At 2W we’ve been on a youth movement of sorts. Over the past 18-24 months, we’ve hired a bunch of 20 and 30-somethings (or as we Boomers refer to – ‘the young people’).
The other day, it dawned on me that contrary to popular cultural belief, this subset of our team, quite frankly, rocks.
Panicking about “the youth” is older than dirt. In ancient Greece, Socrates grumbled that the youth were lazy and disrespectful. Centuries later, Victorian parents fretted over the moral decay brought by novels and industrialization. In the 1950s, Elvis and his hips, television, and Rock’ n Roll spelled doom for humanity.
There’s this narrative that today’s young people are struggling with the demands of the workforce, unsure how to balance their personal and professional lives, and generally unprepared for the realities of ‘adulting’. Stereotypes paint them as entitled, distracted, or lacking the grit of previous generations.
However, this view is not only outdated—it’s flat-out wrong. As I look at the young professionals stepping into the workforce now, they aren’t just holding their own—they’re excelling. They bring skills and perspectives that don’t just meet the moment but push us forward.
My personal experience with this crop of humans:
- They are earnest, smart, and eager to figure it out.
- Can bend technology to their will. (These kids have had screens in their hands since forever. )
- They are adaptable as hell. A worldwide pandemic, social and political unrest, economic chaos—it’s all just another day.
- They pay way too much for coffee.
Life’s throwing curveballs at them—no sugarcoating it. Student debt, a job market like musical chairs on hard mode, and a world spinning faster than a fidget spinner? They’re handling it like champs, with a grin and a “watch this”attitude.
Lately, some of the best innovations and ideas at 2W have come from our younger teammates.
Do you think that, just maybe, all the crap we’ve shoveled at them might be preparing them to be superior future leaders in whatever comes next?
A few observations on how they roll
- Burnout: Nope, they’re setting limits and snagging mental health days. We could all borrow a page from their “no emails after 8 p.m.” playbook.
- Money: They might drop twelve bucks on coffee, but they’re also budgeting, investing, and wrestling debt like it’s the last level in a video game.
- They’re not chilling: They’re thriving. New skills? Leadership roles? They’re on it, probably with a celebratory social media story.
So, let’s all grab a fancy latte and trust the process. The kids are more than alright — they’re awesome. They’re crafting a future that’s smarter, brighter, and way more fun than we could’ve dreamed. And if we play our cards right, they might even let us hop on for the ride.