At 25, I thought I had time.
Time to figure it out.
Time to wait for the “right” moment.
Time to impress the world before I even knew who I really was.
Back then, success felt like a race—a blur of job titles, achievements, and constant comparison. I was sprinting with no clear finish line. And if I could go back and tell that 25-year-old anything, it would be this:
“Play the long game.”
That’s it.
Simple, right? But life-changing.
What Playing the Long Game Really Means
It means choosing growth over speed, consistency over intensity, and impact over applause.
When you’re 25, it’s easy to get caught in the trap of instant gratification:
- Wanting the promotion now.
- Starting a side hustle and expecting it to explode in 3 months.
- Thinking you’re falling behind because someone your age is already a CEO.
But here’s the truth: the people who actually build remarkable careers, lasting businesses, and meaningful lives aren’t the ones who burned out trying to “win early.”
They’re the ones who played for decades, not deadlines.
The Power of Compound Growth
You know how compound interest works in finance?
It works the same way in life and career:
- One book a month = 12 a year = 120 in a decade.
- One meaningful connection a week = 500+ in 10 years.
- One hour of skill-building daily = 3,650 hours in a decade. That’s mastery.
The small things that feel “too slow” today?
They become your superpowers tomorrow—if you stick with them.
My Mistakes, Your Lessons
Here’s what I wish someone told me sooner:
- Be patient with your pace, but urgent with your effort.
Don’t confuse going slow with standing still. - Don’t chase titles—chase skills.
Titles come and go. Skills stay with you. - You won’t always be motivated, but you can always be disciplined.
Consistency is underrated—and unbeatable. - Your 20s aren’t just for building a résumé—they’re for building character.
Who you become matters far more than what you do. - Say yes to the things that scare you.
Every version of your future self is on the other side of discomfort.
To Everyone in Their 20s (and Honestly, All of Us)
Don’t worry if your path looks different.
Don’t rush to check every box by 30.
Don’t waste your energy comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel.
Instead, build a foundation so strong that your future self will thank you for it every single day.
Let others sprint.
You? Run your own marathon.
The best is never behind you. It’s always ahead.
Insights by P.J — a lifelong learner, storyteller, and believer in growth over speed. Sharing lessons from the journey to help others build meaningful lives and careers.
