http://bigthink.com/experts-corner/is-twenty-something-the-defining-decade
Most people don't spend their 20's doing their dream job, especially in a recession. The important thing is to find work that's in a field you're interested in, even if it's at the very fringes of the field, and to work on building "identity capital." Take a job that's interesting and unique and helps you build your identity, even if it pays less than a job that bores you, advises Jay.
When you're writing your cover letter, is your enthusiasm for the job you're applying for real? If not, don't apply for it. Instead, concentrate your efforts on searching and networking until you come across an opportunity that does.
Even the most inexperienced people have power in their drive. Be willing to learn, but don't forget that you know a lot, too, and you have a lot to offer, including limitless enthusiasm. "Bring that to work every day, and you'll inspire the people around you," advises Glocer.
Rollins's advice to young people is to work hard, but he also says it is as important to have a strong moral compass. He describes this as the ultimate motivator for himself and for young people today: "When you look at what real desperation and ignorance looks like, when you have to run from it, like, literally run from it, you don’t want to be that. You want to be that which leads others out of that."
Excerpts:
Once you're in your 30's or 40's, it gets harder and harder to reinvent yourself.
80% of life's most defining moments take place by about age 35.
2/3 of lifetime wage growth happens during the first ten years of a career.
Don't be defined by what you didn't know or didn't do.
There are 50 million 20somethings in the United States most of whom are living with a staggering, unprecedented amount of uncertainty.
They don't know when they'll be happy or when they will be able to pay their bills.
Most simply, they don't know whether their lives will work out and they don't know what to do.
"The unlived life isn't worth examining."
Too many 20somethings have been led to believe that their 20s are for thinking about what they want to do and their 30s are for getting going on real life.
Young adults who spent too much time in "disengaged confusion" were "in danger of becoming irrelevant."
The 20s are your best chance to experiment with jobs and relationships.
"If you keep living your life exactly as it is, where will you be in 3 years?" If you don't like the answer, now is the time to change course.
Most 20somethings hate the idea of asking outsiders for favors, but those who won't do this fall behind those who will.
Don't let culture trivialize your life and work and relationships.
Use your rational mind to counter the anxious and catastrophic thoughts you have: "I probably won't be fired because I dropped one phone call."
Try to create your own certainty by making healthy choices and commitments that off-set the upheaval in the world around.
Research shows that getting going in the work world is the beginning of feeling happier, more confident, competent, and emotionally stable in adulthood.
The real take-home message about the still-developing 20something brain is that whatever it is you want to change about yourself, now is the easiest time to change it. Is your 20something job, or hobby, making you smarter? Are your 20something relationships improving your personality or are they reinforcing old patterns and teaching bad habits?
Most people don't spend their 20's doing their dream job, especially in a recession. The important thing is to find work that's in a field you're interested in, even if it's at the very fringes of the field, and to work on building "identity capital." Take a job that's interesting and unique and helps you build your identity, even if it pays less than a job that bores you, advises Jay.
When you're writing your cover letter, is your enthusiasm for the job you're applying for real? If not, don't apply for it. Instead, concentrate your efforts on searching and networking until you come across an opportunity that does.
Even the most inexperienced people have power in their drive. Be willing to learn, but don't forget that you know a lot, too, and you have a lot to offer, including limitless enthusiasm. "Bring that to work every day, and you'll inspire the people around you," advises Glocer.
Rollins's advice to young people is to work hard, but he also says it is as important to have a strong moral compass. He describes this as the ultimate motivator for himself and for young people today: "When you look at what real desperation and ignorance looks like, when you have to run from it, like, literally run from it, you don’t want to be that. You want to be that which leads others out of that."
Excerpts:
Once you're in your 30's or 40's, it gets harder and harder to reinvent yourself.
80% of life's most defining moments take place by about age 35.
2/3 of lifetime wage growth happens during the first ten years of a career.
Don't be defined by what you didn't know or didn't do.
There are 50 million 20somethings in the United States most of whom are living with a staggering, unprecedented amount of uncertainty.
They don't know when they'll be happy or when they will be able to pay their bills.
Most simply, they don't know whether their lives will work out and they don't know what to do.
"The unlived life isn't worth examining."
Too many 20somethings have been led to believe that their 20s are for thinking about what they want to do and their 30s are for getting going on real life.
Young adults who spent too much time in "disengaged confusion" were "in danger of becoming irrelevant."
The 20s are your best chance to experiment with jobs and relationships.
"If you keep living your life exactly as it is, where will you be in 3 years?" If you don't like the answer, now is the time to change course.
Most 20somethings hate the idea of asking outsiders for favors, but those who won't do this fall behind those who will.
Don't let culture trivialize your life and work and relationships.
Use your rational mind to counter the anxious and catastrophic thoughts you have: "I probably won't be fired because I dropped one phone call."
Try to create your own certainty by making healthy choices and commitments that off-set the upheaval in the world around.
Research shows that getting going in the work world is the beginning of feeling happier, more confident, competent, and emotionally stable in adulthood.
The real take-home message about the still-developing 20something brain is that whatever it is you want to change about yourself, now is the easiest time to change it. Is your 20something job, or hobby, making you smarter? Are your 20something relationships improving your personality or are they reinforcing old patterns and teaching bad habits?
What you do everyday is wiring you to be the adult you will be.
That's one reason I love working with 20somethings: They are so darn
easy to help because they--and their brains and their lives--can change
so quickly and so profoundly.
No comments:
Post a Comment