Young men…
It's easy to feel invincible (I know from experience).
You can eat crap every day because of your fast metabolism…
then wake up 20 years later…and you're overweight.
Mistakes are natural.
Everyone makes them.
Especially as a young man...
you SHOULD make them.
Make as many as you can and learn from them, BUT….
Not all mistakes are created equal.
There are some decisions, that if repeated CAN lead you in the wrong direction.
Today's article & video is going to discuss 5 KILLER mistakes young men make…and how to avoid them!
1. Staying Too Long At A Job That's Just OK
How long is “okay” acceptable? If you’re stuck with the same kind of job for many years – doing the same uninspiring work to pay the bills – that’s a disaster in disguise.
Imagine the day you’re lying on your deathbed. Will you be able to look back at your life and say – “I may not have been perfect, but I wasn't scared to chase after my dreams with everything I have (even if that meant facing my fears and plunging into the unknown)”.
You don't want to get to that point and regret not taking the chance when you could have. Your fear of regret should be stronger than your fear of failure.
If you haven’t watched it, check out Jim Carrey’s commencement speech for the class of 2014 at the Maharishi University of Management (MUM). We all know Jim for his impeccable comedic talent – but he himself gave a lot of food for thought to everyone he addressed.
He recounted how his own father could’ve also made it big as a comedian but lacked the belief it could happen. Instead he made a “safe” choice as an accountant which turned out not to be so safe – he lost the job when Jim was 12.
“So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality … You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”
Jim encourages everyone to think big and make decisions out of love – of passion. He knows fear will always be there but we can choose not to give in to it. And I share that same point of view.
Have the courage to escape your comfort zone. Work on your craft, put in the long hours and stay focused on your goals. What job will make a great stepping-stone? What path will lead to a future you want for yourself – and eventually for your family? Sort all those out… then get started.
2. Not Having Life Insurance
It doesn’t matter whether you’re married or single, kids or no kids. Life insurance is a basic necessity, even if your lifestyle involves minimal risk. The truth is this type of insurance isn't for you at all. It’s for your family.
Can you imagine the worst-case scenario coming true – and your spouse is left to carry the mortgage on her own? Or your family is left to settle your unpaid debts? The last thing you want is to leave this planet making your loved ones’ lives more difficult than necessary.
Be responsible enough to prepare for the worst. I know there are companies out there that make insurance expensive or burdensome, but that’s not the case with Haven Life. They offer an extremely affordable term life insurance policy that can be purchased online. If you want an easy and reliable way to ensure financial security for those you love – this is your company.
Here’s what you need to know about Haven Life:
- They sell affordable, high-quality term life insurance
- They employ a simple, entirely online application process
- They offer transparent price and competitor policy comparisons
- No medical exam is required for coverage for select qualified,healthy applicants
- You find out immediately whether you’re approved and start your coverage on that same day
- Backed and wholly owned by MassMutual – a trusted insurer with more than 160 years in the business (also the issuer of the Haven Term policy)
3. Not Eating Healthy
Ever busted your butt in the gym for 6 weeks…without any results? Your abs aren't showing. Your body fat percentage hasn’t gone down. You start feeling like the whole thing isn’t paying off.
Chances are – it's your diet. You need the right nutrients to fuel your body every day. Without proper vitamins and macronutrients, you will age quicker and have a slower metabolism. This makes it that much harder to burn fat in the gym.
Do you eat fruits on a daily basis? Do your meals include greens like spinach or broccoli? Do you strike a balance between fish and lean meat? Those are the things we’ve been told to consume since we were toddlers. They’re just as important now as a grown man.
Are you big on eggs? They’re a great source of protein for the body to start building muscle with. As much as protein shakes work – hard-boiled eggs go well with salads or sandwiches so they’re more versatile in that sense.
How much sleep do you get every night? If it’s not at least 6 hours (8 is the ideal) you’re not giving your body the time to repair itself. Lifting weights tears the muscles down – while sleep stimulates growth. You need rest if you want to see the gains.
4. Neglecting Relationships
We finish school, we navigate the professional world on our own, get married and have kids. It’s inevitable that we let many of our relationships take the backseat. It’s hard to make old friends your top priority – but they shouldn’t be taken for granted.
The friendships we’ve had growing up should matter. You never know if someone in that circle might be the person you’ll depend on when things get tough. Or who knows if one of them ends up contacting you about a job you’ll be perfect for (see mistake #1)?
Or maybe your high school classmates are planning a reunion – and you should attend! You’ll realize how good it feels to rekindle old memories and take a break from the daily grind of adulthood. In the end, we don’t live to work. We work to live… and living is about healthy and happy relationships.
I should also mention new relationships. These connections made in your professional life – “weak ties” – are just as important to develop. Psychologists have formed a theory around weak ties: how acquaintances or people you’re not obligated to interact with can actually influence us in positive ways.
So if you’re not excited about the thought of networking – you better change that mindset now. Most people you'll meet in life are generally helpful. If they like you and think highly of you, they will remember you when there’s a great opportunity at hand. So learn how to get out of your social comfort zone.
5. Marrying The Wrong Person
It’s part of our culture to celebrate weddings and give our congratulations to the happy couple. This may sound cynical – but I think we should be really saying “Good luck.”
We all know or hear of people who feel trapped in their own marriage. They believe they fell in love with somebody who turned out to be very different as a spouse. They didn’t realize all the obligations. They didn’t expect the quarrels and disagreements. So they either call it quits or risk a lifetime of regret.
Those couples fail to see the big picture: marriage is work. It’s not a state of “happily ever after” which Hollywood and the wedding industry tend to promote. It means giving and taking. It’s a team effort – and there’s no I in team.
How do you know if you’ve found the right partner for life? You have to be honest with yourself and decide whether she’s as committed as you are. It’s not about problem-solving skills – it’s humility and open communication. It’s not a question of love – but of patience, forgiveness and sacrifice.
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