5 Life Lessons I Learned Too Late (Avoid My Biggest Mistakes)
For a long time, I believed that help would come — that someone, somewhere, would see what I am going through and give me a breakthrough. // Image: Akpan Unwana
If I have the chance to travel back in time and tell my younger self some words of advice, I’d say this: “Stop assuming that life works as school teaches you. Begin to listen to what is actually important.”
Recently, I came across an article in The Financial Diet that really hit on me. It gave an account of how most of the youths spend years in schools, pursuing degrees they never made use of. It revealed how 36% of Americans regret their college major. And more than half (51%) wish they could go back and change something about their time in college. Sad! Many waste years in school without knowing the skills involved in their field of study. Talk less of money habits they can build that would really equip them to be successful. After reading it, I had to think about my own experience, all the errors I did which have wasted my time, energy, and opportunities.
Life will always teach you a lesson, and I have had plenty of that lesson. I am telling you these five biggest life mistakes not to brag about what I eventually figured out, but to help you avoid falling into the same traps I did.
5 Life Lessons I Learned Too Late
1. I Thought School Alone Would Save Me From Poverty
When I joined the university, I thought that receiving a degree was everything. I believed as soon as that piece of paper is received, everything will be fine. I handled it as a safety net and not a stepping-stone.
The truth dawned on me when I graduated and discovered numerous school mates had degrees as well, yet only a few of them had a sense of purpose in life.
As soon as I started acquiring real-life skills in addition to my academic work — graphic and web design, freelancing — I began to create my own opportunities, rather than wait to be offered one by another.
Lesson: Education opens doors. But it’s what you do with your skills and creativity that counts. Think of school as one tool in your toolbox, not the whole solution.
2. I Waited Too Long to Learn Useful Skills
I felt that I needed to complete my degree first and then I could be able to learn a trade or a skill with seriousness. Such attitude wasted me precious time.
I didn’t have anyone to teach me how to build a website or any digital skills, so I had to figure it out myself. I finally invested in short courses, online tutorials and practical works. I was now earning money even before completing university.
And I wished I had started earlier. The faster you begin forming your stack of skills, and perhaps a nice side hustle, the faster you are going to generate value and revenue.
There is no need to wait until a certificate is issued.
Lesson: Get out there, and begin learning and practicing useful skills. Waiting to get a degree, job or the right time is a waste of time. Skills multiplicate just like money, and they can begin to pay off the minute they come into practice.
3. Thought Skills = Instant Wealth — Didn’t know How Money is Actually Made
I was talented with useful skills, yet didn’t know how to monetize them. I thought would suddenly make money once I have a skill. I didn’t know how money is actually made. And I didn’t know how money actually flows. This was one of my life’s hardest lessons!
Later I realized that how clients buy matters. I started asking: What are employers paying for? Which deliverables are in demand? What can I build that sells on its own, not just solves a client’s problem for one hour?
So I started learning sales. I had a friend who was very good at copywriting, so I learned from him how to write persuasive copies that will make clients buy my services.
As I started to make my income off a variety of sources, including graphic design, building websites for clients and other side projects, I began to see money not just as something in the background, but as a signal — a sign that I was creating real value. When money starts showing up consistently, it usually means you’re solving problems that people genuinely need answers to.
Lesson: Learn how to monetize your skills. Market and position yourself. Also understand the value you’re creating. When your income starts to grow steadily, take it as a proof that what you’re doing is solving real problems. Take note of what you just did, then put the entire process on a repeat to continue earning more. From there, save or reinvest a portion to strengthen your financial base.
4. I Kept Waiting for Someone Else to Save Me
For a long time, I believed that help would come — that someone, somewhere, would see what I am going through and give me a breakthrough. Maybe a rich relative, a connection, or some miraculous opportunity would show up and change everything. I kept on waiting for ‘the one’ that would deliver me out of the mess.
But life doesn’t work that way. No one is coming. As soon as I came to terms with that fact, everything changed. I also came to understand that freedom starts with self-reliance. It is waiting to be rescued that will hold you constantly in the same place; it is going to work that will move you forward. It began to change the day when I stopped expecting someone to help me and when I started to take small purposeful steps in my life learning, becoming better in my craft, reaching out, and creating possibilities.
Lesson: Stop waiting for someone to save you. No one owes you success. Where you are now, with what you have, make your way out one step at a time.
5. I Assumed Everyone Made Wealth from Luck
I believed those who made it had some kind of luck. I watched others suddenly stumble into success and I told myself and concluded it was some sort of random luck. I didn’t know it was as result of many years of investments, sacrifice and personal growth. It is due to that attitude I was not eager to build or experiment. I was waiting and hoping that one day I will suddenly make it big when ‘luck’ finally locates me.
Then, I learnt that success is not always by chance, but by personal development + strategy + time. So I started doing what I already knew how to do. And slowly, those started to built up.
Lesson: Wealth is not created by chance but by international effort. Your time is the strongest thing you possess. Use it. You should not judge your starting point with that of another person. Practice consistency, lifelong learning and action based.
Fate has a part to play, however, discipline and perseverance are much more effective.
So…
If you happen to be in your 30s or above reading this, well, good. Time is one of your already possessing advantages. All of the lessons above are not something to blame yourself but a tool that you could use today rather than years after.
Would you weave one of these into your plan this week? Start a skill. Stay curious about money. Put together an income stream, and rethink luck as strategy.
Hey! I'm Akpan Unwana, the founder of MoneyBreez. I am a digital entrepreneur, graphic and web designer who loves to use the digital space to generate income, freedom and meaningful opportunities. Over the years, I have been able to understand how design, creativity, and clever investing can be used to build real opportunities online
I write on MoneyBreez about real life tips on how to earn online, using emerging technologies to create wealth and be a smarter person with money.
