The kids today: Here's what you don't know

Young people don't know what they don't know. If I had to tell a young Millennial what he or she doesn't know, here's what:

1. All organizations are dumb and irrational. Management is mob rule, and usually it's mob rule by crazy people. Though I realize it's an outrage that momma never warned you about, yes you do need to waste some of your energy doing dumb stuff just because people say so. Luckily, you have lots of energy to spare.

2. Yes, you are already almost as smart as your bosses, and in some cases you are smarter. What they have and what you don't is subtle—mere matters of polish, taste and fine judgment. But you'll eventually understand that those are the differences that make all the difference to your company's customers. It takes far longer to sand and polish a table than it took to build it. And no one wants an unvarnished table.

3. If you go too far too soon you will hate that too. By the time I was 28 I was Ragan's editorial director, bossing new people who were 24. I had things to teach them, but I had a strong sense that this was still my time to learn, and I felt I was rotting as the youthful old man of the department. Also, my own rookie misery was still very fresh and I was determined—foolishly—that these newbies not have to suffer as I had. There were a couple more bad years before I found the next happy place in my career.

Your twenties will probably be uncomfortable in one way or another, or both.

I hope I'm wrong. But if I'm right, don't lose heart. 

Tomorrow, I'll have some sharp words for your bosses.

Comments

[Cascarano]

As someone on the frontline of this subject, I'd say everything you said is spot on. Most of my jobs have been shit, but the hardest part was not understanding why they were shit. I wish someone told me this stuff back when I graduated college and was taking medical tests for cash and wondering what evil deed I'd done to be so useless. David, perhaps you should turn this into a PSA. "Kids, you're worthless...now suck it up and do some work." I can't wait to see tomorrow's post.

[David Murray]

Well, Chris, you're one of the best examples I know of Millennials who want mentorship. And I'm one of the best examples I know of Gen Xers who are (often) too busy, too uncertain, too self-involved to provide it. More on this tomorrow. And much more, next time we find ourselves in a tavern.

[Rueben]

You might want to add to #1 that when you become part of "management" you'll probably end up looking just as crazy as the rest of the mob yourself. And you'll probably still feel like you waste time doing dumb stuff - only it won't just be dumb stuff your boss asks for it but also "dumb stuff" your employees want. Which is another reason not to be in such a hurry to climb.

[David Murray]

Rueben, don't forget that you also have to do the "dumb stuff" you dream up yourself, just because you are now so old and out of ideas that you can't think of any "smart stuff" to do.

[Rueben]

On no, David, everything I dream up is still f@@king brilliant. That much hasn't changed - yet ;)