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Welcome to The Young Eye — a podcast that listens deeper. Hosted by Syd White, this show explores the world through the eyes of people from all walks of life, sharing stories of struggle, resilience, and triumph. From personal growth to global impact, these conversations uncover what brings us joy, what breaks us down, and what drives us to build a more compassionate, sustainable world.
Whether you’re a young dreamer finding your voice or simply seeking perspective, this podcast is your space to hear, connect, and grow. Because change begins with listening — and every voice matters.
00:00:00:00 - 00:00:22:06
Syd
In this episode, I'm sitting down with a close friend to talk about the things we wish we knew at 25, the lessons we learned. The mistakes we've made. The choices that shaped us and the advice we give to our younger selves. 25 is an interesting age. You're old enough to feel like you're supposed to have your life together, but you're young and often know that you still have a lot to learn.
00:00:22:07 - 00:00:43:19
Syd
Though I'm not 25 yet, I will still like to talk to someone who's been not in the path that I paid towards, to listen to their advice and the mistakes they made along their path. And maybe I can use some of that towards mine. Welcome back to another episode where we talk about things we wish we knew at 25.
00:00:43:21 - 00:01:05:11
Syd
I have a wonderful guest here. We're consider a friend and uncle, Warren Tavares. Thank you for being here. My pleasure. Much appreciated. Okay, so I guess before we jump in, just let the audience just introduce yourself to about yourself and. Yeah, we'll go from there. Yeah. So as Sid mentioned, my name is Juan Tavares. Everybody just calls me Juan.
00:01:05:12 - 00:01:35:03
Syd
I don't go by Mr. or anything. Yeah. Been in been living here in Idaho for about 13 years now. I grew up in New York City. I was born in the Dominican Republic and emigrated to New York City when I was a, seven, going on eight. And grew up there, joined the military, was spent ten years in the Navy and York, got out, went to college and got into the semiconductor industry, which is what I do now.
00:01:35:05 - 00:01:58:08
Syd
Nice man. Yeah. So he's he's a man of many talents. So there's a lot, a lot of things to teach me. But no, that's awesome man. And all of be here. For what for. Hold on for years. Yeah. Yeah. 2022. Hey I'm almost five because this year I'm over. Almost over. Yeah that is crazy man. Yeah. Geez I'm getting old.
00:01:58:10 - 00:02:18:02
Syd
You were young when you got here. No I don't know. I don't recognize it. I was like I was 19 going on 20. Now I'm 24 going on 25. It's hard to look at you, man. All right, buddy. You know, we're gonna open the questions. So the first one, I would ask is, I guess, regarding career. Yeah.
00:02:18:03 - 00:02:44:09
Syd
So obviously, every young person wants to follow their passion, whatever that may be. And sometimes that passion doesn't truly, I guess, pay the bill. So I guess from your perspective or what I like to ask, do you think, what should I when should that person take the risk or when should they play it safe? If that makes sense?
00:02:44:13 - 00:03:08:05
Syd
Yeah, no, it absolutely does. And I think when you're young, is it time to take the risk? There's no better time to take a risk than when you're young. Because what have you got to lose? Even if you fail, you can start again. Right. You have time. It's much more difficult to take those risks as you get older and you start having more responsibilities.
00:03:08:09 - 00:03:37:18
Syd
You could be family, could be a house, could be anything. Yeah. So as as those responsibilities grow, it becomes much more difficult to take a risk. So I think when you're young is that's that's the best time to take a risk. So I can agree to an extent. Well, I do have a question for you, but personally, I guess from, from my perspective, obviously I've taken risks, you know, through my, through my youth.
00:03:37:19 - 00:04:00:10
Syd
I'm still young, but I look back at it, I would say, and regret, but I'm like, dang, should have really done that because maybe I wouldn't have, you know, be in this position that I am now. And like we talked earlier before we started recording, you're like, don't look at it as a regret. Look at it as something you can learn from.
00:04:00:12 - 00:04:28:02
Syd
But I guess that's my issue. I'm still not looking at it from that perspective because I'm a overthinker. I will I will admit that I very much a overthinker. So I don't look at the logistic point of view. I just look at it from a point of view, if that makes sense. So it doesn't make sense, honestly. But I guess what type of risks did you take at that age?
00:04:28:04 - 00:04:53:08
Syd
At my I guess at my age 24. Right. That you look back and like okay, maybe I should have done this better or maybe I should have took this approach. Depending on what it was. So I don't think honestly, I didn't take any risk. I joined the military, I went to college. So, I mean, if that's a risk there during the military, I mean, it's like a how do you fail at that, right?
00:04:53:10 - 00:05:25:11
Syd
You know, the chances of failure. Not that you can't. Obviously there are plenty of people that do, but, but if you got to work really hard at failing at the military. Yeah. To fail at, you know, I think there's a lot of support systems to help you succeed. Yeah, if you know what I mean. So I don't I don't view that as a risk the same way that, for example, like you write your you have your, your podcast, your your you're trying to do a lot of different things, right.
00:05:25:12 - 00:05:47:13
Syd
That you that are, that you don't necessarily see the outcome at the end of that. So so you're you're believing in yourself enough to say, I want to do this and invest in yourself and in whatever it is that you want to do to make that successful. That's a risk, you know, joining the military. Not that it's a bad thing.
00:05:47:14 - 00:06:04:21
Syd
Yeah, right. But it's not a risk in the same way because you have a cushion. Yeah. Right. I guess you kind of know what you're signing up for in a sense. In a sense. And. And I got a paycheck every two weeks. That's true. You know, I had health benefits. Yeah, I even had a place to stay that I.
00:06:04:23 - 00:06:20:06
Syd
You know, I could always live on the ship. I was in the Navy so I could live on the ship if I wanted to. So, yeah. Backup plans out of the backup plan. Yeah. So there was if if I moved out and got my own place and that didn't work out. And it's not like I was homeless. I was I could go back and live on the ship.
00:06:20:08 - 00:06:41:05
Syd
That is true. So. So it's not it wasn't a risk in the same way. Yeah. But for me, I that's that's the kind of thing I like. So it's not that I, it's not that I did that instead of what I wanted to that that kind of follows the way that my mind is structured and my personality works.
00:06:41:07 - 00:07:03:00
Syd
So it suited me well. So would you say so I guess after school or like, after graduation or whatnot? Was your was that your original choice to go to the military or did you want to do other things? No, honestly, I didn't know what I wanted to do. Okay. I joined the military by accident. Oh, I my best friend called me up.
00:07:03:02 - 00:07:27:07
Syd
This was sometime around March of 1995. Woo! Yeah. Not as fun as all the time. Yeah, that's all right. So. So around March of 95, he calls me up and he's like, I need you to come with me to the recruiting station, okay? And I said, okay. He's like, sure. Why not? Yeah, I'm just going for moral support for my my buddy.
00:07:27:08 - 00:07:47:12
Syd
Yeah. And, and, I ended up talking to the recruiter. And, and to be honest, I mean maybe he sold me, maybe he didn't, but it just made a lot of sense. I didn't have any plans. Yeah. I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I wasn't going to college. Yeah. And, and to be honest, I didn't.
00:07:47:14 - 00:08:05:16
Syd
Even if I wanted to go to college, I it's not like I had the money to go. And I certainly didn't have the grades for a scholarship. So he's like, well, yeah, next option. So my options weren't I didn't have very many options at the time. Yeah. So I went with him, talked to the recruiter. It just made sense.
00:08:05:18 - 00:08:23:00
Syd
So so I joined and I was 17. Was this in Dominica Republic or was this. No, this was in New York. New York? Yeah, I was 17. Hey, man. So I signed up when I was 17. My mom had to sign a waiver for me. Oh, yeah, because under age makes sense. And so I graduated high school. Yeah.
