Messages to My 18-Year-Old Self

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An expert on leadership, business, and entrepreneurship, Ken Lear is dedicated to employee development. 

What if we had the power to speak with the younger versions of ourselves to give them guidance, warn them, and tell them the interesting things that will soon happen? What would you say? Here are a few of the things I might tell my younger self:

Education is indispensible

Here’s a reality check: you’re probably not going to be a rock star, actor, or pro athlete. That means you’ll need an education if you want anything remotely resembling comfort and peace of mind. You’ll be glad you did—trust me.

But more than that, you’ll find out that learning is actually fun. Not like jamming on stage to sold-out crowds and partying on a tour bus, but in a more meaningful and long-lasting way. Exhilaration and excitement are fleeting emotions, but gaining a deeper understanding of the world and unraveling its mysteries will be continual, life-long source of enjoyment and satisfaction.

Be healthy and active

Something happens as we get older: our bodies get tired of the abuse and start fighting back. In other words, you won’t find yourself able to magically drop 10 pounds in two weeks with minimal effort. Oh no, that extra weight is going to stick around this time. So don’t wait until you’re old to start eating healthy and exercising. Be preventative and start now.

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Take responsibility

Nothing is your fault, right? You’re unhappy because of your parents, your teachers, the world at large. You’re perfect and always a victim of external forces. One day you’ll probably look back some day and see things differently.

You’ll see that often people were just trying to help you succeed and be the best you could be, but sometimes you blamed them unfairly when things didn’t go your way. You’re young now, but you have to take responsibility for your life, and sometimes that means doing things that aren’t fun. People care about you, but they can only do so much. At some point you’ll have to take responsibility for how you want your life to turn out.

Don’t give up

There are going to be some major struggles, but it’s important to remember that it gets better. You’re going to find yourself in difficult times, feeling like you’re being swept away by a riptide of problems, about to be pulled under, but don’t give up. Keep going. Wake up every day, keep fighting and don’t ever give up. Believe me, the waters will be calm again and you’ll emerge from the wreckage better and stronger than you were before.