I’m not credential-obsessed but I get tunnel vision rage when anyone suggests “Just start a business” as a solution to unemployment or wanting extra income. I feel a sense of dread when anyone forecasts that jobs are going to be made obsolete in favor of entrepreneurship.
I want to be a cog in a machine, clock in and clock out, and not have to deal with social media, CRM, networking, building a following, all the tax tracking stuff, and the uncertainty of not having a specific wage or salary.
And that’s totally valid! The opinion offered in the articles I shared are just one angle on what’s happening. Stay true to what feels right to you. Thank you for reading ❤️
I'm not sure where I personally stand long term on "cog in a machine" versus entrepreneurship long-term, in part because I'm burnt out right now from being at a start-up. Do you believe there is a future for "cog in a machine" work though? I do believe there can be societal value in it, but it kind of only matters what those with enough capital think. Which right now feels like there isn't a future for it...
An acquaintance online (whom I don't know well) recently posted that she's looking for a job, but she doesn't want to work retail, in food service, or in a factory. Another friend, whom I do know well, said recently, not in so many words, but basically, "I want a job that isn't (hard) work." I'm not super snide about it though. On-demand staffing that uses algorithms to make sure no one works enough hours to qualify for benefits, people can be called in to work or sent home on a moment's notice, and the schedule is different every dang day, that you only know 3 weeks ahead of time. At least a cog in the machine is rewarded for cogging, as it were. Jobs that don't value workers as humans AT ALL shouldn't even be legal.
What I wonder about people who don't have jobs because no realistic jobs meet their standards is: how are they affording to live now? Are they on the dole? Are their parents giving them money?
America has a lot of labor issues and I think most of it goes back to the 60s-70s when "deregulation" was framed as ways to promote economic freedom and resist communism and fascism, but in reality all it did was create - if fascist economics are corporations working to fulfill the needs of the government - a "reverse-fascist" system where the government works to fulfill the needs of the corporations.
If there were no consequences, they'd take labor laws back to the 19th century. They can't repeal all of it at once because it would be too noticeable, so it's a slow erosion and seeing all new technological developments as ways to maximize what they get for the least investment.
Labor laws aren't the only area. Almost every layer of American society has been engineered, via lobbying, to funnel money from people to corporate monopolies.
You complain about this and people come out of the woodwork to call you a communist.
But then, academic-class leftists seem to want to live with a blank check for doing nothing they don't feel like doing in the moment.
But then, actual communist societies assign jobs -- you do what the gov wants you to do where they want you to do it, and gov decides what you "need" to live.
This particular person (first scenario) was living with her parents, but wanting to move out. I assume she'll take whatever job she can, eventually, but it does suck that you can work a crap job and not even make a living at it.
Second scenario is on disability and living with her parents, but there are a whole lot of problems with the disability cliff (I think it was originally envisioned for short-term physical disability, so when your broken leg healed you can go back to work, so it's ok to just cut you off). There's no easy way to ease back into working.
Sure, everyone would rather have an "easy" job, but if you could make $20-$30 an hour, you'd put up with a lot.
> Almost every layer of American society has been engineered, via lobbying, to funnel money from people to corporate monopolies.
I think you’re on the right track with what compounds from here, it’s come up in a book I finished recently, “experiri”. The root of experience and experiment. That’s what compounds from here.
I struggled for years to leave my corporate job because I was convinced that “only 9 years” wasn’t enough time for me to be ready. But the depth of experience runs way stronger than the length. Not to pick on the Gen Z’s but while many of them were conceptualizing businesses in 2020, I was operating a national retail chain through lockdowns, outbreaks and supply chain breakdowns. Nothing can replace that real world, novel experience of what to do in a crisis.
I think we millennials got tied up in not only the credential promise, but the timeline. We didn’t relearn the new pace of knowledge and change, and need to adapt our thinking to realize that so much can happen in 1 years time, and that experience is invaluable in what we do next.
You make really great points here, especially “Nothing can replace that real world, novel experience of what to do in a crisis.” I’d never heard of experiri before, thank you for the rec to look into!
