As a planner, I am always focused on what the next step is. In fact, it makes living in the present pretty difficult. I’m itching to create something—specifically a business. One of my 2020 resolutions is to create an additional revenue stream this year. It’s ambitious, but I hope it will temporarily satisfy the craving since I have so much going on right now.

I also feel “behind,” because I’m 27—3 years away from 30. Silly, I know, but that’s kind of the expectation, right? In the age of the internet, 20-year olds can “make it.”  It’s so prevalent that Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, coined the term “hustle porn” and actively fights against it. In fact, with all the press billionaire presidential candidates have been receiving, I fell asleep last night thinking about how I will make my fortune. I can get hyperfocused on financial success sometimes and lose perspective.

I always have to remind myself to slow down and that I’m on a very deliberate and rewarding career path. My near-term plan is to complete Army flight school for Black Hawks (1-1.5 years to complete) and then work on a master’s degree (3 years to complete). I’m looking at one or both of the following:

• Masters in Aerospace Engineering—University of Washington
• Masters in Engineering and Technology Management—Colorado School of Mines

My company will pay for the degree, and I’ll only owe them one year after completion (not that I’m specifically looking to leave). That means, I’m open to other opportunities in 5 years (age 32). It’s a great path, and, although it feels a bit slow, I feel like it will line me up for a better spot. In fact, I think about this all the time:

Age when they became billionaires:

Mark Zuckerberg: 23
Bill Gates: 31
Tiger Woods: 33
Jack Dorsey: 35
Jeff Bezos: 35
J.K. Rowling: 38
Mark Cuban: 40
Elon Musk: 41
Richard Branson: 41
Sheryl Sandberg: 44
Oprah Winfrey: 49
Michael Jordan: 51
George Lucas: 52
Warren Buffett: 56

— Jon Erlichman (@JonErlichman) November 30, 2019

I also think about all the time I have outside of work to develop myself. Granted, a lot of that time doesn’t belong to me—I have a family. I absolutely owe them time, and I have to remind myself that (1) my peers aren’t developing an additional career path in parallel (i.e. military), and (2) most of them don’t even use that free time to “get ahead”. They enjoy themselves.

I’m certainly not behind, but I do have to deliberately slow down and remind myself to live life. That, I think, is my spouse’s greatest superpower. She gives me perspective. Until then, I need to focus on being the best I can be in my current roles.