This post is part of the Guest Blog Grand Tour over at Life Without Pants – an epic journey of over 75 guest posts. Want to learn more about Matt Cheuvront & see how far the rabbit hole goes? Subscribe to the Life Without Pants RSS feed & follow him on Twitter to keep in touch!
There’s a lot of talk about Generation Y and out attitude toward work, life, and that word “balance” which I’ve become less and less fond of as time has gone on. Work-life balance, whatever that means, has somehow completely gone out the window. “We” (and yes I’m speaking collectively on purpose) want more – we want meaning – we want purpose – we want a job that makes us feel great – we want a career that never feels like work.
Realistic? Probably not – at least not as simple as many will lead you to believe. We get a bad rep because we’re not willing to put in the hard work – we don’t know what it means to “pay our dues” with something that may not be 100% ideal. But honestly, are we really that much different? Is there really anything special about Generation Y? Something we’re doing that those who came before us never did?
We’re the same as everyone else with shiny new tools
Generation Y – in our epic quest to find meaning and live a passionate life – is no different than the pursuit of happiness our parents and grandparents went through. Seriously – go ask them. They had and still have dreams and aspirations. The difference, and ONLY difference, is the tools – primarily this little thing we call the “Internet”- that is making today’s world a VERY, very small place.
I love it – honestly. I love the fact that I can chat online with Lindsey here at Lost in Cheeseland – a girl who lives all the way in Paris, with the click of a mouse. Then immediately hop on a consulting call with a client in Singapore. If you would have asked me even a year ago that my perspective on the world would have become this small, I would’ve never dreamed it.
It’s this worldwide sharing of ideas, collaboration, and coordination with each other that is advancing our generation at such a rapid pace.
It’s not about pointing out the differences, but appreciating our similarities.
I’ve had the pleasure of making friends in Thailand, Paris, London, Singapore, Dubai, and Australia (to name a few) over the past 12 months. And what I’ve learned, and what I continue to learn – is that there are so many similarities between our nations and people. We’re not so different, you and I. We all have common goals and passions – and this whole “location independence” thing? While I used to think it would be impossible, it’s becoming more and more real every day.
So what’s the takeaway?
Get out there and let yourself be heard – share your ideas with the world (literally) – step out of your comfort zone and connect with people in entirely different environments. There’s so much we can learn from each other – so much knowledge that can be shared – instead of trying to keep it all to yourself, be a little generous and share it with an entire world who will listen.
A big thank you to Matt who graciously contributed to Lost In Cheeseland! See the rest of his amazing content over at Life Without Pants!
(Photo: moorpheuss)
