At some point in life, many people contemplate penning an autobiography. These memoirs usually describe life lessons – good or bad. In particular, they state how they might have fared better if only they knew better!
If you are one of those thinking individuals, you will dig such personalized narratives. COX Internet plan, offering COX Internet speeds access a wide array of such narratives!
Coming Full Circle…
As a retired stock-market investor, I got lucky and inherited a sizeable portion of wealth from a deceased relation. I expanded it via Wall Street trading. A friend suggested me to write my own brief life report. I thought long & hard about something worthwhile and meaningful to write. Finally, I knew what I wanted to write about. I remembered when I first started out in the investment business. I was young and felt so lost. I wish someone had advised me then.
The complete chronicle is over 500 pages long. However, I am going to focus on the three different pointers. I believe these form the basis for each phase of anyone’s life – student, young professional, married with a family.
Before you enter professional life, first, go for TEFL course online. Choose certification to appear in the exams today. This will put you on the right track. Online education is cheaper than the traditional education. Furthermore, these are convenient especially when you are working. These two are the main advantages of online learning. If you want to earn a degree or certificate, opt for online platforms.
Certification exams provide a measurement of knowledge and skills. When employers are looking to hire this is an important determining factor. It’s good to earn certificates in the field you are interested in. A differentiator to counter the competition. When you go for an interview, the competition is frequently stiff. If you have the certification, as compared to the other person, you have a definite edge.
It also shows to the employer that you are always eager to improve. Learning is a value in itself, and those around you will admire you for it.
1. Don’t Make the End Your Everything
When you are young, you are swaying between extremes of abject failure and worldly success. This is a significant concern when you are trying to prove yourself out there.
In the ‘pursuit of happiness’, you work hard to get through college. Then comes the search for a steady job. Over the years, you lose sight of the fast declining present. Your health, age, human relationships development & other life-experiences diminish.
This is certainly, what happened to me! I did end up achieving almost everything -impressive bank balances, million dollar estates, fine cars- and the usual bling. But, I also managed to miss out a lot.
If I could go back to my younger self, I would take off the ambition hat. I would stop and look around at the world too. I would travel, make more friends, and enjoy life. I would take better care of myself.
2. Be Patient with Money
When I started out as a young investor, I was impatient to increase financial gains fast. Only after losing money on several ill-timed mutual fund schemes, I learned to make more money.
My best investments, in hindsight, have been those that have remained fixed inside company’s shareholders’ vaults for at least a period of 10 years. The bad ones, I chose to liquidate into cash after a few short months.
In retrospect, I should have kept that money invested. Maybe then, I would have a Forbes multi-millionaires profile of my own!
3. Human Relations Are Real Life Investment
Having ambitions is not bad. Nevertheless, when you’re ruthlessly involved in making money, you lose sight of what’s important in life. You become completely indifferent to your family and friends.
To my astonishment, I later found that money alone could not guarantee my personal happiness. Loneliness would still creep up as a stifling influence on my mind and emotions. I was lonelier than before! My solitary preoccupation with money broke up my marriage. It left my only child estranged from me. He could not stand a father devoid of all endearing emotion and expression.
Therefore, here’s my advice to my younger self, and all young people. Stay out of the rat race. Take a break occasionally. Do not neglect your loved ones even for a day. Because we all need human connections to survive & enjoy our fortunes with.
A final piece of advice for my younger self
There is no way around education. Continuing education is an investment of time & resources. It helps provide recognition for your specialized skill set and knowledge. When it comes to landing certain jobs and positions like teach English in China your level of education can be a significant benefit!
Author’s Bio
Alex Brian is an entrepreneur, marketer, and writer. As Hawaiian resident, he loves beaches and bathing in the sun. That’s where he finds his inspiration to author in-depth guides that teach Ecommerce store owners ways to manage, grow and scale their business. In a former life, Alex co-founded a custom menswear company which generates 6-figures in annual revenue through its website and retail.
Positive Words Research – Positive Advice For My Younger Self
