Is it really good to succeed at a young age?
I often met people with the mindset:
"I'll work hard until I'm 30, and then I'll enjoy the fruits of my labour."
Many people wanted to get into the Forbes 30 Under 30.
Now I see people around 18 who are already exiting their projects (in addition, they also have health problems because they didn't distribute their energy optimally), and the age limit is moving lower.
Is it really good to succeed as a young person?
Because if I look at it from a different perspective:
When you reach the top at a young age, what's next?
Replies
Rumora
Great question, @busmark_w_nika. Funnily enough, I actually sold my startup at 21 and, for a minute, thought I was done. I spent two years traveling, ended up on national TV like ten times, on magazine covers, mentored a bunch of other startups… all the “success” checklist stuff.
Here’s the punchline: It didn’t take long to realize not doing anything, not building or learning, was actually way harder than the work itself. The buzz faded fast, and that sense of purpose was missing.
So I went back to creating things. Now I’m 36, still coding myself, still launching new stuff every year, honestly, even though I don’t have to. I do it because I need something engaging to wake up for, not because I’m trying to “make it” again.
I’ve found fulfillment in the work itself (and, weirdly, in starting over and failing sometimes). Early wins can be surreal, but the real challenge, and joy, is figuring out what actually keeps you going once you check some of those boxes.
The real question is: what do you choose to do when you don’t have to do anything?
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@whoisrade How long do you want to live this life? :D E.g. when I had a call with one girl, she said something like: I do not want to do this 4ever. It sounded like she wants to settle in the sense of "quitting the business" environment that is in tech, very aggressive. How is it with guys? :D
Rumora
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@whoisrade, but it seems you're unstoppable! :D I would like to at least create some product line that would be purchased even during my bed hours. Something that is not dependent on my direct work so I could dedicate more time to learning stuff.
Rumora
@busmark_w_nika Go for it, it's definitely worth it!
Upp.Vote
We have limited time on the planet Earth. Everyone has different starting point and leverage. Not many know that Jeff Bezos got $300K from his father to start Amazon. How many of us have fathers who can give you that money?
Of course, Jeff is an excellent entrepreneur and he built a behemoth. But that's got nothing to do with his age. He was the right person at the right time and he knows business better than most.
If you succeed at a young age - congratulations. Enjoy your money, fame and experience the world differently. If you succeed late - that's okay too.
IMHO, success is all about being able to do what you truly love. Having financial freedom helps; but it's not the only thing.
The average age of successful founders is ~44 - 45.
PS: 30 under 30 is a joke. You can 'buy' your way into the 30/30 list.
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@kaustubhkatdare @eliza_pogorilska Hmmm, I am trying to figure out what is/was my peak :D I am somehow missing it or so :D
Upp.Vote
@eliza_pogorilska @busmark_w_nika - you can connect the dots only looking back.
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@eliza_pogorilska @kaustubhkatdare Steve was right :)
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@kaustubhkatdare How that buying into 30/30 work? Do you have any examples to demonstrate?
Upp.Vote
@busmark_w_nika I can't take name. But it's a well known fact that the 30/30 rankings can be bought.
@kaustubhkatdare Exactly true...
There isnt even real "money" today- it is worthless fiat. Every fiat has gone to zero in all of time. It is a RE-PRESENTATION of value.
So folks should stop focusing on a shadow.
Are you creating real value for people that you like? If so, you'll feel fulfillment most likely.
When I pick a ripe fruit for my son I don't feel like a slave in my garden. Because I love him, and because I control the garden and own its infrastructure.
Most people don't know what they want before they get rich, and don't know after. These are idiots.
Think first.
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@cataclysmic_conversions I think that those guys are successful (rich) because they delivered value – and people were willing to pay for that value :)
Nice question, Nika! :)
Years ago, I worked for media publications as a contributor and / or as a staff writer. I can assure the world Forbes is the last media company to trust. :P
In the PR world, we classify features into editorial and advertorial. Forbes lists are often mix of editorial and advertorial.
(disclaimer: my book was featured on Forbes, but through editorial coverage) :D
For me, success is, someone winning at life and work with integrity, meaning, simplicity and freedom of choice. Anyone who can achieve this in a young age, I am impressed of them. :)
Turn to God.
Help push humanity forward.
Mentor others to get where you are.
Continue practicing your craft to continue to serve unlike no one.
