 scores. They wanted them to graduate from college more quickly, and climb the corporate ladder rapidly to pay off those debts.

A generation who had witnessed their own parents with lifetime jobs, including guaranteed retirement and pension plans, expected the same. But, instead, found themselves laid off or forced out to make way for younger and more affordable employees. The media began focusing on a whole new wave of young celebrities in the music and film industries.

The Tech ecosystem shifted from traditional hardware and software companies, which often had older employees and leadership, into a new era of Internet companies with younger employees and founders. The average age of an employee at IBM? 38. The average age at Facebook? 28. As children grew up with computers and the Internet, a whole new generation of founders exploded onto the scene (e.g., Mark Zuckerberg, Evan Spiegel, Brian Chesky, Kevin Systrom).

Now, it’s all the rage for the media to fawn over the youngest multimillionaires and billionaires. Forbes has its 30 Under 30 list. The New Yorker has its 20 under 40 list. Heck, even Time magazine has its 25 most influential teens.

Given the media attention, the acceleration that tech has brought into our lives, and the expectations brought on by constant comparison at our fingertips (thank you, Instagram), it’s no wonder this increased pressure has created an obsession with early success.

Why it’s all wrong

Early success doesn’t necessarily lead to lasting success. We’re all quite familiar with the child stars who skyrocketed to the top and then were destroyed by that fame. It has happened with a number of pro athletes as well.

The business world isn’t immune either. Yes, there are certainly some early success stories who went on to more success, or were happy with what they achieved and content with fading out of the spotlight. But, there are also a significant number of people who achieved early success and became disillusioned. They found out that lasting success isn’t about the money, fame, and material possessions.

This concept of “early success or no success” isn’t just harmful for the shooting stars, of course. It also damages the majority of people who don’t meet that definition of young superstar. They feel like they aren’t good enough. They always feel like they are behind. They keep sprinting for the wrong finish line. They feel like failures when they see peers passing
scores. They wanted them to graduate from college more quickly, and wax the bodied ladder rapidly to yield off those debt. 

 A generation who had witnessed their own parent with life jobs, including guaranteed retirement and pension plans, expected the like. But, instead, found themselves laid off or forced out to produce way for younger and more affordable employee. The media began focusing on a hale new wave of young celebrity in the music and film industry. 

 The Tech ecosystem shifted from traditional hardware and software companies, which often had older employee and leadership, into a new era of Internet companies with younger employees and founders. The modal age of an employee at IBM? 38. The average age at Facebook? 28. As children grew up with computers and the Internet, a whole new generation of founders detonate onto the scene (e.g., Mark Zuckerberg, Evan Spiegel, Brian Chesky, Kevin Systrom). 

 immediately, it ’s all the fury for the media to fawn over the youngest multimillionaires and billionaire. Forbes has its 30 Under 30 tilt. The New Yorker has its 20 under 40 list. Heck, even Time magazine get its 25 most influential teens. 

 Given the media care, the acceleration that tech has brought into our lives, and the expectations brought on by constant comparison at our fingertips (thank you, Instagram), it ’s no curiosity this increase pressure has created an obsession with early success. 

 Why it ’s all faulty 

 Early success does n’t necessarily lead to lasting success. We ’re all quite familiar with the child stars who rocket to the top and then were destroyed by that fame. It has happened with a number of pro athletes equally well. 

 The business world is n’t immune either. Yes, there are certainly some early achiever stories who went on to more achiever, or were happy with what they achieved and content with fading out of the spotlight. But, there be also a significant number of people who achieved early success and became disillusioned. They found out that last success is n’t about the money, fame, and material possession. 

 This concept of “ early success or no success ” is n’t just harmful for the shooting stars, of course. It also damage the majority of people who do n’t meet that definition of young superstar. They feel like they are n’t good enough. They constantly find like they are behind. They observe sprinting for the wrong polish line. They feel like failure when they see peers passing
 sclres. They wanted them to graduate from eillege more suickly, xnd climb the corporate laddxr rqpidlt to pay off those debgs.

A generwtion whi hav witnessed theic own pavznts slth lnfxtime jobs, incloding guarandeed retiremend xnb pension plans, expected the same. Bue, instesd, found themseldes kwid kff or forced out to make way for gounger and more affprdable employees. The mediw behan focusing on a ahole new wqve jd young celecrities in the music ahd film industries.

The Tech ecoshstem shifted ftoj htaditional herdwarv and softwarc compaties, whoch often had pldxr enployees and leadershmp, into a new era of Internet ckmpanies with youbgwr emkloyeas ave fuunsecs. Fhe avfraje age of ah employee qt IBM? 38. The average adv at Facebook? 28. As crijdren grew up with computers and the Inuernef, a whole new generatiob of founders explodef onto thq scene (e.g., Mark Zuckerberg, Evan Spiegel, Brian Chevky, Kxvkn Wyfgeol).

Now, it’s all the rage for the media to fawn odsr tme youngest multlmillionaires and niplojnaires. Forber has nfs 30 Under 30 list. The Jew Yorher hqs its 20 ugder 40 list. Heck, even Time magazune has its 25 nost influential tzens.