The credentialed class critique is fair, but I'd push back on one assumption: that credentials have been uniformly "commoditized." In certain fields: law, medicine, finance, engineering, where pedigree and licensure still function as genuine signals, not just ego props.
The real problem isn't credentials per se, it's Millennials applying a credential-dependent playbook to industries (media, tech, entrepreneurship) where that currency never actually held the value we thought it did....
The scrappiness argument is compelling for content creation, but generalizing it to all of professional life risks overcorrecting, and frankly, some gatekeeping exists for good reason.
Do you think any of these fields are at risk of credentials no longer being currency in the same way? I wonder if part of it comes down to laws in place that protect those industries, and thus the professionals that operate in them (in many cases for good reason).
Hey! I need this kind of message for so long…I agree 100% and your vision is insightful and humbling.
One thing that helps me a lot is this quote that I’ve printed on my office wall at home.
Saludos desde España.
"My competitive advantage is that I’m having a hell of a lot more fun than you.
And it’s not because I don’t care. It’s because I care so much that I refuse to let it be a fucking misery.
I build things I want to go back to, not things I want to escape from. I’ve stopped romanticizing my suffering like I’m some kind of war hero, and I’ve started romanticizing the kind of work that makes me go to bed excited to wake up and keep going.
Turns out, enjoying your life makes it a lot easier to stay consistent and not quit.
You can grind until you hate the work. I’m going to enjoy the work until I win."
I’m Gen Z and have a hunch that social media invisibility will be the next bigger thing in the coming years. When everyone is an influencer, what’s more interesting? Nicher jobs will be status symbols. Kind of like the Harlem Renaissance a big push back into major fashion brands, non-digital artist, photography. Etc.
My friends and I often talk about how the “tech bro boom” has infiltrated its way into every industry and speed has begun to chump quality over and over again. It’s hard to see what industries will transpire long-term when every niche is tapped once every couple of months for a microtrend. For a while we thought the blog space would take over but Substack became bogged down with tech bro grifter types so quickly we think it lost its appeal before it could even find its footing. And our concern is this is becoming a cultural shift in the US that will remain until a major event that affects all people from all walks of life in order to change.
I've never been able to put the feeling into words like you did with "the "tech bro boom" has infiltrated its way into every industry", but that's a great way to put it. To some extent I think even hobbies apply to. Example being running, which has been a hobby of mine since 4th grade, and I've seen it completely transform and now there's influencers in a way that feels tech bro-y.
It's interesting because some level of entrepreneurship is so valuable, as it keeps people creative. But when everyone is trying to blow up into the next big thing there's so much noise.
Fantastic article. It's even worse when you still have to pay off the loans for the credentials you invested in and those same credentials aren't paying you like you thought they would.
- I absolutely agree with your ideas around what compounds
- Some of this has to do with audience. I think your target is the millennial - elder millennial, and we do still appreciate credentials. That still means something. It *is* a solid foundation. Yes, gen-z might be quicker to take chances and make leaps, but that almost seems to be their learning style — their schooling. Experimental; Like the embodiment of fail fast. But just like you can’t discount a 70 year old’s years of experience, you also can’t discount our education, employment experience, etc.
- Huge follower counts, views, likes, etc. is very 2016-2022. We know things have shifted and that it’s harder and matters less. Sure, she went viral, but is this her niche? Will she continue to talk about it? Is she really a competitor? Does she have teeth in the game, or was she just mining for content and optimized it for her own momentary game?
- Something I can’t crack is I see SO MANY of us millennials with really good ideas. They’re smart, well-informed, NEEDED. But they’re almost underground, never gain the traction, etc. I can’t figure out why. My friend thinks it’s a marketing problem. Maybe? But these are the kind of people who are never going to do girlie-pop TTs (or when they try to, it falls flat bc it’s forced).
Love this reflection and what’s relevant in the age of AI! Huge respect for how you handled the “competition “ seeing it as a learning opportunity 👏 love that and it flips the hole narrative me vs the world vs we’re all in this
I remember seeing her video first and then I saw yours, never made any connection though, I thought two different creators came up with the same idea at the same time 🥹🥹 but I see how it can be very frustrating.
