I am in my early 20s and I am “grinding” my way through life. I am pursuing different fields of interest like:
+ Investing
+ Practicing Martial Arts
+ Going to the gym
+ Studying AI (Distance learning university)
+ Reading business books (Right now – Ray Dalio – Principles)
I tried to involve people into my circle to go through this path with me. With more than 10 different people I tried to start something, every time something went wrong. People wouldn’t stick to the plan, or people would break loyalty for short term benefits while blending out the long-term outcomes (Me myself did mistakes also). Through a long time of self-reflection, I realized that my expectations in terms of work-ethic are very high. And this could be the thing why I can’t be with some types of people (I guess that in my close real-life environment there just isn’t that much potential to find – most of the people here can’t even get a basic school degree). Also, I am a very direct person, I’m not going to talk around your problems, and mine. They will be addressed immediately. Not caring about small talk is one of my “skills” also, if it is not somehow related to the goals that are set in place, my subconscious gets bored (I can’t really control that, if I try not to, it is hard).
So, for better clarification - the plan that I am following is:
1. Get money for moving out of mom’s apartment and starting my own business (In AI – with investment profits)
2. Creating a company in the field of artificial intelligence (don’t know the specific product or service yet)
3. And while doing that – maintaining Gym, MA, and book reading (self-improvement)
The most important one here is the actualization of the AI company.
These are a lot of questions, and it would be nice if somebody could give them a look:
+ So, I am here and asking you guys. Do you have any tips to find running mates or a small community with “smart” people that are believable and capable (Focus on: Business, AI, and self-improvement overall)?
+ Or what would you do in your early 20s if your endeavors would be similar as mine? Do you have any general suggestions to proceed better/more efficiently in these areas? (For e.g., good books, structured daily routines (which were beneficial for your progress and goals), networking strategies, tips on working effectively for a "normal guy" with big temptations but also huge ambitions.
+ How would you a structure a basic "get-out-plan" out of your mom's basement if you are hitting all these areas with the 20/80 principle? The money is by any means - simply put - too low, without a well-paying job.
+ Should I just patiently wait and follow my usual grind while studying and managing all these other areas with a 20 percent input (gym, reading self-development books etc.) or would you consider a smarter way to get out?
It would help me a lot to get thoughtful answers, thanks!
You're in your 20s, live with mommy and want to start a company in a field you have no skills, education, ability or training in. Sit down.
Get a job and move out.
If you can't find a job, you're not looking hard enough.
Your 'grinding' is just life. Going to the gym and reading is the absolute bare minimum baseline.
It also shows you have nothing else going on otherwise you wouldn't put such emphasis on nothing. It's like saying you get dressed every day, ok and?
Quit with your 'circle' bullshit, you're trying to focus on other people instead of yourself. It dilutes what little effort you're making (and is literal textbook projection, your friends are doing just fine, you project onto them).
You have zero social skills, 'small talk' (human interaction) is stupidly important.
Find a tech meetup (or any subject you're actually passionate about, don't chase the money) It's trite, but do what you love and the money finds you, meet a girl, make friends.
Maybe most importantly, dump your lists and your 20/80 shit. Just live your life. Everything happens if you let it.
It screams to me that horrid stereotype of "I'm an ideas person that doesn't have the skills to do what I want to, blames others immediately, and probably falls for self-help guru scams while listing AI MACHINE LEARNING INVESTOR in their twitter bio" - I have never seen these types be successful while continuing to act this way.
The high school friend that texts you telling you to invest in a shitcoin. The instagram profile that buys followers and likes and posts horrid motivational quotes (I have actually seen 'work will set you free' once on one of these, jfc). The person with github forks of tensorflow, pytorch, the linux kernel, with nothing even remotely approaching a contribution to look cool, probably with a modified contributions graph so it's all green.
He chose an area that he thought was ripe for innovation (computer networking) and got a job at a company he thought was at the cutting edge. He was up front at all times that his ambition was to learn all he could then strike out on his own.
While there, he started a program where the company's engineers gave seminars or presentations to one another on topics of interest. This helped establish him as a leader even though he was not management.
He eventually identified a market niche that was unserved by his company or anyone else. He left with the company's blessing and started his own company with friends and fellow alumni, with seed funding from the companies he had identified as needing the product he aimed to develop.
He profitably developed the product, which was made easier by the loyalty he earned from his engineers due to his leadership qualities.
From there he replicated the pattern on larger scales, identifying market needs and pitching solutions to companies in exchange for funding. This was before VC funding was the norm.
He semi-retired young and went into the non-profit world to try to help solve wider social problems.
I hope you can get something valuable from this brief anecdote. I think the key is to prove your value to employers/investors and demonstrate leadership before expecting things of others.
Don't expect much from your investments, or from your business - neither of them is likely to work out.
Read whatever is interesting to you but be a bit more sceptical because most of the stuff you're reading is crap.
But, most importantly: you'll meet professional-caliber people who are already working in that field. (Part of your problem seems to be finding the right "network" of people to work with -- and for better or worse, a lot of networking happens through your co-workers.)
The only other route that comes to mind: AI conferences. There'll you'll also meet people who are working on AI at a professional level (as well as AI companies that are hiring).
Good luck!
Quit the “hustle grindset” bullshit, and learn humility.
Finish your studies, and make sure you’ve actually learned something.
Then get a job, work for at least five years. Learn your field, and look for an opportunity or unserved niche that you can make money from. Convince a bunch of friends whom you trust, and create a product that clients are willing to pay for.
Make friends with a couple of locals who've already "done it". And maybe switch out some of the business books for podcasts that are of immediate relevance to your chosen field.
2. start a blog
3. get a tech job and save all your money for a year
4. try to find a girlfriend, you are obsessing yourself to death
just be sure to do the side work on your personal comp not the companies.