Life: To get a early realization, that money is the most important thing in life.
Work: To work towards the 'Life' goal. To work smart, and make clever savings and investment moves.
I've read enough of the 'money is not everything' quotes. Its almost a given and keeps coming back to me from my own experiences and from what others tell, Money is definitely the most important thing in your life. Having lots of it means most of your needs, wants and requirements taken care of. You realize this more as you age, having lots of money to never work puts you in a far more better situation than getting up every day and running to work regardless sun, rain and cold. No matter what your work is, no matter how passionate it is.
Having financial security will alone change you life so drastically, you will never worry about having to take risks, failing and putting pieces together after that. You will never have to worry about getting fired, reporting to office despite your highest dislike on a day. You will never worry about 'What if' scenarios. You will never have to worry about paying your bills, sending your kids to school etc.
So the most important thing to realize in the early part of your life is to get to financial security.
And yes tool religion, micro optimization craze, technical pedantry isn't much of value while the other part of the world is building stuff and making millions with duct tape.
As a programmer your job is to worry about solving problems which people need solutions to, and then monetize it.
I think as you grow older you will realize the opposite, that in fact this is not the case.
As a human being, you will never stop to worry. If you have financial security you might stop worrying about the things you mentioned, but you will also have a lot of new things you worry about, its natural.
Also id argue, not having to worry about failing or taking risks will make you much less likely to succeed in such a scenario, from a statistical point of view.
While i agree that money is of very high importance in todays world, it still doesnt make you happy even if that sounds banal, its true.
It makes certain things in life alot easier, so everybody should strive for financial security but saying it is ultimately the most important thing in everybody's live is a very broad statement to make.
Work: To work towards the 'Life' goal. To work smart, and make clever savings and investment moves.
I've read enough of the 'money is not everything' quotes. Its almost a given and keeps coming back to me from my own experiences and from what others tell, Money is definitely the most important thing in your life. Having lots of it means most of your needs, wants and requirements taken care of. You realize this more as you age, having lots of money to never work puts you in a far more better situation than getting up every day and running to work regardless sun, rain and cold. No matter what your work is, no matter how passionate it is.
Having financial security will alone change you life so drastically, you will never worry about having to take risks, failing and putting pieces together after that. You will never have to worry about getting fired, reporting to office despite your highest dislike on a day. You will never worry about 'What if' scenarios. You will never have to worry about paying your bills, sending your kids to school etc.
So the most important thing to realize in the early part of your life is to get to financial security.
And yes tool religion, micro optimization craze, technical pedantry isn't much of value while the other part of the world is building stuff and making millions with duct tape.
As a programmer your job is to worry about solving problems which people need solutions to, and then monetize it.