So one thing I hear a lot about is how today’s young generation have a massive sense of entitlement.
A professor friend of mine deemed them, ‘the strawberry generation’ … ripe and full of promise, but easily bruised.
And I get why he said that, because from our perspective – people born in the 70’s and to a lesser degree, 80’s – that’s how it looks.
But here’s the thing, just because that is how it looks to us doesn’t mean it’s right because if you spend time talking to them, you realise they don’t see it as a sense of entitlement … they see it as a sense of ambition and focus.
Yes, some do believe they are smarter, hungrier and in possession of more skills and knowledge than any generation before them [which is, ironically, what every generation believes] but in China, what seems to connect many of them is this unquestionable focus on what they want to achieve [at least in terms of lifestyle] and they’re not going to waste a second longer necessary on getting there.
What we see as impatience, they see as purposeful.
What we see as a lack of loyalty, they see as protecting and progressing their ambitions.
What we see as complaining, they see as a lack of understanding.
Who is right?
Well, actually it’s less that and more a case of neither being wrong … but it’s an important reminder that there is a minimum of 2 sides to every story [emphasis on the word ‘minimum’] and unless you actively seek out the whole story, you’re choice will only ever resonate with 50% of your audience, which is not bad, but not great either.
Mind you, in this world of blandom, saying something that sacrifices 50% of the audience to be meaningful to the other 50% is kind-of wonderful. Go figure.