The Life Story of Gen-Z From The Eyes of Gen-X

While developing this website, I interacted with Mahesh, my friend’s son. He is pursuing his engineering from Pune. I was curious to know about life in engineering colleges these days. Initially, he was a bit shy and hesitant to talk much. When I became friendly, he opened up.

I could sense that Mahesh is very clear about what he intended to do in his life. He was well-versed in the technological changes happening in his field. He spoke about the incubation center, the start-up culture, and his participation in various national-level technology competitions. It was music to my ears. I know this is happening around. But hearing directly from a Gen-Z gave me goosebumps. I was thrilled.

The discussion took me back by thirty years. I was brought up and studied in a small sleepy town, disconnected from big cities like Pune and Mumbai. I went to an engineering college that wasn’t an IIT or IIM. In that era of 1990, the engineering college days were totally different from what I see today.

Many of us used to attend college just for the sake of it. Many did not have any dreams, expectations, or ambitions. Many of us were not aware of the new things shaping up in the world. The remoteness of the town offered us hardly any opportunities. The only dream post-engineering was to go to Pune or Mumbai and get some job. That was all we knew and hoped for.

Today, Gen-Z is more intelligent, sharp, and fearless. They are willing to explore and experiment. They are passionate and dare to dream. They are curious and know everything that is happening around the world. Global information is readily accessible at the fingertips, and the world is a connected place now. The IT revolution has transformed this generation.

However, with the rapid evolution in technology; the culture, psychology, and behavior are also changing. Besides the good, the evil biases are also creeping in slowly.

In addition to the vocabulary of start-up, incubation, unicorn, ML & AI, the words like live-in, divorce, crypto, and options trading have become the new normal. With the rise in pay packages, the egos are also getting inflated leading to increased divorce rates. A rat race to get rich quickly has begun as if there is no tomorrow.

There is a palpable hurry in everything. No one seems to have time to wait patiently and enjoy this beautiful life journey.

To be honest, I love Gen-Z for their fearless approach to life. I admire their risk-taking capabilities. However, I am of the view that there is a dire need for introspection. Gen-Z needs to stop for a moment and ask this question, “While chasing these dreams, have we lost the peace, tranquility, and calmness forever?” If not, then go ahead and enjoy.

Is this the generation gap? Maybe yes.

Am I getting older? Maybe yes.

And wiser? Don’t know.

However, as a friend, I am very much concerned about two aspects of Gen-Z’s life:-

• The first is the rampant divorce rate

• And the second is the lure to get rich quickly

Both are not worth betting your entire life.

Let me address the second concern of “get rich quick” first.

In the past five years or so, many among Gen-Z are addicted to trading. The mushrooming of new brokers and the ease of trading through mobile apps have made trading a fingertip game.

Everyone thinks that he can beat the market and become rich overnight. Mind you, trading is not that easy. If that be so, the Mercedes company would not have been worried about the SIP competition. In my earlier article, “डॉनको पकडना मुश्किलही नहीं नामूमकिन हैं” I elaborated on how impossible it is to time the market in a short period.

Through my articles, I have been emphasizing regularly the evils of crypto, future and options (F&O), and intraday trading. If you are indulging in any of these, then it is a sure-shot recipe for financial disaster. It is synonymous with gambling. Slowly, it will become a habit, and one day you will erode your entire capital.

It is a proven fact that very few are lucky enough to become rich by trading. It is not worth fighting this evil and hoping to succeed one day. That day will never come.

However, I know that despite all these words of wisdom, you will not listen to me. Even after this sincere advice, you will still be eager to experiment and explore. However, as a well-wisher, I do not want you to try this without putting in a structured approach.

Hence, in my next few articles, I will guide you on how to approach trading as a business and build portfolios. I hope that will help you from drowning.

I will leave it to the wise old man, Warren Buffet to address my first concern about “divorce.” Warren Buffet said, “The biggest decision of your life will be who you chose to marry?”

Take care!