00:08:23:01 - 00:08:46:09
Syd
And two months later, I was shipped off to boot camp. Dang, man, do you think your life would have been any different if you didn't join or took another path? I think so. I think I, I think that my life, the trajectory that I was going. Was not a trajectory that was conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
00:08:46:11 - 00:09:10:12
Syd
So my life would have certainly been different and not in a good way. Okay. So would you, you would say that the military somewhat kind of saved you. Yeah I think so. I think the military helped me to, to find the structure that I needed to clearly think about what I wanted to do. That's beautiful man.
00:09:10:12 - 00:09:24:16
Syd
Yeah. Maybe I should join the military, right? Yeah. Why not? If you want to know, that's a that's that's another. I mean, I've thought about it, but I don't think I'm.
00:09:24:18 - 00:09:34:05
Syd
I don't think I'm built for it. Okay. I mean, if I get drafted, I have to go. Sure. You know, if Fort Worth three happens. Really? Hope that doesn't happen.
00:09:34:07 - 00:09:54:16
Syd
You'll be fine. You don't have. Well, I have a son. That's. Oh, yeah. Never. Yeah, that is true. Don't worry. I look out for him. Please. Please do I look out for real? But, No. That's awesome. I mean, even though you don't think that's a risk and a cinch, which I commend you for that. I am still, I guess, what's the word?
00:09:54:16 - 00:10:17:12
Syd
I'm looking for it by that, that you're willing to. You still wanted to do something with your life, and you knew that. Okay, I'm headed down a path that I'm not really wanting to. So you're like, okay, just let me do this to better myself. So I feel like any of that say, I want to say it's a rewarding risk, you know, because.
00:10:17:14 - 00:10:28:13
Syd
You acknowledged it and you're like, okay, I either have this option or I have this option over here.
00:10:28:15 - 00:10:48:14
Syd
Yeah I'm going to cut that out. I'm definitely cut that out. What I'm trying to say is I'm trying to. So I think what you're trying to say is there were, there were two paths in front of me. Yeah. And so I recognized that one path wasn't going to lead to a thing. Good. Yes. And the other path at least gave me a chance.
00:10:48:15 - 00:11:15:01
Syd
Yes. Yeah. So? So, yeah. I mean, so for me, I guess if you want to look at it in terms of risk. It was I was stepping into I was leaving what I was comfortable and familiar with. Yes. Right. And going somewhere that was totally different. Exactly. You know, so so I and that that has been sort of a theme for my life throughout.
00:11:15:01 - 00:11:47:09
Syd
So I've because I took that first step, I've been willing to, to detach myself from the things that made me comfortable. And I'm willing to suffer discomfort to achieve the things that I want. Yeah. Basically, separating from the ODU and just trying to accept the new you or like, well, I don't think it was separating from the old me to the new me, because it's not like I suddenly became a different person.
00:11:47:10 - 00:12:10:19
Syd
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Right. Good point. No, but it was, you know, when you grow up, you're surrounded by your culture. And growing up in New York. I'm Dominican. There's there's a huge Dominican culture there. Yeah. So separating myself from from my Dominican culture, from my family, even from the language that I spoke. Right. Yeah. Yes, I spoke English, but not at home.
00:12:10:19 - 00:12:53:21
Syd
At home I spoke Spanish. Yeah. And so all of that went away, when I joined the military. So now it was, it was stepping into this, this new, culture or this new environment, this new environment that was completely, to be totally frank, unfamiliar to me. Yeah. And so, so that was that took some adjustment, but I think I think had I not done that, had I not been willing to take that chance, to take the chance to do that, I would not have been able to grow as a person in the way that I have.
00:12:54:00 - 00:13:19:22
Syd
Thank you. That's beautiful man. See, this is why I have them here. So much for me. Yeah. It's beautiful. Which actually leads to the next one, because I feel like what you chose can kind of affect relationships, from here and now. So I guess my question is, did you have any relationships? Like what? Military relationships. Oh, such as romantic relationships.
00:13:19:22 - 00:13:44:06
Syd
I'm sorry, did I, when I, before I joined. No. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. Before you joined or like, during the time you were in there, or did you just keep it to yourself? No, I didn't, I didn't I didn't keep it to myself. So, I mean, listen to me, to be honest. Right? Yeah, yeah, I was I've never been much of a romantic.
00:13:44:07 - 00:14:18:20
Syd
Okay. I met my wife, and she's like, she's it. Yeah, I, I, I think the closest thing I had to to an actual relationship. Was, with like in high school, I had a girlfriend for six months. Okay. And that's about as long as I could take you saying. I just my it's me. It wasn't, it wasn't, it was totally me.
00:14:18:21 - 00:14:44:05
Syd
Like, I just that's just how I'm built, right? Yeah. And I don't know why, but that's that's that's what you were. Yeah. And so, and then it's like when I joined the military, I was, I was seeing somebody. And and we kept it long distance and very casual. Yeah. Until it just fizzled out. And that was it, you know.
00:14:44:06 - 00:15:12:06
Syd
So. So I didn't have any any, like, serious relationships until I met my wife. She was the first serious, real, serious relationship I'd ever had. And and, I, I mean, I'm so much better for it. She has helped me grow. Yeah. In so many different ways that that I don't think I would otherwise have. She really helped me mature.
00:15:12:10 - 00:15:36:13
Syd
So I guess in a sense, you could say that she was on, on most things. She was like your first, in a sense, because you've never experienced, like, a true authentic. Yeah. I never that like affection for people. No, that's not something that I not for. Not in a romantic sense. No. Yes. That's fair. Hey, man.
00:15:36:14 - 00:15:59:22
Syd
You know, honestly, I feel the same way. I mean, I'm I'm not gonna get into it. It's gonna be like a two hour podcast talking about my love life. No, but expose myself first. She could be watching. So I'm like, better be careful. I'm like, I didn't say anything. It was like, no. So I guess that that does lead to to the next question.
00:16:00:00 - 00:16:17:14
Syd
What I guess is going to be kind of challenging, since you said at the time you didn't really do a relationship, but I feel like you might be able to still answer it. So I guess when you're like when you were my age, what did you think made a good relationship that you later realized that was wrong?
00:16:17:16 - 00:16:43:10
Syd
What did I think made a good relationship that I like? I mean, you have all kinds of relationships, though. Man. So, so romantic relationship. I don't know, because it's not something I really was looking for or. Okay. Or, you know, did other than with my wife, but but in terms of, like, friendships. Yeah, just just casual relationships. Let's do like a general for us for instance.
00:16:43:12 - 00:17:11:01
Syd
Or my Uncle Michael. Yeah. Or just anybody not romantic. What do you think made a good relationship when I was 25. Yeah, man. So I had, I had a, I had a lot of, of friends. And I think I don't, I don't think there's one thing that makes a good relationship at 25 that doesn't hold true for the rest of your life.
00:17:11:03 - 00:17:31:20
Syd
I think, I think regardless of, of whatever age you are, you I don't think you want to be in a relationship with somebody that you have to hide who you are. Like you want to be. Yeah. And it sounds cheesy, but it's like that is true. You know, you should not if if somebody is your friend, you shouldn't.
00:17:31:22 - 00:17:50:12
Syd
If you have two friends, right. You can't be two people around these two friends. So you may have different relationships with them. And so there there might be nuances in how and the things that you do. Right. So you may have a friend that loves that you play basketball with and another friend that you play, that you go that you're in a book club with.
