After 10 years in a corporate job, here are 25 lessons I wish I knew in my 20s.
If you have a corporate 9-5 job, this one is for you:
- Negotiate the terms of every job offer
The salary, days off & job title can always be changed
Take the offer. Sit on it for 24 hours. Then say…
“Would you be open to making this part…”
A friend got 8 weeks off a year with this tactic
- No employer gives a f*ck about you
Because they exist to make profit above all – capitalism
If you died tomorrow they’d have your job filled within 14 days
And the CEO wouldn’t be at your funeral
- Company loyalty doesn’t exist
Don’t fall for it
You won’t be in the same job for 40 years anymore.
And you don’t want to be… it’s boring. Change is now constant
Be loyal to yourself & your family.
- Choose a boss, not a job.
The leader you work for affects your career path more than a big tech logo or a job title. A leader can open doors. They can give sabbaticals
Look for:
• Humility
• Kindness
• Courage
• High EQ
- Free mentors are useless
They have no real incentive to help you. Instead, get jobs in great companies & learn from your peers and the leaders you work for.
- Ignore most of what senior execs say
They’re politicians reading pre-written speeches & trying to pretend to say the right thing. Once you go above a manager or Head Of you’re a politician who sits in meetings all days
Not worth it
- Have a side hustle
Work on it at least 1 hour per day before 9 AM or after 5 PM.
Protect it. Nurture it. Let it build your future
Goal = Become An Owner
- Take every leadership opportunity you can get
Leaders always get paid more and are more respected. Learn how to lead people. Hint: put your team first and yourself second
Being an individual contributor is overrated
- Learn the future of AI
Those who can use AI agents will have more leverage & therefore more value to an employer. Use AI at home then document it.
In job interviews, show them practically how advanced your AI skills are.
Watch employers drool.
- Always remember you can get laid off at any time
• Have a plan B
• Expect recessions/pandem!cs
- Make friends with recruiters
• Let them pitch you jobs every day
• Talk about these job opportunities with your boss & colleagues
This shows you’re in high demand
- Don’t be afraid. Write on LinkedIn.
When you do…
• Inbound opportunities come to you
• People at work will think you’re a thought leader
- Run from “we are family” culture
It means long hours & working for free
It’s a way to guilt you into doing what a company wants
Real family would never fire you
- A job is level 1. Get to level 2 asap
Level 2 = Business Owner
Until you run a business you won’t understand business
Owners get paid more & don’t get told what to do
- Quit any job that destroys your mental health
The goal is to monetize your mind. You can’t do that if it’s beaten up by a boss or bad job
Quit bad bosses
Quit bad employers