Reflections on Year 20

“People will choose unhappiness over uncertainty” - Tim Ferriss

On Tuesday, I turned 21.

Year 20 has been a wild ride. I’ve taken some serious risks, but I’ve started truly listening to myself.

The path ahead of me isn’t clear, and that’s ok. I’ve accepted uncertainty rather than feeling miserable stagnation in college.

One year ago, I was just starting my 3rd semester of college in Boulder, Colorado.

The views were unbeatable. But the education wasn’t.

In the past year…

• I started a Substack blog thanks to Ali Abdaal. I was incredibly nervous to publish my ideas. But I knew a part of me loved writing.

• I discovered the power of Twitter for online writing and business through a writer named David Perell.

• I nervously dropped out of college with a 4.0 in February.

• I struggled through some burnout and identity shock. I placed an enormous part of my identity and self-worth in my ability to do well in school. It took me some time to shed this identity and realize that grades are not the best indicator for ability or income-generating skill.

• Out of college, I was looking for jobs, doing interviews and job shadowing. But I then realized that I had money saved up. I could travel right then and there. I’d always wanted to go to Spain and Italy. So I went. I booked a one-way flight to Seville two weeks later. I solo traveled Europe for 3 months. I gained a whole new perspective on the world and myself. One thing I realized is that I can't go a day without writing.

• Just two weeks after returning, I wrote a shot in the dark application to a mastermind in Costa Rica. A nature retreat for writers and entrepreneurs. I found it through an awesome author’s blog (shoutout

  Paul Millerd
  ). I got invited. I was floored. I got a scholarship. All because the power of writing. I made friends with other writers and entrepreneurs a few steps ahead of me in the game.

In Costa Rica, I gained immense clarity, life-changing insights, and lifelong friends. I found my true identity there. I discovered the power of in-person communities and true brotherhood I'd been missing since my time as a hockey player. 

I felt some dots starting to connect. Serendipity appeared out of nowhere.

Playa Hermosísima

I'm now writing on Twitter every day and this newsletter twice a week. I'm living with my family in Parker, Colorado and have intentions to move to Austin, Texas this year.

During Year 20, I rediscovered a true captivation with ideas, writing, and questioning beliefs.

I know I'm headed in the right direction. I can feeI myself chasing my calling. I course-corrected from pre-med to writing and online business. It took time to realize I was on the wrong path.

But I'm glad I avoided the sunk cost fallacy of thinking that since I already completed 3 semesters of college, I should just finish it out.

Awesome visual I found here.

I still don't know exactly what I'm doing. But I'm learning to trust my intuition and the process.

A few books changed my life and helped guide me through tremendous uncertainty:

• Mastery by Robert Greene

• Vagabonding by Rolf Potts

• The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

• The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd

• Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

• Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani

Along with a few creators on Twitter who have inspired me:

• Connor Widmaier

• Paul Millerd

• Jack Moses

I’m also very grateful for my family’s support in this journey.

Online content has changed my life. 

It's where I researched my ACL surgery recovery to speed up healing.

It's where I found Ryan Holiday, Tim Ferriss, Peter Attia, Andrew Huberman, and more digital mentors. Because of them, I’ve become smarter, healthier, happier, and more productive.

It's where I realized that the downsides of being a doctor outweighed the upsides for my ideal life. “I didn’t want to spend my twenties preparing for the rest of my life,” as Matthew McConaughey wrote in Greenlights.

It's where I realized that over time, I can build a following and make a living doing work I enjoy. I learned the principles of wealth generation through The Almanck of Naval Ravikant.

It's where I realized that I don't even need to even go to college to be successful.

It's where I realized that my definition of success can be anything I want.

It's where I realized that my life's calling involves writing and building.

It's where I realized that world travel isn't that expensive.

Just to name a few.

It might take years to be successful. That's fine for me. I love the process of writing and have the endurance to stay in the game for years.

I left college with a 4.0 for a reason. I believe the lessons you can learn from injury, online education, travel, work, and real world experience outweigh the cost of college.

I want to build a brand that impacts people on their self-education journey. 

Showing you how learning is actually fun. Reading books changes your life. Writing gives you fresh clarity of mind. How to find your life’s calling.

Pursuing health not because you want to live longer but because you want to enjoy living better. 

I want to teach you how to develop your own belief systems. To uncover blind beliefs that limit your potential. To get in the mindset of constantly questioning everything and testing things to see if they work for you. To be updating your beliefs and realizing that they might be glitchy and out of date.

The best lessons I've learned weren’t inside the traditional classroom. 

They were in the school of life.

I'm only 21.

I'm young. I still have lots to learn. 

But I'm stoked.

I still can't get over the incredible people I've met through the internet.

Remember, one decision can change your life. Detach from rejection and the outcome. Love yourself. Shoot every shot you can.

I'm excited to see where my curiosity leads me.

Thank you for following me here on Substack. I look forward to consistently putting out quality ideas and meeting more wonderful people.

I've committed to writing two blog posts every week. After I write 100, I'll see how I feel about writing. I want to get the reps in.

So far, I love it and enjoy the grind. By writing and putting my ideas online, I’m creating more luck for myself.

I trust the process.

Talk soon,

- Baxter

I do most of my writing on Twitter. It’s a public journal of ideas, stories, and insights I get from books, life, and more. You can come say hi on Twitter here.