00:17:50:12 - 00:18:18:12
Syd
Right. There are two different people. Yeah. But but you should still be fundamentally the same person. Yeah. No matter what situation you're in. Yeah. You should have to change your whole persona. Yeah. To fit their needs. Exactly. So I think that's for any relationship. 25, 15, 5 or 45. Yeah. It should be the same. And I, I also think, you know, that that's kind of what you get out of it, but what you put into it.
00:18:18:12 - 00:18:44:22
Syd
Right? I think you have to just from an individual perspective, you have to be willing to, to invest your time in that relationship. Like every relationship, I think is a little bit of give and take 100%. So, so in, I think in, within those two parameters, you can sort of find the balance of, of where that relationship fits.
00:18:45:00 - 00:19:04:12
Syd
You know, so you don't think I guess so over time. So let's just say you're friends with the same person for like 30 years. You guys have been, for instance, your kids. So you don't think over time. I guess that already of what needs to be in that relationship changes. Or do you think it just stays the same?
00:19:04:14 - 00:19:27:00
Syd
I don't think any relationship stays the same. I think what I'm saying is you as a person, right, you're going to grow a mature and and evolve and evolve. And maybe that causes a rift because now you're you're changing. Right. Yeah. As you mature, you become different. Yeah. And and that person is changing also. And they're becoming a little different.
00:19:27:06 - 00:19:55:03
Syd
And so sometimes you kind of grow in different ways. And now that relationship no longer works, right? Because your personality is no longer fit each other. That's true. But relationships evolve. Yeah. Right. So relationships grow. I mean, if if, like, if I meet somebody, at the gym and we become really good friends, that doesn't mean that for the next 40 years, that's all we're going to do, is is work out to buddies.
00:19:55:05 - 00:20:15:13
Syd
Yeah. You know, we might. Maybe we'll become business partners. Maybe, I don't know, maybe we'll be, you know, like, maybe we'll start playing chess together. Or maybe we'll do cooking together, or maybe we'll do whatever. Right. Right. Maybe we'll be come in-laws. Maybe our kids will get married. Like you never know. That is true. But relationships evolve. Right.
00:20:15:14 - 00:20:40:19
Syd
And so the key is, I think when relationships evolve is that both people have to evolve. In the same direction that the relationship is evolving. If that makes sense. Right. So so I that's what I mean. Like you know whether you're 515 or 25 you know some you know my wife has this, this saying that I like is like if you think of, of your life as a tree.
00:20:40:21 - 00:21:01:18
Syd
Right. You have these relationships and some are the branches that grow out and are strong and they stay with you forever. Some are just the leaves that fall off. So for a seat after a season. So what you're saying only a few people should be with you for a season? Yeah. I don't think this is my personal feeling.
00:21:01:18 - 00:21:28:12
Syd
I don't think that that it is possible for a person to have a lot of lifelong friends. I think you can have a lot of friends throughout your life. Right. And I don't think that necessarily every every relationship that that sort of falls apart necessarily happens in a bad way. Yeah. Just, just yeah, sometimes it's natural. You grow apart and you go your separate ways.
00:21:28:12 - 00:21:51:21
Syd
But, but I think through your life you're going to have maybe a handful of people outside of your family that are with you, whether you meet them early on or later on. Right. Like, those are your people that run it up. Yeah. Like, their their, you know, family you can't choose. But you do choose your friends, right?
00:21:51:22 - 00:22:12:14
Syd
Yeah. So, so those are your friends that are almost just like your family. Right. They're there with you to the end. Yeah. Blood doesn't make family. It's the bond. Yeah. Yeah. So I would say kind of like you went out because I think when I first met you, just four years ago, I think originally it was through Tony.
00:22:12:14 - 00:22:27:14
Syd
Or like. Yeah, we had a we had a pizza night with Tony Knight. Yeah. Yeah. And, Yeah. When my first talked to me about it, I'm like, why do I want to do that? I'm like, it was my first time here. I was like, getting acquainted, and I'm like, okay, just trying to build a foundation and whatnot.
00:22:27:14 - 00:22:39:16
Syd
So I'm like, sure, why not? I'm meeting new people. Sure. So I went over there, you know, I met you, I met your family and I'm like, that's pretty cool.
00:22:39:18 - 00:22:58:21
Syd
Yeah. She has good taste in people. So I'm like, no time. You might want to cut that out. I'm gonna have to get this out. Well, yeah. Good taste. And so it kind of built from us going to your house, you know, to do, like, game night, movie night, not movie night. Have we done movie night yet? We did something like that.
00:22:58:22 - 00:23:15:19
Syd
We were watching that Mr. Beast. Yeah. Mr. beast show. Yeah, it was Mr. Beast. Yeah, but it was like those things turn it out to us actually hanging out in person and. Yeah, doing events together. You come on over here. Us going over there. Kind of building that that relationship in a sense. And now I'll kind of consider you as like a, like an uncle.
00:23:15:21 - 00:23:43:22
Syd
Don't, don't don't tell anyone. But you're, you're you're my nephew man. So I see you the same way. I appreciate it man. You better. But but yeah. So I guess ours has evolved to in a good way. Yeah. It's involved from like acquaintances to friends to that. So I guess I do see you see your perspective. So would you say it's better to have quality over quantity?
00:23:44:04 - 00:24:11:08
Syd
Absolutely. Absolutely. What good does it do you to have 100 people that you call friends? And when you're, when you're down, all sort of dispersed, $85. Yeah. I ain't got it. Ain't got it. Yeah. That's it. So you know and I mean, we say that, I say that like in a joking way, but. And not necessarily that you should be looking for friends to help you when you're in case you, you're down, but you build relationships, man.
00:24:11:08 - 00:24:39:04
Syd
And and and those, those relationships affect your life. Right. You will there are certain things that you will do. Because of your relationships and the influence that those people have on you. Yeah. And then there are things that you won't do for the same reason. So, so I would say that the quality of the relationships that you have is way more important.
00:24:39:06 - 00:24:56:03
Syd
You can't invest in in a hundred different friendships. I agree. I mean, I, I feel like that's the problem. What people my age, they try it, which is nothing like you said. It's nothing wrong with having a lot of friends. Like, I feel like most young people have a lot, a lot of friends, which is fine, you know, stick out your school friends.
00:24:56:03 - 00:25:16:00
Syd
Do. You have college friends? And you meet friends and you meet their friends of their friends and so on and so on. But I think, I don't think it's going to be forever. It is because I don't want 100 people in my contacts. If if that many names. Exactly. So I don't think I want that many people in my context.
00:25:16:02 - 00:25:34:10
Syd
And for those that do, do you. But I feel like in this stage of life, there's a lot of fakeness when it comes to friendships. It's not even friendships. It's just it's like they pretend to be your friend, to get to see if they can get something out of you, or maybe you can provide them a service.
00:25:34:12 - 00:25:57:23
Syd
So they tend to be your friend for the period of time and then to done with you. They just ghost you. And I feel like that's the issue with this generation. There's nothing really true or authentic. It's just like a transactional thing or like a trend in a sense. So like I don't I don't I'll be honest, I don't think that's a, that's just this generation I think.
00:25:58:02 - 00:26:20:17
Syd
Yeah I think that, that people are people and, and when people look at, at relationships. And I don't want to generalize. But sometimes when, when certain people look at relationships, they look at it as a transactional way. And it could be that that one person sees the has the perspective within that relationship, that it is transactional.
00:26:20:17 - 00:26:43:02
Syd
And that's just that's just how they see it. Right. And the other person has a different perspective. Right. Yeah. And so like, you know, one person might see it as a deeper relationship than what it actually is. Yeah. But I think, I think, most I would say those are acquaintances. Like, you can know a lot of people, but not everybody's your friend, you know.