I am raised and forged by old systems as well - I can't let myself talk about anything on my social media(only personal essays or statement) because I always think: I have no credentials to provide any proof, but I also understand this kind of thinking drags many of us behind because we can start and pick credentials on the way.
You make a great point about this working the other way too! That the conditioning at credentials are necessary to speak on something keeps brilliant people from sharing their ideas for the fear that they don’t have enough experience. Thank you for reading!
This perfectly describes what so many of us are feeling. “I checked the boxes right before the world changed…” can be so daunting but putting words to this unique generational experience….fabulous!
I think you handled this really well and I think this approach allows you leverage your audience in a way that cant. More people relate to missing an opportunity to external choices but making things work anyway than Golden Ticket the algorithm promises us
I have multiple art history and archives degrees, a strong career to match, and absolutely love Substack because it’s allowed me to share art stories with so many people. But it’s been WAY less fun over the last 12 months because a fashion marketing Gen Z woman came in, reads my posts (Substack has great tracking metrics but they are making me totally crazy!!) and then steals the content from me as if she “discovered” it all on her own. She has frequently and publicly chanted about how “you don’t need an art history degree it’s useless” but she’s taking content from people (not just me) who have that exact educational background.
She’s almost at 50k subscribers and people are always raving about her Substack, while I’m left over here just completely devastated. And feeling robbed!
I think your words are already helping me shift my perspective! You have no idea how helpful it will be for my mental health to reframe this whole situation! Thank you again.
It's almost like a temu version of stealing work from a small brand situation happening. I see people big like this and can smell the inauthenticity, but I also am a millenial in the degree/credential spin cycle. Btw love your content, just subbed!
I hear so much of what you're saying here, and glad this article found me. I just shared a video yesterday around the career identity crisis I'm noticing not only with myself, but my community as well (https://youtu.be/lyVp2ertj7M?si=btL434OyYIq7FYg2) out of frustration and an awakening. If you're open to expanding the conversation on my channel, I'd love to have you!
For myself, doing a career pivot into the clinical mental health field, with a background in operational leadership for over 18+ years the feeling you stated really hit me 'of feeling more qualified to speak on x,y,and z than others that have surpassed me monetarily, or in other ways. I resonated with that one deeply, and just had a chat with a friend who felt the same. We're like, okay we are smart women...why does this part feel off lol.
I resonate so deeply with this, and I’m only 29! People older than me would absolutely call me Gen Z, but I have two sisters, one born in 88 the other born in 2000. I’m a 96 baby lol. So, I can see marked differences in all three of us. A lot of times, my experiences align more with my older sister than younger. I did all the “right” things—went to the fancy schools to leverage the fancy networks—and I’m still one of nearly a million Black women who are somehow underqualified but over educated. There’s a lot of resentment tbh.
It also looks a bit different for us, because racism went from demanding the credential, to allowing many of us to be deleted from the job with ChatGPT.
But, I do feel inter-communally, that lived experience is still valuable and honestly you’re still just getting started. I am 40 now and 29 for me felt like a now or never time.
But as I get older I realize that things are still going well! Things are shaking out. And for everyone on this thread, we still have something to offer, but some of us have to fight the oligarchs a bit harder for it!
Well said Janel! "The democratization of tools means the democratization of grift" too true.
I especially appreciate the advice on long term thinking and doing. Having the skills you mentioned is always going to give the greatest "edge" whenever the newest tool or tech is promising the next "edge" to make it. :)
I’m not credential-obsessed but I get tunnel vision rage when anyone suggests “Just start a business” as a solution to unemployment or wanting extra income. I feel a sense of dread when anyone forecasts that jobs are going to be made obsolete in favor of entrepreneurship.
I want to be a cog in a machine, clock in and clock out, and not have to deal with social media, CRM, networking, building a following, all the tax tracking stuff, and the uncertainty of not having a specific wage or salary.
