The Ultimate Advice For Every 19 Year Old

Dan Lok

13 Dec 201904:50

Summary

TLDRIn this conversation, a 19-year-old named John discusses his struggle with finding a clear goal and motivation in life. He expresses feeling stuck, having many hobbies but unsure how to turn them into a career. The dialogue explores the idea that experiencing pain or adversity can clarify one's purpose, as it did for the other person at John's age, who was driven by the need to care for his mother. The discussion challenges John to consider what he would do if faced with significant hardship, suggesting that such a scenario could provide the motivation he's seeking.

Takeaways

🤔 The conversation explores the idea of turning hobbies into careers and the challenges of finding direction in life, especially for a 19-year-old.
🎯 The individual expresses feeling stuck and lacking a clear goal, which is a common sentiment among young adults exploring their interests.
📸 The discussion touches on the saturation in fields like photography and videography, making it difficult to stand out and find a unique path.
🤷‍♂️ There's an acknowledgment of not having a specific goal, which leads to a broader conversation about motivation and purpose.
🌅 The concept of 'why' is introduced as a fundamental question to answer in order to find personal motivation and direction.
🏠 Family responsibilities and the desire to care for loved ones are presented as potential catalysts for discovering one's purpose and ambition.
💡 The conversation suggests that experiencing hardship or pain can lead to clarity and a stronger sense of purpose in life.
🚫 The dialogue implies that comfort and a lack of struggle might hinder the development of ambition and the pursuit of goals.
💭 The importance of identifying what one doesn't want in life is highlighted as a way to gain clarity on one's desires and ambitions.
🏡 A hypothetical scenario involving family crisis is used to illustrate how adversity can sharpen one's focus and drive.
🔮 The conversation concludes with a call to reflect on the potential impact of personal choices on future opportunities and the ability to support one's family.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed by John in the conversation?
-John is concerned about not having a clear goal or direction in life, despite having various hobbies and interests.
How does John describe his current situation regarding his career?
-John is trying to do freelancing, but he feels stuck because he thinks it's too common and doesn't know where to go from there.
What question does Dan ask John to help him find his motivation?
-Dan asks John why he wakes up in the morning to help him identify what motivates him.
What example does Dan give to illustrate the importance of having a 'why' in life?
-Dan shares that at 19, his 'why' was to take care of his mom, which gave him clarity and focus in life.
How does Dan suggest that experiencing pain can lead to clarity in life?
-Dan suggests that experiencing pain, such as the loss of a loved one or financial struggles, can make one realize the preciousness of life and motivate them to take action.
What does Dan imply about the relationship between comfort and finding one's purpose?
-Dan implies that being in a comfortable situation might prevent someone from finding their purpose because they haven't experienced enough pain or struggle.
What scenario does Dan paint to help John understand the urgency of finding his goal?
-Dan paints a scenario where John's father can no longer support him and his mother is sick, forcing John to take action and find a way to support his family.
How does John react to the hypothetical scenario presented by Dan?
-John reacts by saying he would develop what he's already doing, indicating that the scenario gives him more clarity on what he should focus on.
What advice does Dan give John regarding his lack of a clear goal?
-Dan advises John to think about the pain of not being able to help his family when they need him the most, suggesting that this could motivate him to develop his abilities.
What does Dan suggest could be the outcome if John fails to develop his abilities early on?
-Dan suggests that if John fails to develop his abilities and his mother passes away due to his lack of ambition, he would not forgive himself and would look at life very differently.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Struggling with Finding a Goal and Motivation

The conversation starts with a discussion about turning hobbies into careers and the challenges of finding a clear direction in life. The individual expresses uncertainty about their goals and feels stuck, despite having various interests and hobbies. They are currently exploring freelancing but find it too common in fields like photography and videography. The conversation delves into the importance of having a 'why' or a driving force behind one's actions. The speaker shares a personal story about how their 'why' was to take care of their mother, which provided clarity and focus. The discussion suggests that sometimes, comfort can hinder the discovery of one's true motivations and goals. The individual acknowledges their comfort and the pressure to give back to their family, which contrasts with the speaker's advice that experiencing pain or challenges can often lead to clarity and motivation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Interest

Interest in this context refers to a hobby or an activity that someone is passionate about. It is a driving force that can motivate individuals to pursue their passions and potentially turn them into careers. In the script, John mentions having 'a lot of different weird hobbies' and interests, indicating that he is exploring various passions but is unsure how to channel them into a clear career path.