00:26:43:04 - 00:27:02:23
Syd
So, you know, they're very surface level. Yeah. So, you know, you don't really get deep. It's kind of like, oh, I see you when I see you, in a sense. Yeah. Yeah. That's true. I think I have those type of people, unfortunately, because I truly want it to be friends with them. But I was kind of getting, like the signal.
00:27:03:01 - 00:27:19:10
Syd
They don't they don't really wanna be friends with me. So I'm just like, just have to let you go. Yeah. Like, it's like, fine. I tried to build something beautiful with you, but, you know, you don't want so beautiful. It's like they don't want it. So I'm like, all right, forget you to them. Yeah. But it's okay.
00:27:19:12 - 00:27:28:14
Syd
But so with that comes money. As you know.
00:27:28:16 - 00:27:53:00
Syd
Young people they do not save. I'm guilty of that on some, on some instances. I'm not gonna put myself on blast. I don't spend everything I have but I, I will admit that I can't do a better job at it. So with that being said, what do you think? What? Something people around my age are spending too much time worrying about financially.
00:27:53:02 - 00:28:36:17
Syd
Financially? I think I think people your age are spending too much time worrying about what other people their age think. When I when nobody your age has figured anything out yet for the most part. Yeah, right. And I think that is if if this is purely anecdotal is just a pure guess, right? Yeah. If I were to to put my finger on something to say, this is what's probably causing people like yourself to not save as much as they should and not or not think about the future in the way that they should, is what other people, such as yourself, are going to think about you if you don't have this or that.
00:28:36:21 - 00:28:50:07
Syd
And so, I think you should stop thinking about that. I think I think what you like, you know,
00:28:50:09 - 00:29:13:14
Syd
Being like like if you think about the future. Right. Nobody thinks about themselves in the future as being homeless. Yeah. Or or struggling. Yeah. Everybody thinks of themselves like most people are very hopeful. Yeah. When they think about them, especially your age. Right. You think about. But you're not doing anything to make that happen. Yeah. Other than working, which is great.
00:29:13:15 - 00:29:43:19
Syd
Yeah. But if you think about it, what you get paid for is your time. What makes your time valuable is your talent. Right? So okay. Every time that you say I'm going to spend this on, on this thing that in a year is not going to be worth it. Yeah. It's not going to be worth anything. The minute you put on that cool pair of pants or shorts or whatever.
00:29:43:20 - 00:30:05:04
Syd
Right. You got that iPhone or whatever. The latest trend in the sense. Right. It's the value is gone. Like the financial value of that thing. It's not an investment. Yeah. Right. So so, you know, you get that that pleasure for the moment, you get that dopamine hit, right. Because you got this cool little gadget, whatever it is. Yeah.
00:30:05:05 - 00:30:28:16
Syd
Yeah. And and you're like, wow, this is so cool. But you're you just gave up. If it cost you $1,000 to get that thing, whatever that is. How many hours did you have to work to get that right. What. I don't make $1,000 an hour. Yeah, I wish we did. You know. Yeah. So, so like or even 100 or 500 whatever.
00:30:28:16 - 00:30:51:00
Syd
Right. How many? Like, if you think of it, if you if you, if you reduce it to time. How much time did that cost you? Yeah. And so then you have to think of, you know, if I look in five years, is that going to get me closer to, to say, the financial goal that I have? Probably not.
00:30:51:02 - 00:31:14:11
Syd
No way. There's absolutely not. Yeah. Now, if you're buying things because you're trying to build something, you're trying to build a business or or a podcast or whatever. Right. Yeah. You know, that's different. You still get those gadgets, but you're using them for a purpose that that hopefully in five years will benefit you, will benefit you. Right. And I'm not saying don't get the things that you want.
00:31:14:12 - 00:31:28:08
Syd
You can't you can't you can't be like a hermit or some austerity does not necessarily work all the time. Right. Yeah. But discipline does. Yeah. And so I think I think.
00:31:28:10 - 00:31:54:00
Syd
Sorry, that was a long winded. No, no. You're good. No, I think when I, when I look at, at young people and even looking at myself when I was young. Yeah. It's you're too worried and I was too worried about how I would look. Without this cool new thing. Yeah. Or how much better I will look if I had this cool new thing and I couldn't always afford it.
00:31:54:01 - 00:32:10:08
Syd
So what are you doing. You're going to day. You're going to just to please people for two seconds and they'll never think about it everyday. And that is the opposite of wealth. Yeah. Oh that's actually good. I have another question on that. But that's going to lead to like another 40 minute topic. That's all right. I got time.
00:32:10:12 - 00:32:18:00
Syd
Would you say so I'll say this first. So I would say.
00:32:18:02 - 00:32:37:16
Syd
At least I think most people and I've done it in my early two. I guess I'm still in my early 20s. My like when I first turned 20, I would say I spent a lot of money on certain things just to appease my peers in a sense, or like to be, you know, in the latest trend. So I don't know, like the newest iPhone, which I do, which is stupid.
00:32:37:17 - 00:33:07:17
Syd
Please do not buy it. It's ridiculous. Dollars? Exactly. And if you want, like, I think the two terabytes, like 3000, 2500. It is expensive. And I'm just like, never. But, like, even the latest shoes or the latest pants, whatever that may be. And there's a point like you said, it's not that you can't do those things is that you don't have to do it every single time or every something new comes out.
00:33:07:19 - 00:33:33:18
Syd
You generally don't need it. Yeah. I, I think like if you're disciplined enough you can have a little bit of both. Right. And so take the iPhone dual if you want that. Okay. Do you need to get it when it comes out. Or can you save $2,000 and get it later. Or if you already have a good phone or not get it at all.
00:33:33:20 - 00:33:51:09
Syd
Just the 2000. Yeah. But let's just say let's just say you you're like, man, I gotta have this thing. Do you need. Do you need to have it when it comes out or can you save instead of going into debt? Right. Can you save a little bit at a time and maybe you get it next year? Yeah. But guess what?
00:33:51:10 - 00:34:09:10
Syd
Guess what? Guess. Guess what's going to happen next year? Yeah. The iPhone duo two. Exactly. They go now. Now you saved up enough money to get the iPhone duo two. So by the time you got your two grand, you're like, man, that phone comes out in two months. I might as well just wait. I know Apple goes into the price spike again like every other company.
00:34:09:11 - 00:34:28:22
Syd
Yeah. It's just rounded up and you're like, oh no, it's crazy man. But you get to the finish line and they move it. Yeah. But think about it. If if I can tell you if, if I'm saving $2,000 for something, for something like that, when I get that two grand, I'm very likely not going to get that at all.
00:34:29:00 - 00:34:49:20
Syd
I'm going to be like, man, I can't. It took a lot of effort to save this, right? So yeah. So but again, it's it's this. So I think I think of life as, as you have to have balance. Yeah. Like, you can't, you can't not get anything that you want. So if you're a, if you're like a person that you're just like techie.
00:34:49:21 - 00:35:07:22
Syd
I'm a pretty techie guy. Yeah. So I'll be honest. I'm looking at the iPhone. Do it. And I'm like, this is no right. I mean, I am too, but like, no, but, but like, I'm, I'm due for an upgrade, and so. We'll see. I'm not, I'm not. Oh. If I can get it for free, you know where they like you trade your phone.
00:35:08:00 - 00:35:30:16
Syd
Okay, well, in that sense, in use, for sure. But if it's like, you know, I trade my phone in and they're like, well, it's still $2,000 or two grand. I'm not gonna get it. But, you know, they're like, so we all work like, we all need those dopamine hits. So don't get me wrong. You. So. Yeah, you you should you should spend on yourself and make yourself feel good.
