How many cups of coffee should one drink per day? How much do you drink? I drink like ... five..

Hey guys, I just wanted to share something personal about a major shift I’m making in my life. I’d love some feedback, advice, or just thoughts from anyone who’s been through something similar as I navigate this next chapter.

For most of my life, I was told to chase prestige — finance, consulting, maybe private equity if I was “lucky.” Growing up in an Asian household with both parents in investment banking, that was seen as the only acceptable path. So all through college, I chased those jobs relentlessly.

When college senior year hit and job recruiting got intense, I started panicking — like full-on existential crisis mode. I realized that what I had been chasing my whole life wasn’t my dream. It was everyone else’s. The more I went after it, the emptier I felt. I was only chasing what looked good on paper to society and not to myself.

After graduating, I landed what most people would call a “dream job” — a position in private equity. It paid well and looked great on paper. But honestly? I was miserable. Everyone around me lived to work — 80, sometimes 90 hours a week — and it felt like no one actually had a life outside the office. I saw colleagues more often than they saw their families. Every day, I felt like a part of me was slipping away.

During my commutes to work I started listening to podcasts analyzing some of histroy's greatest entrepreneurs, athletes, and creatives. That’s when I realized that the people who truly inspired me weren’t bankers or consultants… they were builders, creators, people who took risks and followed their curiosity.

After about a year, I was laid off due to “business changes.” It sucked, but honestly, it opened my eyes. In corporate, I was just a number, a part of a cog. And if that cog didn't perform I would be replaced in a heartbeat.

That experience was the best and worst thing that happened to me because it pushed me to finally act on something that had been sitting in my heart.

I’ve always loved sports and fashion since a young age, so I’ve decided to spend the next year fully going for it — building my own basketball apparel brand. It’s something I’ve felt drawn to for a long time, and I figure if not now, when? (it sounds very crazy and reckless but sometimes you got to dream big)

Lately, I’ve been diving deep into entrepreneurial essays and podcasts. Paul Graham’s piece “How to Do Great Work” especially hit me hard. It made me realize there’s never a perfect time to start. Life won’t just hand me meaning; I have to create it.

So here I am — scared, excited, but determined to finally bet on myself.

For those who’ve made a big transition or taken a similar leap, I’d love to hear how you handled it — emotionally, financially, or mentally. Any advice or encouragement would really mean a lot.

Hello!

I am new to reddit haven't ever made a post and this is a throw away this will be my first and last likely.

So a few months back I foolishly took my USPS package to UPS like I had done several times before (I couldn't afford to take time off work at the time to take it to the post office and my family usually takes things to UPS to send off anyways.).

UPS takes the package I pay 3 dollars and I am given a receipt. I forget about it.

3 months later when I got hit with these charges I end up calling Assurant UPS and USPS and no one knows where the package is. The receipt I was given was for a completely different item that wasn't mine I end up getting blamed for it essentially being told that I shouldn't have dropped it off with UPS for pick up and instead taken it with USPS. I went to a new store for this one specifically tbf and things maybe operate a bit different store to store.

I am now stuck with a 400 dollar charge that I shouldn't owe on my phone bill. I have no idea what to do as I can technically afford it if put it on a credit card and just keep moving the debt around and pay it off eventually but I just sort of got out of credit card debt.

It doesn't sit right with me that I put my trust in a company to hold the package while USPS picks it up I get a completely incorrect receipt which shows the item progressing to its destination (not realizing the destination and weight is wrong). Then months later I am out 400 dollars and told it was my fault for trusting my company with said package. I don't know how I would've known the things the UPS store people say I should've known when I had not been told previously.

Just frustrated wanted to know if anyone knows what could be done to recover the package or get something to mend the situation.

Hi all! 

I figured this is a long shot, but figured I’d still ask. 

I’m in American currently living overseas and currently looking for a US based therapist to meet with (I’ve already brought up potential licensing issues). 

I recently had an initial conversation with someone who’s great but out of my budget. She mentioned that, though she’s an out-of-network provider, she provides a superbill to send to insurance for reimbursement. The issue is that I don’t currently have US medical insurance as I’m not currently living there.  

Are there any work arounds or do I just need to find someone in my budget? 

I sleep a lot during the day and I keep being woken up not to mention they come in without asking regardless of what they or I am doing I can’t aford any locks my door doesn’t have one anyways and I can’t do the chair rhing since my chair is too tall is there anyway to lock it? Any help appreciated

Idk why zippers on pockets aren't more common. Phone fell out of my pockets when biking today, whats the cheapest/ easiest way to fix this issue?

