A reader (I don’t remember who, sorry!) recently asked this question:
Caleb, you said in one of your podcasts that your biggest life regret was that you didn’t live in Asia for 2 years when you were in your 20s. Could you make a post about traveling on another part of the globe and doing what you wanted to do, but you didn’t do it?
I am in a similar position and I think that a lot of men have the same desire to go to another part of the globe and live there for a while. If you have gone to Asia, how would you sustain yourself? What would you do there?
That wasn’t exactly my biggest life regret (since I travel the world whenever I want now), but it is the biggest regret I have about my twenties, yes.
What he’s referring to is what I should have done in my twenties. I did a lot right in my twenties, but my two biggest errors as a young man was A) getting legally, monogamously married (and doing it way too young) and B) not moving to Asia for a year or two, coming back to the USA if I still wanted to.
As I’ve talked about before, it is in your early twenties when men tend to be the most mobile and the most free.
When you are young enough to not be married, have any kids, or have a lot of debt or expensive life infrastructure, but old enough to be able to pay your own bills and not live with your parents, this is the best time, at least for most men, to go out and really see the world. You have maximum freedom with minimum expenses and responsibilities.
If you try to do this stuff in your forties, this will be much harder, since you’ll have responsibilities (wife, kids, debts, bills, businesses, etc) that will keep you more rooted. The Alpha Male 2.0 lifestyle alleviates some or all of this, but you get my point.
I should have, when I was about 23, packed my shit and spent a year or two in China or Japan. While there, I could learn about the culture, the superior Asian work ethic, make some great business contacts, and even perhaps pick up some basic Japanese or Chinese languages.
All of these would have been vastly important to my long-term business success and motivation in life. I could have really benefited from doing this on multiple levels.
How would I have supported myself over there? That’s easy, since my expenses were so low. I had no kids, no wife, no debts, no nothing. Young guys can afford to live very low, and this is a huge advantage.
The easiest way to support yourself over there is to teach English as a second language. There are many programs you can sign up for where they will even provide you housing. It’s hugely needed over there, especially in China.
However, I would have hustled and just gotten a job in a growth industry, just like I did here. I would have saved up enough money to survive for about two months with no income, and this would have been more than enough time to scrounge up a job, especially for a White American, even if I didn’t speak the language.
Once at that job, I would learn everything I could about that industry in Asia. I would have gone out of my way to make as many business friends and business contacts as I possibly could. I would have taken copious notes. I would have monkey-branched to better jobs if I could (and I probably would). I would also probably take language classes at night to get the language down (maybe; there are arguments to be made against this).
In other words, I would maximize my time over there and take it very seriously, like I was going to college (only this would be far better than fucking college, which has now become a scam).
Armed with all of this business knowledge and contacts, I would have gone back to the Untied States and perhaps started a company that sold US products or services to that country, which would have been a no-brainer at that point.
I think living abroad for 1-2 years when you’re in your twenties is a hugely valuable thing to do. I don’t think you should wait 20 years like I did.
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I agree with Caleb, moving to Barcelona in my twenties to complete my Law master degree paid by the European commission was the best decision in my life.
I made a lot of contacts, friends for life and learnt Spanish to a fluent level which was so valuable when I moved to the UK.
Week ends I worked in a High class/ VIP strip tease club due to my experience in Bars and languages, quickly became the manager running the cash. Amazing skills I picked up to run a business and learning about “game”( striptease girls are ruthless hustlers). I did that right, great times!
Hi caleb, nice article.
I read your article from the sublime your time blog that you linked here and im wondering what do you recommend for the guys who just finished high school but who have nothing to write on their resume?Should they take a crappy job that they can find and then work part time at another crappy job,in order to have what to write in their resume?Or should they find a crappy job and then do voluntary work,instead of another job part time job,because it looks better on the resume/CV?Or should they do something else?
What if some guys want to travel to countries that have no industry like south africa or countries from south america,do you still recommend to them to stay there two years?I think that if you dont go to a country with strong industries like japan,china,usa,south korea,germany or france you will waste your time.
Also if you want to visit a foreign country because you dream to start a business there,first you should research that country and see if its business friendly,to research the corporate tax that is there,etc.
If its not too personal,im wondering what your life regrets are, beside those mentioned above?Mine was that i wasted two years of my life with drugs.
Alessandro, I would apply for jobs all over the world in your desired field. People in your home town may not hire you, but someone far away might love the idea and be impressed with your dedication. I was offered a low salary 3500 miles from home and i took it ten years ago. Its scary, but there is no better time than now and it will expand your mind and change your life.
I have a similar regret to not traveling younger. When i finally did travel, and learn some other languages, It really showed me that there is nothing wrong with me, rather something wrong with american women/relationships.
Get the least crappy job you can, then focus hard on getting a better one while you work your crappy job.
Uh, South Africa and South America have plenty of industry, so yes.
Wrong. Yes, those countries have more economic opportunity, but if you prefer Africa or S. America you should totally go for it and it will be worthwhile. You could be a self-made millionaire in these places, as I already talked about here.
For five flags, yes. For this “young guy lives two years abroad” advice, no, none of that matters. You can just get a job.
Getting married in my 20s. Pretty much as bad as doing drugs.
Brilliant way to monetize this blog… what prompted you to finally do this?
What are the arguments against learning the language of the country you’re living in?
It was always part of the long-term plan.
Everything I do is.
The argument is if you try to do business deals in the native tongue without sounding very fluent, you’ll look stupid (like a 5 year-old) which will damage your standing. If instead you calmly and confidently speak in your own language and have a translator translate for you, you come across as more classy and powerful.
I don’t disagree, though I think it depends on the situation and exactly what kind of business you’re in.
Hey Caleb,
What do you think about Russia as part of a 5 flags plan ?
I’ve been there multiple times, and the country is extremely far from what it was 30 years ago.
I tend to believe it’s on the rise compared to socialist Western Europe (France more specifically).
Any thoughts ?
Thank you.