00:35:30:18 - 00:35:53:19
Syd
Yeah, but that shouldn't be the only thing that you do, right? So you should, you know, when you consider just because we're talking about finances, when you consider your finances, especially at this age, you should consider, you know, what do you really need for yourself to live? Yeah. And then take take that out. They always say pay yourself first.
00:35:53:20 - 00:36:20:00
Syd
Right. So, you should you should at least take. I don't know, 10% or whatever. Right. And put that in savings. Yeah. And then maybe another 10% put it in investments. Yeah. And then you should decide what you need. Right. So let's say you got 100% of your you get $100. Right. So 20 bucks automatically goes to investments.
00:36:20:01 - 00:36:46:09
Syd
Yep. Let's say 30 or $40 goes to to your living expenses gas bills whatever. Yep. Right. Food also. Yeah. Clothing is part of that. Yeah. Affordable clothing. Yeah. And and and, you know, taking care of yourself, like, haircut, all that stuff. Yeah. That's important. I agree. So, you know, whatever you. Let's say that's $40, right? A month now you got.
00:36:46:09 - 00:37:06:23
Syd
So 60 bucks is already accounted for. So you have this the rest of it. There's other $40 that you can play with if you want. Yeah. Right. And you can choose to invest more and build more wealth because wealth is built over time. Not in an instant. I agree. And, or, you know, maybe save for a vacation or save for that iPhone duo.
00:37:07:01 - 00:37:31:16
Syd
No. You know. You know, but but you get what I'm saying, right? Like, you have to think of. So going back to my previous statement, if you think of of the your your paycheck as time. You don't ever get time back so you don't get money back. Right. True. So if you think you're, if you, if you boil it down to time.
00:37:31:18 - 00:37:52:01
Syd
And you look at the iPhone duo and you're spending two grand for that. How much time did that cost you. You can. So unless you're unless you're making. Yeah. It could be months. It could be weeks. Whatever. So it's a lot of money? No, a lot of time. I agree. You spend X amount. You'd be, I don't know, two depending on your hourly pay.
00:37:52:05 - 00:38:12:20
Syd
But it could be two years to save up for it. You buy it. It takes two seconds and you're like, dang. Now what? Instead, regret. Daniels spent two years to pay for something that took me two seconds to buy. And think about it. If you take that $2,000 and you buy, you put it in in the stock market, you know you buy it.
00:38:12:22 - 00:38:31:02
Syd
If you had bought in video stock. Yeah. Two years ago I would have been you'd you'd be rich. I should have. But to be fair, I didn't know anything about it anymore. That's the thing. You don't know. Right. Yeah. But you you look at. You look at what? It's kind of, You look at the market. You look at what the company is doing.
00:38:31:07 - 00:38:49:14
Syd
Is it safe? You know, maybe you, you know, the the growth that it's had is unprecedented, but it was grown. I mean, I mean, it's growing because it's growing. So it's like, well, it's growing in the way that it's growing because of AI. But it was still growing at the time. That's true. Nvidia. I mean, it was still they've been around a powerhouse company.
00:38:49:15 - 00:39:11:07
Syd
Yeah. So so you know, you don't you people even my age are always looking for the next big thing. What's going to make me rich quick. That is true. That's really. I don't think I don't think that's what you should look for. I think you should look for what's what's going to build over time. Still growth. But after thinking a society though.
00:39:11:08 - 00:39:39:18
Syd
Yeah. People want to quick. Well, that doesn't mean it's right. Know I agree. So it's I would say that that you know you have to look at growth over time. Yeah. What your time is worth. And then if that thing that you want to get is worth your time. And I feel like that's the issue. People my age are having and I feel like everybody has this issue, but primarily this generation.
00:39:39:20 - 00:40:07:19
Syd
I hate Gen-Z, by the way, even though I am Gen Z. But I think what we were talking about earlier, when it comes to the debt, because they feel like they have to keep up with the latest trends or latest fashion, whatever, whatever that may be. And they don't prioritize, prioritize their necessities. So like their bills, housing, rent, etc., etc. and they spend it on something meaningless and then they get them in debt or they become homeless.
00:40:07:21 - 00:40:26:16
Syd
And it's kind of hard to. I'm not saying it's impossible to bounce back from it, but it comes a lot more challenging. And it could have been avoided, you know, to, bounce back in a sense. And it kind of leads down. It took us down to a cycle. It's kind of hard to come back from. Yeah.
00:40:26:17 - 00:40:45:21
Syd
And I see even some of my friends are in that position back home and I'm like, bro, what are you doing? You like some of them? They make more money than me, and yet they're in a worse financial state than I am. I'm like, how is that possible? But then they tell me what they're doing and I'm like, okay, well, that's your issue.
00:40:45:23 - 00:41:07:05
Syd
I mean, I'm not going to put you on blast, but I'm just saying, like, you know who you are. Yeah, you know who you are. I'm like, I've been telling you. And so I feel like I definitely learned a lot from them. Which sucks. It has to be in that sense. But I'm like, okay, I don't want to end up like that or I don't want to, you know, be this person or whatnot.
00:41:07:05 - 00:41:22:02
Syd
Not so look, what can I do different? And just trust me, there's still a lot of things I can use for improvement. Trust me, my uncle tells me about every day of, you know, you're doing this. You do that.
00:41:22:04 - 00:41:26:05
Syd
Like. But sometimes.
00:41:26:07 - 00:41:51:21
Syd
Learning was no experience is the best medicine. Yeah. Sometimes I say, Oh, man, that was this cool thing. It was like the wise man learns from the experience of others. The fool learns from his own experience, and so. Okay. Yeah. And so, like, Yeah. And it's not your generation, man. Like, this is. This is not anything new.
00:41:51:22 - 00:42:14:23
Syd
This is, like I said, I made the same mistakes when I was when I was your age, right? I didn't prioritize the right things. And then you don't know what you don't know. You know, I think ignorance is bliss. Ignorance? It's not bliss. Ignorance is ignorance. But I think, like, if if this is not something that is intuitive.
00:42:15:03 - 00:42:43:23
Syd
Yeah, right. And so somebody has to teach you. Yeah. These are the choices that you make. These are the consequences of those choices. If you make these choices, you can reap the benefits over time. Yep. You know, be patient. You see your money grow. Yeah. So that that is that it's a learned behavior. And, and we don't teach it in our schools, which we should.
00:42:44:01 - 00:43:07:09
Syd
That's true. We don't as a as a society, like most, parents don't teach their kids about financial good financial habits. Yeah. So. So then it's how do you know? Like, so suddenly you're 18, you're on your own. You're supposed to have all this wisdom that nobody ever taught you. Exactly. Just magically appear. Yeah. Nobody's modeled it for you.
00:43:07:14 - 00:43:28:12
Syd
You don't. You don't know what that looks like. So? So of course you're going to you're going to the. The easiest decision to make is to do what you want. Right? Yeah. So if do what you know. Yeah. You if you're if you have a job, you get paid. Well, you're going to spend that money, right? You're gonna you know, that's just that's that is the path of least resistance.
00:43:28:13 - 00:43:48:02
Syd
Yeah. And you're going to take that path because you don't know any better. Even though maybe as you're you're getting older or somebody telling you. These are the things you should do, right? But nobody taught you. Nobody modeled it for you. Nobody showed you. You just kind of learned. Yeah. Throughout life or. Exactly. So. So I think that's missing.
00:43:48:02 - 00:44:13:02
Syd
And we, we as as the generation that is bringing that has brought up your generation have failed in that regard. So I look at it as like like if, if our kids aren't making the right financial decisions, that's because we fail to teach them, right? That's how I look at it now. It could be that you could teach your kid, and they don't listen, and they still want to do their thing.
