If you’re a millennial, odds are you were raised with the notion that we had to take the traditional path. You know, go to college, decide on a major when we were only 17 or 18 years old and barely able to cook without a microwave or do our own laundry, graduate with a degree. Then, we had the option of getting a traditional job — the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. type — or attending graduate school to get an even more prestigious degree.
But, more and more millennials are saying “screw tradition!” and becoming entrepreneurs or working non-traditional jobs. They aren’t following in the footsteps of their parents, and their idea of success is vastly different from what the baby boomer generation would think of as success.
To some millennials, success isn't about having a 9 a.m. — 5 p.m. job. It isn’t being a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, a financial analyst, a nurse, etc. It isn’t making a ton of money by being chained to an office desk every single day.
To some millennials, success is about following their passion and doing what they love. It’s about making money on their own terms. It’s about making an impact and being compensated for it. It’s about taking these ideas and desire – that many older generations find to be completely idealistic and somewhat unattainable – and making them a reality.
It’s about proving their parents wrong.
Many millennials have so many more interests, and they aren’t willing to sacrifice those interests to spend all day in a cubicle — leaving them little to no time to pursue their other passions.
They would rather start their own business, where the hours are much more flexible and the earning potential is uncapped than work for a corporation or other company where they are reporting to a supervisor that may or may not be a douche (pardon my French, but it’s true).
According to a "Fortune" article, millennials are discovering non-traditional career paths, like entrepreneurship, at a much earlier age than baby boomers. Older generations launched their first businesses at about 35 years old whereas millennials are launching their own businesses at the “young” age of 27.
Another interesting trend?
Millennials who are following the non-traditional path are starting more businesses. A study done by "Fortune" found that millennial entrepreneurs have started twice as many businesses as baby boomers have. Baby boomers average three to four businesses.
Millennials? Eight.
While many tend to look down on millennials for a variety of different reasons, one thing is clear: We are a generation that dreams big and follows those dreams. We have ideas, and we believe we can bring those ideas to fruition. We are willing to take risks. We are willing to stray from what our parents think is the “safe” path.
We are willing to take the road less traveled.
And that’s OK.
It’s OK to want to try something new.
It’s OK to want to follow our dreams.
It’s OK to believe that money and happiness CAN and DO go together.
There is so much of a stigma around the millennial generation, when in reality, I believe we are just misunderstood.
