[zkinion]

I was there at that YC startup school where Mark said younger people are smarter. The atmosphere in the air was part humor and part insight, not some seriousness to mean that older people are stupid in anyways.

The most important thing he said that day I can remember was that his company was, no matter what, a "software" company, and even his chief legal team lawyer codes as well, and stressed the importance of understanding and doing coding.

Now, I'm 32, and made a lot of money in my late 20's, and also in my early 20's, but lost everything right before I turned 30 in some legal grow op investments in California. I've never had a successful startup, even though I had a successful affiliate program in college, and am beginning to feel old.

When I was 22, in college and making more than a plastic surgeon because I figured out how to generate oodles of mortgage leads online during the mortgage bubble, I not only felt different, the world itself was different. Everybody seemed to be happier, friendlier. The world is just simply a different place when you're making lots of money and building things, whether its in internet marketing or in the startup world. The world is a very shitty place when you're stagnant, barely making any money, and just rotting away some like dead animal.

Its hard to even think straight any more. It's like a part of me is just not there that once was. I exercise and eat healthily, but its just not the same. Maybe I need to start getting on some HGH treatment, but that's nearly 30k a year. Its probably more mental than hormones.

So yeah, if you're over 30, you're a slow old man, only if you let it get to you deep down.

[graeme]

Interesting. I felt like you at age 25, when I was hit by poverty, uncertain direction, and health problems.

I'm 28 now, and feel like I'm getting younger as I age. But not quite as young as when I was 21. There's definitely aging there, I think.

The three things that have produced the biggest impact for me have been:

  1. Barbells 
  2. Mindfulness + stoicism (Seneca)
  3. Finally earning a good amount of money

The first one was the easiest to implement. Have you tried barbells?

Mindfulness I only really managed after a health crisis forced me to deal with the stress constructively. Money I can't advise on.

But barbells are very easy to implement. Takes me about 30 minutes, three times per week + a $40 gym membership.

[zkinion]

Barbells I've got down solid. I was on Stronglift's 5x5 for quite a while. Now I've been getting more gains from a hybrid zyzz's workout, with enough compound lifts mixed in. My diet could use some work though, as that's what accounts for most lifting gains.

I'll look into #2. Maybe that can help with #3. When I can think straight and focus, I can stomp my foot on the ground and money seems to spring up around it. Thanks for the advice.

[graeme]

Good luck! Money's still out there for entrepreneurs.

The Miracle of Mindfulness was a good read. Actually, the first ten pages was enough for me. It got me to try being totally mindful for a morning as I went about my affairs, and that stuck with me. I am solidly in the present most of the time.

Letters from a stoic is what I read for Seneca. He taught me that we will lose everything eventually, but accepting this lets us enjoy what we have without fear. And he taught me to rehearse any scenarios I fear and write them down, to see that they're ultimately not so bad, or the common fate of us all.

[jqm]

part of it is the time. money is harder to get now then it was in 2004.

except for a small slice of silicon valley it seems.

[jqm]

28-32 are great years.

you are mature enough to be a bit more in control, yet young enough to still be... well.... young!