00:44:13:03 - 00:44:20:06
Syd
And, you know, okay. But, you know, you taught them. Yeah, but that's not happening.
00:44:20:08 - 00:44:37:14
Syd
I would yeah, I guess that's true, because in a sense, I wasn't taught that from my parents. So I would agree to an extent. I mean, it taught me like the basic fundamentals of life, but never got it really in depth because honestly, I don't think they knew. So I guess, yeah, maybe they didn't know. It's a generational thing and it's it.
00:44:37:15 - 00:44:59:12
Syd
And if you don't break that cycle, it's just going to continue. Yeah. Yeah, that's that's exactly right man. So who the wealthy stay wealthy because they know how to be wealthy. That is true. And they passed that down to their kids. So, you know, you gotta like I said, the the wise man learns from the mistakes of others, and the fool learns from his own mistakes.
00:44:59:14 - 00:45:22:22
Syd
So if if you see other people that you can't learn how to how to be financially secure from people that are not financially secure. Yeah, they can't teach you that because they don't know. Don't genuinely don't. Right. So if that is if, if if that's your upbringing, that's the those are the people that are around you, then you can't look to them for those answers.
00:45:22:22 - 00:45:43:13
Syd
You have to look elsewhere. Right. And so you look at the people that are going well or in a position that you want to be in. Yeah. And then you start asking, how did they get there? Wow. You know, dang, I guess that's my problem, Maybe that's why I'm here. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. But no, no, that was actually I didn't even think of it from that perspective.
00:45:43:15 - 00:46:12:11
Syd
I always thought about it because I know people grow up in different households, different cultures, different everything. So I can't expect people to see my viewpoint the way they see theirs in a sense, or agree with my viewpoint, the way they agree with their viewpoint, because we just people grow up differently. And so that can also affect your day to day life on how you operate in a sense especially with finances.
00:46:12:12 - 00:46:37:17
Syd
And so I guess I need to get better before I even think about having kids. Not that I'm having anytime soon. I'm not. I'm not saying that, but I don't want that to. I want to stop it. Like the generational cycle of, like, being ignorant when it comes to finances or just anything. Right. Because at the end of the day, you always want better for your kids.
00:46:37:18 - 00:47:01:22
Syd
Like, that's I feel like a decent parent who want better for the kids. If you don't, then something's wrong with you. But and I don't want them to go through the same thing that I had to go through in the sense of whatever that may be. So I guess I do have a lot to learn when it comes to that, but we'll see though.
00:47:02:00 - 00:47:23:16
Syd
Yeah, about 20 years. I think the fact that you're asking the question in the case that you're thinking about it, right. Yeah. So I think that's a good start. Yeah. You know, it's it's good to, to think about these things and, and be honest with yourself about the answers and, and the reality of where you find yourself within that spectrum.
00:47:23:17 - 00:47:54:15
Syd
Yeah. Hey, man. Hey, see, I'm not from. You already. See this? This is why you're here, man. Anybody hear it? It. Actually, my next question kind of ties to what we talked about in the beginning of beginning of that. But we didn't get too much in depth on it. So at what age? Like, I feel like at every age, we somewhat care about what people think of us to an extent, maybe not to we did as a kid, but I felt like at any person, because we still have emotions.
00:47:54:20 - 00:48:16:11
Syd
We still have feelings. We still want to. Unfortunately, we're selfish. So some of us still want attention from others or seek attention from others. But I guess my question is, what age did you realize just to stop caring about what other people thought of you or their perspective of you? So, like, I don't think you ever stop, man, to be honest with you.
00:48:16:12 - 00:48:37:15
Syd
I, I think you, you you put it in in different buckets though. Okay. So like like, you know, I 100% care what my wife thinks of me and my children think of me. Yeah, of course. I totally care about what my boss thinks of me and what his boss thinks of me. Right. Yeah. I care about what my employees think of me.
00:48:37:16 - 00:49:07:21
Syd
Yeah. And I care about what my friends think of me, right? So I, I care about. That's a lot of people to to have influence over over how I act. What I don't necessarily, I guess, and I don't think, I don't I couldn't tell you when I stopped, right. I couldn't. I think it's, I think I just matured out of it, but I don't know the exact point in time when that happened.
00:49:07:23 - 00:49:31:18
Syd
You know, I don't necessarily, you know, I, I don't I'm not on social media or anything like that. So I'm not reading, people's posts about me. Yeah. You're not influenced by those demons over there? Yeah, exactly. And so, but it's not something I've ever been interested in. Yeah. Even even when I, you know, like when I was your age, I think that's when.
00:49:31:20 - 00:49:55:20
Syd
What was it called? Myspace. Myspace? Yeah. That came out. Yeah, I heard about it. Never used it. It was just not my thing, you know? And then it, you know, Facebook and whatever it is now. Yeah. I've never. It's just not something I've ever been into. Yeah. So, so I guess I've never cared what strangers thought about me, but people that are close to you.
00:49:55:22 - 00:50:22:23
Syd
Yeah. I've always. And I still care what they think about me. I, I can agree to a extent with that because I do care, like you said, with family, friends, coworkers, but maybe not coworkers of what they think of me. But at the end of the day, at least from my perspective, I'm living life for me. So I think not that I don't take their input into consideration because I do like even my family, right?
00:50:23:00 - 00:50:39:18
Syd
Like, there are some things I generally don't care of what they say, if I'm being honest, but some things I do take into consideration. But at the end of the day, if it's something I want to do or treated like it, I'm going to do it regardless. But I think that's a different question though, right? Well, I guess that's true.
00:50:39:19 - 00:51:03:12
Syd
That's true. It's not that like you care about what they think, but you don't need their validation. And so yeah, you know, I think that's a different question. So I don't know that I've ever needed anybody's validation. You know I don't I'm not. Some people need it and some people like they, they have to like somebody has to tell them.
00:51:03:13 - 00:51:27:03
Syd
Great job or kudos. Yeah. You know they need that. And for them that's important. I've never like I've, I don't know it's not something I've ever seen. It's nice. Don't get me like I love it. Like it's a boost to give me a boost. But it's not something that I necessarily feel like I need to hear all the time.
00:51:27:05 - 00:51:41:06
Syd
Yeah. So I don't I don't know that I've ever needed that. Oh, wait, maybe I have a word of the question wrong, and I do go with that. I guess what I meant.
00:51:41:08 - 00:52:03:16
Syd
So let's just say, for instance, you have a certain personality, right? And let's just say your friends tell you or even your family or whoever, that you consider their feelings, they tell you that, hey, you should change your head. I don't like when you do X, Y and Z or I don't like the way you talk about x, y and z.
00:52:03:20 - 00:52:28:13
Syd
Or they don't like you for yourself and they want you to change. I feel like a lot of people take that consideration and they change to people who they're not, or they just change their whole idea just to a piece of people that they that quote unquote care about them. But I feel like if those are your people, if that's your village or if they actually genuinely care about you.
00:52:28:15 - 00:52:52:04
Syd
It wouldn't be asking you to do these things that aren't you. And so and I feel like even 80 year olds, they like people in general, no matter what age. I feel like we still do it to an extent. We may not notice it because it's very small. It's very small notice, but I feel like we still do it.
00:52:52:05 - 00:52:59:06
Syd
It's just it just happens over time, if that makes sense. And so.
00:52:59:08 - 00:53:26:20
Syd
I guess that was my question. So I probably should have rephrased it. It's not like when you stop caring it's like what age did you realize. Like okay maybe I shouldn't you know listen to them or maybe I should just do my own thing. Or maybe why should I truly care about what they're saying? If I understand your question right is at what point that I stop letting people influence who I am?
