I hear some of you are under 20. That’s incredible. These next 10 years are your golden decade. They can literally redefine your life.
I’ve been there. And today, I’m speaking from experience. If you internalize this and act now, it might just change everything.
First—this is your time to go deep. To build a foundation that’ll make you one of the best in your field. Find something you love. And I don’t mean gaming or scrolling.
When I first touched a computer in middle school, I was hooked. It wasn’t just games—it was creating. Writing code felt like magic. I could tell this machine what to do. That passion carried me through high school and into a career. I knew I wanted to build software. That sense of purpose came from exploring early.
So try everything. Coding, writing, physics, math, languages—dive in before you’re 20. Find what excites you. That passion will become your superpower. It’ll keep you going when things get tough. The earlier you find it, the sooner you take control of your life.
But passion alone isn’t enough. Balance it with clarity. If you’re into AI, you don’t have to be #1 in the world tomorrow. But every effort counts. Every hour you invest shapes you.
You have tools I never had—AI, the internet, connections at your fingertips. Use them. Meet people online. Learn in public. Expand your vision.
And don’t forget the classics. Read. Books are still the ultimate cheat code. They give you decades of insight in hours. In a world of reading and video clips, deep reading is your unfair advantage.
You’ll face doubters. People who say “be practical.” When I chose software, my family said, “Study food engineering—at least you’ll never starve.” Others said biology or real estate were better bets.
But I trusted my instinct. 40 years later, software is eating the world—and AI is built on it.
So believe in yourself. Your generation sees what others don’t. Trust your vision. Your 20s are for breaking rules and making moves.
Don’t wait. Start now. Build the life that surprises everyone—especially yourself.