Your twenties are a foundational decade in your life…
These next 10 years will be thrilling, yet terrifying. This is your time to figure yourself out, explore, and make mistakes. This is definitely a period of uncertainty.
I picked up a book titled, “101 Secrets For Your Twenties,” by Paul Angone that you need to read if you haven’t already. It’s as much as a survival guide as you’ll get for not only going through your twenties but also persevering through the variety of inevitable challenges. I picked my top 4 insights from Angone that really resonated with me and gave them meaning to my life. I hope you find them as thought-provoking as I did!
1. Your 20s are about having the courage to write a frightful first draft.
Planning your life is not only impossible but can leave you feeling unfulfilled. Don’t set ridiculous guidelines for yourself. Be opportunistic and selfish with your time. Live one day at a time and be accepting that not everything will go according to your plan, but by a greater plan! Don’t feel like you’re “behind schedule” with where you should be. Everything will work out in the end. You shouldn’t limit yourself with a timeline.
2. Build the brand that is YOU.
A personal brand is super important. It’s how others perceive you and how you market yourself. If you don’t already know your personal brand, it’s essential to get started. 10 Golden Rules Of Personal Branding is a great resource for designing yours.
Think of asking your close friends, family, and coworkers how they would describe your personality. Take some time to do some self-reflection and describe yourself, as well. Know your reputation and ensure your personal brand is telling your story. Your personal brand should exemplify your vision, values, attributes, and goals. Distinguish yourself and new doors of opportunity will be waiting for you.
I never understood the importance of knowing, let alone, categorizing my personal brand. In my social media marketing class, we had a personal branding exercise that really put things into perspective for me. I was forced to think about who I was, who I wanted to be, and how to become that. Personal branding is an ongoing process. You have to think from the beginning with the end in mind and navigate on how to get there.
3. The most dangerous job you can have in your 20s is a comfortable one.
Push yourself! You want a job that allows you to learn and keeps you on your toes. Look for a job that encourages innovation and creativity. Growth is revealed by change, whether it is personal growth or career growth, your twenties are when you most evolve. Don’t hinder your progress by resisting it.
4. If you don’t define success, success will gladly define you.
Measure success on your own standards, not anyone else’s. Success is a subjective word that you need to paint a clear picture of. Whether it is determined by your paycheck, status, or power, know what it looks like to you. Have you ever walked into a room forgetting why you walked in there?
Not defining success is just like that. You need to have an explicit plan to know how to execute your ambitions.
This book is filled with 97 other secrets that will definitely give you aha moments. My own secret for Survival of the Greatest is to be bold and frivolous and embrace this decade of discovery. With these in mind, I am elated at all the possibilities to come!
Author Info:
Nicole Cerda
UTSA Marketing 2019
Originally published on June 22, 2019. Reprinted with permission.
References:
Angone, Paul. 101 Secrets For Your Twenties. Moody Publishers, 2013.
Chan, Goldie. “10 Golden Rules Of Personal Branding.” Forbes, 8 Nov. 2018.