00:53:26:22 - 00:53:49:20
Syd
Yeah, I'll say that. Okay. Yeah. No, that's a much different question. So, so, but I think it goes back to our earlier conversation about friendships. Right. You said, you know, what would you what would I tell myself at 25? Like, what's a good relationship? Yeah. So and I think.
00:53:49:22 - 00:54:18:19
Syd
Change happens, right? Yeah. So, like, I cannot be the person I was before I got married or even before I met my wife today. Yeah. And be married. I can't. It can't. Those two things do not live in the same space. That's true. Like a different universe? Yes. In a sense, I can't be who I was at 15 or even at 25.
00:54:18:20 - 00:54:49:17
Syd
Yeah. And professionally, be the person that I am today. Yeah. Those two people don't live in the same space. Right? Right. So? So things are going to influence the type of person that you are, right? And and how you mold yourself over time. Yeah. So my wife has certainly influenced and I don't think it's, it's a, it's a question of, she didn't like who I was because obviously she did.
00:54:49:19 - 00:55:17:05
Syd
Yeah. We wouldn't be married. Yeah. It's a question of who. Who do I need to be to to make this work? Yeah. Right. And and then the second part of that question is, is it worth it? Yeah. And so I think that's what you have to ask yourself. People are going to there's no point in your life where where you are not going to change to, to be able to either fit a relationship or a situation.
00:55:17:07 - 00:55:47:19
Syd
And so you have to the only question is, is is that worth it. Right. Is that relationship worth it. And then if it is then you do. Yeah. Go for it right now. If, if, if you meet somebody and let's say you are I don't know you're like really into bike riding. And you meet somebody and you know you're really into bike riding.
00:55:47:19 - 00:56:08:12
Syd
This is something that's, that's important to you. Yeah. And that person is like gives you an ultimatum and says either you give a bike riding or we can no longer be friends. Be friends or whatever. But like yeah that like that's an ultimatum right? That's right. I do. Yeah. Like this is. This was me before you met me.
00:56:08:12 - 00:56:29:00
Syd
And you know, and I know that sounds a little contradictory, but but people, when they come into your life, they have to accept you for exactly as the person you are, right. Stead of trying to change your. Instead of trying to change you. And so as as that relationship grows and you and and it changes, right? You choose to change with it or not.
00:56:29:01 - 00:56:55:11
Syd
And that that's just a matter of is it worth it for you or not? Yeah. You just adapt to whoever they are. Yeah. In a sense. And and so you never stop. If if you stop changing, then you have stopped growing as a person. You can't. I mean, there's never like. I mean, good Lord, I, I don't I don't know anybody that can say I have figured it out at any age I have.
00:56:55:14 - 00:57:15:14
Syd
I'm at the pinnacle of humanity and what I need to be. Right. I'm at the mountain. I mean, there might be people that say that, but. But I don't think they're right. Yeah. And so. So you have to you have to, like, be honest and, and, you know, kind of ask yourself is, is this the change that I want?
00:57:15:17 - 00:57:43:12
Syd
Yeah. For, for for either the relationship or the situation. Right. It's is this change the right change? Yeah. Can I see myself actually evolving with this change or not? Yeah. Yeah. And so. So yeah. So that's so I don't know that that was kind of a long answer. No. Just to say, I've, I haven't stopped changing. It's just that the things I've, I've learned, I've learned to prioritize better.
00:57:43:12 - 00:58:02:20
Syd
The things that caused me to change. Yeah. Right. I hope that answers that. No, it does 100%. And it kind of, I guess, give me a different insight on how to look at that question, because I definitely because looking back at it, like making my notes, I was like, okay, this is a good question, but I didn't think how it could be confusing.
00:58:02:20 - 00:58:30:08
Syd
So that's my bad. No that's okay. But you understood it well. So I'm like, all right, I'll take it. So I guess that leads to the next one. And it's kind of just. I'm gonna have to rephrase this one because we talked about it earlier. Before camera, I mean. Yeah, before the camera. So what is something you wish that you've done more before life got busy?
00:58:30:10 - 00:58:56:03
Syd
I wish I travel personally, like, for my personal self more. Yeah. I traveled, I was in the Navy, so I traveled a ton. I've been traveling, and I still travel a lot for my job. Yeah. But it's all professional. I wish that I had traveled more, and seen, like, for leisure and seeing more of the world that way.
00:58:56:05 - 00:59:22:00
Syd
I think I think there's there's a lot out there that is, that is just, it's it's so different. Yeah. And so, like some of it is, is amazing. Some of it is, is not. But it's all just like the world is, is is a rich place with cultures and history. And I just wish I had taken advantage of that more.
00:59:22:02 - 00:59:41:23
Syd
Who says you can't know? Well, you said before life got busy, right? Oh, yeah. So that's true. That's true. I, I'm waiting for life to get less busy. So I could do that more than I, than I currently do. Yeah, but when do you think life would get less busy for you personally? Oh, man. Like, you know, having kids at home makes life busy.
00:59:42:02 - 01:00:06:09
Syd
Yeah. You're right. So, so I, I think I think, I don't want to wait till retirement because, like, I, I don't see myself retiring ever. Really. I mean, I may retire from my current profession, but that's just going to be retiring from that and starting something new. Okay. And even then I really enjoy what I do.
01:00:06:10 - 01:00:31:10
Syd
And so I don't, I don't know, but I, I, I think, I think life will slow down when, when, you know, both of my children are out of the house on their own. Yeah. You know, settled adults. Yeah. I think I think things will settle down a little bit then. And I could take. We could take it.
01:00:31:10 - 01:00:54:00
Syd
My wife and I can take advantage of some of that traveling. That's true. I mean, that's what I said. You know, he's like, as soon as they come in. I'm still learning. I'm still here. He's like, you're still here five, five years. I'm like, I'm sorry, but no, I, I guess that makes sense. But and I definitely understand that perspective.
01:00:54:01 - 01:01:12:17
Syd
And I'll say sorry. Oh, no. There's there's one more thing that I, I wish I had done more and this I can do now. Okay. And that spent more time with, with my family. Like my, my not my kids and my wife. I like extended family, but with. Yeah, like my brother. My mom passed away. I wish I had spent more time with her.
01:01:12:19 - 01:01:31:13
Syd
Yeah. And my dad. So. And that's something I could do now. So I'm. Those are things I've, I've learned from that. Right. And I'm trying to to be better. Better now. Yeah. And I feel like a lot of people take that for, for granted, especially after every human does. Well, young people, mostly because they're like, oh, we're so young, we have so much time.
01:01:31:15 - 01:01:59:02
Syd
But none of us truly know when life ends, because you can't have natural causes, a car crash or car wreck. I know I'm getting a little off topic, but though guess we're young, so we do have somewhat in the vintage, but not that much because life is unpredictable still, so life is unpredictable at any age. I think you should spend quality time with the people you care about, or do the things that you want to do instead of just waiting because it's never going to be the right time.
01:01:59:04 - 01:02:26:08
Syd
There's no right definition. There's there is no definition. I think I think you have to you have to assess and then, you know, figure out what, what makes sense at the time. But people don't want to learn until it's too late. So I'm going to learn the hard way. Right. That's right. But I guess a, a powerful a powerful question that I'm going to use to end this.
01:02:26:10 - 01:02:30:10
Syd
Hopefully I refer to this right.
01:02:30:12 - 01:02:54:03
Syd
What is. So let's just say what is the first. Let's just say what you woke up tomorrow in your 2425 again. What's the first thing you're doing? If I woke up tomorrow and I was in my mid 20s. Well, well I'm early 29. Don't try to age me, you know. Yeah. Well, you are firmly in your mid 20s.
