Give Yourself the Time (and Space) to Figure Things Out

In this series, professionals share what they'd do differently — and keep the same. Follow the stories here and write your own (please use #IfIWere22 in your post).

When I was 22, I piled all my belongings into a Ford Econoline van along with a few friends. We left Illinois and headed West. My first job after arriving in Berkeley, California, was helping clear away trees and brush. That was followed by a seven-year stretch of waitressing. It wasn’t until I was 30 that I landed a job — as a stock broker trainee — that put me on the path that leads directly to where I am today. 

I am not going to suggest that every 22-year-old take eight years to find the path they want to pursue. But at the same time, I hope you are kind to yourself. That you give yourself the time and space to figure things out. That’s not a license for laziness. I worked, and worked hard, in my 20s. And I wouldn’t trade the experiences I had during that time. But if there is a 22-year-old out there reading this and feeling adrift, I have this to say to you: Been there, done that. And look at me — it all turned out better than fine, right?

For those of you with great career jobs already lined up, I have a warning: Achieving success and power will not be a function of your job, nor how hard you work at that job.

Go in with that mindset and you will emerge in your 30s or 40s, exhausted and disillusioned. You are not your job. You are the sum of your thoughts, your intentions and most importantly, your actions.

Success and power comes from who you are as a person; how you choose to navigate the world. Put all your effort into being the best person you can be — to yourself, to your friends and family, and to the world at large — and you will not only be happy with your life, but you will also own the power within that will propel you in whatever career you choose.

Tune in for Suze Orman's classic advice on managing student debt: