I wish I had had that attitude when I was that age. Too busy drinking beer and unsuccessfully chasing women. Still, as the saying goes "best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, second best time is now".

I tried juggling between learning programming, music, Japanese and walking. Turned out it's impossible with a full-time job. So I didn't cancel any of them but rather prioritized them. Programming is the serious stuff and takes most of the spare time, music became just a hobby and takes 10 mins to an hour depending on the time and the mood, walking is essential and takes one to half an hour a day, and Japanese is also a hobby and takes half an hour a day that I can squeeze in during the day. And at the end of the day I have to mainly learn programming and walk.

This is what I needed to hear. I have the same problem. I have so MANY hobbies/interests, they often get in the way of success. I'm considering focusing on only a few things.

Honestly I have been having the same problem for a long time and these past few weeks i just decided to do whatever is possible at any free time i get. And after watching this video i want to just choose one thing at a time and be patient. I am also twenty and have been feeling like i am missing out or been left behind so Hopefully with more time i put in Programming i will be best at it. Thanks again John.

I'm also 19 and I struggled with the same thing, I recommend the One Thing by Gary Keller!

that guy listened to the advice and now we know him as robert lewandowski

If you can learn at 19 to stay focused at one thing at a time you will go far, and accomplish more. The age of information has created the might set that to many things can be done. Specialization first is key. Stay focused on one direction, and usually the success from the first direction can more often than not guarantee success in the second direction... That's my story and I wish I stuck to it at times. lol Good luck friend!

If he wants to do both programming and football in his career, it would make much more sense to pursue his football career now while he's young (it's a young man's game), and then once he retires, if he still has passion for programming he can go that route. If he makes a lot of money as a footballer he'd also have the finances to hire the best programming teachers to get him up to speed in that world fast, and he'd be able to finance his own programming projects as well. Hey, maybe while playing football he gathers a list of ideas for apps / technology that he could produce and sell to the football marketplace (which is huge) - and there's your direct carry-over from football to programming. His football experience would give him a huge advantage when it comes to creating software products for that particular market.

Thank you for this video ! I really struggle with this too. There are so many things I want to do as a career and I find it so hard to just pick one !

I wonder what he's doing now at 24

What I needed to hear. Thanks.

This video pretty much told me what I needed to know: Focus on one thing, either at a time, or at all times. Thank you for this.

I have found my people!

Man this is what i needed to hear today so thankful for this video !

There is no such thing as "realistic goals" If someone tells u that, its because it's not an ideal goal for them. People aren't supposed to "see" your vision. Do what u want, do care what anyone says🎯

Good reminder, FOCUS! 🏆🎉👏

Thanks for the video advice

Thanks! very informative

Great advice really thank you. we are in the Middle of the year and I'm gonna Foucs more on one goal rather than many goals and not achieving any thing from it.

I would love to meet this boy. We are the same a age a share this “mind diversificacatiln problem”. Just as him, I have a lot of goals outside what my primary care goals, eh hock is becoming a physician in this case, and the other goals sometimes feel as luring and important as the first one, ant it makes me feel overwhelmed. I hope this kid and I manage to find a nice balance and archive our goals eventually. ☺️

Thank you, John.

John Sonmez is giving really good advice to here. If the questioner decides that he will only work on programming if Football doesn’t workout and has a detailed plan of where and how he will study if he needs it, than he can let that go for now and do football, and vice versa. I’m sure the questioner feels a hint that he won’t have both careers and is riding the fence.

I will give you some different advice: Specialization is for insects, like Robert Heinlein said. look up famous polymaths through history, like Leonardo Davinci and if you want practical advice for following in their footsteps read the book refuse to choose by Barbara sher.

