Hello miss, are you a geriatric millenial?
^ A reminder to pay it forward and to receive gracefully, before the cycle begins again, and again. (c/o @innermade)
When I was growing up, I would downplay any thanks I’d receive. There was a lot of internal conversations such as “this (action) should be expected of me”, “anyone would have done it” or “I don’t deserve this”. I struggled with the imbalance where I would give and give, yet be so awkward about receiving the appreciation. It’s likely a matter of time (and age) when I realised that it’s okay to own what you’re good at, and not everyone is good at what you do.
Just like how I realise I’m actually very comfortable being a Geriatric Millenial. A what now, you say? Yes, there could be a better way to phrase this, perhaps a Xennial? If you’re born between 1980 to 1985 (± 2 years), it’s safe to say you grew up with dial up internet, dreading when calls come in because it meant a dead internet connection, and the 1.3 megapixel Olympus Camedia camera was a state-of-the-art model to have back in 1998. Also, remember the Nokia 8250 ah beng butterfly keypad phone with blue LED light? That was my favourite.
Erica Dhawan on work:
Geriatric millennials are best positioned to lead teams that will thrive in the hybrid workplace
I definitely think it is because us Xennials have grown up in a time of “don’t have (yet)” to today’s “can we stop with the excess” that we’re rather flexible and adaptable at the workplace, to work with the Boomers and to work with Gen-Z and millenials. Not as unused, or afraid of technology, not as blue sky thinking (we have grounded worries often financially-driven), but just a fair amount of enough from both sides that we trudge on and make things work to call it a success.
Turning these pages
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I had so much fun reading this book by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy! “No Hard Feelings” is filled with nail-on-head work doodles, showing you how to parse relevant emotions when making tough decisions at work. Emotional agility also helps you navigate the minefield that is haphazardly caused from others’ projection at work.
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Life is too short, says Paul Graham. Too short for what? Bullshit, in any form it takes in your life. So here’s a reminder to “relentlessly prune bullshit, don’t wait to do things that matter, and savour the time you have”.
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Maybe it’s the Type A doer in me, but I never got the hang of small talk. But with the ongoing pandemic (in Singapore speak, P₂HA - yes, I’ve now decided it shall be represented as a chemical formula), maybe having a 1-minute sincere preamble with the person in front of you (even on-screen) gives acknowledgement that they too, are going through things unseen and unknown to you.
The odd bits
Your week could use a bit of Shinkansen announcement BGM while at work.
Xennially yours,
Medhā