11 things I wish I learned 20 years ago, using end of year as a time for reflection. Whats at the top of your list? #motivation #successmindset #entrepreneur #womenempowerment #lifelessons #sabrinaramonov #greenscreen

11 things I wish I learned 20 years ago. If you don't know me, my name's Sabrina. I previously built and sold an AI company for millions of dollars, and now I have half a million followers on social media. Number one, I wish I learned about the concept of FIRE 20 years ago. Financial independence, retire early. I grew up thinking you need a well-respected career, and then you work until you're 65, and that's it. Number two, taxes. I lived in California for a long time where taxes are really high, but if you're starting a business, there are tax advantage programs, such as the Qualified Small Business. Number three, patience. I'm not super great at this one. I do want things to happen right now. I'm still working on it. Number four, resilience. When you're a creator or entrepreneur doing something not super well-defined, things will go wrong all of the time. You just have to keep going and figure it out. Number five, negotiation. You're not taught anything about this in school. It's really important that both parties in a deal want the deal to work. Number six, mental health. After my first startup, I was super burnt out, did not take care of myself for years, and it took me a surprisingly long time to return to the activities that always recharge me, which are reading, hiking, and skiing. Next is self-advocacy. No one is going to fight for you or promote you unless you do it first for yourself. That's why I think personal branding is so important, especially for women, and by the way, not many professional women are doing it. Related to financial independence and taxes, I just wish I learned more about personal finance growing up or in school. Entrepreneurship. Growing up, I did not realize that was a path at all. It's more normalized now, but it's also overly glamorized. The best TV show I've ever watched on entrepreneurship was Halt and Catch Fire. Read more, watch less. I'm always reading book. Growing up in the American school system, you're taught that failure and rejection are bad things, but if you're building something new or doing something hard, it's just part of the process. What's your number one thing you wish you learned 20 years ago?