Finally found that I am not the only one who stressed about this

One learns something about the world and that means learning about oneself and that means being open to many possibilities. Unfortunately we need to persevere even if we do not succeed. I have had this experience with programming. By the way I focus mostly on C++ and C# as they are very similar but even so they have quite a large difference the way they are used. Maybe one way is to have some three areas , possibly four areas that get some of the attention.. And then one area most likely gets the most attention possible. The reason being that we cannot totally just do one thing. We need to exercise, and need to have some ability to develop some social skills (that involves language but is not limited to) and also some technical skills . Technical skills are mostly one type. Although they easily can fall into some categories like physical, (maybe martial arts and or yoga for example) , maybe academic(like some contact with maths and or science) , spiritual (that involves also some interaction with others and meditation for example) .. Still the most important thing that will make a progress is focus on one single aspect for a specific time .. Then it is possibly the best to create "internal modules of skills and application". That means you look at some specific task you can categorize and make it easily findable for your future reference and be able to do it at least right. Wow. At least right? I mean doing something right is not the same as doing it in a outstanding way. That is possibly very advanced as most things done well are already excellent. There are many people who have done things fantastically well. We can look at two aspects very easily .. Software development, like "perfect" libraries , that is very hard to make them better than already are and nearly impossible without spending lots of time. Reinventing the wheel that is. Also mastering something like jujitsu, hapkido, or chi na.. or maybe even wing chun. That is hard to do if you do not have time and right equipment .. So you end up doing what you can and shifting others by bits for the future to do when you can. Ideally you would focus on one primary goal and then have secondary goal with room for your health and family .. That you should connect with previous goals as much as you can because this way you can create synergy. Odd moments for extra things but focus on primary goal without making you feel you are a loser because you did not do something .. You need to have that winning mindset. This way even if you lose you will win at the end. We learn constantly just some people are more ahead for some reason.

Great vid!!! needed this. I'm spreading myself too thin too. 1 step at a time!

This is the best advice I got in my whole life.

Nice video John.

I struggle with this as well, but since I started watching your videos I'm MUCH better about it.

Thank you, right now I’m 19 studying to become a PTA, after I will start studying as an adult to become a dermatologist, I don’t want to have more goals because it would just be very hectic, I would recommend just focusing at 2 things at least

Big difference in the way that you deliver your message (then and now)

My goals are animation (traditional),cinematography, photography, foley, writing, exercising, playing guitar and piano and sing... I have too many 0-0 I even want to be a puppet maker and costume maker/cosplayer. I even want to do electronics and idk..... MAN I HAVE TOO MANY GOALS..... But I’m going well in them all by being self taught. I even give each topic a week worth of studying and researching each. Pls help I want to shorten my list, life is too short to learn all of those 😞

Same problem... I'm 15, from Germany. Really have to focus on school to get my a-levels soon, but also want to make sport and learn programming. Solved it with forgetting about sport for a long time for having more time with programming (tried a lot of HTML, CSS and Ruby of rails => website, but decided to try programming software with swift right now) problem is, that I need sport...need smt to balance myself..! Can't handle this 3 things...;(

Hi John, you've said "Focus in one thing at a time" but time is not instantaneous in this context, not an hour, not a week, not a month and sometimes not even a year. Here time means time where you spend one interest specifically all the time in that period. Imagine if someone wants to learn Python from beginning. He would definitely take more than months. Focus in Python at a time. He can do for 1 week, may be two week but law of diminishing interest soon kicks in and you lose your focus. Either you get frustrated that you haven't accomplished much and give up or you develop some other interest or a combination of both. This is tough. So many times I started Python but soon something like this would happen. What do you suggest?

Great video John. I fully second what you said. Just one caveat. If he already speaks a germanic occidental language like English, Dutch or Afrikaans then learning German to a pragmatic level does not consume much time. For everyone else it is gonna be anything from tough to extreme.

this is a bummer as a computer science student, aspiring artist, aspiring japanese speaker, aspiring poet, weightlifter, and philosophy/ history book reader. Lol what was I thinking. I think I wasted this past year juggling all of these goals only to make minimal progress in all but one of them. I'll probably just focus on my degree and my art skills first. I could be a much better programmer and artist if I had the nuance to consider this earlier. Other goals after I graduate.

