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Refusing to Settle the Quarter Life Criss by Adam Smiley Poswolsky

The Problem: FOMO and Comparison​

  • Poswolsky notes that the pain of his career dissatisfaction was compounded by FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), caused by comparing his life to friends on social media.
  • He realized he was stuck in a quarter-life crisis, which he overcame only after meeting other young people going through the same thing.

The Three Lessons for a Breakthrough​

1. Find Believers​

  • The Problem: The majority of the world (70% of Americans, according to the speaker) is disengaged at work, and the common response is "suck it up, everyone hates their job".
  • The Solution: You must find "Believers"—people who believe in the beauty of their dreams
  • The Result: Accountability: When you tell Believers you are going to quit your job or pursue a dream, they hold you accountable, which provides the momentum to actually follow through.

2. Stop Comparing, Start Pursuing​

  • The Problem: Comparison, particularly on social media, makes the "grass look greener". Poswolsky recounts interviewing his seemingly successful corporate lawyer friend, only to find out the friend was also miserable and planning to quit to become a high school teacher.
  • The Solution: Nobody has it figured out. You must stop climbing the career ladder to nowhere and instead build a career that matters to you.
  • Meaning is Personal: Meaning is not universal; it is personal. For example, individuals like the founders of Goldieblox or Rising Tide Car Wash were motivated by a deep, personal connection to the social impact they wanted to have.

3. Start Hustling with Purpose​

  • The Problem: The current generation is often called "lazy," but this is contradicted by the fact that many young entrepreneurs are working 40, 50, or 60 hours a week on something they care about.
  • The Solution: Hustle hard on something that matters
  • Hustle while you're employed: You don't have to quit your job immediately. Debbie Sterling of Goldieblox worked full-time for nine months after having the idea, using her job to gain marketing, retail, and sales skills she could apply to her future business.
  • Make "the ask": Don't let being a beginner limit your hustle. Poswolsky shares the story of a designer from Spain, Bernard, who approached him in a foreign city and made the ask for design work, which led to him getting hired by a startup that was later acquired for $80 million.

Conclusion: The Purpose Generation​

Poswolsky argues that Millennials are not the "me, me, me generation," but the "purpose generation". He states that 50% of Millennials would take a pay cut to find work that matches their values. The challenges facing the world are too serious for people to remain stuck in an unfulfilled life or "climb the career ladder to nowhere".