Lifestyle

Generation-Y: Be Entitled So Long As You Can Back It Up

by John Farrell
Stocksy

Many categorize Generation-Y to be entitled; the notion of deserving something based on who you are and not what you’ve done is like trying to trade gold for a bottle of water. While this is obvious, troubling and counterintuitive, for some people, it's reality.

In his biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson epitomizes this idea. Isaacson mentions that at an early age Jobs felt “special” (i.e. entitled). Jobs used his entitlement (as well as other qualities, like drive) to promote himself to a revolutionary status.

Generation-Y should be entitled, but with other aspects in play as well.

Narrow Mindset

Entitled Gen-Yers tend to be a bit narrow-minded, which can compromise goals, aspirations and desires. Many Millennials commit themselves to chasing a single goal or aspiration. Targeted dedication can create a clear path to success, but a path is never a guarantee — there is always a risk.

Be Different

Entitlement can become unreasonable when one believes he or she was born to see out something specific. The issue isn’t necessarily whether or not one feels driven by something, but rather, how he or she goes about achieving it. Many people unknowingly emulate their peers in an already created path, as if putting the same thing in a different box and arguing it to be transformed. There is always a way to compete something more simply, faster and better.

Know Your Skills

Members of Generation-Y often feel entitled to chase impracticalities — maybe this is a job one is unqualified to have, a relationship that will not happen or a body that only Greek gods and goddesses could attain. Chasing these things is admirable, but swimming with persistence can lead to a watery grave. Gen-Yers need to assess their skills and know what is actually achievable. A strong sense of entitlement can allow people to be set in their ways and unwilling to assess different perspectives.

If you find yourself unable to give up on a goal, remember that every person is also entitled to fail. Predicating your desires without a supporting cast is not a plan — it’s an illusion written in a utopian world by a fantasy writer.

Photo via Faux Society