If you are or know a young adult who is struggling to build an amazing life, watch this 2-minute video where Simon Sinek describes the problem. (Follow along with the transcript below.)
Then, to learn the solution, watch the marvelous full 30-minute presentation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjxNTcsquG8
We know what works!
Simon Sinek transcript:
“I’m talking about an entire generation that – if we don’t
fix this – will go through life where (they say) everything is just fine. My
friendships are fine. My work is fine. You know, same old same old. Nothing is
ever amazing. And the scavenger hunt continues.
And then you go to the Fourth Observation, the most
egregious of all of them: Environment.
We’re taking a generation that has Lower Self-Esteem (First
Observation).
We’re taking a generation that has a Lack of Coping
Mechanisms to deal with stress (Second Observation).
We’re dealing with a generation that wants all those things
fixed immediately (Third Observation: Instant Gratification).
And we’re placing them in a work environment that values
money more than people.
Do you know that most of the business philosophies and
theories that we embrace as standard today are not standard. They are theories
left over from the ‘80s and ‘90s.
The concept of shareholder supremacy was a theory proposed
in the late 1970s. It was popularized in the 80s and 90s. The concept of using
mass layoffs to balance the books did not exist in the United States prior to
the 1980s. It did not exist. It became popular in the 80s and 90s.
The 80s and 90s were boom years. Anyone could make money.
Relative peace: A kinder, gentler cold war. And so all of the business theories
put forth were very, very selfish and all about enriching ourselves. And they
worked for those times.
But these times are different. They are not peaceful times.
These are not boom years. There is globalization on the internet that has made
everything vastly more complicated, and those theories do not work anymore.
Worse, they’re having side effects. It’s really bad because
what we do is we destroy corporate cultures.
The idea of using mass layoffs: Can you imagine sending
someone home and saying, I’m sorry, I can no longer provide for our family
because the company missed its arbitrary projections this year. That’s what
we’re doing.
That’s like a coach prioritizing the needs of the fans over
the needs of the players, hoping to build a great team.”