My general career advice for people in their 20s

- Figure out what you want to be when you grow up

- If that's too hard, figure out where you want to be in 5 years

- Work backwards from there, what's the best next move that gets you closer to that goal

- Optimize for 1 thing at a time; optimizing for multiple things usually leads to worse near-term decisions

- Avoid side quests rationalizing the optionality or ability to return the main quest later

Life is beyond expectations. No one is ever prepared for what’s coming. Dan, you may revisit your advice once you approach your 50s. 

Btw, I would never have guessed in my early 20s what my career path would have been. Almost everything that kept me busy for 30 years didn’t even exist.

Dad, geek, conversation liquidity provider. vrypan.net (home), /weatherxm (work), @l--o--l (fun). Also https://paragraph.xyz/@purplesubmarine

I'm pretty sure I'll have the same advice for people in their 20s since I'm already well past that point.

I thought you were younger. I stand corrected. I'm 51 and the last 5 years have been transformative due to things related to health, kids, etc that were not an issue 10 years ago.

Oh, definitely! My objection was to plan and try to go backwards. IMHO, if someone reach their 50s and are what they planed when they were 20, they probably won't be happy. :-)

Yes, would agree that as you age, you focus on what's important. But I think someone in their 20s (without a bunch of atypical obligations), has a lot of freedom to explore / take risk.