11 skills to learn before you're 22

1. Work on your ability to tell stories The ability to make people listen is a superpower. Whether you're with friends, at a campfire, on a date or giving a presentation. Captivating people with your words creates a magic atmosphere. And how do you actually get better at telling stories? Well, there is no magic formula. Some people seem naturally good at it. But like any skill, storytelling gets better with practice. The secret is simple. Tell more stories. 2. Learn to calm yourself under stress In difficult situations, panic rarely helps. The ability to stay calm for just a few seconds often leads to way better decisions. It's totally normal to feel anxious sometimes. Just breathe slowly, take a moment and practice calmness. Some problems can be solved. Others can't. Learning to tell the difference saves you a lot of unnecessary stress. 3. Learn to read people Not in a manipulative kind of way. But learn to understand what they need. I've experienced so many people making inappropriate comments in the wrong situations. If you can tell whether someone needs comfort, honesty, a solution or simply a laugh, you're already ahead of most people. Or knowing when to talk and when to just stay quiet. 4. Learn to tolerate frustration We've all been there. Assembling a shelf, trying something new. We solve a lot of problems every day. Some are easy, while others take you like forever. But sometimes it just won't work as you want to. And sometimes that's fine. We don't need to be able to solve everything. But many people quit 5 minutes before they would've figured it out. Sometimes you need to let it go. Sometimes you just need a break and another try tomorrow. Even if you want to throw everything against the wall in the moment. 5. Learn to make friends Making friends is a skill. Some people seem to do it naturally, but most of us can get better at it. The secret isn't being funny, charismatic or the most interesting person in the room. It's simply putting yourself in situations where conversations can happen. Join a club, take a class, try a new hobby. Just talk to people. But what if they won't like me? Well, it's easy. Just don't be creepy. That's how to make friends in a nutshell. 6. Learn to create something Whether it's music, photography, clothing, writing or even a recipe. Learn to create something instead of just consuming. Of course you can get inspired. You should. But there is a big difference between copying what already exists and making something that is yours. Let's take music as an example here. Everyone loves music. And once you understand the basics, it becomes surprisingly fun to experiment, to combine sounds and maybe even create your own track. There is something deeply satisfying about finishing something that didn't exist before. 7. Learn to adapt Imagine someone surprises you with a road trip across the country and you're leaving right now. How much would you pack? Most people bring way more than they actually need. A third pair of shoes, things just in case. But learning to travel with less teaches you something bigger than packing light. Adaptability. The confidence that you'll figure things out along the way. And that's useful far beyond traveling. Of course, some things are essential. But too much stuff and too much planning can make you surprisingly rigid. 8. Learn to care for something Buy a plant. Grow some herbs. Plant a tomato. It doesn't really matter what it is. And this is not about tomatoes, but about caring for something and seeing a long-term result. In a world where everything is available in an instant, you get a new appreciation for the things you took care of. 9. Travel alone Not because I think you will magically figure everything out about yourself. Okay, actually you might. But it's more about the ability to be alone with yourself and take responsibility for what you want to see and do. Start small. Explore your county, country, and if you feel like it, go international. 10. Learn to be bored Every break we take, we use our phones. I mean, yeah, the best alternative to our phones is some other activity that excites us even more. But try to actively take some time out of your day. It doesn't need to be long. And just shut your phone off. Even if you're with friends and I hope you're not bored them. These small breaks where you check your phone are also in-between activities. Just try and see what happens if you don't. Withstand boredom. If you need to be reachable, get a dumb phone. 11. Repair something A bike, a pullover, a piece of furniture. Just develop the skill of repairing stuff. It can save you a lot of money and let's be honest, it makes you feel amazing and independent. But it's also meditative. In the end, you get the feeling of actually having done something useful, something real. And honestly, fixing something with your own hands is incredibly satisfying. The interesting thing is that none of these skills will make you richer money-wise. But they'll make your life richer. Thanks for watching and thank you for being here.