And that’s totally valid! The opinion offered in the articles I shared are just one angle on what’s happening. Stay true to what feels right to you. Thank you for reading ❤️
I'm not sure where I personally stand long term on "cog in a machine" versus entrepreneurship long-term, in part because I'm burnt out right now from being at a start-up. Do you believe there is a future for "cog in a machine" work though? I do believe there can be societal value in it, but it kind of only matters what those with enough capital think. Which right now feels like there isn't a future for it...
An acquaintance online (whom I don't know well) recently posted that she's looking for a job, but she doesn't want to work retail, in food service, or in a factory. Another friend, whom I do know well, said recently, not in so many words, but basically, "I want a job that isn't (hard) work." I'm not super snide about it though. On-demand staffing that uses algorithms to make sure no one works enough hours to qualify for benefits, people can be called in to work or sent home on a moment's notice, and the schedule is different every dang day, that you only know 3 weeks ahead of time. At least a cog in the machine is rewarded for cogging, as it were. Jobs that don't value workers as humans AT ALL shouldn't even be legal.
What I wonder about people who don't have jobs because no realistic jobs meet their standards is: how are they affording to live now? Are they on the dole? Are their parents giving them money?
America has a lot of labor issues and I think most of it goes back to the 60s-70s when "deregulation" was framed as ways to promote economic freedom and resist communism and fascism, but in reality all it did was create - if fascist economics are corporations working to fulfill the needs of the government - a "reverse-fascist" system where the government works to fulfill the needs of the corporations.
If there were no consequences, they'd take labor laws back to the 19th century. They can't repeal all of it at once because it would be too noticeable, so it's a slow erosion and seeing all new technological developments as ways to maximize what they get for the least investment.
Labor laws aren't the only area. Almost every layer of American society has been engineered, via lobbying, to funnel money from people to corporate monopolies.
You complain about this and people come out of the woodwork to call you a communist.
But then, academic-class leftists seem to want to live with a blank check for doing nothing they don't feel like doing in the moment.
But then, actual communist societies assign jobs -- you do what the gov wants you to do where they want you to do it, and gov decides what you "need" to live.
This particular person (first scenario) was living with her parents, but wanting to move out. I assume she'll take whatever job she can, eventually, but it does suck that you can work a crap job and not even make a living at it.
Second scenario is on disability and living with her parents, but there are a whole lot of problems with the disability cliff (I think it was originally envisioned for short-term physical disability, so when your broken leg healed you can go back to work, so it's ok to just cut you off). There's no easy way to ease back into working.
Sure, everyone would rather have an "easy" job, but if you could make $20-$30 an hour, you'd put up with a lot.
> Almost every layer of American society has been engineered, via lobbying, to funnel money from people to corporate monopolies.
ALAS but true
I think you’re on the right track with what compounds from here, it’s come up in a book I finished recently, “experiri”. The root of experience and experiment. That’s what compounds from here.
I struggled for years to leave my corporate job because I was convinced that “only 9 years” wasn’t enough time for me to be ready. But the depth of experience runs way stronger than the length. Not to pick on the Gen Z’s but while many of them were conceptualizing businesses in 2020, I was operating a national retail chain through lockdowns, outbreaks and supply chain breakdowns. Nothing can replace that real world, novel experience of what to do in a crisis.
I think we millennials got tied up in not only the credential promise, but the timeline. We didn’t relearn the new pace of knowledge and change, and need to adapt our thinking to realize that so much can happen in 1 years time, and that experience is invaluable in what we do next.
You make really great points here, especially “Nothing can replace that real world, novel experience of what to do in a crisis.” I’d never heard of experiri before, thank you for the rec to look into!
The credentialed class critique is fair, but I'd push back on one assumption: that credentials have been uniformly "commoditized." In certain fields: law, medicine, finance, engineering, where pedigree and licensure still function as genuine signals, not just ego props.
The real problem isn't credentials per se, it's Millennials applying a credential-dependent playbook to industries (media, tech, entrepreneurship) where that currency never actually held the value we thought it did....
