How Millennials Can Win in 2017
What if I told you, your passion doesn’t matter? What if I told you, wealth is something only people with an expansive Rolodex of Harvard, Yale, and Stanford alumni could obtain? What if I told you vast riches are reserved only for wealthy families? What if I told you, life is about hard work, but what you do, where you work, and who you work for should come second to the demands of the STEM sector?
Unfortunately, these are the thoughts of many Millennials, due -in large part- to misguidance from parents and school administration. These thoughts are indisputably derived from a general way of thinking — an ingrained thought process. What if I were to assert that this limiting mindset may be responsible for certain aspirations you’ve failed to pursue? What if I were to assert that the biggest obstacle in the way of the boundless opportunities that await you, is this mindset?
From birth, you’ve likely been inculcated with a view of your career that transpires as follows:
- You attend Grade school.
- You attend Junior High.
- You attend High school.
- You attend College.
- You find a job.
- You retire from that job.
Your parents likely stressed the importance of exceptional grades and rarely -if ever- invested in your non-scholastic personal desires if such desires were believed to take your focus off of school. A school’s curriculum is made to prepare students for a career at an organization — some may argue the ability of modern-day curricula to do so; nonetheless, the vast majority of students, upon graduating, become employees of an organization. In order to achieve exceptional grades it is required of you to show proficiency in a given curriculum; therefore, your parents truly stressed the importance of preparing for a career at an organization. Lastly, you’ve likely been made to believe that, nearing the end of your career, an enjoyable retirement would be contingent upon a decent 401K. Ultimately, the lackluster teachings of your parents and teachers were, although misleading, correct; however, in a volatile, ailing economy experiencing rapid technological innovation, the end of the traditional career is slowly but surely being ushered-in. Traditional necessities such as a stable job and decent retirement are becoming increasingly more implausible as wages decrease and jobs become scarcer. But before you begin contemplating Smith & Wesson’s early retirement plan (it’s a joke), take time to consider what happens in a book after a chapter ends.
Not all is doom and gloom; in fact, a new chapter is opening in the U.S. economy, as well as the global economy. You are living in -arguably- the greatest time to be alive with regard to the entrepreneurial opportunities that a troubling economy and technological revolution entail. It’s a time rife with possibilities for those looking to seize them. Although no one can say with complete assurance, what the future holds; history has proven -time after time- that bear market conditions are often indicative of opportunities for success. The savviest investors, venture capitalists, angels, the most competent investors, will openly admit a down market isn’t necessarily a sign of fallow economic ground. From the Dotcom bubble of 2001 to the Sub-Prime Mortgage bubble of 2009, economic hardship has been an indicator of not-so-distant future economic opportunity; however, despite a potentially promising future, Millennials have a formidable obstacle between themselves and the aforementioned opportunities.
The most important obstacle Millennials will need to surmount in order blaze the forward trail is their “mindset”. The potential for Millennials to pioneer the new technology-driven, automated economy is massive; however, they must break-free of the “status quo” mindset. In a rapidly-evolving day and age where any, and everything, is being proven possible through technology, why should the age-old notions of static corporate employment, unshakeable corporate loyalty, conservative ambition, and industry favoritism still exist? There is a bounty of untapped talent, interest, and potential that lies within the millennial generation that is waiting to be exploited by the markets, only to be girdled by the incessant-presence of traditionalism and fear. Arguably, the reason for the economic hardship the country is currently weathering, is a lack of entrepreneurship. Investing, business ownership, and financial literacy are no longer taught in the majority of schools; even in the schools in which these courses are taught, said courses are rarely prioritized and are generally Electives. Perhaps, if schools prioritized entrepreneurship, which can be applied to any Major whilst encouraging, self-accountability, self-reliance, and real-world problem solving, the country would not be experiencing the economic hardship it’s experiencing today.
So what does this mean for Millennials? This means that Millennials are responsible for the near economic future of the country. Whether the economy fails or succeeds will depend on Millennials. It is incumbent upon you, Millennials, possibly the most misunderstood, underestimated, highly lambasted demographic in the history of the country, to thrive in the upcoming years. Gone are the days of ADP time-sheets, insipid PowerPoints, and freeze-dried coffee; in are the days of personal brands, independent product/service development, and side hustles. Gone are the days of cubicle farms, butt-stained office chairs, and midlife crisis-bearing bosses with tight slacks and corporate battle-scars that manifest themselves in the form of unending paranoia and weird, disingenuous attempts at rekindling comradery after each unnecessary reprimand; in are the days of monetizing your passion, welcoming the endless possibilities automation has to offer, and tapping social media for all it’s worth.
What if I told you, your passion matters? What if I told you, wealth is available to everyone willing to go above and beyond the average effort? What if I told you vast riches are reserved only for those brave enough to strive for what they want despite the status quo, consistent enough to establish greatness despite the ease of quitting, and industrious enough to withstand the complexities that come with pursuing anything worthwhile in life? What if I told you, life is about hard work, and what you do, where you work, and who you work for is wholly decided by you in 2017, and the indefinite future?
Win,
-Dan Johnson (Millennial)
p.s. — Thank you for reading this. If you liked it, “heart” it and/or leave a comment. Thank you in advance — it’s much appreciated.
Dan on Twitter: Daniel Johnson III
