Do younger generations (Y, Millennial, et. al.) have what it takes to succeed? During the last two weeks, I’ve thought about this question as I’ve ended up in a couple of conversations about my generation (X), and the generations that come after me (Y, Millennials, etc.).
Disclaimer: These conversations took place using generalities. I know not EVERYONE fits the descriptions I use. I’m more interested in whether the basic ideas have validity.
These discussions focused on the idea that there’s a difference between how Generation X looks at work and money versus younger generations. One friend, also a Gen Xer, commented that we’re the generation that likes to work hard and play hard, a change from the Baby Boomers who worked hard, but had a hard time parting with their money. The downside to the Gen Xer lifestyle is that we haven’t been big savers, so odds are high that we’ll be working past 65. Then there’s the generations that come after mine.
I believe that they view money and work differently than any of the previous generations. To be clear, I’m not an advocate of, “this is the way things have always been…” Instead, I wonder how much you can change society on the whole in single generations. In particular, I wonder about the people who subscribe to Tim Ferris’s four-hour work week or a similar outlook.
High Expectations
While making sense on the surface (Why put off retirement until later when you can enjoy life now?), I question how well such an outlook jibes with things like raising a family or taking care of aging relatives. There’s been some discussion that coming generations will have difficulty achieving a life of greater success than their parents. Does this potential reality come from changing social obligations (e.g., greater consumer debt, expensive health care) or does it come from not maintaining some of the basics that stood their parents in good stead?
For instance, I’m astonished at how many people younger than me have such high expectations (note: not goals) at ever younger ages. Such expectations include expensive cell phones, nice cars, top-tier jobs, and living arrangements comparable to the home where they were raised. Even the idea of how hard someone should work for the things they want in life has changed.
Talent Isn’t Enough
I know that the generations following mine are packed with talented and intelligent people. There’s much to admire about a worldview founded on possibility and the belief that change can happen in a lifetime. However, I also suspect that at least a few will fail to succeed because they don’t have the necessary work ethics to do so. Some times, there are jobs that have to be done, regardless of whether you like it or not. Some times you can’t have everything you want when you want it. And some times, there’s something to be said for delayed gratification. If you had everything you wanted at 20, what on earth is there to work for during the next 50 years? And I do use the term work on purpose.
There’s something to be said for the pleasure of performing a task and doing it well, regardless or in spite of expected financial gain. I take particular pleasure in being able to do things with my hands. Whether it’s planting flowers in my garden, sewing a quilt, hanging Christmas lights, or painting my house, there’s a huge sense of satisfaction at completing the task.
After Youth
I wonder about the ability of younger generations to complete the tasks facing them, to recognize work for its non-material benefits. Yes, they are technology prodigies and social mavens who can bang out messages on their cell phones in seconds, but do they have what it takes to survive once they are no longer young?
We live in country with huge debts. Social Security teeters on the brink of an abyss. I think back to the people who made up the Greatest Generation, the individuals who survived the Great Depression and World War II. I have a hard time seeing today’s youth confronting the same issues with the same success.
The world will change. It always does. For me, the ultimate question is whether coming generations are strong enough to see them through. Ayn Rand said that, “Every man builds his world in his own image.” If they do so, will the world have a strong enough foundation to survive?
Image: L’Enfant Terrible <3. Some rights reserved.
