They say you’re never really too old to try anything. After all, age is merely a state of mind, and all of us can embark on any journey we damn well please. The problem here is journeys usually mean spending money, unless it’s a pilgrimage where money isn’t allowed.
What extra activity can an adult (aged 30 – 39) do today in his/her spare time that has potential to pay dividends in the future?
Bungee Jumping – Unless you want to become a human yo yo for the rest of your life, there’s no point in jumping off a cliff or bridge just to satisfy your urge to be thrilled. There’s simply no future ROI for this activity aside from crazy looking photos you can upload on Instagram and the memories of almost becoming a pancake at the bottom of a river. Plus it’s expensive – the charge is dependent on the area and how long the drop is. Expect to pay anywhere from $50 – $175 for a single jump.
Skydiving – Again, this is only for those who have money to throw away when they jump off a plane. Feasible if you want to become an instructor yourself or a member of an elite special forces unit. But it takes years of training to be certified to teach, let alone become a special forces operator. If you think you’ve got the chops, enlist in the armed forces or go to a local skydiving school for courses.
Scuba Diving – Now we’re talking! But you need your own gear (expensive), rent or own a boat (expensive) and you have to be certified to dive. Being a diver does have it’s perks, such as working in underwater demolition, hunting for deep sea treasure or joining the Coast Guard rescue team. You’ll need years of training to make it as one, but there’s definitely a return, IF you’re any good.
Parkour – If you want to have a career as a stuntman and a few broken bones as a reward, go for it. Freerunning in the park and on rooftops are… free, the gear (shoes, etc) is cheap and you’ll be an all around bad ass. The monetary returns are disappointing, though.
Professional Poker Player – If you’re king of bluffing your way out of things, maybe a career in professional poker is in the cards (pun intended) for you. The good thing about poker is that you’re not playing against the house. You’re playing against other poker players, so the house can’t win. They’re just the venue. Be warned though. Many elite poker players see their game as a science, or a form of mind gymnastics, with lady luck relegated to the sidelines sipping punch. You need some money to buy in, and there’s no guarantee you’ll even win a hand. Study the best players such as Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu. You need to win and win consistently to make it big.
Learn a New Language – Bilingualism is all the rage these days, and for good reason. A Rosetta Stone study found that households with bilingual workers made $10,000 more annually when compared to households with just native English speakers. Learning another language will definitely give you an ROI down the road, because other than getting paid more, you’ll get more job opportunities and the chance to work abroad. Translation companies such as Textualis are always looking for talent (especially French speakers), so look them up when you visit Montreal, Toronto or San Diego.
MMA – If you have an extensive martial arts background and you’re not over 40 years old, you can try being a Mixed Martial Arts fighter. It’s a young man’s sport as much as it’s an old man’s sport, because two of the current UFC champions are over 35 years old, namely LHW Daniel Cormier (36) and HW Fabricio Werdum (38) so age isn’t really a factor that much, especially in the heavier weight classes where speed is negated by raw power. You’d need to be naturally skilled to even be noticed, and training to become a fighter costs money and returns can be slow. If you’ve got the marketing and PR skills of Conor Mcgregor though, you might just make it to the big show.
The world is full of interesting activities that most of us will never get to try in our lifetime. Some of these are for the experience and adrenaline rush, while some have a real shot of making some money .
How about you? What do you want to do today?