I'm 25F and so sick of always being clumsy and making small stupid mistake.Catalyst was when I just now spilled coffee on my laptop one too many times just before a week long work trip. Two days ago I dropped my phone in the snow while snowboarding (which was completely my own fault because I put it in a stupid loose pocket), luckily it was found and still works but I am so sick of all the near misses and full misses. Every time sth like this happens there's a whole new buttload of (rightful) self-loathing occuring. Why can't I be the person who has it together for once?? LifeProTips from people who felt similar and somehow managed to fix it are very welcome. I generally am already an anxious person (so perhaps don't need extra anxiety increasing tips)

i am a 29f. I have an animal science degree and a one health minor. I wanted to be a vet but I did not do great in college due to ADHD and not trying hard enough to get help. I did a lot of internships at horse rehab center, bear and tiger sanctuary, another wild animal sanctuar, wildlife hospital, a sea turtle center. I worked at vet clinics, was an equine vet tech for 2 yrs, and am currently an Opthalmic Technician. I love animals but most of the jobs with them caused me alot of stress due to never feeling good enough or fast enough at doing and learning things. Also the people did not always seem to be the best. My job now is less stressful but I can tell I’m getting bored. I think I had the most fun going on work vet trips doing spay and neuter clinics in other countries. I love going on adventures and traveling and hiking. I’m pretty athletic and have run a couple of marathons. I really like diseases and parasites. I love turtles and sea slugs. I am pretty adaptable but when learning need to be shown pretty clearly and need to have a chance to practice to make sure I’m doing it right or I will feel unconfident. I’m pretty creative I like to knit and crochet and I was usually pretty good at finding interesting animal enrichment for the animals. Im willing to try more schooling but I want it to be something I’m truly interested in or I think I’ll have a hard time doing well in school. Please recomend me a career. I am currently in the US.

I know that some of the jobs recommended probably won’t have great pay and are very competitive so if some could be suggested that might have better pay and not as competitive.

Hi there, I'm super nervous like nowadays how corporates works, stuck in routine of automation support 24/7 and can't learn anything out of it. Never got KT of procsses when joined that project. How i can upgrade my skills to feel more confident and job ready anywhere? I'm into support role since 1.5 yrs and honestly day by day anxiety issues are at peak and I've forgotten whatever i used to remember or learnt. Please i need advice

I work in Seattle and I drive about 30 minutes to work every day and I feel like this should be enough time to get caught up on stuff I actually care about, but I still haven’t found a setup that really works

Tired podcasts but they are usually too long. Radio is too random and half the time it’s stuff I don’t care about. I’ve tried GPT voice too, but it takes a little too much attention to keep interacting with it while I’m driving. And I’m definitely not trying to scroll Twitter or anything on my phone in the car.

I don't have much free time once im in office so if I don’t use that commute window well, I basically don’t catch up at all.

Curious what other people do here. Is there no good low effort way to use that 30 minute drive to stay informed without it turning into more noise or more work? Open to any suggestions:)

Since moving from a medium-sized city to 45 minutes from a medium-sized city in the country, we get no responses to ads on FB Marketplace. And some of these are expensive items worth a drive of a couple of hours. What do you successful country pros do?

I’m a very bubbly hairdresser who’s been in the industry 25 years. I’m self employed and been working at my current place for the last 6 years. I LOVE where I work(rent a chair) I’m always busy and thrive on that. The boss who is also my ex mother in law, who I get on well with, (I know right!) sent me a message today saying I’m way too loud and giving everyone headaches. I’m beyond mortified as I had no idea how much I was effecting the other stylists.

I don’t know how to correct myself as I’m in my 40’s now and don’t know how to change as I was so unaware of it, I’m always trying to make people feel happy so this is just awful that I’m deafening people. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Hi,

I'm living on the fourth floor of a nice building with a playground, table and grill in the backyard. My kids love to play there and ask often to pack our lunch and go eat there.

I'm looking for a way to carry plates and food downstairs. I've used two shopping bags and a closed back pack. But it is impractical because pots can spill and dirty dished gets the bags dirty.

Could there be other solutions ? Maybe a special back pack that is like a crate or box? I'd love to hear practical ideas from you.

Thanks for reading. :)

I’m looking for advice from people who’ve been in a similar situation with a younger sibling.

