I think we all agree, that a studious student is better than one that gets kicked out of school because of grades, or a young professional landing huge deals and starting big companies is better than one who lives at home and watches TV all day.  But can we all just step back for one second and look at what's more than the "fastlane" you're trying to merge into?

I'm not going to suggest to look at the world in a third person view, say with the voice over of James Earl Jones, nor am I suggesting to take part in any notable issue that has some faint connection to you where it may "one day affect you negatively."  But there is a very big possibility that your ability to perceive the world as anyone other than you, is hindered by the fact that you only talk to senior partners at firms, CEO's with more connections than galaxies in this existence, or read super important news backed by media giants.

I once was told in a photography forum, by a "professional" photographer, that by volunteering my photography was complete insanity, and him probably feeling insulted that I volunteered and got gigs, told me that "I bet, no, I am absolutely certain, that whatever you do programming can be outsourced to someone who could do a better job for cheap."  OK, given that statement is probably the most ignorant and immature thing you could ever say, it shows a lot.  He has completely persuaed himself that what he heard once on the news about outsourcing programmers to China or India was becoming popular and and effective, is a blanket for all tech industries and programmers in the world.  He immediately knows exactly how the tech industry works and tells it as so.  But because he has never really met or talked to anyone other than "professional" photographers on a forum, he has no idea what I do.  And I think we can all agree that this may be his own fault.  He only cares about photography, that's all he reads, hears, and learns about.  And of course, I'm not saying he needs to know all about code and entrepreneurs in the tech world, but he should know better than to stay in his little cave, seeing little shadows on the wall and thinking that's exactly what life is like on the outside.  He has no idea!

Be careful to not be caught up bettering your own life, thinking you're young and this is your chance to become the next best thing, and missing out on everything going on around you.  Opportunities arise sometimes in not just bettering your life, but making part of your life understanding and bettering the lives of others.

Talk to people and understand industries you are not familiar with, maybe stuff you have never thought of being interested in could turn out to be an amazing untapped opportunity.  What if there's a way to make chopsticks even cheaper than they are now, with higher quality?  Sell to every single restaurant and you'll make way more than a Facebook app.  The simplest things in life can make the most out of your own.

*cue james earl jones voiceover machine* There are also noble causes that are very rewarding, and especially at a young age.  Saving the environment, or beginning to better your own life, by helping someone else with theirs.  I'm not saying donate money, but use that boyish or girlish energy to it's extent to help others with things they cannot on their own.  I have been to many Relay for Life events, which are annual fundraisers for the non-profit American Cancer Society, and I am sad to say I rarely ever see young professionals volunteering and helping out.

Why are the majority of the people kids, and older seniors?  Kids are forced to do community service, otherwise they'd be flirting with girls, playing on the jungle gym, or on their computers playing World of Warcraft.  Older seniors are way closer and more involved because cancer is more commonly found in older people.  Either because at a young age it wasn't treated, or just old age.  They've lived long enough to meet people who have been affected by cancer one way or another, and are there because they've been taken out of their cave in a very tragic manner.  Again, generalizing here a bit, there are exceptions... can you as a young professional be one?

Why wait to be dragged out of the world you've put yourself into?  There is absolutely no excuse for being too young and too busy to step out of your world to see opportunities to be rewarded outside of self achievement.

Stop narrowing your entire world to chasing your ideas and monetization plans, and observe the world outside of your own, learn about the way some things are, help other people in even the smallest of ways be able to live in the first place, and you will quite possibly find the reward you've always wanted, maybe in a different form or context, but equally fulfilling.

Being a customer, user, client of your own product is the best situation ever.  And being that person is not just a simple 10 minute talk or a single volunteering event, it's much more than that.  Really understanding what you're building something for has to be achieved by really being that kind of person.  And for the heck of your health and sanity, get out there and do something else once in awhile.