Softer Success®’s Post

Is a quarter-life crisis normal? If you’re feeling stuck and not sure what to do with your life, just know that having a career crisis, an existential crisis, a quarter-life crisis (whatever you want to call it) is completely normal and, in fact, these days, it’s on the rise among Millennials and GenZ. Here's my take on the quarter-life crisis: https://lnkd.in/gHVZPemd #quarterlifecrisis #careeradvancement #careerchange

✨"Millennials, who became the icon for “hustle culture” in their 20s, are now aging into a new phase marked by cynicism."✨ Welcome to the club, millennials. Gen Xers have been here a while. Jokes aside, this Fortune article is a fascinating exploration of the changing face of middle management. It quotes the brilliant Jennifer Moss on how COVID has permanently changed the workforce, its expectations and its priorities. And, I fully support Jen Fisher 🦋's hope that "through their experiences and struggles, [millennials] will look to address the systemic issues in the workplace and move the mindset from extractive, transactional thinking to a human sustainability approach." If you're curious to redress the systemic issues that lead to workplace burnout, reach out to John Chan, Ph.D. or myself – and of course, delve into the Infinite Potential State of Workplace Burnout 2024 right here https://lnkd.in/gUAvU7Yi I'm curious: irrespective of your generation, how have the past few years changed you as an employee, an entrepreneur, or otherwise at work? #burnout #burnoutprevention https://lnkd.in/grh7YGqS

"Many middle managers are experiencing increased burnout right now as they're caught between the whims of CEOs often trying to maintain the ways of tradition and employees who are looking to maintain their newly-earned autonomy. It's not a simple job given the 'increasingly fraught' relationship between employees and their companies, as workers feel the burn of layoffs, the paranoia of AI, and the sting of waning flexibility, says Deloitte's Jen Fisher 🦋 . Companies provided extra support during the early stages of the pandemic, and now the rollback has left employees more unhappy, she explains." #workplacewellness #workplacewellbeing #burnout #burnoutprevention

Interesting piece, although it does not consider a multicultural work environment, which adds communication challenges to the already generational ones. I have either witness or known about too many high skilled millennials living in #eindhoven which have been burnout at least once, there are two main characteristics that I could easily identify: 1) When behaving as a high achiever in a complex environment (the complexity can be, technical, too many stakeholders involved, different time zones, etc.) and have been working for more than 2 years under such conditions, where the manager is not a people's person and does not identify the signals of burnout and just keeps squeezing the employee for more performance, yeah, mainly in big companies (most of them working at ASML 🤷🏻♂️) 2) when following a very complex PhD research position and pushing themselves way beyond the limit for achieving cum laude or just because you are supposed to be extremely smart and you must show it, regardless, they get burnout and then realize too late that it was just a research job 🤦🏻♂️ It's becoming so normal, that I got to know indirectly the process that they must follow and the timings of each step. Again, Burnout is a very serious topic in which I lack expertise as to give advice, please refer to #phycologist to get accurate help. Now, sometimes millennials would like to recover their will/purpose or change their lives, which is also becoming quite normal, since for some, they now hold managerial positions instead of the initial technical ones that their degrees certified. Again, I'm not an expert, just old enough to witness psychological and physical issues that appear after years of overachieving trying to climb up the corporate ladder, where they might get a higher title with more money but no power, reminds me of Darryl from The Office - the higher that I get, the stupider the job gets - (cheating the ladder is quite easy, but, that is not the purpose of this post) Thanks Sally Clarke for sharing. Now, I highly recommend Soulbridge for those that might have physical conditions developed from work related stress (and other reasons) Millennials are getting bored of the current corporate working culture and some are drastically changing their lives while rediscovering themselves or starting their own company (like me 😅🙈). Until the ruling older generations do not concede power to the newer ones, innovation will keep coming from purchasing startups instead of internally, but, with so many of us attached to mortgages, children's education and even debts, not many get to be an #entrepreneur, so, their ideas and motivation get lost into the layers of a corporate environment.

Do you understand America's New Economic Tribes? ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed): Above poverty level but financially unstable. 💵😟 DINK (Double Income, No Kids): Dual-income couples without kids, enjoying financial benefits. 💑🏠 DIPS (Double Income, Public School) & POLK (Parents of Little Kids): Parents with kids in public school vs. those paying for childcare. 👨👩👧👦🏫 FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early): Saving and investing aggressively to retire early. 🔥💰 HENRY (High Earner, Not Rich Yet): High earners not yet feeling financially secure. 📈😕 HIFI (High Income, Financially Insecure): High earners overspending and insecure. 💸🛍️ Geriatric Millennial: Older millennials facing unique financial challenges. 📅👩💼 Peak Boomer: Baby boomers nearing retirement, concerned about financial security. 👴🔒 Workplace Trends: Bare-minimum Mondays: Minimal effort to start the week. 😴💻 Career cushioning: Preparing for layoffs while employed. 📑🔍 Corporate girlie: TikTok's take on office life. 📸👗 Greedflation: Companies profiting from inflation. 📊💸 Lazy-girl jobs: Simple, well-paying jobs for the burnt-out. 🛋️💼 Overemployed: Secretly working multiple jobs. 💼💼 Productivity paranoia: Remote work leading to micromanagement. 👀💻 Quiet quitting: Rejecting hustle culture post-pandemic. ✌️📅 https://lnkd.in/d8krVtRC

