10 Things I Know Only at 28
I wish I knew when I was 21
In the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship and personal growth, some lessons hit harder than others.
Through my journey, I’ve stumbled, soared, and learned things that I wish I had grasped earlier.
Today, I’m peeling back the curtain to share these insights with you.
Why?
Because learning from someone else’s path can save you from heartaches and time lost in the maze of experience.
Here are 10 pieces of advice, hard-earned and heartfelt, that could pivot your trajectory towards success.
1. Create for Others, Not for Yourself
When I quit my job in 2020 and decided to freelance as a web designer, my portfolio was all I cared about.
I kept redoing it again and again.
I wasn’t even that good at designing to begin with!
But now that I’m a web agency owner, I understand that real success is simple.
Solve problems for others, not just showcase your skills.
In the end, it’s not about your portfolio; it’s about how well you can make someone else’s goal come to life.
2. Choose Action over Motion
‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear was a game changer for me.
It taught me that reading and planning are hollow without action.
No matter how many cooking shows you watch and how many cookbooks you read, it only matters if you start cooking.
The cycle is simple: Act, learn, refine, and share.
That’s the dance of progress.
3. Share Your Thoughts
I used to be a shadow in the social media background.
Until one day, I decided to give it a shot.
I stepped into the light in 2021, and now I’m posting, writing and recording almost daily.
Initially, you’ll have no idea what you’re doing.
But by simplifying it as just sharing your thoughts, you really can do no wrong.
The focus is not just on visibility; it’s on connection.
The people I’ve met and the opportunities that followed have been nothing short of transformative.
4. The Compound Effect
If only I knew the power of compounding earlier!
Apply it to everything — stocks, skills, knowledge, relationships.
I mean, sure, we all know what compounding is.
But how many times have we jumped from project to project, idea to idea, and strategy to strategy…
Because “it’s been 2 months and there’s no results”?
Start early, be consistent, and watch as the magic of compounding turns small efforts into massive outcomes.
5. Focus
The world’s a buffet of distractions.
To truly make a mark, bite down on one thing at a time.
This applies to everything.
For example, in business:
- Start just 1 business
- Offer just 1 service
- Serve 1 client type
- Post on 1 platform
Scatter your efforts, and you scatter your chances of success.
6. Choose Creating over Consuming
I used to drown in the social media consumption quicksand.
Then, one post struck me: “I create content. You consume it. We are not the same”.
This spurred a seismic shift in my approach.
Now, I’m a creator and trust me, the view is different from this side.
So, if you’re not yet creating consistently because you’re:
- worried about being judged
- lazy to put in the work
- overwhelmed
Then you’re seriously missing out.
7. You Can Pivot Every Day
Don’t let the past cast a shadow on your future.
Just because something didn’t work out today, it doesn’t mean you failed.
It just means you need to pivot tomorrow.
Your career and lifestyle are yours to redefine, every single day.
It’s about adding that 1% improvement consistently, breaking free from self-imposed limitations.
8. Don’t Wait for Retirement to Enjoy Life
I lost my mother when she was in her 40s.
So, I learned very early on that life is unpredictable.
I didn’t want to leave Earth not having lived my life. That’s why I’m carving a path that allows me to savour life now, not post-retirement.
But that doesn’t mean throwing away your responsibilities.
It’s about finding a balance that lets you enjoy the fruits of your labour in the present.
With the power of the internet, you can do it too.
9. Build a Personal Brand
Despite designing brands and websites, I overlooked my own for far too long.
This year, I started to take things a bit more seriously.
With this weekly newsletter and my social media presence, I hope my work stands out in the world.
Your personal brand is your beacon in the business realm.
10. Be 60% Ready and Just Do It
Waiting for perfection is procrastination in disguise.
Embrace the ‘good enough’ and go.
The only way to truly improve is through practice.
The best lessons often come from just going for it, ready or not.
And who knows, you might have a couple of embarrassing stories to tell years down the road.
These tenets have shaped my journey, and I hope they light a spark in yours.
It’s about making informed moves, embracing growth, and always, always keeping the learning curve alive.
- Power Hour Call: Ask me anything you can fit into an hour. From diagnosing your business or getting in-depth advice for your content, go from feeling lost to gaining clarity.
- SIGMA™ Programme: This comprehensive 1-to-1 interactive workshop will provide you the system I used to grow from $6,000 to $120,000 in income. It has been rated 5/5 by past participants.