Young adults must proactively steer their career towards success, writes Peter Watson.
This generation of youth faces massive challenges and as a result people in that age group will have divergent career outcomes.
Many will have a disappointing adult life. They will not be able to achieve financial success and therefore their desired standard of living will not evolve. In contrast, others will excel.
Compare that to those born in the decades after World War 2. The economy was actively catching up after years of war. The economy prospered. Businesses expanded, and employment opportunities were plentiful.
That age group is at a crossroads in their life that leads to either success or failure. Unlike the generations before, most will not prosper because these are different times.
Everyone talks about AI and how it will consume jobs previously done by humans. That is true. The other side of the AI reality is that many younger people will harness AI to make them expediently more productive.
That group will likely have more success at finding a job or using their enhanced ability to start their own business and excel.
Being intelligent and hardworking is no longer enough. Tenacity is the skill that is needed most. Think of this in sporting terms. It is late in the game, and you are losing. Now is the time for your best self to show up.
The younger generation have many advantages. They are smart, have a much better understanding of technology than those that are older, plus they have the energy of a young adult.
A message to our youth: Consider your areas of strength and natural ability. Plan your future and then work tirelessly to achieve success.
Peter Watson, of Watson Investments MBA, CFP®, R.F.P., CIM®, FCSI offers a weekly financial planning column, Dollars & Sense. He can be contacted through www.watsoninvestments.com
