5 THINGS I WISH I KNEW AT 22: Hard-Earned Lessons in Intentionality
Photo of Marshall Carr 2026
Earning your diploma is a major milestone, but stepping off that stage and into the working world can feel like landing on a completely different planet.
Looking back across a long career, it’s easy to spot the crucial turning points—and the blind spots. Transitioning and pivoting later in life often brings those early missteps into sharp focus. Not out of regret, but as valuable insights to pay forward to those just starting out.
If I could sit down with my 22-year-old self over a cup of coffee today, I wouldn't offer vague platitudes. I’d give him five specific, hard-earned realities to save him years of wasted time and missed opportunities.
Whether you already have a plan locked in or are still figuring out what comes next, here are five things I wish I had understood from Day One.
1. Pay Attention to Your Surroundings Situational awareness isn't just a military term; it’s critical for your life and career. Early on, it’s far too easy to move on autopilot—oblivious to workplace dynamics, subtle industry shifts, or hidden opportunities right under your nose.
The Reality: I didn't truly figure this out—understanding my surroundings, sizing up fears and risks, and spotting genuine opportunities—until I was 32 or 33.
The Pivot: Don't wait a decade to wake up. Start observing the landscape around you today. Pay attention to how decisions get made, understand the forces shaping your field, and make proactive choices rather than reactive ones.
2. Read More and Leverage Your Knowledge College isn't just a hurdle to clear; it’s an opportunity to build intellectual muscle. When you're young, it’s tempting to slip into doing just enough to cross the finish line.
The Reality: I deeply regret my lack of effort in school that delivered a mediocre 2.83 GPA. It wasn't about the number on a transcript; it was about the knowledge, discipline, and critical habits I left on the table.
The Pivot: Treat learning as leverage, not a requirement. Read broadly, stay curious, and take every chance to build real depth. Knowledge compounds over time, becoming your ultimate competitive advantage.
3. Actively Explore Professions (Don't Just Drift) Many graduates step into the job market without a clear compass. If you don't actively take control of your direction, circumstances will happily choose one for you.
The Reality: I spent almost no time trying to figure out what profession I would or could have pursued. I had zero guidance and no specific field of interest, so I simply drifted into whatever showed up.
The Pivot: Take the initiative to audit different industries now. Talk to people in diverse roles, explore fields you know nothing about, and actively search for a direction rather than waiting for inspiration to strike out of thin air.
4. Master the Time Value of Money When those first real paychecks hit your account, the urge to spend discretionary income on immediate physical indulgences is powerful. But failing to understand basic financial principles early costs you far more than the number on the price tag.
The Reality: I spent a lot of money on short-term wants—like building massive collections of CDs—and didn't really get the time value of money until way too late in life.
The Pivot: Compound interest requires time to work its magic. Master basic financial literacy immediately. Every dollar you save and invest in your 20s buys you freedom, options, and flexibility when you want to make a career pivot in your 30s or 40s.
5. Keep an Open Mind About Where You Live It’s natural to want the comfort of familiar places, but rushing back to a specific city out of habit or impatience can narrow your world before it even has a chance to expand.
The Reality: I was far too quick and impatient to move back to LA simply because I got a job offer at McDonnell Douglas. I let a single job dictate my location without considering what else was out there.
The Pivot: Be geographically flexible. Where you live dictates your network, your lifestyle, and your exposure to new ideas. Don't let impatience constrain your horizon—be open to where the right journey might take you.
Your Next Chapter Starts Today
Hindsight is a powerful teacher, but you have the benefit of foresight. You don't have to make the same missteps or wait a decade to figure out these foundational truths.
Be intentional with your choices, stay curious, and build a career designed by choice—not by default.
This is your journey. Make it count.