The Kids Are Alright

One of the things that drives me crazy is the constant berating of the youth by people my age. You know how it goes...

"Millennials? They're just so entitled.""Gen Z? All talk, no action."

This is bullshit—just the same as my grandfather shouting at the clouds about that damn rock 'n' roll music.

Sure, there are differences, and there's a bit of a cultural divide between the generations. But trust me on this—if you want to stay relevant, you better start making some friends who are younger than you.

Why You Should Listen to the Kids

Tech, business, and the workplace are moving fast—what’s in today is out tomorrow. The younger you are, the quicker you adapt to these changes. And that makes sense. Younger people don’t have to juggle careers, kids, and a mortgage; they’re out there experimenting, learning, and adapting at a pace that most of us just can’t keep up with.

Meanwhile, your teenage daughter is typing out an AI prompt that automatically lists all her second-hand clothes (that you bought, by the way 😂) on a resale site. They’re on the frontline, testing and refining new ways to solve old problems.

A side note—don’t envy them too much. They’ve never known a world offline, and that’s a little bit sad.

The other thing they bring is a fresh set of eyes to old problems. When you’ve been in an industry for decades, it’s easy to develop blind spots—things you assume can’t be done differently because they’ve always been done a certain way. Younger generations aren’t burdened by this. They come in without the baggage of "this is how it’s always been done," and that means they spot opportunities the rest of us overlook. They question things that seem obvious, and in doing so, they often discover smarter, faster, or more efficient ways of getting things done.

If you’ve ever been stumped by a problem and then had someone younger solve it in five minutes with a tool you didn’t even know existed—you know what I mean.

Youth Plus You

There is one thing youth doesn’t have that you and I have spent a lifetime gathering: experience. This is where things get interesting—the intersection of fast adoption and a life well-lived.

Not only can you learn the latest and greatest from someone younger, but you can put a spin on it that comes from years of honing your craft, building networks, and understanding what actually works in the real world.

An idea isn’t worth much if it’s not executed well. If you’re 40+ and have had any level of success in your career, there’s a good chance you have skills that are valuable—not just to you, but to them. This could be in the form of:

• Coaching—mentoring younger professionals as they navigate their careers.

• Partnerships—collaborating on projects where they bring fresh ideas and you bring execution power.

• Being a role model—showing them what long-term success actually looks like.

Get Yourself Connected

Here are some ways to bridge the generational divide:

Embrace Reverse Mentoring

• Actively seek out opportunities to be mentored by younger colleagues, especially in areas like technology, social media, or emerging trends.

• Be open to their insights and perspectives, even when they challenge your assumptions.

Shadow a Younger Colleague

• Spend time observing a younger colleague in their daily tasks.

• Pay attention to how they use technology, communicate, and problem-solve.

Attend Industry Conferences and Webinars

• Go to events focused on emerging trends and technologies.

• Seek out presentations by younger speakers.

• Engage with younger attendees to learn about their perspectives.

Use Social Media Mindfully

• Follow younger influencers, thought leaders, and content creators on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Bluesky.

• Stay informed about trending topics, cultural shifts, and new ways of communicating.

A Warning (Alright, Alright, Alright)

DON’T PRETEND YOU’RE YOUNG.

Seriously—don’t be that sad old guy/woman. You’re not here to replicate youth; you’re here to add to it. Bring real-world experience to the table, offer a hand up rather than a dismissive “What would you know?” sneer.

Be kind, be open, and you’ll get offered a whole new perspective on the world—one that just might change your life.