💡Hobby

A hobby is an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. In the transcript, the concept of hobbies is discussed in relation to turning them into a career, suggesting that what one enjoys in their free time can be developed into a profession. John's uncertainty about his hobbies reflects a common struggle among young people trying to find their path.

💡Career

A career is a profession undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress. The script touches on the idea of transforming hobbies into careers, which is a common aspiration for many who wish to merge their personal interests with their professional lives. John's dilemma about his future career is a central theme in the conversation.

💡Freelancing

Freelancing refers to the practice of working for oneself as a self-employed person rather than being employed by a company. In the script, John mentions trying his hand at freelancing, specifically in photography and videography, which are common fields for freelancers. This indicates his attempt to explore career options that allow flexibility and the potential to leverage his interests.

💡Goal

A goal is a desired result that a person aims to achieve. In the conversation, the concept of setting goals is discussed as a way to find direction and motivation. John admits to not having a clear goal, which is identified as a potential reason for his feeling lost and lacking motivation.

💡Motivation

Motivation is the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. The script explores the idea that understanding what motivates a person can help clarify their goals and actions. John's lack of clear motivation is highlighted as a barrier to discovering his path in life.

💡Comfort

Comfort in this context refers to a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint. The conversation suggests that being in a comfortable situation might hinder the development of ambition and the drive to achieve goals. John's comfort, due to his family's support, is contrasted with the idea that experiencing hardship can lead to a stronger sense of purpose.

💡Pain

Pain, as discussed in the script, can refer to emotional or physical suffering that can act as a catalyst for change. It is suggested that experiencing pain can lead to a deeper understanding of one's priorities and can motivate individuals to take action. The speaker uses the concept of pain to illustrate how it can lead to clarity and ambition.

💡Ambition

Ambition is a strong desire to do or achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. In the conversation, ambition is presented as a quality that can be developed, especially in response to challenges or hardships. The speaker implies that without ambition, one might miss out on opportunities to grow and support their loved ones.

💡Clarity

Clarity in this context means having a clear and definite understanding of something. The script discusses how facing difficult situations can bring clarity to one's life, helping to define goals and priorities. The speaker suggests that John might find clarity by considering worst-case scenarios and how he would respond to them.

💡Debt

Debt refers to an obligation to pay a sum of money that is owed. In the script, the speaker mentions being in debt as a life experience that provided clarity and motivation. John also acknowledges having put himself in debt, which could be a point of reflection for him to consider his financial and career decisions.

Highlights

The conversation explores the idea of turning hobbies into careers and the challenges of finding direction at a young age.

John expresses his struggle with identifying a clear goal for his future.

The discussion touches on the commonality of interests like photography and videography, and the saturation in these fields.

John admits to feeling 'stuck' and lacking a clear goal, despite having various interests and hobbies.

The conversation delves into the importance of understanding what motivates an individual.

The concept of finding clarity through adversity and pain is introduced.

John acknowledges the comfort and support provided by his family, which may be hindering his motivation.

The idea that experiencing pain can lead to a deeper appreciation for life and goals is discussed.

The conversation suggests that not knowing what you want can be due to a lack of significant life challenges.

John considers the impact of debt and the pressure it can put on one's goals and ambitions.

A hypothetical scenario is presented where John's family faces financial and health challenges, prompting him to reassess his priorities.

The conversation emphasizes the potential for extraordinary growth and change in response to significant life events.

John is encouraged to reflect on the pain of not being able to help his family if they needed him, as a motivator for finding clarity and direction.

The conversation concludes with a suggestion for John to use the hypothetical scenario as a tool for self-reflection and goal setting.

John expresses gratitude for the conversation and the insights gained.