Is One Generation Really Better or Worse Than the Other?
Once we cut the crap, we can all thrive
“Young people are just smarter.” — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg
Wait! What?!?!?
“(Twenty-somethings) have great passion. They don’t have distractions like families and children and other things that get in the way.”
-Michael Moritz of Sequoia Capital
Really? Seriously?
“People over forty-five basically die in terms of new ideas”.
-Vinod Khosla, Venture Capitalist — Co-Founder Sun Microsystems (He’s now 68)
Gee. I thought the many if not most of the greatest accomplishments and advancements in human history came from people who were in their olderhood.
Great advancements and accomplishments also come from people who are young adults, but why the distinction?
Why think that only young or old or those in the middle are capable of doing great things?
Hmmm.
What if, and I’m just throwing something out there, what if we believed that we’re all capable as individuals to be smart, passionate and come up with new ideas?
Whattaya think?
Yeah, I like it.
Then we can get out of our own way, put the BS of ageism (in both directions) aside and leverage what we have and each other.
Wow. What a concept!
Stop the Pendulum Movement
As happens throughout history the pendulum swings back and forth from one extreme to the other.
When it comes to age, it has only swung twice.
The first swing occurred at the beginning of human history when we venerated olderhood.
You were valued, sought after, cherished and had a seat at the big people table.
Along comes the 1960s and Baby Boomers began to swing the pendulum the other way.
As a result, now it is youth that is venerated, and older people are shunted off to the side.
Today, the pendulum needs to swing again, and this time stop right in the middle.
Not to be politically correct, or inclusive or ever moral.
It’s to enable us as individuals, companies and societies to prosper and flourish.
It just makes sense. What a concept!
Talk about bad timing…
When I was a young adult, I faced ageism in the television news business.
“We love your work and your on-camera performance Paul, but you look too young.”
This was an oft-repeated review I heard from News Directors.
Then it seemed one morning I awoke, and it was the other way around.
Now in my other pursuits, I automatically get pegged as being too old for whatever.
What the hell? I got screwed both ways.
However…
Fortunately, I did make it to a top 10 television market in my third move and rather quickly. That news director looked past my youthful looks and hired me based on talent, skills and effort.
Now in my olderhood, as I face ageism again, I fully realize that the assumptions, presumptions and stereotypes about getting and being older are just that…BS.
Once again, I am trying to be an outlier and thereby judged on what I bring to the table instead of the wrinkles on my face.
Thanks, Boomer
Ironically, it is the Baby Boomer generation that started the pendulum swinging back the other way.
In the 1960s youth across the globe decided to not accept what was expected of them.
You had sex drugs and rock and roll (redefining the way to live) and movements for civil, women’s, gay and lesbian rights among others including the ecology and peace movements.
They broke down the walls of age expectations, killed off the gatekeepers and had leaders step forth such as Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos to lead the charge.
Now, those of us who are older are doing the same.
Kinda like what people did in the 60s they are doing again in their 60s.
Ageism is self-defeating for all ages
Denigrating, diminishing or judging people because of their age is literally absurd just as it is judging people on their gender, race, sexual orientation and all the other generalized labels.
It’s self-defeating and quite frankly, I would love to just get rid of generational generalizations and labels altogether.
I have been judged again and again based on my appearance (therefore “old guy”) only to see that judgment totally flip because that person discovered who I am and what I have to offer.
Embrace the virtues of different ages
The point here is to, on the one hand, embrace and leverage the inherent attributes of people in different phases of life.
And on the other hand, embrace and leverage the unique abilities we each have because of who we are as individuals.
As I said before…what a concept!
Oh…and one more thing
If you are younger, besides embracing what older people can bring to the party, root for them.
Those older people changed the narrative of being young and created amazing opportunities you now benefit from.
Those same people are doing it for you (and themselves) again.
Because when you get older, you will get it.
You will want to be relevant and properly regarded.
You will be glad those before you broke down the walls of ageist stereotypes.
When we all get this, then we’re all smarter.
Looking for a New Way Forward in your life? You can get my free “Launch Yourself Get Started Guide” by going to www.NewWayFWD.com.