Substack.
