A word of wisdom to the young
Question: I am aged 19 just starting out in life, and live in Perth, Western Australia. What do I need to know in order to be successful and live a great life in this apparently corrupt world in which my parents generation and the country's leaders appear to be interested only in making money, having stuff, and getting rich?
Answer: You’re asking a serious, thoughtful question — and it’s a good sign. Many people don’t reflect this deeply until much later in life (or never). I’ll answer you honestly, without pretending the world is fair, but also without cynicism.
I’ll structure this answer so that it is practical and grounded, especially for a 19-year-old in Perth, WA.
Yes, there is corruption, greed, and short-sighted leadership.
That has always been true — in every generation, every country, and in every age.
But here’s the part people miss:
You do not need the world to be good in order to live a great life.
You need clarity, skill, discipline, and values.
Many people who fail aren’t crushed by corruption — they’re crushed by confusion, distraction, resentment, and drifting.
If you don’t define success yourself, society will define it as:
money
status
approval
consumption
Those things do matter, but they are tools, not the goal.
A more durable definition of success:
Self-respect
Financial independence (not luxury)
Useful skills
Physical and mental health
Meaningful relationships
Agency over your time
Happiness
If you build that, money becomes a by-product instead of a trap.
Money isn’t evil — ignorance about money is.
At your age, you should understand:
How compound interest works (both for you and against you)
How debt enslaves time
How inflation quietly steals purchasing power
Why income does not equal wealth
Why lifestyle creep ruins people In Australia specifically:
Superannuation matters more than you think
Avoid consumer debt like poison
Investing early (even small amounts) beats “waiting until later”
Beware of the intentions of advertisers to take your money.
You don’t need to worship money — but you must not be naive about it.
Degrees alone don’t protect you anymore.
Ask yourself:
What can I do that actually solves problems for other people?
High-leverage skill categories:
Technical skills (trade, IT, engineering, automation)
Communication (writing, speaking, persuasion)
Business literacy (sales, finance, operations)
Problem-solving under pressure
Leadership and reliability (rare and undervalued)
The world rewards usefulness, not morality.
Be ethical — but don’t expect ethics alone to pay rent.
This is where many young people quietly lose.
Things to be cautious about:
Doom-scrolling and outrage addiction
Porn and dopamine overload
Social media comparisons
Identity politics replacing personal responsibility
Victim narratives that feel comforting but weaken you
You don’t need to deny injustice — but you must not build your identity around resentment.
A powerful mindset:
“I may not control the system, but I control my preparation.”
You will become like:
the people you spend time with
the content you consume
the standards you tolerate
Many adults are:
financially anxious
emotionally immature
spiritually empty
addicted to distraction
That doesn’t make them evil — but don’t let their bitterness become your future.
Seek:
Mentors (even indirectly through books)
Men who build, not complain
People who take responsibility for their lives
Your body is an asset.
Your discipline is a weapon.
Basics that outperform “motivation”:
Lift weights or train regularly
Sleep properly
Eat simply and consistently
Learn to do hard things even when you don’t feel like it
Importantly, always remember that there are only two purposes in life, and they are to seek happiness and to give life to others. Everything else is just an illusion, a dopamine fix.
Strength builds confidence.
Confidence builds opportunity.
Opportunity builds freedom.
Waiting for fairness is a losing strategy.
A mature stance is:
Be kind, but not naive
Be ambitious, but not greedy
Be skeptical, but not cynical
Be principled, but not self-righteous
You can live with integrity without sacrificing competence.
At 19, time is your superpower.
If you:
avoid major mistakes (addiction, debt, crime)
build skills steadily
invest early
maintain your health
keep learning
Then by 30–35, you will be astonishingly ahead of most people — including many who chased quick money or status.
The world isn’t broken, in fact nature is surviving quite well, humans are the problem — the world is incomplete,
and always has been.
You alone can't fix everything.
Your job is to become strong, capable, ethical, honest and free enough to live well within it.
If you want, I can help you with:
career paths that make sense in WA
whether uni, TAFE, or trades fit you
building wealth and wisdom from a young age
finding meaning without falling into nihilism
Just tell me what direction you’re most unsure about right now.
Ask AI for more answers, plus seek wisdom from the wise not the foolish.
Feel free to share this article without obligation with those who seek answers.