A Hustler’s Dream: Hi, Where Am I?
My crisis of identity is nothing unusual.
Millennials are defined roughly as the generation aged 24–39 in 2020, and the ugly, unfortunate trend is that the state of our mental health sucks. Longer work hours, stagnant wages, soul-crushing levels of debt have us suffering burnout faster than our Gen X & Gen Z counterparts.
Luckily, I get to straddle that starry-eyed hotzone of “Am I Millenial or am I Gen Z?” The records show that while my birth year falls in the Millenial range, I’m on the rising tide of the “digital-native” Gen Z.
I went outside and engaged in healthy playtime with others. I also grew up surfing the Internet. Facebook came out when I was young and impressionable in middle school. You know, when Twilight (2008) first erupted into teen girls’ fantasies and fanfiction really made its mark.
What frustrates me is the economic impact this generational straddle maneuver has on my life, and the lives of my friends and family who share my Generation Dilemma.
Millenials are depressed and economically immobile, right?
Well, Gen Z is set to beat Millenials in income and spending power in the next ten years.
Financially, Gen Z has a healthier arsenal of financial means in this current socio-economic climate.
Where does that leave me? Dazed and confused. I am simultaneously flooded with possibility while facing every obstacle a Millennial is wont to face in this market.
Gen Z and Millennials have a lot in common: from their political views, to their educational advancement (even though they took out less loans than their generational predecessors).
They both also strongly differ on specific topics, especially when it comes to money & market.
Millennials are more pragmatic in their practices, are focused on experiences, and are better online shoppers. Gen Z-ers tend to be more idealistic, prefer to save money, and will be the generation most likely to return to in-store shopping.
Fun stats and numbers aside, in my experience it’s best to assume that I can embody the best of both.
I am an idealist, but pragmatic in my approach to reach those ideals. I endeavor towards a 7-figure income, and am willing to put in the time and honest effort to reach it. I’m in no rush to be an overnight millionaire from TikTok or dropshipping.
Higher education is definitely for me, but I’m unwilling to take out monstrous student loans and vie for an Ivy League pedigree. My focus is the authentic character of a school itself.
BUT.
I have to work two jobs while in school to pay my bills. My credit score sucks and working to make it better is just putting off having to use my credit cards again. Rent is astronomically high in Seattle and so are all the other necessities that come with living in an urban mega-city.
To succeed and make it to my Gen Z-born ideals, I need to hustle. I’m talking Side Hustle. Like, three of them at least. Gen Z-ers are becoming the youngest, fastest growing millionaire bracket with the permeation of social media into the fabric of society. I’m tryna use that energy with my pragmatic Millenial brain to push myself responsibly into that 7-figure goal.
Easier said than done.
Right now, I work a 9–5 day job, co-own and operate an event production company, have a thriving virtual assistant side hustle, and am working on a Psychology degree. Part of me thinks I’m crazy for doing that much.
The other part wants more. Tempering the obsession is part of the journey. Giving in to my productivity desires and digging into the meat of my creativity means adopting some habits that are less healthy than I’d like. Success does not come easy. Neither does grace.
If I make it onto the Forbes 40 Under 40 list — you know which path I chose.
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