Ep. 42 - 30

I turned thirty-years-old yesterday.

For some, turning thirty-years-old marks a milestone. It marks a shift into 'real' adulthood. There is a sense of freedom that is felt during our twenties. There is less societal pressure and we always have a soft place to land - i.e., the excuse that we're only twenty-seven, or twenty-one, or whatever we may be at the time.

We also hear things like, "thirties are the new twenties", as people push 'settling down' further and further out. But I think this largely stems from the societal pressure people feel when they turn thirty. Thus, as a way to avoid and deflect their new age this phrase is promoted and regurgitated often.

However, I tend to disagree with this. I don't think our thirties are the new twenties. I find it discounts our twenties. Our twenties are an amazing time to explore new opportunities, test boundaries, and discover alternate life paths. In my opinion, it's not a decade you want to f*ck up.

So, for those of you still in your twenties I think there are some key areas to focus on:

• Exercise. Building a habit of exercise early is crucial. This can't wait until your thirties - it will only get harder. An exercise habit is difficult to form, but also difficult to break. The sooner this habit is formed, the better.
• Wealth. I don't mean having a seven-figure portfolio. I mean having a positive relationship with money. Building sustainable and healthy money habits, while working from a point of abundance, not scarcity. Trust me, that number on the screen will go up and down and it really doesn't matter much [today is a great example].
• Take swings. Take as many swings as possible. I wish I did this sooner. The lives we live are quite easy, the actual risk is much lower than we think. Take your swing, and swing for the fence with whatever it may.
• Throw out the script. I will always harp on this. But you don't need a house, three kids, three cars, and $1m of debt to 'make it' as a thirty year-old. Create your own life, and actively think about it.
• Light & nimble. Similarly, don't bog yourself down with debt. Some debt is inevitable (student loans), but consumer debt, leveraged investing, and even mortgages tie you down. Debt creates an addiction to salaries. And this addiction doesn't like freedom and exploration because that next monthly payment is always due.

Entering my thirties

"You're getting old." This may be true on paper, but age is ultimately a state of mind. Of course, there are biological certainties - especially if children are in your future - but for the most part it is indeed just a number.

I can say with certainty that I feel better now than I did at twenty. Which is partly one of the reasons why I'm excited for my thirties and this next decade in general. Here is what I'm looking forward to most.

• More money + Clear Vision. I have found this to be a powerful combination. I didn't have either for the majority of my twenties. But the freedom money provides and the ability to choose what you want to do is a blessing. There has never been a better time to pivot and do something you actually love. Join the 'Great Resignation' and do something cool.
• Rapidly changing world. The world is in a bit of chaos lately. However, chaos brings opportunity. I believe Bitcoin and Web3/DeFi is the opportunity of a lifetime. A great opportunity to be on the ground floor of a community that could change the world paradigm. I think people are ill-advised about this sector. They believe they must be a programmer, finance nerd, or spend all day trading NFTs. That's not true. These companies will need community managers, marketing specialists, customer success managers, accountants, lawyers, and so on.
• Remote work. This is something I'm finally taking 'full' advantage of come March. Remote work does not equal working from home. Remote working is working where you work best - bed, coffee shop, beach, whatever. Over the next decade I believe the majority of employees will be remote. But this isn't good enough, find a work environment that promotes async work. Synchronous work is basically the same as being pinned to a cubicle for 8-hours a day - asynchronous work is performing your duties when, where, and how you want. Value based, not time based.
• Ascending & Declining worlds. Canada = Declining; USA = Declining; Latin America = Ascending; India = Ascending. There's a shift occurring with world powers, where the west is slowly (and at the same time rapidly) declining. There is a pessimistic atmosphere (just look around Vancouver). People are discouraged, frustrated, and just kind of sad. There is opportunity to work with, and live with, these ascending communities in an increasingly borderless world.

I'll end with something I've thought a lot about lately - optimizing for purpose and happiness. Often people describe their twenties, thirties, and forties as a time to grind and achieve, and afterwards you can scale back and enjoy the fruits of your labour. To visualize, it would look something like this stock:

Whereas optimizing for purpose and happiness throughout may look like this:

Success can be achieved while enjoying the ride. It is not a 'this' or 'that' phenomenon. At least that's what I'm shooting for.

PS If you feel poor today after every stock on the planet is in free fall mode - just close your laptop. Shockingly, staring at charts all day will not make the price go up. Zoom out, and adopt a 5-10 year horizon.