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@rohanrecommends I also wrote for them in our country as an external contributor, but I remember how strict they were :D
The last 2 points are something I am forgetting and probably would do to get my meaning of life back. :)
@busmark_w_nika In my experience, the editors and the in-house staff are corrupt :P
Later, every publication explicitly started their sponsored columns because it became too obvious haha
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@rohanrecommends Maybe it differs from country to country but due to some restrictions I also stopped writing for them :D
@busmark_w_nika yes, I am referring to the main site .com :)
Great question, Nika. I think the real issue isn't age, it's defining success too narrowly.
The "work hard until 30 then coast" mentality treats success like a destination rather than a journey. When people optimize purely for financial exits or Forbes lists, they often miss the deeper satisfaction that comes from building something meaningful over time.
I've noticed the most fulfilled entrepreneurs I know aren't trying to "peak early," they're playing infinite games. They see each project as building skills, relationships, and understanding for the next challenge. Success becomes about growth and impact, not just achievement milestones.
The founder you mentioned from Loom probably felt lost because his identity was tied to that one outcome, not to the ongoing process of creating value.
Maybe the question isn't "when should I succeed?" but "what kind of success am I building toward?" Financial wins are great, but if they're not connected to purpose, health, and relationships, the victory can feel pretty hollow.
What's your take, are you feeling pressure to hit certain milestones by a certain age?
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@rohulp Honestly, when I was younger, my goal was to have a job I enjoy. I often saw people working minimum-wage, physically demanding jobs, and they didn’t seem happy at all. It was scary, and I was afraid of ending up like that.
Now, I feel I’ve achieved that first goal. My next one is to build a product that sells even while I’m sleeping.
I worked for one of China's largest internet companies and reached management level, but gradually jumped to smaller but more important positions, to the point where I now have my own startup.
In almost ten years of working experience, I have found that the personal value generated by my work has become more and more important to me.
A screw in a factory is not as important as the roof of a log cabin.
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@onbing In my opinion, people who are working on something that is theirs are more likely to work on it (for free) and for a longer time (but they need to have passion for that and be ambitious).
@busmark_w_nika U r totally right, Nika!
Honestly, if you want to hit the peak of your career by 30 — you probably need to start at 12.
But let’s be real: getting there usually takes either perfect starting conditions or a lucky break.
The truth is, most super-young “success stories” are missing one key ingredient — the experience of screwing up.
No amount of money protects you from life’s punches. Learning how to bounce back from failure is way more valuable than people think — even though everyone tries to avoid it.
Wanting to get rich by 30, buy a yacht, and live the high life? That’s usually a dream for people chasing hacks, not for those who actually love what they do.
Why do so many wealthy and successful people hide their background and the advantages they inherited from their parents?
Because everyone will assume they made it using someone else’s — even if it’s their parents’ — resources.
Being rich and becoming even richer and more successful? That’s not impressive — there’s no story there.
But being a regular person and making it big? That’s real drama. That’s what people admire.
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@kirill_golubovskiy I would like to see the real backgrounds of those young guys. Maybe I believed too much in their stories. But at least one guy reported that his family didn't support him financially outside of school.
@kirill_golubovskiy True success is not about being rich from a young age, but how we rise from failure and create our own path.
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@kirill_golubovskiy @khusnul_khatifa Could be :)
The 'get rich young' hustle culture is everywhere these days - but what's the cost? I've seen some teenager 'win' with seven-figure exits... only to realize they forgot to build a life along the way.
Financial freedom is amazing (who wouldn't want that?), but success looks different for everyone:
Some want that Forbes 30 Under 30 spot
Others prioritize family time or creative fulfillment
Many just want stability without burnout
The real question might be: Freedom to do what? Because retiring at 30 sounds great until you're staring at your Tesla wondering '...now what?'
(Also: Let's be real - luck and privilege play massive roles in early success that no one talks about. ✨)
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@rani_zagita IMO many of those people have that mindset. Even when they earn a lot of money and exit... they want to have more, more adventurous, another business, another exit etc. They are not in peace :D
@busmark_w_nika Exactly! Success without self-awareness is just an endless treadmill. The real win? Figuring out what actually makes you feel fulfilled... whether that's at 20, 40, or 80. 🚀
(P.S. The happiest people I know didn't chase benchmarks—they designed lives that felt right for THEM.)
