5 Illuminating Lessons Learned in My 20s

If there’s one thing I love…which is a stupid way to lead off, because there are many things I love…but anyway, one thing I love is chain of acquaintance. You know–there’s this girl I know, who knows this guy, who knows this other guy, whom I just met on the bus today and ended up giving me a job. That kind of thing. Love it.

This guest blog post is in a similar vein. Joy Eggerichs, whom I met at Q last month and who will appear in all her Portlandian splendor in Issue #12, wrote on her blog about this guy named Brad Lomenick who is a mover and shaker in modern evangelical culture. He has some great advice for people like you and me…even if we’re not in our 20s. (Which some of us just aren’t anymore, okay?)

And Joy said I could swipe it from her site to share with you.

Because that’s what friends do…take each other’s material.

If you dig Brad’s advice and want to learn more about him, visit his website.
If you want to witness his other, secret talent, visit Joy’s.

5 Illuminating Lessons Learned in My 20s

By: Brad Lomenick

1. Use your 20′s to build a foundation for your 70′s. Create deep roots that will give you a foundation for when you are older. Finishing well means starting well.

2. Don’t worry about climbing the ladder. There’s no longer a ladder anyway. It’s more like one of those spiral staircases. And sometimes you are going across or down when you think you might be climbing. So don’t worry about it. Spend your 20′s learning and having life experiences. Travel, explore the world, take on projects that seem fun.

3. If your “career” path doesn’t make sense to anyone except for you, it’s okay. My 20′s: college at University of Oklahoma, wrangler on a guest ranch in Colorado, management consultant, business development officer, Magazine and media company, strategic business plan developer. WOW. That is all over the map. But God was orchestrating steps very clearly for what was next in my story. And continues to do so.

4. Be diligent and aggressive in developing your friendships and relationships. Create a core group of close friends who you want to do life with. This group may change a bit over the years, but it is imperative to find a circle of trust that you are committed to and they to you. Also, cast your net wide in terms of new relationships. Be intentional with serving others and make it your goal while in your 20′s to develop an “others first” mentality and model.

5. Figure out who you want to be, not what you want to do. Who you are is more important that what you do or where you live. Spiritually, financially, family, emotionally, relationally. Find two or three older, wise “sages” that you can learn from and count on as help.

Flickr photo (cc) by  Maëlle Caborderie