01:02:54:04 - 01:03:22:02
Syd
My man. No, don't say it. Let's see. What would I do different or just what would I do? Yeah. Well, like what? From the wisdom and knowledge you have now as your at your age right now, you woke up tomorrow at 24, 25. What would you do different or what are you doing different. Man I don't know because I if, if.
01:03:22:04 - 01:03:51:12
Syd
Okay. So I'm going to answer this question in two ways. Right. Okay. Yeah. Go for it. So so if anything I do would change the way my life is now, I wouldn't do anything different. Okay. Because I like my life. I have a good life, you know? Yeah. Great family. We live a pretty stable life, you know? So I wouldn't change anything because I think I have a good life.
01:03:51:13 - 01:04:12:07
Syd
If if now if I could do something and and it not change it, and and you could say, well, what if it changed it for the good? Well, okay. Tell me what good is. Yeah. What does that mean? Different versions of good. Yeah. And maybe your version is not my version. So, so so if if it didn't change anything, if I.
01:04:12:08 - 01:04:36:00
Syd
If I could do something different and still have the life I have today. Yeah. With my family. My friends. Yeah. I think I think it would be what I said before. I think two things. Right. So. Or three things, I guess the first one is, is invest more. Okay. Because the earlier you start, better, the better it is.
01:04:36:01 - 01:05:05:04
Syd
Wow. The second one is travel more for leisure. Yeah. And enjoy life like. I mean, you can travel around this country and see a bazillion different things. Yes, I agree. And you know. So that's for for people that don't like to leave the US. Right. Yeah. But do that and leave the US. Do that anymore. Yeah. Because, I mean, there are so many.
01:05:05:05 - 01:05:29:12
Syd
There is so much history. So much culture. The world is fantastic. And and if you do eat the food, no matter what it is, just try it. Try it and and then, you know, at least you tried it, right. I will agree to that. And something that's, you know, social media. I'm like, oh no, you just got to try it.
01:05:29:13 - 01:05:57:21
Syd
Yeah. And then, you know, number three is again. Really value the my relationships with my family. Yeah. And spend more time with them. Like like like making a be intentional about it. You know and and make a conscious effort to, to spend time with them and just I think those are if I was in my mid 20s again if I woke up tomorrow.
01:05:57:23 - 01:06:23:07
Syd
Those are the three things. Yeah. And no I definitely agree with those. Actually just because I'm trying to do that right now. I well, I guess I'm, I'm not trying to brag, but I feel like I've unfortunately, unfortunately matured a tiny bit faster than the rest of my peers. So I kind of like and obviously living with my uncle has taught me a lot.
01:06:23:09 - 01:06:45:19
Syd
It's the only compliment he's getting. Only made that one too. I have to delete that clip to but just the things that he's taught me and like the priorities I should have in my life have changed it tremendously. I mean, I would say because thanks to him I've traveled to, I don't know how many states in the US like a lot.
01:06:45:21 - 01:07:05:21
Syd
And just to experience, especially at this age, like you can experience at any age. Don't get me wrong. Like, like you said for yourself, but like you said, the earlier the better. And so the fact that I was able to do this at this age, now I'm 100% grateful and humble and have a lot of gratitude towards it.
01:07:05:22 - 01:07:24:11
Syd
And I feel like a lot of more people should do it. But they're just scared to, to take that risk. But it's, it's so rewarding at the end and. Absolutely, man. Yeah, I wish I was rich so I could just travel, that's all. You know, you don't have to be. You can backpacking and or ride your bike or whatever.
01:07:24:12 - 01:07:47:18
Syd
Right. That is true. Or you can go hiking in the mountains. And if I could add two more because I was just thinking about it, I, I think, Read more. Oh, yeah. I would definitely read more. He's like, And then. And then I would, man, I would just, I would look for more opportunities to be outside of my comfort zone.
01:07:47:20 - 01:08:12:23
Syd
Okay. That's it. Two to a point. Like there is some things some things you just so far outside like I'm not like they're just like doing that. Right. You gotta have a, you gotta have limits. But, but I would certainly look for, for more opportunities to, to be to be okay being uncomfortable know and experiencing something that is outside of of of my normal life.
01:08:13:00 - 01:08:31:22
Syd
You're like your normal, normal day to day activities. That's the only way we could truly grow is to do something that absolutely in a position that you've never done every story like in my life, that's worth telling. It was because of something new. Yeah. You know, I mean, that's what makes a story. Story nobody wants to hear about the boring same old.
01:08:32:00 - 01:08:55:13
Syd
Yeah. Like we're not. Yeah. No. Nobody does. But but, you know, you got something new that that gives you something. It broadens your your experience. I think it gives you. It changes your perspective. How is it on life and and could even change you as a person? Yeah. So no, I'm actually really, really glad you brought up the reading portion.
01:08:55:15 - 01:09:16:22
Syd
Because I didn't listen to it as a kid. Like my grandparents told me about it. It's like reading is fundamental. And they forced me to read and I hated it. But the passion, I'm like, I'm never going to do this. But, Harry, like, ten years later, I'm actually getting more. I mean, I still have work to do, but I'm definitely getting more into the habit of doing it.
01:09:17:00 - 01:09:40:03
Syd
Because you can learn it just you can learn so much from man. Yeah. And it teaches a lot about it, about life in general. Obviously your vocabulary that helps as well. But it just opens your mind up to something that you didn't think was possible. But you have to give it a chance. Like you have to be disciplined to actually do the work for it to blossom.
01:09:40:05 - 01:10:03:16
Syd
But I feel like nowadays we have devices and phones and that's probably not going to happen. People are, are, are soon away from actual physical books. Which is, which kind of sucks in a sense. I mean, don't get me wrong. Do you have audible? You have Amazon Kindle whatnot. But me personally, it's I don't think it's the same as an actual physical that you're carrying.
01:10:03:20 - 01:10:30:12
Syd
Yeah. Like actual physical book. Yeah. No, there's certainly there's certainly something to it for sure. But I don't know. I'm, I'm a I fully embrace technology. So yeah, I I'll read a book book book I'll listen to a book. You know, it just it allows me to open myself to different opportunities. Yeah. To, to sort of engage with some of those different ideas that are in books.
01:10:30:12 - 01:10:53:15
Syd
No, no, I do 200%. I do too, like, I listen to podcasts. You know, sometimes I listen to my own, you know, for constructive criticism. Yeah, I'm learning from it. But yeah. No, I do audibles and podcasts and things of that nature. But I, and I love all of those things. But I guess for me personally, at the end of the day I know I can always like if I really want to wind down.
01:10:53:17 - 01:11:13:23
Syd
So like be my, myself, I just go by my room, just open a book and just. No there's definitely, there's definitely something to it I agree I agree but for sure. But I like the other things. But that's. Yeah just my perspective. But no that was wow. That was that was beautiful man. Thank you. Any time man I'm happy to do this.
01:11:14:01 - 01:11:35:01
Syd
Yeah. So yeah, anytime you want to have another conversation, I'm happy to do it. Oh, man. He's gonna pay $5,000 to do this. That's it. I thought we agreed on. 1005. Man. Okay. Yeah. We're going to have to talk. Well, once the camera comes off, let's not listen to that five k. Leave it there. But. No, but no, seriously.
01:11:35:02 - 01:11:57:10
Syd
Thank you. Thanks for coming, for joining, sharing, Shane, your wisdom, your insight and perspective. Yeah anytime man. And have a conversation. And I always enjoy talking to you. So don't be cry man. Camera on camera. But no. But yeah. And, if you guys enjoyed that, you already know what to do. And if you want to see his face more, just let me know and I'll bring him here.
01:11:57:12 - 01:12:04:11
Syd
That has been the young guy. I'm your host. And thanks for watching. Bye bye. Peace.