Why Generation X is uniquely equipped to make their dreams come true

Generation X always gets the shaft. Wedged between two generational monoliths, no one seems to care that we are around.

Hate to break it to you, fellow Gen X’ers, we are not ever going to rule. There may be a short period of time when we are the largest voting population, but it won’t last long. The successful and optimistic Boomers are about to pass the torch to the savvy and bold Millennials, making them the culture-definers of the world. We will be skipped over like a salad at a pizza party.

But you already knew that, didn’t you.

The fact is, we have gotten the short end of the stick our whole lives, and you know what? The experience has developed characteristics in us that neither of those big and dominant generational cohorts could ever hope to have.

We are completely and perfectly equipped with everything we need to make our dreams come true.

Generation X is uniquely self-reliant

Known as latchkey kids, we were the first generation to come home from school to an empty house. This, of course, was before flex-time, remote work, and nannies were in vogue.

We fixed ourselves snacks and “did homework” in front of the television. We did our chores and entertained ourselves with little or no supervision. In our young age and in our little bubbles, we were decision-makers, and we learned to live with the benefits and consequences of those decisions.

We were also the first generation of women to grow up knowing that we were expected to have both full-time careers and a family. We were the first generation of men to grow up knowing their wives would have careers.

We knew all along we would chart new territory. Time would be a valuable commodity, and we would have to accomplish more with less.

Generation X has low expectations of financial security

We were the first generation expected to be financially worse-off than our parents.

We have been told our whole lives that we would have no retirement security. Pensions and corporate retirement funds were a thing of the past, and social security was in deep doo-doo.

We are the first generation to go into enormous debt to finance education, but we did it anyway because we were also the first generation for which the job market demanded a college degree. We will spend much of our lives repaying the debt.

We have lived through multiple economic collapses and poor job outlooks.

We are going to be the first generation to work well into our 70’s. We know we will have to work hard to get by and yet, wealth is not guaranteed. We are okay with that.

Generation X are educated workhorses

Generation X responded to problems in the job market with more education. They are the most educated generation; 35% of us have college degrees versus 19% of Millennials.

We have a willingness to job-hop greater than earlier generations. And yet, we are more company-loyal than later generations.

A recent study shows that during the pandemic, in the face of job insecurity, members of Generation X were less likely than Gen Y to disengage in their jobs. The study concluded that Gen X tended to separate job security from job satisfaction – something the younger cohorts did not seem able to do.

Despite this, we get the standard Gen X treatment in the corporate world. In the workforce, Generation X is given the most responsibility compared to Millennials or Boomers. However, they are given the fewest promotions.

Big surprise, we work extra hard with little reward.

On the plus side, we have resumes that reveal capability, adaptability and diversity of experience and knowledge.

Generation X is risk-tolerant

Besides being home alone a lot, we lived our childhood and younger years through the Cold War, the Challenger explosion, and Stranger Danger. Our world was literally treacherous.  

We are the children of divorce. We experienced the energy crisis of the ’70s, the stock market crash of the ’80s, and the dot com bust of the ’90s.

This is a generation that knows nothing is guaranteed. Marriages fall apart, companies fail, and sometimes people die. We have no illusions of fairness or security.

On the flip side, we watched the home computer and the internet become a thing. We had front-row seats for a fantastic technological revolution. “Back to the Future” went from amazing to goofy right before our eyes. (In terms of the technology, the movie is great forever).

We learned the Dewey Decimal System and cursive and watched those skills become obsolete. We had Betamax players, and then LaserDisc players. We are used to investing time, energy, and money into technologies that are immediately swallowed up by new technology.

We are used to risk and failure. We are used to lackluster ROI. We accept it and move on, none the worse for wear. We are resilient like that. And yet, we are not hesitant to invest in the next thing.

So, let’s recap

Generation X is:

1. Self-reliant decision-makers. Prepared to chart new territory. Valuing time and ready to do more with less.
2. Prepared to work hard late into life. Understanding there are no guarantees of success or wealth. Capable of managing financial insecurity.
3. Hard-working, well-educated, and unphased by job insecurity. Engaged workers with experience and knowledge. Invaluable in traditional corporate positions and yet often overlooked.
4. Prepared for risk and failure. Unexpectant of guarantees. Understanding that fantastic advances require risk. Not hesitant to make investments.

These are a list of traits that describe someone capable of doing amazing things. Starting a new business venture, completely changing careers, making a hobby your job. Doing what you love every day of your life.

All of the features are there, we have been trained to make the most out of the opportunities we have, to make opportunities where none exist.

We may be the generational losers but losing builds character. Losing builds drive. Losing is life lessons learned.

Now is our chance to take what we have earned.