Discoveries #6 | Advice to My 22-Year-Old Self
Welcome to Edition 06 of Discoveries. Each week, I share inspiration on design, product building, and what's next.
Part 1: Advice to My 22-Year-Old Self (Who Definitely Thought He Knew Everything)
A few months ago, I wrapped up teaching a graduate design course filled with wildly talented, wildly curious students. On the last day, one of them asked:
“What advice do you wish someone gave you in your early 20s?”
Giving advice is tricky—everyone’s playing a different game, with different goals and very different definitions of “success.” But now, with nearly two decades of building, designing, and screwing things up under my belt, I’ve got some thoughts.
If I could beam a message back to my 22-year-old self, here’s what I’d say:
Ambitious projects take the same effort as mediocre ones—so go big.
Over my career, I’ve launched two companies and over 25 products. The scary truth? Building something ambitious (even weirdly ambitious) often takes the same amount of energy as building something conventional.
In fact, building something wildly ambitious can be easier in some ways—because the field is less crowded and people (especially smart, powerful, money-having people) want to help you.
One of my first products was a task management app. You know how many people try to build a “better” task management app? Too many.
Go build the unusual, the uncomfortable, the high-upside thing. If you’re going to burn energy, burn it chasing something bold.
Communicating well will change your entire life.
Communicating confidently isn’t just a skill—it’s a meta skill. It upgrades everything: how you interview, how you lead, how you pitch, how you charm your in-laws.
And here’s the truth no one tells you: becoming a confident communicator isn’t about TED Talk hand gestures or using words like “synergize.” It’s about learning how to tell a clear, compelling story.
How to get better?
- Take a good copywriting course (like this one)
- Read a little every day
- Get reps. Lots of reps. Talk to your mirror. Talk to your dog. Talk at Toastmasters. Just talk.
Nobody is born a great speaker. But everyone gets better with practice. And if you're lucky, your dog becomes a better listener too.
Shortcuts are often just scenic routes to regret.
In my early 20s, I treated life like a video game—constantly searching for the cheat codes. Optimization culture! Biohacks! Lifehacks! Careerhacks!
But here’s the hard truth: doing the actual work is the only real shortcut.
Taking shortcuts teaches you to cut corners. And once you start, it’s hard to stop. So don’t. Build good habits early and reinforce them with consistency.
One book that helped me a ton: The Power of Habit.
One idea that stuck: If you get 1% better every day, you’ll be 37x better in a year. (Also, math is magic.)
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That’s enough unsolicited advice for one post. In Part 2, I’ll share the other half of the list—covering ownership, quantity vs. quality, and why showing up matters more than you think.
👉 Part 2 coming next week.
Product Inspiration
SpaceX has made launching something into orbit feel like ordering an Uber. A few clicks, a credit card, and boom—your stuff is headed to space.
It’s absolutely wild. We used to need government clearance and a decade of paperwork. Now it’s basically “Add to Cart.”
What I'm Reading
Some takeaways:
- Leadership at All Levels: Leadership shouldn't be confined to titles; anyone can lead by setting high standards and driving performance within their sphere of influence.
- Culture of Proactivity: Employees are urged to be "drivers" rather than "passengers," taking initiative and making meaningful contributions. This mindset aims to eliminate complacency and promote a sense of ownership among team members.
- Performance-Driven Environment: Top companies operate with a singular focus on performance, akin to the "Marine Corps" mentality, highlighting discipline and resilience over comfort.
Other Finds
I visited Petra back in 2009, and to this day, no place has left me more awestruck.
See you next week,
Blake
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