Life & career uncertainty at 26, thoughts on AI, what I'm reading (life update)

Summary

In this quarterly update video, the creator reflects on personal growth and experiences over the past few months. After a challenging breakup, they've spent more time with family, volunteering at their local church, and exploring personal interests like coding and AI. Professionally, they've been growing in their role at Google, though they're uncertain about their long-term career path. The creator shares insights from reading 'The Pathless Path' and emphasizes the importance of following curiosity and maintaining a reflective mindset in life and work. Overall, it's a thoughtful look at navigating personal and professional growth in 2025.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reflecting on Q1 of 2025: The year is already 25% done, which feels crazy!
• 😀 Spending more time with family: A silver lining from a tough breakup has been cherishing more moments with family, including FaceTiming regularly and visiting places like DC and Boston.
• 😀 The importance of family time: As we grow older, the time spent with family decreases, making the time you do have together even more precious.
• 😀 Volunteering for personal growth: Volunteering at a local church has helped shift from a selfish mindset to one that values helping others without expecting anything in return.
• 😀 Embracing career uncertainty: It's okay to feel uncertain about long-term career goals in your 20s—it's a time for exploration and growth.
• 😀 The value of curiosity: Following personal curiosity, such as learning programming, can keep you energized and motivated compared to doing something just for appearances.
• 😀 Exploring AI and coding: AI-based tools are making it easier for non-technical people to build websites and create tools, highlighting the importance of understanding code even if you're not an engineer.
• 😀 Understanding the effort behind work: Learning technical aspects of your job helps foster respect from colleagues and a deeper appreciation for what goes into building great products.
• 😀 Exploring non-traditional career paths: Reading 'The Pathless Path' by Paul Millard inspired a reflection on what it means to do meaningful work and how personal identity can be shaped beyond a job title.
• 😀 Overall reflection on Q1 2025: The first quarter was productive, and the goal is to keep growing, both through work and side projects like YouTube and Substack, while remaining open to new experiences in the coming months.

Q & A

Why does the speaker value spending more time with family?

The speaker values spending more time with family due to a painful breakup that led them to reflect on how little time they had spent with loved ones. They realized that as adults, time with family often decreases significantly, and they want to cherish the time they have left.

What does the speaker mention about the concept of 'wealth' in relation to time spent with family?

The speaker refers to a chart from Sahil Bloom’s book, *The Five Types of Wealth*, which emphasizes that as people grow older, they spend less time with family. This is a reminder that time with loved ones is a form of wealth, and it’s important to consciously appreciate it.

What insight did the speaker gain from volunteering?

The speaker initially struggled with volunteering, feeling it was a waste of time. However, they came to realize that helping others without expecting anything in return brings deep fulfillment and satisfaction, which they had previously overlooked.

How has the speaker’s career at Google evolved over the past year?

The speaker has been at Google for nearly a year. While the first six months were challenging due to a lack of support, they have since found a helpful colleague who has contributed to their growth. The speaker feels much more confident and grateful for the development they've experienced.

Why does the speaker feel uncertain about their long-term career path?

The speaker feels uncertain about their long-term career because, despite learning and growing at Google, they don’t have a clear vision of where they want to be in 5, 10, or 20 years. They acknowledge that uncertainty is normal, especially in their 20s, and they are okay with not having everything figured out.

What does the speaker mean by following their curiosity?

Following curiosity means pursuing activities or learning that genuinely interest you, rather than doing something merely for external validation or to enhance one’s resume. The speaker believes that when you follow your curiosity, you’re more likely to stay consistent and energized rather than feeling burnt out.

Why is the speaker learning programming and coding?

The speaker is learning programming and coding because they believe AI will dramatically change industries, similar to the way electricity transformed businesses. By understanding the basics of coding, the speaker can engage with emerging technologies and communicate better with engineers in future roles.

How does the speaker view AI's future impact on businesses?

The speaker views AI as a transformative force, similar to electricity, that will eventually be integrated into every business, regardless of industry. AI’s potential for automating tasks and solving problems will open up countless new use cases, which the speaker finds exciting.

What is *The Pathless Path* by Paul Millard about, and what lesson did the speaker learn from it?

In *The Pathless Path*, Paul Millard reflects on the idea of doing meaningful work and questions the role of work in defining our identity. The speaker learned the importance of reflecting on why we work and how different people have different reasons for their careers. It’s a reminder to think critically about one’s path, whether it’s traditional or unconventional.

How does the speaker view their progress in 2025 so far?

The speaker feels that Q1 of 2025 has been a positive start, with personal growth in relationships, career, and volunteering. They are excited about the future and plan to continue creating content on YouTube and writing on Substack, while maintaining a balance of personal exploration and growth.