Trying to be a little more positive to balance the 'worst mistakes' thread. To start: I joined an integrated 'smart people' class in my last 2 years of high school. (Same school I'd been attending for 3 years, just a different program). Being surrounded by kids with motivation and purpose completely changed my life. I attribute that influence completely with pylling my grades up from avg C+ to A, being able to enter university, and eventually getting a job at FANG. I also met nearly all of my current closest friends there (more than 15 years ago now).
Leaving Amazon.
Pulling out...each and every time. Batting 1000
Its out takes is once....ONCE! 🖕
Having personal projects and dedicating real time to them.
Buying a house in 2012.
Moving to the US for grad studies
Joining Google. I used to worry that I am becoming complacent, now I don’t care.
Is being there making you complacent in any way?
You will survive if you become complacent here, but there is internal competition and people may not respect you much. I wouldn’t say that it’s common, most people are motivated but also maintain good wlb. Being here gives you more opportunities to work on personal/community projects. So, everyone finds something they are excited for.
Best decision was to take a chance and believe in myself for a change.
Not getting married to the wrong person. I personally believe that the best things often come from avoiding devastating mistakes that one can barely recover from. That’s why I don’t state “marrying the right person”, though I think that I accomplished that as well.
God has graced me with the same. Thank the Lord.
Moving to be with my girlfriend (now wife). Besides the relationship piece it forced me out of a comfortable, low paying job and allowed me to be in the right area at the right time to get a gig pentesting.
Not to hangout with my HS friends who were ditching and into drugs and dating and flunking.
Snuck "dating" in there I see
It’s such a waste of time at a HS level. Most hs sweethearts breakup when in college anyways