4 Things I’d Do if I Had to Start All Over Again

Somebody said that to give good advice, you need to talk to the previous version of yourself. 

You know, the one who was still a bit lost and confused. The kid who’s eager for some guidance. They said that you need to talk to the version of you who didn’t have things figured out yet. 

About 10 years ago, I was working night shifts at a BPO, longing to find opportunities that will allow me to see more of the world. If I were to give younger Joemer some advice, here’s what I’d tell him:

1. Be curious

In life, we end up being preoccupied with so many things: the bills to pay, the commute home, what to cook for dinner, and how to stretch our salary when payday comes. It’s a lot.

We get so busy making a living that we forget to live a life. I know it’s hard, but don’t let your current circumstances stop you from exploring new opportunities.

Be curious — and stay curious.

Would you believe me if I told you that my crazy entrepreneurship journey started because I was simply curious about how digital nomads made money while traveling?

I started by watching a lot of videos about successful digital entrepreneurs. Fueled by the possibilities, I researched different remote careers and eventually dug deep into the kind of businesses that hired remote talent.

I read books like Tim Ferriss’s Four-Hour Workweek, which opened my eyes to the possibilities of owning your time.

Who would have thought that this curiosity would lead me to this path and blossom into something bigger than me?

The world is wide and full of so many possibilities. Stay curious.

2. Be generous

Generosity is not exclusive to rich people. 10 years ago, I had little to no extra resources to share with others, so I chose to be generous with my time instead. I lent my time and energy to serving ministries and volunteering. I chose to spend time with people who energized and inspired me.

And you know what?

This practice has paid me back tenfold, in many unexpected forms.

In volunteering, I gained a lot of new skills, especially in photography, videography, and editing. These skills helped me close jobs and opportunities that I otherwise wouldn’t have landed. Today, my previous video editing clients now have big Youtube followings of their own and I have my own headhunting agency. That sounds crazy, right?

Being generous has opened so many doors for me, including the one that would eventually lead to entrepreneurship. It’s funny when life works out that way!

Bottomline: be generous. You won’t see its benefit upfront, but be brave enough to say yes to things that add value to your life.

Related: How remote work changed my life forever

3. Do everything for God's greater glory

A mentor and close friend once told me:

“When you do something for God, you do it for His greater glory.”

When I asked him what he meant by that, he further explained that “God’s greater glory is you.” It made me realize that whatever I do for God, I also do for myself.

On the surface, dedicating your time, energy, and effort to service may not be in line with the world’s view of productivity. But when you look deeper, you’ll find that the opposite is actually true. The more you give to God, the more you fill your cup with blessings.

Sometimes these blessings come in the form of relationships. Other times, I am blessed with opportunities. And then there are times when I get peace of mind, which is something we can’t buy.

Now, when I dedicate things to God’s glory, I personally feel like I’m becoming the best version of myself.

4. Don't get fascinated by looking busy

Lastly, I’d tell Younger Joemer not to fall into the trap of being busy.

As I mentioned in my previous posts, I focused way too much on looking “busy” when I started out on this journey. I would fill my calendar with so many things and take pride that I had to go to a bunch of meetings.

But the reality was that I was struggling to accomplish anything.

When I shifted my mindset and started to focus on just one thing at a time, the game changed. I was more productive, I freed up my calendar, and I had more time to pursue things that enriched my life like treating my mom or traveling with my wife.

I learned how to delegate and create leaders among my team. This is how we were able to scale in a little over two years.

So, Younger Joemer, don’t get tempted by looking busy. It’s not a badge of honor. Instead, focus on being productive.

What would you do if you started again from square one?

Wow, looking back at this whole journey just filled me with an overwhelming sense of wonder and gratitude. The version of me 10 years ago was young, clueless, and a bit confused. I feel for Younger Joemer. He was playing life on hard mode.

But looking closer, I now realize that that version of me was the same one who persevered through hardships and grew into the person I am today — and for that, I am thankful.

In Filipino, we have this saying:

“Malayo pa, pero malayo na.”

It means “You’ve got a long way to go, but you’ve already come so far.”

Thank you, Younger Joemer. Malayo pa, pero malayo na. 🙂

How about you? If you could give at least one advice to a younger version of yourself, what would you say to them?