What advice would you give to your younger self at the start of his career?

Don’t.

 

Hugs, not drugs.

 

Yup,
Don't listen too much about what other drivers think you should be doing, devise a long term career path and follow it. set aside a minimum of 10% of your gross wages no matter what and invest it into your own future. Take all matching funds available from your employers retire accounts, its actually free money.

Don't forget to take time to smell the rose's.

 

Learn from your mistakes and others misfortune as well.
Do not hurry that's where mistakes are made.
There are alot of stupid people driving, stay professional.
Make a retirement plan. Unless you want to drive till your 112.

 

Right; start a retirement account beginning day one on your first job. Most companies have something for the drivers, such as 401K Retirement Plan.
Some credit unions have those plans for their members, so check that also.

 

In all honesty, if I could I would pay myself a visit during Thanksgiving 1980. When I was done with myself, myself would need a proctologist to get my foot out of myself's backside. That was about 10 days before I left the Air Force. Leaving the service was the worse mistake of many I have made. I deeply regret it. I was an E-5, had been awarded two medals that added some WAPS points, and was at the time of my discharge a (7) level. I had all my military education completed to rise to the rank of Msgt! Leave it to me to pull the boneheaded play of my lifetime. (sigh)

 

By the way the 401k is in addition to the 10% you set aside...

 

If you dont mind me asking ,why did you leave? Were you tired of military way of life?