The scrappiness argument is compelling for content creation, but generalizing it to all of professional life risks overcorrecting, and frankly, some gatekeeping exists for good reason.
I'm definitely not generalizing, and wholly agree re: credentials being necessary for many fields of work and study!
Do you think any of these fields are at risk of credentials no longer being currency in the same way? I wonder if part of it comes down to laws in place that protect those industries, and thus the professionals that operate in them (in many cases for good reason).
Hey! I need this kind of message for so long…I agree 100% and your vision is insightful and humbling.
One thing that helps me a lot is this quote that I’ve printed on my office wall at home.
Saludos desde España.
"My competitive advantage is that I’m having a hell of a lot more fun than you.
And it’s not because I don’t care. It’s because I care so much that I refuse to let it be a fucking misery.
I build things I want to go back to, not things I want to escape from. I’ve stopped romanticizing my suffering like I’m some kind of war hero, and I’ve started romanticizing the kind of work that makes me go to bed excited to wake up and keep going.
Turns out, enjoying your life makes it a lot easier to stay consistent and not quit.
You can grind until you hate the work. I’m going to enjoy the work until I win."
– Jesse Itzler
I’m Gen Z and have a hunch that social media invisibility will be the next bigger thing in the coming years. When everyone is an influencer, what’s more interesting? Nicher jobs will be status symbols. Kind of like the Harlem Renaissance a big push back into major fashion brands, non-digital artist, photography. Etc.
My friends and I often talk about how the “tech bro boom” has infiltrated its way into every industry and speed has begun to chump quality over and over again. It’s hard to see what industries will transpire long-term when every niche is tapped once every couple of months for a microtrend. For a while we thought the blog space would take over but Substack became bogged down with tech bro grifter types so quickly we think it lost its appeal before it could even find its footing. And our concern is this is becoming a cultural shift in the US that will remain until a major event that affects all people from all walks of life in order to change.
Great piece!
I've never been able to put the feeling into words like you did with "the "tech bro boom" has infiltrated its way into every industry", but that's a great way to put it. To some extent I think even hobbies apply to. Example being running, which has been a hobby of mine since 4th grade, and I've seen it completely transform and now there's influencers in a way that feels tech bro-y.
It's interesting because some level of entrepreneurship is so valuable, as it keeps people creative. But when everyone is trying to blow up into the next big thing there's so much noise.
Fantastic article. It's even worse when you still have to pay off the loans for the credentials you invested in and those same credentials aren't paying you like you thought they would.
Janel, allow me to noodle out loud here:
- I absolutely agree with your ideas around what compounds
- Some of this has to do with audience. I think your target is the millennial - elder millennial, and we do still appreciate credentials. That still means something. It *is* a solid foundation. Yes, gen-z might be quicker to take chances and make leaps, but that almost seems to be their learning style — their schooling. Experimental; Like the embodiment of fail fast. But just like you can’t discount a 70 year old’s years of experience, you also can’t discount our education, employment experience, etc.
- Huge follower counts, views, likes, etc. is very 2016-2022. We know things have shifted and that it’s harder and matters less. Sure, she went viral, but is this her niche? Will she continue to talk about it? Is she really a competitor? Does she have teeth in the game, or was she just mining for content and optimized it for her own momentary game?
- Something I can’t crack is I see SO MANY of us millennials with really good ideas. They’re smart, well-informed, NEEDED. But they’re almost underground, never gain the traction, etc. I can’t figure out why. My friend thinks it’s a marketing problem. Maybe? But these are the kind of people who are never going to do girlie-pop TTs (or when they try to, it falls flat bc it’s forced).
Love this reflection and what’s relevant in the age of AI! Huge respect for how you handled the “competition “ seeing it as a learning opportunity 👏 love that and it flips the hole narrative me vs the world vs we’re all in this
Thank you for reading!
Yes, and, I still think the other creator who plagiarized owes a big apology. I absolutely would not have offered her this grace.
