6/30: Pentagon is Scared of Gen Z, About Half of the World isn't Sleeping Well
A weekly newsletter for those charged with building the future
Hey! Sid here.
Welcome to the 4th edition of ‘Logs by Cabin’ - a weekly newsletter that equips freelancers, solopreneurs, and leaders with insights to build, grow, and learn together.
#1: The Pentagon has Gen Z confused
I think I got it from here, Sid.
Hello everyone, Ibrahim or Ibra here.
Quick intro about me: I just graduated from DePaul and am trying to navigate the world the best I can. My awesome professor (shout to Dr. Zafar Iqbal) recently hosted a “side hustle panel” with former students. Sid represented Millennial freelance writers, and his voice resonated with me.
We connected on LinkedIn and have been working together ever since.
So back to the topic about my generation (I was born in '99). Gen Z, the iGen, Homelanders, or whatever you want to call us. When you think of those born between 1995-2010 (roughly 20% of the total US population), you may envision a bunch of vape-smoking smartphone addicts and job hoppers who want everything on a silver platter.
If you’re the Pentagon, you may believe we’re going to spark an uprising or Zbellion by 2025 since we “no longer believe in the American Dream.”
The reality is we're a generation defined by events, rather than arbitrary dates and stereotypes. We grew up with:
9/11 as toddlers and The Great Recession in our pre-teens - giving us inherited unsettlement and insecurity about this world.
Seeing the internet and smartphones become an integral part of our daily lives. Personally, I miss cassettes and DVD players, especially when the “Coming Soon on Video and DVD” bumper ads come on before watching a movie.
Following family advice of “get a college degree, you’ll get greater career opportunities”, yet are still paying $50k+/year for Zoom recordings during a global pandemic. We’re dealing with excessive student loan debt, and see that employment options don’t meet expectations.
Want to know how all this affects the way we look at this world? Based on my experiences and recent studies, I’ll say:
We are naturally skeptical and therefore seek independence from the “system” or accepted status quo. Our generation is the most diverse and educated generation yet, so our worldviews are combinations of philosophies from other cultures, studies, and experiences. We don’t always accept “dominant” narratives.
In terms of employment opportunities, we value compensation and benefits over titles. XYZ University discovered that 2 in 3 Generation Zers would rather have a job that offers financial stability than one that they enjoy. Obviously, we’d prefer to operate in an enjoyable environment but financial stability takes precedence.
This is probably why we’re keen on entrepreneurial pursuits or trying to turn our hobbies into full-time jobs. Knowing that our potential “starts and ends with a company” is unacceptable. We feel that our careers should be built around our lives and NOT the other way around. Sid agrees; hence the newsletter.
These attitudes towards work are also reflected in how we consume. Nicely put by a 2018 McKinsey report, consumption means having access to products or services, not necessarily owning them. From car-riding services, video streaming, and subscriptions, having unlimited access to goods and services are what creates value. Products become services, and services connect consumers.
At the same time, many of us value a focus on social impact by our employers and companies. In a 2015 survey by I4CP research, 72% of Gen Z survey respondents said that corporate responsibility is very important to them, and 93% of Gen Z says that a company’s impact on society affects their decision to work there. For us, it’s all about finding the intersection of purpose and profit.
We may seem like we’re on our phones 24/7 or think “Zoom is life” but we actually value being face-to-face or having “real conversations” with people. Especially in the early stages of our careers, we prefer to have several check-ins with management throughout the week and seek out mentors (mostly Millennials since they’re most relatable to us) who are transparent and honest with us. This builds trust and allows us to be more engaged and loyal to our employers.
We’re actually involved with social events and can dig up research behind mainstream media headlines. Some of us protest, some of us are keyboard warriors, or some just don’t want to cause a problem but are still mindful of what’s happening.
Me? I’m just an optimistic realist. I believe in the good of all people and wish the best for the world, but I’m not surprised when I see BS and corruption take place.
Okay, I’m done with my rants.
I’ll pass back to Sid to calm us down with some “sleep talks.”
#2: About half of the world isn’t getting enough sleep
Thx Ibra.
Am I the only one who’s hearing nightmares from friends and family that can’t sleep?
As someone who suffers from morning lark syndrome (yes, that’s a thing), I feel your pain. You’re awake when everyone’s sleeping, tired when everyone’s awake, and sick of hearing “just go back to bed”.
The CDC estimates up to 45% of the world isn’t getting enough sleep, and neither is one in three Americans. Even worse, many are hooked up to CPAP machines, going in for sleep studies, and self-proclaimed experts.
Not to mention we’re glued to our phones and more stressed than ever before.
Things have gotten so bad that people are getting advice on TikTok. One of the latest trends? Lettuce water. It’s what you might imagine; boiling water, pouring it over romaine, and drinking it. Some say “it tastes how asparagus pee [would] smell”, and others point out the obvious. It would be hard to drink enough to matter, you run the risk of salmonella, and a midnight bathroom visit would only make it harder to sleep.
While the debate rages on, college students, workers, low-income adults, racial minorities face sleep loss and “coronasomnia”. Less z’s link to a long list of chronic conditions, from high BP to dementia, along with a higher risk of COVID fatality.
Ironically enough, technology may be the ailment that treats us. Wearables and remote monitoring enable us to measure sleeping patterns, while behavioral therapy can improve our habits.
The good news is, there’s a lot we can do as well. Here are a few ways to count more sheep:
Set consistent sleeping and waking times
Get some early-morning exercise
Sub out nighttime browsing for reading to reduce screen time
Journal or write down any negative thoughts instead of keeping them in your head
Consider intermittent fasting, which could help reinforce circadian rhythms
Change your personality (just kidding)
Wood For The Fire, W(F)TF
(our way of saying “food for thought” or “in case you missed it”):
Ikea pulls a power marketing move with a Cristiano (Ronaldo) water bottle
The Super Mario Effect: how to gamify your life [Youtube]
Microsoft focuses on hybrid work and “personal endeavors” in Windows 11
Buzzfeed announces plans to go public, building a “Big Media” empire
Foundational skills defined for the “future of work” by McKinsey
Government report admits that UFOs could be aliens
When to quit your job, based on a chatbot
What did COVID do to friendship?
Quote of the Week:
You have to have a big vision and take very small steps to get there. You have to be humble as you execute but visionary and gigantic in terms of your aspiration. In the Internet industry, it's not about grand innovation, it's about a lot of little innovations: every day, every week, every month, making something a little bit better. - Jason Calacanis
Featured Builder:
This one goes out to the old roomie. Adi is the CEO of 120/Life, a startup on a mission to promote healthy BP in America. He’s also (somehow) building a crypto hedge fund. An adept learner, strong leader, and great friend. If you know someone dealing with high BP or is serious about crypto, hit him or up or reach out to him or me!
So… what’d you think?
Feel free to reply to skhaita2@gmail.com with any feedback or thoughts! As we keep building out this content, would love to hear any ideas for improvement.
While you’re at it…