{"id":2377,"date":"2021-08-30T11:34:30","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T02:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/johnkiama.com\/?p=2377"},"modified":"2022-03-12T00:51:08","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T14:21:08","slug":"20s-decisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/johnkiama.com\/20s-decisions\/","title":{"rendered":"3 decisions in my 20s that are still paying dividends to date"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 20s are the foundation of your adulthood and the decisions you make in this decade will most likely shape the rest of your life. Earlier on, I shared the life lessons from my 20s and 30s<\/a>. In this article, I want to discuss the top 3 decisions from my 20s that I’m still benefiting from today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Circa 2012 our first trip to the US.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

#1: Choosing passion and learning over money<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first decision was choosing passion over money. In the final year of university, I took a job as a junior software developer at an up-and-coming consultancy that was transitioning into creating software products. I had friends who had connections in big enterprise tech firms and would have happily helped me get jobs there but I declined. My wage was about 40% below the market rate but I did not care about the money. I wanted to work for a small business and be a lynchpin while understanding the intricacies of running a company. Through that job, I learned so much about small businesses and product development. I rose through the ranks quickly and within 4 years, my salary had not only caught up with my friends but my experience was miles ahead. Moral of the story: when starting, choose jobs where you\u2019ll learn and grow over those that just give you money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2: Plating roots deep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The second decision was deciding to settle down and plant deep roots. When you are young you want to keep your options open. At the age of 25, I decided to not just commit to living in Adelaide, I took on a mortgage and bought my first house and in the same year started dating my girlfriend and now wife Ruth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, these big decisions were overwhelming but boy I\u2019m glad I made them. See, decisions compound over time. I was scared about getting married in my 20s but I love the beautiful memories my wife and I have built over the last decade. My humble home has literally doubled in price with mortgage repayments are around 40% less than rental prices in my local area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if I listened to all the negative arguments about buying a house in your 20s? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in Adelaide for the last 18 years has helped me establish deep connections that keep giving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moral of the story: when you are young, you have an illusion of endless options and settling down seems overrated. To build real momentum in life requires commitment. Otherwise, your life is a series of starts and stops and you never got to see the long term results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3: Getting into business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The third decision was going into business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my early 20s, I was a freelance web designer while at university. My first attempt to dive into full-time business was in 2009 and it bombed hard because I had no game-plan. It was not until 2012 at 29 that I worked the courage to go into business full-time again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the business ended up failing 7 years later, I\u2019m so grateful that I dared to go out of my comfort zone, follow my passion and back myself. The\u00a0lesson I learned<\/a>\u00a0during my tenure as a full-time business owner were life-changing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moral of the story: follow your dreams and back yourself up. Even if you fail, you will learn a tonne.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 20s are the foundation of your adulthood and the decisions you make in this decade will most likely shape the rest of your life. Earlier on, I shared the life lessons from my 20s and 30s. 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