Dear 18-year-old Baiju,
Here’s 9 truths that older you learned the hard way:
- You don’t have to follow the norm
↳ At 18, I was told to play it safe, get a degree and get a job.
↳ At 37, I tore up the script and chased my dreams. - The best don’t have more time, they use it better
↳ We’ve all got 24 hours.
↳ High-performers protect their time at all costs. - Freedom is a paradox
↳ Financial freedom = discipline. Physical freedom = routine.
↳ To be truly free, you must be willing to live with structure. - No one is actually “busy”
↳ When I stopped cramming my day into chaos, everything got easier.
↳ Be mindful, be present. Take each task as it comes. - Fear is the biggest thief of success
↳ Fear is normal, but inaction is a choice.
↳ Fortune doesn’t favour the fearless, it favours those who act despite fear. - Being coachable is a super power
↳ If you’re 18 and looking for a “growth hack”, get a coach.
↳ Every great leader understands that coaching is a fast track to more wins. - 90% of ‘reasons’ are actually well-dressed excuses
↳ Excuses kept me playing small for 30+ years.
↳ My advice? Start calling BS on your own stories. - Done is better than perfect
↳ Waiting for perfection? Prepare to wait a lifetime.
↳ Get some skin in the game. Start messy, then adjust. - Mindset is everything
↳ At 18, I didn’t think much about my inner game.
↳ But the truth is, your mindset underpins everything in life.
Which lesson is your favourite?