Social scientists have coined a new word to describe the phenomenon many of us have been talking about for some time. It describes the 19 to 30 year olds, who have no desire to leave their parent’s home, get married, or find a permanent career. In the past 20 years, the average age of first marriage has increased by over 5 years in most countries – this is a tidal wave of demographic change. Similarly, the age of birth of first child has increased dramatically since 1990 in most countries. Anecdotal evidence also indicates a surprising number of late 20s and early 30-somethings who still live at home (or who have come back home again).
Linked to this is also this generation’s mobility in the workplace. More than half of all 30 year olds who have a professional qualification are not using that qualification at the moment (research results in South Africa and USA).
There is a great article on these “kidults” by the Rebelution team (a Christian blogsite) of the Harris brothers – read it here. The image comes from their story. Alhough they look at it from a specific Biblical perspective, their general insights are interesting.
In my mind, parents and kids (and kidults) have to understand that a workplace shift has taken place. I firmly believe that up to the age of about 35, its still possible to be experimenting, without real danger to your future career. By the age of 35, in fact, you should aim to know something about everything. You should certainly know yourself – your strengths and weaknesses, your passions and what makes you tick. Then, spend the next 20 years focusing in. By the age of 55 you should know everything about something. You can then spend a further 20 years or so cashing in on your expertise, and pursuing other passions as well. Its a new career cycle. Its here to stay. If you’re talented.
Adultescence – the new young adult
🙂 – you know what that smile’s about
Graeme, I liked the way you have linked this in with application to the workplace! Very nice, very intersting.
I’m a little lost though. Perhaps it is because I’m not all that familiar with TmTd and what it’s all about etc. Where you lost me is your use of the earth-shatteringly general, and then immediately after, the extremely specific. You tell us that by 35, we should aim to know something about EVERYTHING…. Ok, woah – everything. That’s a bit broad!
When you use the word “everything” – I would assume it to mean rather “areas of interest and semi-interest”? Was that your reference?
What’s pretty interesting is the fact that the way my life is going is in the reverse order to what you proposed. By the age of 24, I will know everything about something (i.e. the aspects of the human body applicable to chiropractic).
When I qualify, I intend on perhaps expanding my knowledge in the web design/cms field – thefore, indirectly exposing myself to a portion of the IT sector. So at that point, you could possibly classify me as starting to know something about a few things.
I know for certain that my passion is the human body, and how I can help people overcome the degenerative effects happening in their bodies and lead them into a better way of life, physically, mentally and, if the opportunity arises, spiritually.
I guess all I can say in my favour is that I’m not addicted to adultesence! 😀
Ayez un dimanche merveilleux!
David
David,
You worked out correctly that my statement of knowing something about “everything” was hyperbole for effect. It was about 200 years ago when the last person who could know everything there was to know died. There’s just too much to know these days.
So, yes, know something about everything that connects with your passions and expertise. That implies, of course, that you know what your passion is.
You’re lucky in that regard. Many don’t. And if they don’t, their goal should be to experiment as much as possible with the goal and purpose of finding what makes them tick.