Turned 30? Now what... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I recently read Peep Laja's article on the advice he would give his 30 year old self. The post was originally written for his cofounder Jaan-Matti Saul from Copytesting.

It was very well written and resonated with me - as I turned 30 yesterday

Turning 30 is weird.

You are filled with all this self-doubt and many look at this as some sort point of inflexion.

I (think) turning 30 'back in the day' meant you needed to have everything figured out. There was always some 'plan' in place.

Today it is the complete opposite.

Plans change/break. Hence the Tyson quote. One of my personal favourites!

There is ridiculous amount of confusion and unsettlement across all age groups today - not just Milennials.

Many (including myself) are still trying to figure it out. And (honestly) I think that is fine. There truly is no definite playbook for the road ahead.

I really liked the concept of giving advice to 30 year old self.

So... I asked that question to the people who had a great amount of influence on me over the past 3 years (within the tech, revenue & growth space) .

The responses were amazing and helped me get a refreshed perspective.

If you are reading this and feeling a little down as you grow older - then here are 16 quotes to give you that extra boost of inspiration & motivation.

I would encourage you to also check out these folks because they each have a (very interesting) story to tell.

Find a mentor that has been there and can help you navigate the landmines ahead. Just believe in yourself - the confidence will come if it is not there already. Just move forward. Whatever you choose to do - just be passionate and curious about it. -Lee Gladish

Everything I know today, I learned after I was thirty. Lots of opportunity to learn from here on out. - Aram Melkoumov

The pain of failure passes quickly but the joy of victory lasts a long time - Gary Amaral

Failure is not Final - Nelio Leone

Come up with a discipline that fits you and make you a better person almost daily. Don't let any habit or person be stronger than your will or discipline. - Dr. Tarek Sadek

Don’t always wait for something to happen - life is always happening - Cornelia Klose

Be more patient with your career. It's truly a long game and you need the long view to really make it work. -Craig Zingerline

Read more. Establish a clear point of view on business earlier. I've had a lot of success in recent years by being *about* something. Taking a stand has greatly sharpened my thinking and opened a lot of doors. -Steve Watt

If you live to be 90, you’re only ⅓ of the way through your life, even less than that if you count the years you were truly independent. Lots of great things still to come - Ryan Nahas

Really get into a healthy pattern on sleep & wellness. Reduce screen time before bed, read a book, exercise everyday and cook more -Sunil Sharma

Celebrate this milestone and reflect on where you've come from and where you want to go - Jennifer Couldrey

Always be yourself. The less impressive you try to be - the more impressive you become -Real Mahadeo

If you are never stuck, you don’t move fast enough - Foti Panagiotakopoulos

Talk less. Listen more. Simple - but not easy. - Josh Braun

At 30, you will naturally grow more strong and confident in who you are as a person. Embrace that, identify it, name it and lean into your strengths - Miles DePaul

I would tell my 30 year old self ‘dream even bigger’! I hit goals I would have never imagined at 30 by 35. Dream bigger!!! -Andrea Matheson

I hope this post was refreshing and gives you some perspective.

Thanks to the above individuals for advising and supporting my efforts to date. I am beyond excited for the times ahead and really looking forward to that journey.

Cheers

Ayhan

June 28 2020