My 10 Best Practices for Life

Thought 2026-11-03

Yesterday a reader sent me a message. They study computer science, and they feel AI can now do all of their homework and papers for them. They asked whether this field still has a future, and what advice I’d give for the years ahead.

It made me think: if I could go back to my final year of college, what would I do to make the road ahead a little smoother, with fewer pitfalls? This is just my own limited view, and I’d love to hear yours.

1. I’d still choose computer science, then pick the sub-field I find most interesting, and use AI to amplify my work there as much as I can, so that right after graduating it already feels like leading a team.
2. Move to a city with a strong tech scene and plenty of tech companies, like San Francisco, New York, London or Seattle. If your degree and skills are strong enough, find a good AI company in the few blocks of San Francisco between SoMa and Mission Bay. Being that close to the AI labs will sharpen your sense of where large models are heading far more than anywhere else.
3. At work, get things done fast, and be willing to pay for good AI tokens so you can do them well and quickly. Push the projects you care about to 150%, and finish the ones you don’t to a solid 80 in the least time possible. Don’t waste time, so there’s room left to learn more. Embrace new things eagerly, and be willing to spend money on the best AI.
4. Put half of your salary into VOO and QQQ as a regular monthly investment. You can also pick one or two tech companies you strongly believe in, like NVIDIA, Apple, or Anthropic once it goes public. Don’t chase hot stocks, and don’t speculate.
5. Find your partner earlier, rather than putting it off until you’ve been working for a few years. Watch how they handle problems and how patient they are. Look for the one who cares how you feel, stays optimistic, and stands on your side whatever happens.
6. Don’t lend money to anyone, including relatives, classmates and old friends. Lending money will only weigh on you while you’re young. Don’t show off how much you earn, and don’t spend carelessly. First grow your first pot of money to the point where you’d feel comfortable living for two years without working.
7. Keep learning, keep talking with people, and keep making fun things for the community, the people around you and X. Build your GitHub and X accounts without chasing profit, so they grow into your personal brand. Always serve people assuming your users are good people.
8. Outside your main work, grow your own interests. Take some classes, whether photography, a musical instrument, sports, or even running and cycling. Life outside work won’t get dull, and it gets you out and about more.
9. Health always comes first. Sleep matters, so never stay up late. Don’t sit for too long, drink plenty of water, and walk more. Don’t push too hard at work either. A career is a marathon, not a sprint, so pace yourself and stretch out how long you can keep working.
10. In the end, find your own path to not having to clock in, as early as you can. You can still work, but you don’t have to show up for a job. Earn money through your interests, expertise, strengths and what you keep learning, keep improving along the way, and enjoy making that money.