Young success is an opportunity, but not a guarantee. If you have a vision, a strong heart, and feet that stay planted, well... it could be one of the best things you've ever experienced.
Want to be young success? That's fine. But it's even cooler if you're also ready to be the best version of yourself, not just the richest or most viral version. 💥
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@khusnul_khatifa I think that people I have known wanted everything (and they were very good at it). 😅
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@manu_goel2 Agree that success differs, but there is a slight difference – about one success, nobody says anything (chilling), and about the other, all the world talks about (e.g., the Apple story). In this case, I meant the second one.
The entrepreneur friends I know have always had a strong determination to change the world's rules. For people with this trait, early success is a good thing—it allows them to fight against what they see as unreasonable much earlier in life.
But I have other friends who are driven by a mix of material desires and ambition—they want fame and money, and they do have some luck catching the right trends. But I have to say, early success might make them inflated.
So I have to say, premature success is simply a fact; whether it's good or bad depends on a person's character.
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@gin_6078 The second group of people are more likely to scam people, earn internet magic money and burn them on some random stuff. I do not like that approach.
@busmark_w_nika This reminds me of "The Wolf of Wall Street." I've encountered many entrepreneurs like that too. Honestly, I don't like them either, haha.
Success at a young age is often a story of catching the right wave at the right time in the right place.
I went through that experience myself, and for a while, I believed I could repeat it over and over again.
But it's not that simple.
I’ve learned that success isn't always linear - and sometimes, the deeper lessons come after the initial peak.
I actually share a lot about this journey — the ups and downs, the emotional “rollercoaster” - in the book I recently finished writing. It’s been quite a ride.
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@crazystartuper What was your peak? (or that wave) :D
@busmark_w_nikaGreat question 😄
I’ve actually caught a few waves in my career.
1 First one - when I was still in sales. I managed to win a car as the top seller in the country. That felt unreal at the time.
2 Then in 2008 - I helped pull our small e-commerce store out of the crisis, just in time to catch the rise of online retail. That was the first time I felt like I was building something bigger than myself.
3 And the wildest one, during the pandemic. We launched a new product line, won a huge state contract, and shipped thousands of protective garments a day.
> For a brief moment, I felt unstoppable.
> Then — 9 cents in the account. Burnout. Collapse.
> That’s when the real startup story began.
So yeah, I’ve had a few peaks — and some heavy crashes.
What I’ve learned: the climb feels great, but the fall teaches more.
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@crazystartuper Whaaaat? Guys, do you also have ups?
I feel like I do not have any significant achievement lol :D
IXORD
Nika, you bring up very interesting topics to talk about. I think that when we're young, we try more things that are part of adult life, and sometimes something meaningful can come out of it. What do you think?
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@ixord yes, but many people at that age try cigarettes, alcohol and another third thing :D not to conquer planet with SaaS :D
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@baltazar_torres For some people it can be family, to drag you out from overthinking and overworking :) Could be.
WorkHub
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@moaz_ahmad So do you think that this is the cause? Society? I would say that, partially yes, but at the end of the day, we decide what we truly want. Or maybe we are so fooled that we forget about who we are and what we want...
Coefficient.io
The real question might be, can we redefine success to include sustainability, health, and curiosity, not just speed and outcome? Because if you're not enjoying the journey, what are you really racing toward?
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@hamza_afzal_butt I suppose the guy also enjoyed the journey but was in one project (focus) for so long that he forgot he could start again with something else. He may have lost his purpose for a while.
Coefficient.io
@busmark_w_nika Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. When you’re all-in on one thing for so long, it’s easy to forget there’s life beyond it.
It's actually pretty good to succeed at a young age. That may be in Education, Career, their own Venture or some artistic endeavour. It gives anyone a pretty solid base to build the rest of their life own.
There are two extremely important points to note though
Early success should not be treated as the Finish line, but simply as a stepping stone. Stay hungry, stay foolish.
Early Failure should definitely not be treated as the Finish Line. Every failure is a simply a Start for another Journey and more often than not, what we see as failures end up being incredible lessons for the future. The dots only connect in hindsight.
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@nitesh_kumar76 I am aligned with this. Especially the first one resonates with me.
I prefer to work early and rest when I get older, I'll work till I'm 40 then retire
Making it at 30 is really not realistic, 40 or 50 is quite reasonable