[vikas5678]

3 critical skills that will help you through out your life: 1. Learn to workout well - crossfit, hire a trainer, etc 2. Basic financial knowledge - investing, taxes, RSUs/Options, etc 3. Presentation skills - most of your career will be determined by how effectively you communicate, influence and persuade. Invest in it.

[lwansbrough]

There’s a lot of better ways to work out than crossfit. But I agree with the basic premise! Learn the skill of lifting heavy things and running farther than you’re willing to walk.

I’d add to presentation skills: negotiation skills. I’ll recommend Chris Voss’ book “Never Split the Difference” as I have been to all my relatives this Christmas.

[markatkinson]

I have done crossfit, other HIIT gyms, weights, swimming, running etc etc. However the best exercise I can recommend is one you enjoy. Try squash, Rock climbing, yoga etc till you find something you enjoy and you want to excel at.

This business of exercising for the sake of exercising for the rest of your life as if it is some sort of cross to bear is not the best technique to staying healthy! Try and enjoy it.

[vikas5678]

I'm not a crossfitter either, but I've trained at Crossfit gyms for about a year in the past. Yes, high intensity training with complex Olympic movements create a situation where injuries might more easily occur, but if one just goes there for a few months to learn the basics of movements/lifting form, it can be beneficial even if you go workout by yourself later on.

[vladf]

Can you elaborate on why other things are "better" than crossfit? I've found it to be very time-efficient and well-rounded.

[sethammons]

A lot of folks give CrossFit crap (and a some of it is justified). It is hip to hate on it. If you can get a box that has a good owner/coach, CrossFit is an excellent way to learn about fitness and your limits. The biggest issue I have is the lack of quality control between gyms. The community/class aspects help push you, the types of movements and workouts can be very effective at both strength, cardio, and capacity. Work on mobilizing and form and you are golden with CrossFit.

[gremlinsinc]

I started crossfit in September at 515 lbs.

Trust me it REALLY depends on the box and the coaches...there's 2 coaches that aren't super helpful, but they're still nice and friendly, but the owner, and 2 of the other coaches are amazing.

At 515, you can't do a ton, so they walked me through modifications, they give me extra help to get better form, they slow me down when I want to push past my limit or feel I'm not progressing fast enough -- so I don't get injured.

Heck, they even call and fb chat w/ me if I miss a class. I started 9/10 @ 515. It's 12/27 and I'm 430. Goal is be <300 by 2020 (40th birthday).

I can see CrossFit REALLY sucking if quality isn't there, and the coaches suck, I don't like going to classes AS much when the good coaches aren't coaching, so I think that's the difference..

A normal gym you just have equipment, quality doesn't matter that much, in CrossFit --it's all about the people running the place, if they aren't attentive to those who might need extra help getting up to par, then find a different box.

[sethammons]

Agreed! And awesome progress!

[gremlinsinc]

Thanks. Been a great year. CrossFit helped me overcome depression, and a lot of things. Probably some with focus too... Also more confidence. Can't wait to recap my progress next Year... hoping to be < 300.

[markatkinson]

I tried 3 crossfit gyms. They all played such loud music that after each session my ears would ring and it made me agitated. Ended up sending the one an email, but apparently it has something to do with motivation.

[sethammons]

Yeah, no good. Quality control would help a ton.

[philliphaydon]

CrossFit is an easy way to injure yourself.

[rasz]

As reported in NSCA study, which court found containing “false statements”.

"It is taken as established that the NSCA had a commercial motivation for making the false statement in the Devor Study (…) that the NSCA made the false statement in the Devor Study with the intention of disparaging CrossFit and thereby driving consumers to the NSCA (…) (and) that a loss in CrossFit’s certification revenue was the natural and probable result of the false injury data in the Devor Study."

[dmourati]

Non-crossfitter here. I have a personal trainer who is also a non-crossfitter. His assessment of the program is that it is too one size fits all.

[fersab]

crossfit is like scientology of fitness

[praneshp]

It's really not. I used to do it, and then quit it. Nobody even tried to armtwist me into not leaving (except for asking for 30-day notice)

[igotsideas]

Lol this had me dyin. Thanks.

[romeisendcoming]

1. useless 50+ unless you enjoy pain and injury. 2. Buy something that is always worth something, take care of it and make enough $$ to enjoy life. Leave something for your family and rainy days. 3. Presentation skills? Communication skills and I'd say those are only useful when you have something to communicate. Technical and creative skills are just as important.

OP list is the young mans guide to SV future reality if I had to guess.

[afarrell]

Do you know of a way for an amateur to get more efficient at preparing their own taxes? As an American living in London, I feel like I spend waaay to much time going down research rabbit holes to answer questions like “does HMRC consider Roth IRAs to be like pensions?” or “Does the IRS consider a help-to-buy ISA to be a PFIC?”

[purplezooey]

Unfortunately persuasion is usually done at the bar. Often enough the "presentation" is just a formality.

[vikas5678]

Maybe. Persuasion is also about finding shared success/common ground, and its almost a negotiation in that way. Look at Robert Cialdini's books on Amazon. Similarly books on negotiation by Maggie Neale or Chris Voss (Never split the difference) are really helpful.

[giladoved]

Great advice! Do you know of any links/resources to help develop skills 2 and 3?

[vikas5678]

https://www.amazon.com/Robert-B.-Cialdini/e/B000AP9KKG - Robert Cialdini's books are good.

Never Split the difference from Chris Voss is a good book. Persuasion and negotiation are also as much about effective listening. Something I've practiced hard this year is to be mindful of creating a pause before I respond. Pause for like 2 seconds.

For investing, etc - highly recommend starting with this - https://mebfaber.com/timing-model/

Forget stock picking, it is generally a fool's errand.

Also - Tony Robbins did a good job with his book "Money: Master the game". Look up the "All weather strategy" from Ray Dalio referenced in that book. Diversification across non-correlated assets, compounded over time creates wealth.

[snazz]

My personal recommendation for learning to give better presentations is to just do it. Start your own little tech convention and do as much public speaking as possible. You get the "bystander effect" at social events when someone has to say something to a crowd but nobody wants to do it, so step up and get some practice! People don't judge you for errors nearly as much as you think.

As for written communication, Markel's Technical Communication was used in my English class in college and I remember getting a lot out of following its directions. As you might expect, it's very well written. Of course, I had the advantage of classroom instruction, but I think it would be helpful even for self-study.

[brianbreslin]

read Iwillteachyoutoberich.com to start on #2 his site is by no means the end all be all, but it will give you a start.

[rkho]

+1 to this, I think Ramit Sethi's material is a great introduction to financial knowledge. This year I'm following up with Bogleheads and, if I can handle it, The Intelligent Investor

[praneshp]

In addition to the other replies, read up the wiki on r/personalfinance