If I Were 22 Again (If I Knew Then What I Know Now)

I turned 22 way back in December 2000, and after reading the LinkedIn posts of industry leaders, I thought about some of the things in retrospect I wished I had done instead – or better.

1. I would have learned how to play more and work less. Hard to do for someone who worked constantly from high school and throughout my college days, but I grew up poor and didn’t exactly have the luxury of play time.
2. I would have graduated on time with my class. That one extra year was my student loan.
3. Making social contacts beyond drinking buddies. As much as I love my fraternity brothers, none of them had the foggiest idea of how to connect with the real world apart from the keg. Few things are more embarrassing than returning to work at 7 am on Monday morning fresh from a three-day bender.
4. I would’ve been more humble. I was a cocky manager with ill-regard of my subordinates. Just because my superiors were morons didn’t mean I needed to reciprocate the treatment to my front-end personnel. By listening and coming with a hunger versus my already entitled attitude – I hadn’t really failed at anything at that point – I probably would’ve become a Wal-Mart store manager, with a few years to retirement.
5. I would’ve made more time for my friends. Thankfully Heath, Stephanie, Karen, and Chris have mostly lived within an hour of me for the past several years, and to this day they are my lifelong best friends. Because I worked all the time, I lost contact with almost everyone else: roommates, co-workers, study buddies. Back then, social media was a word-of-mouth invitation to the Thursday party at the Sig Ep house with my doppelganger Howard.
6. I would’ve stayed true to myself. More than anything else, I found myself losing my moral compass to be accepted by people who never really wanted me around. While I attended church and still ran the local trails as an escape, my relationship with God was essentially on hiatus.
7. I would’ve been more socially adept. Instead of trying to marry the first female who gave me a little more than the time of day, I would have sampled the world first. It’s hard to fathom how clueless I was when it came to people; at least I should’ve been privy to knowing that many folks have unsavory ulterior motives not limited to more embarrassment or empty pockets. It could’ve also saved me $1,400.
8. I would’ve found a mentor to keep me focused instead of the DIY approach. Many nights, I needed someone older to let me vent and/or ask questions to head the right way. Just because I was the smartest guy in the room didn’t mean I could forego help.
9. I would’ve been a better student. I should’ve taken greater advantage of lab hours and my instructors, but getting paid or laid – in any combination – took precedence. I was unlucky beyond the woman in #7, and Wal-Mart paychecks were paltry even then. That also extends to time management skills, of which I still help issue with.

Of course, I could probably think of more things, but those are relatively minor in comparison. The fact is, I adapted (slowly) and spent a lot of time face down before getting a clue and growing up. I am also pleased that I have evolved over the past thirteen years and am still around to reflect up on that era.