Avoiding a big fat wasted life

Posted on 20. Aug, 2009 by Brett in Wrk

If you’re planning a 2 week vacation to Europe, you’ll probably spend plenty of time researching airfare, hostels, tourist sites, weather, transportation, local food, etc. You plan because you want to maximize the opportunity. Only an idiot would jump in a life raft at Virginia Beach and start paddling towards England.

Plan for the journey. Then enjoy the destination.

I wish we thought this way about our working 20s, but we don’t.

After college we launch into the real world with two things on our mind–location and money. I want to live in ____________. I want to make _____________. That’s it. That’s the focus. It’s hardwired into the 20-something American brain.

And it’s completely wrong.

We need to shift how we think. Your 20s should be about development. Not money. Not geography. Development. Development. Development. Your 20s are about DEVELOPMENT. If you are 20-29 years old, you are living in the most healthy, energetic days of your life. It’s time to stop worrying about a stupid paycheck and start worrying about whether or not the next 50 years of our lives will be a big fat waste. Development in your 20s = success in your 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.

Ask yourself:

  • Who is mentoring me?
  • What books am I reading?
  • What questions am I asking?
  • What goals am I moving towards?

Think like this when choosing a job. Think like this with your money. Think like this with your downtime. Seek out environments of development. Pursue people that are smarter than you and bombard them with questions.

If you’re in the life raft, it’s time to turn that sucker around and head back to shore. Get yourself ready for a trip that matters.

P.S. Spiritual implications are obvious as well. See Luke 14:28-30.

7 Responses to “Avoiding a big fat wasted life”

  1. Rick Barnes

    21. Aug, 2009

    This is something I’ve only now begun to realize (and I’m already 26). Instead of seeing what God had already put in front of me, I was pursuing similar avenues, but not the ones He put in front of me to grab hold of. Over the past month or so, I’ve figured out that I wasn’t taking of advantage of those opportunities to “develop”, and since I figured that out, those other things I’ve tried to pursue (which weren’t sinful, just the wrong ones) have begun to fade. Hope that made sense.

  2. Nathan

    21. Aug, 2009

    One word Brett … AMEN !! Couldn’t agree more.

  3. Ruth

    22. Aug, 2009

    congrats on the new blog, brett. you’re a great writer! who knew?! i will add this to my “blogs” bookmark fo’ sho’.

  4. Matt

    23. Aug, 2009

    Good stuff…what if you’re 30?! hahaha

  5. Gil Jaggers

    23. Aug, 2009

    You just hit the nail on the head.

  6. Spencer Griffith

    31. Aug, 2009

    Brett,

    This is such an encouraging truth. I recently realized the value of this understanding and this way of thought. I wish that when I was exploring job options this would have been a nugget of wisdom that I would have already obtained. However, I wanted to let you know that God really did a great work through you to get me started on this path. Just a few weeks ago I went through your book list on facebook and the many books I heard so much about as I was exploring Booster and have immensely enjoyed the impact that God is using that vessel to make in my life. I hope you are doing well.

    Best,

    Spencer

  7. Van Holden

    02. Sep, 2009

    Amazing post! Love the site!

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