 Being a young person comes with a lot of demands like finding balance with life and career, keeping up with friends, becoming independent of your parents, acquiring skills relevant to your field of interest, etc. This age bracket also comes with its challenges, but you need to understand that it's a cold world out there. Survival is strictly based on adaptation. The key to remaining relevant is your ability to create a niche for yourself and a sustainable environment to support your experience. Hence, your need to create your own curriculum. In this video, I will be sharing 4 things to teach yourself before you are 30. 1. Time management. Everybody has an equal amount of time daily, which is 24 hours. No one has more of it or less of it. Zeke Ziggler, an American author, salesman and motivational speaker said, lack of direction, not lack of time is the problem. We all have 24-hour days. The difference between successful and unsuccessful people can be seen in their usage of time. This is an essential measurement of life. Every second loss can never be recovered. It only becomes a memory. According to Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, an American statesman, author, diplomat, inventor, publisher, scientist and one of the founding fathers of the United States, lost time is never found again. Time management is your ability to determine your priorities in respect to their urgency and to allocate specific time frames for each. Michael Altschuler, an American author and speaker once said, Bad news is, time flies. Good news is, you're the pilot. As a young person, you must teach yourself to respond only to things most beneficial to your time allocation. Time is a limited resource and must be spent wisely. So you must determine the most rewarding moments and events that deserve your time. As Alan De King, an American author of time management said, Time is equal to life. Therefore, waste your time and waste your life. Or master your time and master your life. 2. Networking Networking is about being intentional in meeting new people, making lasting impressions and actively nurturing such relationships thereafter. Networking is the new currency. Your network can play a crucial role in determining your net worth. According to Robert T. Kiyosaki, an American businessman and author of Rich Dad Poor Dad series, the richest people in the world look for and build networks. Everyone else looks for work. As a young person, to get ahead in the career or entrepreneurial endeavors, you need people who have attained the heights you're looking for, people who can refine your ideas or even strong support systems that can actively help you attain your goals. No man is an island. Together, we can weather the storm, but alone, we get crushed. An African proverb says, If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others. You must teach yourself to develop people's skills. It doesn't matter your temperament, a simple statement like, Hello, I am so-and-so. What's your name? Or hello, I must really say I admire your work and so-and-so. My name is, or even a simple display of concern. Hello dear, I notice you're quiet. Is there anything I can do to earn you a smile? Are little ways to start a conversation? Porter Gill, a former vice president of marketing at Virgin America, once said, The new form of networking is not about climbing a ladder to success. It's about collaboration, co-creation, partnerships and long-term value-based relationships. Invest heavily in your social capital before you're 30. 3. Financial Planning and Management One of the major responsibilities that comes with adulthood is being responsible for your finances. If you must be wealthy, you must not only learn how to make money, but most importantly, how to keep it. According to Dave Ramsey, an American businessman, radio host and author, you must gain control over your money or lack of it will forever control you in order to plan your finances well. You need to understand your current financial status. Determine your financial goals, develop an action step, create an accountability system, implement your financial plans and always set specific periods to evaluate your progress. Wealth creation and preservation is an intentional process, not a passive one. Before you are 30, you must develop the habit to stick to your budget and have investment plans if you must preserve your wealth. 4. Domestic Skills It's easy to say, why claim my own room or cook my own food when I can pay someone to do it. Learning to do basic household chores like cooking, basic repairs, cleaning, etc. can be a lifesaver when you're stranded and need urgent assistance. It can also be a great way to save money. You can bond better with relatives while preparing Thanksgiving dinner and there, cultivate the habit of family traditions that you'll pass down to your kids. You cannot afford to wait until it's too late to learn how to change a car tire or cultivate your own garden. Domestic chores like baking, ironing, etc. can be a great way to manage stress and channel your energy better. According to Agatha Christie, an English writer, the best time to plan a book is when you are doing the dishes.