Do you understand America's New Economic Tribes? ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed): Above poverty level but financially unstable. 💵😟 DINK (Double Income, No Kids): Dual-income couples without kids, enjoying financial benefits. 💑🏠 DIPS (Double Income, Public School) & POLK (Parents of Little Kids): Parents with kids in public school vs. those paying for childcare. 👨👩👧👦🏫 FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early): Saving and investing aggressively to retire early. 🔥💰 HENRY (High Earner, Not Rich Yet): High earners not yet feeling financially secure. 📈😕 HIFI (High Income, Financially Insecure): High earners overspending and insecure. 💸🛍️ Geriatric Millennial: Older millennials facing unique financial challenges. 📅👩💼 Peak Boomer: Baby boomers nearing retirement, concerned about financial security. 👴🔒 Workplace Trends: Bare-minimum Mondays: Minimal effort to start the week. 😴💻 Career cushioning: Preparing for layoffs while employed. 📑🔍 Corporate girlie: TikTok's take on office life. 📸👗 Greedflation: Companies profiting from inflation. 📊💸 Lazy-girl jobs: Simple, well-paying jobs for the burnt-out. 🛋️💼 Overemployed: Secretly working multiple jobs. 💼💼 Productivity paranoia: Remote work leading to micromanagement. 👀💻 Quiet quitting: Rejecting hustle culture post-pandemic. ✌️📅 https://lnkd.in/dGS2z_GM

The Dilemma of Stagnation: Millennials and the Price of Prioritising Balance over Progress The trend of millennials leaving traditional full-time jobs to pursue a more balanced lifestyle reflects shifting priorities and values within the workforce. It's understandable that many individuals feel disillusioned by the prospect of working tirelessly without seeing commensurate rewards or opportunities for advancement. However, it's important to consider the long-term implications of #softlife. Relying solely on part-time employment may limit career growth and financial stability in the future. Additionally, prolonged dependence on parental support can hinder personal development and independence. Systemic changes within the workforce are needed to address these concerns, including fairer compensation, improved work-life balance, and better opportunities for career advancement. While seeking fulfilment outside of traditional career paths is valid, it's essential to strike a balance between pursuing personal passions and ensuring financial security and professional growth. Ultimately, individuals should evaluate their choices carefully and strive for a lifestyle that aligns with their values and goals while also considering their future well-being. #MillennialWorkforce #CareerGrowth #EmployeeRetention #WorkplaceCulture #TalentManagement #EmployeeEngagement #FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #WorkforceProductivity #RetentionStrategies #HRInsights #EmployeeWellbeing #CareerAdvancement #FlexibleWorkOptions #TalentRetention https://lnkd.in/ezV8HJha

Millennials vs. Gen Z: A Good Laugh on Workplace Resilience Alright, chaps and 'chapettes', let’s have a natter about resilience in the workplace. We Millennials, bless us, have been called everything from snowflakes to avocado-toast-munching house-hunters. But, by Jove, we’ve weathered every storm, emerging tougher and more caffeinated than ever. ☕️🥑 Then along waltzes Gen Z, who think “burnout” is something you do with a pair of flashy trainers. Their take on resilience is setting boundaries tighter than the queue for the Super Metro buses during rush hour. Got an email after 5 PM? Hit ignore. Boss asking for a favor? “Sorry, mate, it’s my Netflix hour.” Honestly, you’ve got to admire their commitment to not giving a toss! 😂 While we were navigating life with our “Keep Calm and Carry On” mugs, Gen Z was busy perfecting their makeup with YouTube tutorials and consulting their horoscopes. They’ve turned “self-care” into a fine art. They discuss “attachment styles” and “red flags” like they’re the latest gossip on Love Island. Meanwhile, we’re still trying to figure out why Mercury is always in retrograde and ruining our vibe. Libra here⚖ 😅 Here’s the kicker: after watching Billions and seeing Bobby Axelrod hire young talent, I’ve realized he’s got a point. Working with these Gen Zers actually makes sense. They bring a fresh perspective and a knack for balancing work and life that’s simply spiffing. Axelrod might just be onto something with those youthful hires. 💼🎬 So here’s to us Millennials, who’ve built character through sheer bloody-mindedness, and to Gen Z, who’ve mastered the art of chilling out while still getting the job done. Who knew resilience could be so... effortless? Cheers to keeping it cool and keeping it real! #WorkplaceBanter #MillennialsVsGenZ

Food for thought: Society's expectations and comparisons can make us feel inadequate and dissatisfied with our achievements. We often forget how important it is to have self fulfillment and be emotionally well. This pressure to meet social standards and norms can lead us to value external validation over our own happiness. 🤔 From the article: "It’s true that millennials cope with one of the most challenging phases of an individual’s life. It is a time of great change, where people get married, start a family, cope with ageing parents and work on their careers. They must save for their families and a home, as well as consider their retirement and future healthcare needs. On the surface, many appear to navigate these challenges well – so why are they unhappy?"

A really interesting read that reconsiders age-old assumptions about work ethic and motivation. The notion of a 'work-shy' generation challenges us to look beyond surface-level analyses of pay and benefits and to explore the patterns shaping the aspirations of future workforces. While advancements in compensation and workplace perks have, in some cases, made significant progress, it's important to acknowledge the changing incentives driving individuals towards career goals. Put simply – do future generations share the same fervour for traditional markers of success, such as owning a home or car, or financing significant life events like weddings? The shifting priorities and values in younger demographics suggest a departure from conventional, linear routes. As society evolves, so too do the aspirations of future generations, and the understanding of fulfilment and achievement in the modern world must be reassessed. https://lnkd.in/e2Sq9cXp