*Hey John, I do feel the same as James. I'm actually very confused about picking up my career my goals are like to become a musician and actor to pursue my career as KZfaqr but I did mechanical engineering and also finished a course in java during the period of java course, I don't have interest in java but now I'm confused. so, this makes me depressed and I couldn't able to concentrate and do well in any of these. So my parents and relatives are judging me as a looser and they are telling me to do my dad's pharmacy business.*

Hey John. I'm curious how you spend your entire day and fit in these videos with your schedule?

I am working at an IoT company , I do Front end backend blockchain plus,.... I am also trying for govt. jobs continuously studying 3 hrs daily and also doing Masters online program in cyber security. I sometimes act different due to these various goals. I am so much taken , I dont get time to go out like others

Chickens invaded your mind for 2 seconds at 3:08

One things is to tell yourself you're going to work harder and another thing is to actually make yourself do it.

what about school in software development different subjects (different programming languages)? Not good idea to schedule studying ? like all different practical assignments . Thanks . Jorge Saraiva

I'm 19 right now and I dont know how to focus because my goals or passions are completely independent. Like I'm an engineer major student, but I want to learn piano, and be polyglot, and learn to dance, also to play volleyball. And I'm ignoring that i want to study philosophy because I put that on the side some time ago. Anyway I think I'll just pick up one hobby and focus on it and some years later I'll switch o something like that.

Thank u I am from India love the way you talk...keep inspiring people...

This is my problem too, a big problem, and I had this problem for a long time, now I just decide to concentrate on writing and become an author.

I have so many goals but one in each area of my life. Love life, carear + money ( that goes together at least for now) parenting , health. Self worth. It's difficult to chose what is most important right now because i feel deep in my heart all of that. I am greatful now because I know what I want in every area of life which I didn't few months ago. It's going to be a challenge which one I feel strongly about the most ☺️ Thanks for video 💜🤗

I attended to write an Compiler but which is the best way writing it by hand or use yacc ? So i have done the automatic way and also tried the handwriting what is an better parsing strategy LL(1) or LARL(1) ?

Am into learning hardware and currently learning HTML and thinking of going into crypto trading how do you see it sir.

Thanku very much... I got a same kind of problem nd wn i ws searching 4 solution.. thank god... I saw this video... I think it'll surely help...

just to add, think about your Time line. Like you should try football now that you have the youth and energy required, if you dothis at 40 I don't think you really have a chance. But you can be a programmer at 40. What im saying is, do now what you can't do later. This should help you out with some clarity.

my problem exactly the moment I am free I will watch it :D

Around one year back I decided I’m gonna be a data scientist so I applied for masters and was supposed to go to abroad for masters but couldn’t go due to corona , now I’m not getting job in that field cuz I’m self taught now trying since 3 months I couldn’t get a job so everyone is like get a job in civil engineering for that I have to study something and it’s driving me mad

In just 30 minutes I will have studied Spanish, Italian, data analytics, IT, video production, watched UFC content, maps, etc. It's crazy. This goes on pretty much every waking hour.

Thanks for the advice! But wouldn't you say that for some time one should try out as many things as possible, because who knows whether this one thing you think you want to do will actually be right for you? This is what I'm struggling with atm, I want to keep my options open so that I can experience all kinds of things before choosing my main goal. Thoughts on that?

Can someone please tell me HOW ? On the one hand I WANT to focus on just my fitness for example and get BIG and eat right, But then if I only do that it's like 1 hour workout and maybe another 1-2 hours preparing food, So even with a full time job it leaves SO much time for doing other stuff, am I supposed to waste that extra time ? Or should I keep doing what I do now which is Workout, Read a chapter in a book, take notes and apply knowledge that day or for multiple days, Eat and prepare meal for later, then work on creating online course and STILL have about 1-2 hours to play a video game before work ? I really don't know WHAT people can do focusing on just 1 thing at a time the whole day, feels like a waste for me

