Will I laugh at my current self ten years from now?

桂兰 李
桂兰 李
Founder of a successful e-commerce business, 8 years experience.

It's highly likely, but probably not the kind of "mockery" you're imagining.

It's more like a knowing smile when looking back, tinged with satisfaction and emotion: "Hey, look at my naive self back then."

If, 10 years from now, you look at your current self and find your present ideas, code, and products quite foolish, that precisely indicates immense progress over these 10 years. Conversely, if 10 years from now you still think your current self is incredibly brilliant, that's something to be wary of, as it might mean you haven't grown much in those 10 years.

In our industry, technology iterates too quickly. A framework you now consider a "dragon-slaying skill" might be obsolete in 5 years; an architectural design you're proud of today might seem full of "pitfalls" to your more mature self in 10 years. This is perfectly normal. Your future "mockery" will be based on your higher cognitive level in the future, looking back at a past self who had limited information, resources, and abilities.

This is even more true for entrepreneurship. Every business decision you make now is a groping in the fog. 10 years from now, when you've become an experienced driver, you'll definitely find your past driving skills clumsy and laughable. But you can't deny that it was your clumsy self back then who bravely started the car, paving the way for what came later.

So, your future self "mocking" your present self isn't contempt, but an affirmation of growth. You'll laugh at your past naivety, but you'll admire your past courage even more.

What you should truly fear isn't being mocked by your future self in 10 years, but rather, finding yourself exactly the same as you are now, with nothing to be "mocked" for.