Dear David:
I am writing this less than two weeks short of my 54th Birthday. For the most part the last 29 years have been pretty cool. By the time of this writing, I have earned major executive positions with several high tech companies, married, adopted one kid and made two more. I have been around the world, learned several languages, and loved some pretty remarkable women. You are going to meet a couple in the next couple of years, most of whom you have short-lived relationships. Trust me, there are a couple in there that should have been keepers. I will not influence you on who, I will just say, give them more of a chance. You may have MISSED your soul mate.
Buy a house in Salt Lake City. You had the chance and you blew it.
Despite marriage not exactly working out for me, I still would not change the fact that I got married. But it might have been better to wait a while, and know her better. Without marrying, I probably would not have the beautiful kids or grandkids that I have today. My advice on this front is to pay more attention to your marriage, try to compromise more, and work not just to make it work, but to keep it working.
I have been a consultant for the last 12 years. I had some great times, and made a lot of money, and I have had some bad times, now is one of those. My advice, save more, invest more and plan for the future, and not just the immediate future.
Don’t be so immediate gratification oriented, think the long game, and save more.
Buy Google Stock, when it becomes available,remember that… GOOGLE…. Buy Apple Stock, when it looks like they are about to go out of business. You might get the stock at like $10 a share, buy as many as you can beg borrow or steal money to buy. Follow those two pieces of advice and money will not be a problem.
About 2000 you are going to get an idea for a book. Finish the damned thing!
Good Luck Kid, you will make it no matter what, but follow this advice and it will be a lot easier.
