Millennials in the Workplace?

Jeremy Cheng
Jul 21, 2017 · 2 min read


I remember posting this video on Facebook before but what I didn’t mention last time I posted this is that I don’t think what he is talking about is only true with Millennials. It holds true for even people in my generation. In fact, I myself am guilty of some of the problems that Simon brought up. What hit me the hardest this time around is when he talked about “participation awards” and “building meaningful relationships”. These are some of the very same issues that prevent us from advancing as a society. They are also issues that are up close and personal to me in light of my recent attempt to reflect on my past successes and failures.

Does his perspective only apply to Western countries?

Absolutely not. This definitely holds true for Asia too. What’s also aligned with Simon’s theme of discussion but specifically a huge problem in Eastern culture I see is that parents who worked hard in the previous generation tend to protect, make decisions for, and dictate the lives of their children because they don’t want their kids to struggle like they had to themselves. While the motivation behind this behavior is noble, it causes the largely detrimental side effect of children in recent generations entering adulthood without decision making, prioritization, and self control skills. And when things don’t necessarily go the way they want it, the world and everything else along with it is to blame. Basically, anything is to blame but themselves. It also is causing unrealistic expectations in life and work when performance and logic is not important because Mom and Dad has always got their backs no matter what.

All of the above mentioned is really in no fault of their own because it derives from “failed parenting strategy”; or should I say, the fault of a culture that needs to change?

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