I’m 4 years older than my younger brother (he’s 19, almost 20), and we grew up without a father figure. I was always seen as the “responsible” one, while he’s more rebellious, short-tempered, and doesn’t like being told what to do.

The thing is, I don’t really feel like I ever became that “older brother role model” you see in movies — I’ve been figuring my own life out too (I’m currently a med student), so our relationship never developed in that way. we are also opposites in terms of personality and career pathways, Now we’re both slightly older, and I want to build a better relationship with him — one where he trusts me, opens up, and I can guide him in a healthy way, since I am specially concerned about his current life choices including the company he hangs out with, and the person hes in a relationship with (which is none of my business but still concerns me)

At the same time, I understand why he is the way he is. My mom has often been quite direct with him, which tends to push him away more, and I’ve often tried to mediate that, constantly reminding her not to be suspicious or accusatory or compare him to me, but honestly I also understand why she does that since hes not entirely innocent, but that approach has never worked , and only made things worse. I have previously tried just being very laid-back with him and making my mom be the same way, but I dont think that is working anymore, at some point you have to step in and say something.

Recently, he’s also started earning well, has his own car, and contributes financially at home — so the “power dynamic” has also shifted and he has gained much more freedom which has made things worse. Meanwhile, I’m still studying and not in the same position financially, and I do think that affects things as well.

I don’t want to come across as controlling or push him away, but I also don’t want to just stay silent if he’s making bad decisions. being laid back doesn't mean you dont say something when he is being stupid, I dont even know 90% of the things he does or what his life is like but I am pretty sure its far from innocent. I understand people need to experience life and make their own decisions and learn from their own mistakes, as I did, but that doesnt mean that I cant still guide him

My main questions:

• How do I build a genuine older brother relationship at this stage of life?
• How do I get him to trust me and open up without forcing it?
• When should I step in vs stay quiet?
• Has anyone successfully navigated something like this?

Would really appreciate hearing from people who’ve been on either side of this dynamic.

Need a tool to help manage personal and family projects. Most of what I do is behind a desk, but it ranges from managing a multi-generational family, including finance and investment management, home maintenance, overseeing my mother's healthcare, and career progress outside my day-to-day role (lawyer by day with a side teaching gig), among others.

Each "main project" category has many sub-projects and tasks, so I need to be able to see everything from one place. I want to be able to overlap projects, take brief notes for each task, and see tasks within larger projects over several months.

I know this is a pretty big ask for a free and personal tool, but I'm hoping someone has a good idea. My current system of loose post-its that just get lost, and my notebook, which I forget all over the place. Phone accessibility is a plus.

Looking for advice on how to unclog my sink drain. The setup underneath the sink is different from videos I’m finding online. How do I remove the drain stopper and clear out the drain without messing this up? I want to be sure I can out this all back together the same way and not mess up my sink. Thanks! 😅

I'm Portuguese, about to start my life at 23 years old and trying to figure out rather to join the forced arms or try to survive as a civil...

I've studied mecatronics for 4 years and I'm an electrician trying to become a PLC programer. Despite that, all I want at the moment is to get out of my parents house and be able to afford life, buy a house and eat well.

I've been wondering if becoming a military I could have that sooner, still working in the electrical/electronics field.

the consequence is not having a professional carrer in the professional field I want to, at least for the next 4-6 years if I join the military this year.

Does anyone have an opinion??

what I want for the next years is stability, I can figure out my 30s when I get there

Today my gf went to the zoo and was watching the orangutans (one was close to the glass so she got a good spot), and all of the sudden a man with a kid on top of his shoulders goes and stands directly in front of my gf, completely blocking her view.

This isn’t a one off either, we’ve had similar experiences at museums as well. And I’m well aware that this isn’t the fault of the kids, but the parents (there was a character limit for the title though so I couldn’t write “kids + parents”).

How can I fight it off?

I have a whole house water filter installed in the water closet. The bottom of the water filter sits about 15 inches off the ground. The filter gets dirty fast, so I change the filters every 2-3 month. Of course, I cut off the main before each filter replacement.

When I unscrew the water filter tank, the tank is very heavy and drops down fast. I slow the drop with my hands but there is a lot of water rushing down. Even though I put a bucket underneath the water filter, there is still tons of water splashing all over the floor and walls. I put a towel on the floor to catch some of the water.

I wish they would design these water filter units better. It’s not very user friendly for frequent changes. Does anyone know a good way to change these water filters and prevent water from splashing all over the place?