The Most Important Years of Your Life

There are certain points in our lives where opportunities present themselves, and other times where you have to be more responsible, and manage your risks.

This could be to do with your:

• Age

• Health

• Financial situation

Or something else.

So, today, I want to talk about what I’m calling the window of opportunity, and how there’s a period of time, that are the years for building the foundations for the rest of your life.

Our Life is Our Choices

There are a lot of things that make up the entirety of our lives:

• Our upbringing.

• Our parents.

• Our teachers.

But there’s nothing more influential to our own lives… than the choices we make day in day out.

Whether it’s a big choice:

• Choosing a partner.

• Choosing a career.

• Moving out.

Or a small choice

• Buying a coffee.

• Starting a conversation.

• Going to the gym.

Every choice we make has an impact on our future, whether it be for good, or for bad.

There’s a small group of individuals in society that will tell you that you aren’t in control of your life.

These people will spend their entire lives blaming other people for them being in a position they don’t want to be:

• Their parents

• Their boss

• The government

And whilst you can do this, you shouldn’t.

Why? Because you’ll get nowhere, and you don’t want that now, do you?

It’s not about where you start.

It’s about where you finish, and I want to help you finish in the best position possible by acknowledging what I’ve called the “Window of Opportunity.”

What is The Window of Opportunity?

A lot of people will say that “your 20’s” are the most important years, and are the foundations for your life, and I’d agree to an extent.

• You’re still growing.

• Your expectations are low.

• You can take risks.

But, I believe that I’ve been able to pinpoint the exact two events which marks the beginning and the end of this “Window of Opportunity.”

And there’s good news…

You have the power to make this window as big or as small as possible.

The window of opportunity begins:

When you leave the education system

The window of opportunity ends:

When you start a family

I must reiterate that I’m only using this window of opportunity when talking about building the foundations of your life.

I’m not saying that your life is over once you start a family, but it certainly changes forever.

Why?

Because you’re not able to take the risks that you could’ve done beforehand:

• Starting a business

• Quitting a job etc.

• Changing locations

You need to be more dependable, and more secure, because you’ve got mouths to feed.

So, my advice to you?

Acknowledge this window of opportunity, and make the most of it.

Here’s what I’m prioritising in my early-mid 20’s…

My Current Priorities

Business

I’ve done my years in the rat race, and I came to the swift conclusion that it isn’t something I want to be doing for my whole life.

Instead, I’ve gone to the trouble of taking risks early on, with the aim of a better, more fulfilling future.

It might take me a few years to get exactly where I want to be, but that’s the sacrifice I’m willing to make if it’ll improve the rest of my life.

Relationships

Many people will tell you that you’re the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with.

Whilst it’s important to nurture the relationships you value, it’s just as important to remove the people in your life who act more like anchors as opposed to engines.

Don’t be afraid to remove people from your life if it means your future will be better.

Happiness & Fulfilment

To be happy and fulfilled, the hardest part is understanding what those words truly mean.

In society today, everyone seems to be chasing the next shiny new toy:

• A financed car.

• Gucci flip flops.

• Trendy holiday destination.

And this all seem great, but… is it going to get you closer to what’s really more important?

• Freedom.

• Peace of mind.

• Fulfilment.

Not for me, it won’t.

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