I was born at the tail end of The Silent Generation, and the changes I have lived through are immeasurable. My Dad earned a great living that placed us at the top of the American upper middle class. He didn’t even graduate from high school, as he had to quit school to help support his family, immigrants from Sweden.
Hard work and loyalty to his employer, were rewarded with excellent salary, promotion, and perhaps most importantly, with respect, gratitude, and job security.
Dad worked at least part time, for the same owner of the same company, up until his death at age 83. He had begun his tenure at the company at age 27.
This all happened in a world and a society that no longer exists, and for those of us who grew up in the world that existed immediately following the 2nd World War, the environment in which we find ourselves now, is at times almost incomprehensible. Thank you for this article that helps with understanding it better. I love your writing.
This is the besf article I have read in so so long, really resonates. It may be an age thing where the reward from effort was visible and in memory - still somewhere expected deep down despite knowing it has all.changed. the phrases - effort no longer compounds and hos algorithms do not reward hard work - really really resonate. And yet still feel guilt if I dont work hard. We are looking af burnout in our book club because feedback from so many of our trainees was a profound guilt that they survive a day but dont thrive but how can that mean they are burnt out...
Benjamin this is an excellent article that gives us history, context, and clarity to the market, and how we respond to the changes it is undergoing. It illuminates our possible blind spots in our understanding of these changes. That is helpful as we consider our future moves. Thanks!
Even though different countries the method has changed. What worked before now does not work. Dissonce builds to society breaking points. Identify and adapt.
Very nicely captured tectonic shift in the mechanics of value-creation, delivery, and capturing by individuals. The new system is not driven by Newton’s laws from school physics anymore, it’s much more complex with much higher stakes.
I think the law of diminished returns apply to education under current economic, geopolitical, and technological conditions. The amount of effort required for the pay off made sense. Nowadays, it feels like the effort required to succeed is exponentially higher for the same ROI.
People feel the math, even if they cannot find the language to explain it.
Remotely related to this article at best but it's something I would like to contribute. Here in The Netherlands older generations tend to critisize the younger ones who are open to making money from YouTube or as influencers, instead of the "real" professions.
But I think their pick at least acknowledges what pays the bills these days, and that visibility is one of the few currencies these days.
I would say, and I m not sure if that's new really, but I'd say ideally all professionals need to understand how their markets are regulated, or the scarcity they are built around. What the key factors are.
That the influencers or YouTubers work with a better sense that their business models are subject to chamge or even under constant threat.
And that we, the professionals trained in previous eras, we never made aware that our industries, and all systems really, are under constant change.
Not making constant monitoring, professional pivoting, and even career changes a part of our every lives.
Change was treated as if seminars and reading your literature would solve it.
When it should have been at the heart of what we learned.
Agreed. I think We became complacent and forgot that stability is not the norm and that it actually has to be worked for and earned…it’s hard because a lot of people do not like change but it really is the only constant
This is excellent, a great picture of past and current working model and expectations. As Gen X, I can clearly see that path in my life in corporate life and now outside of it.
What an excellent article that concisely describes what has happened. This is truly superb, the analysis presented clearly and powerfully. Giant bravo and a bow of appreciation (hey, I'm Buddhist, I get to invoke bows). I did just try to share the article with a friend via email through the "share" button within the app but the the email wouldn't send, so I'm just forwarding the original email that landed in my inbox. Thank you, Benjamin, for a very helpful elucidation of the dynamics facing people today. Sobering and critically important to understand,
Thank you for writing down what I’ve been feeling for quite some time 🙏🏻 I am a Gen X -er and was also raised with “work hard and you”ll get there”. Well, all the hard work has gotten me nowhere. I’m curious about your next posts!!
Ahh we are similar then. I’m an early millennial and I think the world is fundamentally different now than it was 20 years ago….maybe everyone always says that but my 20s feel like they were in a different era
As a baby boomer, I grew up with the old model and understand the pay off. We boomers scratch our heads with today's employers, recognizing the change in the landscape but unable to envision any new structure while we anticipate an implosion as society returns to the loyal hard-working employee driving the bus. But with no smoke on the horizon, we're left feeling confused and outdated. Your explanation finally lays the foundation for understanding this important change. I recently watched my talented midlife daughter struggle to get a job after relocating; she's BS educated with additional web experience and does beautiful work, but no calls on her impressive resume. We were advised by several successfully hired friends that they finally hired via the good old boys network, referred by someone from within. She is now in a totally unrelated field and nailing it as she out preforms the more experienced employees around her, producing more quality work. Murmurs are she's in for a promotion from coordinator to manager within 6 months of being hired. Unheard of in my former world, but your article enlightened me. I just wonder what will be available for the grandkids as they step out of college in 10 or 15 years. I see that they'll need to be prepared differently re outcomes as the litmus test if they are to succeed.
Hey Maureen thanks for commenting. It’s always valuable to hear other perspective and congrats to your daughter on the job front. I think we will generally have to be more entrepeurial and more proactive… it necessarily a bad thing but it is a shift for sure.
I was born at the tail end of The Silent Generation, and the changes I have lived through are immeasurable. My Dad earned a great living that placed us at the top of the American upper middle class. He didn’t even graduate from high school, as he had to quit school to help support his family, immigrants from Sweden.