I remember seeing her video first and then I saw yours, never made any connection though, I thought two different creators came up with the same idea at the same time 🥹🥹 but I see how it can be very frustrating.
I am raised and forged by old systems as well - I can't let myself talk about anything on my social media(only personal essays or statement) because I always think: I have no credentials to provide any proof, but I also understand this kind of thinking drags many of us behind because we can start and pick credentials on the way.
You make a great point about this working the other way too! That the conditioning at credentials are necessary to speak on something keeps brilliant people from sharing their ideas for the fear that they don’t have enough experience. Thank you for reading!
Thank you for sharing, I love your content🙌🙌
This perfectly describes what so many of us are feeling. “I checked the boxes right before the world changed…” can be so daunting but putting words to this unique generational experience….fabulous!
I think you handled this really well and I think this approach allows you leverage your audience in a way that cant. More people relate to missing an opportunity to external choices but making things work anyway than Golden Ticket the algorithm promises us
Thank you for writing and sharing this!
I have multiple art history and archives degrees, a strong career to match, and absolutely love Substack because it’s allowed me to share art stories with so many people. But it’s been WAY less fun over the last 12 months because a fashion marketing Gen Z woman came in, reads my posts (Substack has great tracking metrics but they are making me totally crazy!!) and then steals the content from me as if she “discovered” it all on her own. She has frequently and publicly chanted about how “you don’t need an art history degree it’s useless” but she’s taking content from people (not just me) who have that exact educational background.
She’s almost at 50k subscribers and people are always raving about her Substack, while I’m left over here just completely devastated. And feeling robbed!
I think your words are already helping me shift my perspective! You have no idea how helpful it will be for my mental health to reframe this whole situation! Thank you again.
I’m so so sorry it has happened to you, too!
It's almost like a temu version of stealing work from a small brand situation happening. I see people big like this and can smell the inauthenticity, but I also am a millenial in the degree/credential spin cycle. Btw love your content, just subbed!
It's totally like Temu stealing from smaller brands! It has completely bummed me out.
BUT!!!! Reading that you just became a subscriber made me put my hand over my heart. So happy to have you on board--thank you!!
Of course! You are doing great work and I am excited to see what you write about next! ❤️
I hear so much of what you're saying here, and glad this article found me. I just shared a video yesterday around the career identity crisis I'm noticing not only with myself, but my community as well (https://youtu.be/lyVp2ertj7M?si=btL434OyYIq7FYg2) out of frustration and an awakening. If you're open to expanding the conversation on my channel, I'd love to have you!
For myself, doing a career pivot into the clinical mental health field, with a background in operational leadership for over 18+ years the feeling you stated really hit me 'of feeling more qualified to speak on x,y,and z than others that have surpassed me monetarily, or in other ways. I resonated with that one deeply, and just had a chat with a friend who felt the same. We're like, okay we are smart women...why does this part feel off lol.
Thanks for sharing this Janel!
I resonate so deeply with this, and I’m only 29! People older than me would absolutely call me Gen Z, but I have two sisters, one born in 88 the other born in 2000. I’m a 96 baby lol. So, I can see marked differences in all three of us. A lot of times, my experiences align more with my older sister than younger. I did all the “right” things—went to the fancy schools to leverage the fancy networks—and I’m still one of nearly a million Black women who are somehow underqualified but over educated. There’s a lot of resentment tbh.
It also looks a bit different for us, because racism went from demanding the credential, to allowing many of us to be deleted from the job with ChatGPT.
But, I do feel inter-communally, that lived experience is still valuable and honestly you’re still just getting started. I am 40 now and 29 for me felt like a now or never time.
But as I get older I realize that things are still going well! Things are shaking out. And for everyone on this thread, we still have something to offer, but some of us have to fight the oligarchs a bit harder for it!
Well said Janel! "The democratization of tools means the democratization of grift" too true.
I especially appreciate the advice on long term thinking and doing. Having the skills you mentioned is always going to give the greatest "edge" whenever the newest tool or tech is promising the next "edge" to make it. :)
FUDGE YES !!!!!!!! say it louder