If I Were 22: Plan Less, Embrace the Unexpected, and Travel

This post is part of a series in which Influencers share lessons from their youth. Read all the stories here.

If I knew then what I know now...

I would keep my coding muscles fresh. I took computer science classes as part of my engineering degree in college, but I haven’t written code for a while. Engineering and coding teach you to solve complex problems through a series of simple, repeatable, block steps — ideally, steps that someone else can build on in order to create new interactions. These are all the necessary ingredients in building a strong operation — repeatable, simple interactions that you can build on.

My cousin, Hadi Partovi, has made it his mission to bring computer science to school curriculums across the country through www.code.org. I’m hoping that we create many, many more 22-year-olds who have experience coding.

I would keep more pictures, more memories. I’ve always believed in looking forward and not being too attached to your past. I have thought that holding onto habits, regrets, and even comforts can close your mind to new experiences, new ways of doing things.

My family lost everything when we left Iran and moved to the U.S. Everything, but each other. So I’ve never wanted to be trapped or too attached to material things. I never kept pictures, notebooks, essays, reminders of the past. Yet, the other day I found an old notebook of mine – it had some crappy sketches and journal entries from college. I was really happy to read through it and wished that I had kept more of those memories.

This isn’t a problem in our digital world. We keep every text, note, picture and video, whether on Facebook, Dropbox, Evernote or the like. (Come to think of it, maybe my way was better.)

I would travel more. My first job out of college was at Allen & Company Inc., which remains one of the very best investment banks out there. I still remember my very first bonus there — $20,000, which was an enormous amount of money in 1991 for a kid right out of school.

I went into Herbert Allen’s office to thank him for the bonus. Herbert said, “You are welcome – now, what are you going to do with the money?” I joked that I would probably take my friends out drinking that night, but that’s about all I had in mind. Ok, I wasn’t joking.

Herbert told me that I should go to Africa — that the country was changing fast and would never be the same. I, of course, politely thanked Herbert for the idea, never having any intention of following through. Next thing I know, Herbert called his assistant over and told her that he was paying for a two-week safari for me and a couple of my friends. Two of my best high school friends and I went on a tented safari at the Masai Mara and into the Serengeti, followed by a few days on Lake Victoria — one of the most memorable experiences in my life.

I will never forget that first bonus from Herbert – it was a truly extraordinary gesture and got the travel bug in me.

My favorite trips:

• The Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia. It’s where my wife, Sydney, said yes to marrying me – how could it not be a favorite?
• Trekking to see the mountain gorillas at the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The sight of a silverback gorilla staring at you – moving toward you – is terrifying, humbling, and electrifying.
• Renting a villa at Lake Como. Hike the beautiful mountains and have some gnocchi at one of the mountain refugios. Dinner, fresh pasta, good wine, and great conversation at night. The best of both worlds.
• To-dos: See the Northern Lights, swim with whale sharks, and explore the Middle East.

I am 22 times two now. If I could do it over, I would plan less and take more risks. I wouldn’t be in such a hurry to grow up. I would realize that the consequences of mistakes are usually less than you realize. And loss and losing can be the most valuable lessons in life. I would realize that at the ripe old age of 44, I’d still have a lifetime ahead of me.

Time to stop writing and start doing. Let’s see where I’m at 22 times three.

Photos: Dara Khosrowshahi in Africa, 1991