The risk with focusing on only one is what scares me bro help me out

I’m from India 🇮🇳 and lives in New Delhi right now my age is 28 and next month i will be 29 till 29 i have done almost 10 courses and 30 courses i think 🤔 for carrier option below is my list of interests :- After 12th from arts 1-B.com pass fail taken tuition classes ( Money waste ) 2-Job in yoko high for 1 month after 10th 3-Events jobs 4-Engg in digital electronics fail ( Money waste) 5-Interior design fail ( Money waste ) 6-CAD in interior design fail ( Money waste) 7-NIIT fail Java course ( Money waste ) 8-Hotel management (Form waste ) pusa & pvt Gr. noida 9-Job in sun direct D2H one week 10-English speaking 2 times fail ( Money waste) 11-SSC fail classes taken but left after few weeks ( Money waste ) 12- UPSE IPS dream but low passion 13-BTS pass 14-Guitar 🎸 fail ( few money waste ) 15-Singing 🎤 still Passion 16- Modelling 17-Job in tourism 2.5 years 18-Digital marketing fail ( money waste) 19-Share marketing new course 20-Gym again and again but fail ( Money waste) wanna join again 21-Yoga 🧘‍♂️ course 22-Spirituality path 23-Acting new 24-Photography 25- indian Army very imp for me still 26- Delhi police & J&K police (Fail) 27- bartender course (Never joined) 28- And many fields search for career on google which i never joined Still continue........... 😞 Businesses i think 🤔 1-Engg 5-10 years solved previous year paper 📖 not started 2-Interior design fail 3-CCTV 🎥 4-FRUITS 🍇 5-DRY FRUITS 🍈 6-Solar panels (very interested) 7-Chinese van 8-Restaurant takeaway 🥡 9-Bakery 🧁 shop by Rohit suggestion 10-Water Business 11- kashmiri packed food (ready to eat ) 12- Mens star saloon like women’s ( Makeup studio for mens ) Many more....... I’m seriously 😐 done with myself

Did James achieve all his goals??

Wish i woujdve saw this in 2016 and even when i was 19

If that's many goals, then I'm fucked

What about people with full time jobs

I need an honest advice also. Can anyone help.

Hi John, can you change you intro?

For those who don't like reading books you can buy Anthony Robbins CDs on iTunes ☺️ awesome mentor right there, thanks for mentioning him

But focusing on just one thing is boring

One thing!

Don't do IT unless you are bad at football. It sucks. Over the time you loose interest. I am learning piano and I love it.

We people are multipotentialite

I wanted to become a doctor. .but I am interested in physics too.... when someone ask me what do you wanted to be I said doctor but in mind. ..I say what about physics what about the stars what about cosmology. ......I love both profession.................................................................I really want clear goal. ..............

❤ @ 2 May 2024 # 1:37 AM

My buddy had already accomplished his goals by age 24, he's now 28 and retired for real, the down side is, his health is poor, he met his goals early, but he never dated, and his health isn't good.

i watched 1 video about this kind of similar question and you both answer the same thing in different words.

Don’t put all eggs into one basket.

I got this @16

I just graduated college in a degree in communication. I hopped between majors from theater to cinema to graphic design and eventually to communication. I then realized I don’t want to spend my life in an office 5 days a week until retirement. I want to use to artistic abilities and make a living off my KZfaq videos. So now I’m juggling two goals: find full time job with the state of California to bring in income and have an impact on the community & working on my craft. I want to have a #1 hit on billboard by 2025. It is far fetched but I can do it!! Thank you.

Big problem

there is no advice anyone can give anyone at this point. With the direction society is headed with AI we may all be obsolete soon

6:45. :)

4:10

Hey dude! Your advise sucks to this dude except “Focus one thing at a time” - He is only 19, don’t you think he’s not even sure which of those goals are going to be his main professional career? I think he should not stop doing programing and he should even try more things in order to find his actual taste towards his professional career. As Steve Jobs says “ If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.

Did you ever have any plastic surgery? Your appearance has changed so much