Hey :) 

I was at a Christmas party recently, chatting to a young lad in his early 20s. Second year into his university degree.

We got talking about work, as you do.

Then he asked me a very specific question: “How should I think about my future prospects if I want to get a good job?”

Not what job.

Not what career.

Just how to think about it.

He didn’t know what he wanted to do yet. And honestly, that’s exactly how it should be at that age.

I’ve been asked versions of this a few times over the last couple of months, and I keep coming back to the same filter. It’s a mix of ideas from The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch and Mastery by Robert Greene, but interpreted in a very practical, real-world way.

If you’re in your early 20s, the game isn’t about finding the perfect role.

It’s about stacking the odds in your favour.

Here’s the filter I shared with him:

First, aim for a high-growth industry.

Then, inside that, pick a high-growth company. Ideally one with cash, momentum, and things changing fast.

Why?

Because rapid growth forces learning. You see more, do more, and get exposed to problems most people don’t touch until much later.

Second, pay close attention to who you work for.

Try to work for someone with real entrepreneurial energy. Someone building, selling, thinking, moving. You’ll absorb sales, marketing, strategy, and decision-making just by proximity.

And if they’re going places, there’s a good chance you’ll go with them.

Third, avoid flat, dead-end hierarchies.

You want somewhere with movement. Where roles evolve. Where people ahead of you can be promoted out of the way. That’s how you step up quickly — not by waiting your turn, but by being useful in a growing system.

And finally, the big one that stuck with me from Robert Greene:

At different stages of life, you’re either choosing to learn or choosing to earn.

Early on, learning should come first.

Ironically, the people who optimise for learning tend to earn far more in the long run. The ones who optimise for salary straight out of university often get stuck — comfortable, but boxed in.

So if you’re early in your career, don’t obsess over the job title or the pay cheque.

Obsess over:

Do that well for 2-3 years and the outcome usually takes care of itself.

That’s more or less what I said to him.

Not advice. Just a way of thinking. A filter.

Curious how you may frame this conversation when younger people ask you the same question.

🗣️ 👀

Chris.