Brutally Honest Advice for Men to Win in Their 20s

The Road to Success in Your 20s

As a young man in your 20s, you have a unique opportunity to set yourself up for long-term success. This article will provide brutally honest advice on how to win in your 20s, based on the experiences of someone who made their first million at 26 and crossed $100 million net worth by 31.

Embrace the Grind

One of the most important things you can do in your 20s is to normalize a intense work schedule. Aim for a 6-day work week with 12-hour days, especially between the ages of 16 and 28. This may seem extreme, but it's important to remember that when you're young, you have little utility but abundant energy. Use that energy to gain experience and become useful.

Use What You've Got

The first rule of entrepreneurship is to use what you've got. Many people never start because they feel they lack capital, connections, or other resources. But true entrepreneurship is about resourcefulness, not resources. If you have energy, use that to develop skills and prove your abilities.

Practical Steps for Building Wealth

If you have less than $100,000 in savings and want to reach that milestone, consider these practical steps:

1. Stop eating out - stick to discount groceries only
2. Stop buying new clothes - shop at thrift stores
3. Only attend free social events
4. Use your remaining time to:
   • Apply for higher-paying jobs
   • Pick up side hustles
   • Learn skills that can earn you a higher hourly rate
5. When you start a new job, find the hardest worker and double their level of input

Be Patient with Outputs, Impatient with Inputs

It's crucial to understand that success takes time. Be patient with your outputs (results) but impatient with your inputs (actions). You can change your life trajectory with one decision, but it takes time for that new direction to bear fruit.

Focus on Providing Value

Fundamentally, making money is about providing value to someone - either an employer or customers. By focusing on increasing your usefulness, you'll develop skills that can transfer across various domains of life.

The Power of High-Volume Sales Experience

Many successful millionaires and billionaires started in high-volume sales environments. This could be door-knocking, cold calling, or in-person business with many daily conversations with strangers. This experience develops crucial skills through volume and feedback loops.

Develop Your Skills Through Repetition and Feedback

Skill development happens through volume and feedback loops. It's not just about making 100 pieces of content, for example. You need to analyze what worked well, what didn't, and continuously improve based on that feedback.

Overcome the Fear of Starting

Many people are paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong decision. In reality, there are often many right answers and only one wrong one: doing nothing. Don't let fear of failure or disapproval hold you back.

Understand That Balance is a Myth

For those seeking to achieve great things, balance is often a myth. There may be seasons of intense focus and work, followed by periods of rest. Think of balance over a lifetime rather than at every moment.

Develop the Meta-Skill of Learning

One of the most valuable skills you can develop is learning how to learn. This allows you to adapt and improve in any situation. Embrace being bad at something new, knowing that you have the skills to improve quickly.

Take Action Now

Don't wait for the perfect moment - it doesn't exist. The perfect moment happens when you decide to take action. Today might just look like "now," but it could be the start of something great when you look back on it.

Reframe Your Challenges

Instead of viewing your past difficulties as "demons" or insurmountable obstacles, reframe them as skill deficiencies that you can overcome. Focus on developing the skills you need to behave consistently and achieve your goals.

Use Logic, Evidence, and Utility

When facing challenges or negative self-talk, use this three-step framework:

1. Logic: Define the issue in terms of specific behaviors
2. Evidence: Examine the actual evidence for this belief or behavior
3. Utility: Consider whether this belief or behavior helps you achieve your goals

Embrace Hardship as Part of Your Story

Instead of viewing hardships as setbacks, see them as part of your origin story. The bigger the monster you face, the more epic the hero you become. Use challenges as opportunities to prove to yourself who you are and what you're capable of.

Develop the "Figure It Out" Muscle

One of the most powerful skills you can develop is the ability to figure things out. When faced with a challenge, set a timer for 20 hours and actually try before giving up. You'll often find that things aren't as hard as you initially thought - you just hadn't really tried yet.

Focus on Action, Not Just Desire

Measure yourself by the amount of action you take, not just your desires or how much you think you deserve success. Reality only cares about what you actually do, not what you say you're going to do or how hard you try.

Persist When Things Get Tough

When faced with difficulties, don't even consider quitting as an option. The only choice is to persist, endure, and continue. Remember that people across all walks of life respect those who work hard and contribute.

Understand That Entrepreneurship is About Endurance

Entrepreneurship isn't always about being the best - it's often about being the last one standing. Adopt an infinite game mindset rather than a finite one, focusing on long-term success rather than short-term wins.

Take Risks and Create Stories

Don't be afraid to take calculated risks. Ask the girl out, launch the business, run the ad, quit the unfulfilling job. When you're 85 years old, you won't wish you had fewer crazy stories or experiences.

Conclusion

Winning in your 20s requires hard work, skill development, and a willingness to delay gratification. By focusing on providing value, embracing challenges, and persistently working towards your goals, you can set yourself up for long-term success. Remember that the habits and skills you develop now will compound over time, potentially leading to significant achievements and wealth in the future.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFoMYz_jWcs&t=641s