Hard work and loyalty to his employer, were rewarded with excellent salary, promotion, and perhaps most importantly, with respect, gratitude, and job security.
Dad worked at least part time, for the same owner of the same company, up until his death at age 83. He had begun his tenure at the company at age 27.
This all happened in a world and a society that no longer exists, and for those of us who grew up in the world that existed immediately following the 2nd World War, the environment in which we find ourselves now, is at times almost incomprehensible. Thank you for this article that helps with understanding it better. I love your writing.
This is the besf article I have read in so so long, really resonates. It may be an age thing where the reward from effort was visible and in memory - still somewhere expected deep down despite knowing it has all.changed. the phrases - effort no longer compounds and hos algorithms do not reward hard work - really really resonate. And yet still feel guilt if I dont work hard. We are looking af burnout in our book club because feedback from so many of our trainees was a profound guilt that they survive a day but dont thrive but how can that mean they are burnt out...
Thanks Ruth. It is a tough one but I do think it’s something we need to talk about more and work a designing alternative paths
Benjamin this is an excellent article that gives us history, context, and clarity to the market, and how we respond to the changes it is undergoing. It illuminates our possible blind spots in our understanding of these changes. That is helpful as we consider our future moves. Thanks!
Thank you Sunita…something that I’ve been thinking a lot about recently
Even though different countries the method has changed. What worked before now does not work. Dissonce builds to society breaking points. Identify and adapt.
“Identify and adapt” love that
Very nicely captured tectonic shift in the mechanics of value-creation, delivery, and capturing by individuals. The new system is not driven by Newton’s laws from school physics anymore, it’s much more complex with much higher stakes.
I think the law of diminished returns apply to education under current economic, geopolitical, and technological conditions. The amount of effort required for the pay off made sense. Nowadays, it feels like the effort required to succeed is exponentially higher for the same ROI.
People feel the math, even if they cannot find the language to explain it.
Remotely related to this article at best but it's something I would like to contribute. Here in The Netherlands older generations tend to critisize the younger ones who are open to making money from YouTube or as influencers, instead of the "real" professions.
But I think their pick at least acknowledges what pays the bills these days, and that visibility is one of the few currencies these days.
I would say, and I m not sure if that's new really, but I'd say ideally all professionals need to understand how their markets are regulated, or the scarcity they are built around. What the key factors are.
That the influencers or YouTubers work with a better sense that their business models are subject to chamge or even under constant threat.
And that we, the professionals trained in previous eras, we never made aware that our industries, and all systems really, are under constant change.
Not making constant monitoring, professional pivoting, and even career changes a part of our every lives.
Change was treated as if seminars and reading your literature would solve it.
When it should have been at the heart of what we learned.
Agreed. I think We became complacent and forgot that stability is not the norm and that it actually has to be worked for and earned…it’s hard because a lot of people do not like change but it really is the only constant
This is excellent, a great picture of past and current working model and expectations. As Gen X, I can clearly see that path in my life in corporate life and now outside of it.
What an excellent article that concisely describes what has happened. This is truly superb, the analysis presented clearly and powerfully. Giant bravo and a bow of appreciation (hey, I'm Buddhist, I get to invoke bows). I did just try to share the article with a friend via email through the "share" button within the app but the the email wouldn't send, so I'm just forwarding the original email that landed in my inbox. Thank you, Benjamin, for a very helpful elucidation of the dynamics facing people today. Sobering and critically important to understand,
Wow thanks Cherlyn I accept you bow with pleasure :)
Thank you for writing down what I’ve been feeling for quite some time 🙏🏻 I am a Gen X -er and was also raised with “work hard and you”ll get there”. Well, all the hard work has gotten me nowhere. I’m curious about your next posts!!
Ahh we are similar then. I’m an early millennial and I think the world is fundamentally different now than it was 20 years ago….maybe everyone always says that but my 20s feel like they were in a different era
As a baby boomer, I grew up with the old model and understand the pay off. We boomers scratch our heads with today's employers, recognizing the change in the landscape but unable to envision any new structure while we anticipate an implosion as society returns to the loyal hard-working employee driving the bus. But with no smoke on the horizon, we're left feeling confused and outdated. Your explanation finally lays the foundation for understanding this important change. I recently watched my talented midlife daughter struggle to get a job after relocating; she's BS educated with additional web experience and does beautiful work, but no calls on her impressive resume. We were advised by several successfully hired friends that they finally hired via the good old boys network, referred by someone from within. She is now in a totally unrelated field and nailing it as she out preforms the more experienced employees around her, producing more quality work. Murmurs are she's in for a promotion from coordinator to manager within 6 months of being hired. Unheard of in my former world, but your article enlightened me. I just wonder what will be available for the grandkids as they step out of college in 10 or 15 years. I see that they'll need to be prepared differently re outcomes as the litmus test if they are to succeed.
Hey Maureen thanks for commenting. It’s always valuable to hear other perspective and congrats to your daughter on the job front. I think we will generally have to be more entrepeurial and more proactive… it necessarily a bad thing but it is a shift for sure.
Feels like you’re right on the money. Great read!
Thanks Rebekah. I appreciate that
We were told education was the safest bet.
And for a while, it was.
But safety only works when the system stays the same.
When everyone has the same credential, it stops being a differentiator and starts being the baseline. That is not a moral failure. It is simple math.