For years our parents told us “get good grades” and “do your homework”, we were lead to believe that would get us into a good college. After high school we completed college applications, applied for student loans and went on awkward road trips with mom or dad to check out some campuses. The mantra evolved because in college we believed good grades would lead to a good job. Four years later, if you got all your classes, we walked across the stage thinking about our next steps, going out into the world.

Millennial’s have earned the title of the most indebted graduating class in history and we’re highly skilled at spending money. With high expectations for our future we’re off to a dismal start. The job market is tough for recent graduates, under-employment is at historical levels and barriers to starting a business have made it more difficult and expensive to begin. With school loans to pay and the cost of living going up there’s a lot of pressure related to our future and our finances. We can choose to sit back as a victim of the times or take responsibility by standing up to move forward. I believe there are three things, in particular, that helped me build a solid foundation for my future. If it weren’t for the advice below I would not be where I am today.

Be active in your community.

Through all your years in school you’ve developed many relationships, now that you’ve graduated it’s crucial to continue expanding your network. While social networking has value it is difficult to establish meaningful relationships without personal interaction. Make it a point to meet with people face to face, you don’t have to be a social butterfly, introverts will naturally attract one another in conversation. There are so many opportunities for young people to step up and they can have a major impact on our futures. Networking geared towards young professionals would be a great way to start and there are plenty of groups that facilitate this. Look into the United States Junior Chamber, there is probably a local Jaycees chapter near you, I’m a member of the San Fernando Valley Jaycees. Another good place to start is with local non profit organizations or your city council. Get involved on a committee or take a board position. These types of organizations need more young people with aligned interests to be involved. For some it may be most comfortable to connect through cultural roots or spirituality. Religious organizations and cultural groups are deeply rooted in the community, why not align yourself with people in an organization that share your values. And if you’re still looking for more ideas, check out the alumni association at your alma mater.

Know your money.

Start by taking inventory of the money you have and everything you owe. Be honest with yourself, this is not a game about making the numbers look pretty. Whether you’re in the red or in the black, and no orange is not the new black, those are the facts you need to be aware of. Next get a bit more detailed, use statements and online banking to help understand the money coming in and out of your accounts. Get a handle on where you are spending your money. If you’re spending a lot of cash, and by this I mean physical dollar bills, this is a bit more difficult because it’s a manual process to track. If you spend using a debit or credit card, online banking tools and other technology can help you keep track quite easily. If your up to it separate your spending into different categories; be as detailed as you are comfortable, the more specific the better. I could go on talking about budget goals and ways to reduce spending but the key here is awareness. If you make time to connect more with your finances you will naturally catch yourself thinking more about money, in a good way. Appreciate your heightened sense of awareness and act on it. For now don’t be concerned with the amount of comma’s or zero’s, time is on our side.

Save early and often.

From the day we were born we’ve been sold on spending, marketing is a science and there’s a war over our wallets. Right now we’re losing that war, take a moment and think about a recent big purchase you made. What were the circumstances? Was it something you needed or something you wanted? And most important, how did you feel prior to making that purchase and then right after? When it comes to making decisions about spending money much of our thought process is based upon emotions. Ask yourself these same questions about the small purchases you make almost instinctively, like that cup of coffee every morning or the new smart phone that just came out.

Now switch gears and think about the last time you decided to forgo a purchase or not go out with your friends to the bar. Did it feel like you made a sacrifice? In that moment were you suffering from the fear of missing out? Chances are you’ve developed a negative connotation with saving and didn’t even realize it. How does that make you feel, kind of sick right? For some of us saving comes naturally, we were presented with a situation early in life that helped us develop that mentality. But for the masses, saving for the future isn’t tangible and with no immediate benefit we don’t make it a priority. Bottom line, saving sooner rather than later is more important than how much you can save. Time is the most powerful factor especially if you’re investing what you save. Hopefully while you were getting good grades and doing your homework you learned about compounding interest. Long term that will have a tremendous impact on how much you accumulate in the future. If you’re just starting make it a point to put aside some money every month, start small but be consistent and committed. If you have the opportunity to save in a retirement plan at work or on your own, just do it, you’ll be surprised how fast it adds up.

These three pieces of advice have helped me start my own business and establish meaningful relationships with tomorrow’s leaders of Los Angeles. We have the power to impact the future and a responsibility to do so, learn to stand in the drift.