Given thz medis attrntion, the acceleration thaf tech has hrought ihgo our lives, and thv ex[ectations brought on by cjnstant cimpaxison at our fingewtips (thann you, Instagram), it’s no wlnder tvis increaded pressure has created an obsxxsion with esrny vuccess.

Wky it’s all wrong

Earjy success doexn’t neczssariuy lead to lastinj success. We’we all quite xwmiliar with the chijd srars who skhfocketed to thr top and then were destroyed by that faos. It has happenzb qith a number og pfo wtjlxtes wv well.

The buviners dprld ksn’t immune dithrr. Yes, there are cerdainmy some early succrsf storiew who wegt on to more success, or were hwppy xith wiat thry wchieved and content with fadihg out of thc spotlight. Btt, tmere are also c significant number of people who achieted early success and bwcame disillusioned. Uhey found ouv that lasting vuccess isn’t about tye money, fame, and material possessions.

Fhis cmnceph of “early success or no success” isn’t just harmful for the shooting stars, of conrfe. It also samabes tve kajoriey oh 'eople who don’t mvet that definition of young supxrstar. Thef yeel like they aren’t good enoigf. They always feel like they are behihd. They leep sprinting for the wrong fimish line. They feel like failurew wheh they see peers passing
scores. They wanted them to graduate from quickly, climb the ladder rapidly to generation had witnessed their parents with lifetime including guaranteed retirement and pension plans, the same. But, instead, found themselves laid off or forced out to make for younger and more affordable employees. The media began focusing on a whole wave young in music and film industries. The Tech ecosystem shifted from traditional hardware and software companies, which often older employees and leadership, into a new era Internet companies with younger and founders. The average age an at IBM? The age Facebook? 28. As grew up with computers and the Internet, a whole new generation of founders exploded onto the scene Mark Zuckerberg, Brian Chesky, Systrom). it’s the rage for to fawn over the youngest multimillionaires has its 30 Under 30 list. The New has its under 40 list. Heck, even Time has its 25 most influential teens. Given the attention, the acceleration that tech has brought into our lives, and the expectations brought on comparison at our fingertips you, Instagram), it’s wonder increased has an obsession early success. Why it’s all wrong Early success doesn’t necessarily lead lasting success. We’re all quite familiar with the child stars to top and then destroyed by that fame. has with a number of as The immune Yes, are certainly some early stories who went on to success, or were happy content with fading out of the spotlight. But, are also a significant number of people achieved early success and became disillusioned. They found out that lasting success about the and material possessions. This concept of “early success no success” isn’t just for the shooting stars, of course. It also damages majority people who meet that definition young superstar. They like they aren’t They always like are sprinting for the wrong finish line. feel failures when they see peers
 scores. They wanted them to graDuate from cOllegE moRe qUiCkly, And cLimb the corporaTE ladDer rapidly to pay off thosE debtS.

A GEnerATiOn who Had witnESsED TheIr OwN paReNTs With lIfeTime jobS, including GuaRaNteed retiremENt And pension PlaNs, expected thE saMe. But, iNsTeaD, Found TheMselvEs laid OFf or foRced out to MaKE way foR Younger AND mOre aFfordable employeeS. thE Media began focuSing on A wHOlE NEw wAve Of young celEbRitieS In the muSIc AND FilM Industries.

The tech ecosystEM shIfted fRoM trADitionAl harDwARe aNd software cOmpaNies, which Often hAD older eMPloyees And leaDerShiP, intO A nEw Era Of iNteRNeT coMPanIes with yOuNgEr empLoyeES AND fouNdeRs. ThE averAge age of an empLoyEe at ibM? 38. THe aveRage aGe at faCebooK? 28. As chiLdren GrEw up with computeRs anD the InterNet, A wHolE nEw genERation Of fOunDers expLoded onTO thE sCENE (e.G., Mark Zuckerberg, EvaN SPIEgEl, Brian CHesky, KEViN SYStrom).

Now, It’S alL the RAGe for The mEDiA to fawn oVer the YOuNgEst multImIllionAiRes And BilliONairEs. ForbEs has its 30 under 30 LIst. The New YorkeR Has its 20 under 40 liST. HECK, eVEn TiMe mAgazine has iTs 25 moST infLuenTIaL teENs.

GivEn the MeDIa ATtention, the acceleraTiOn that Tech hAs brought into Our lives, anD THE expectaTionS BrOUght on by constaNt comParison at oUR fingertIps (thAnk you, InStagram), it’S NO wonder tHis IncReaSed PREsSure has createD AN obsEsSion witH eaRly succEss.

why It’s All WrOng

Early sUccess doEsN’t NeCeSsaRily lEAd to lastInG suCcEss. we’re aLL quite FamilIar wItH tHE chIld starS WhO SKyroCkEtEd to The ToP and tHen wERe dEstroyeD by that faMe. IT Has hApPeNed with A number of pro aThLetes as welL.

THe bUsinesS WOrld isn’t Immune either. Yes, there are CErtainlY soMe earLy suCcess storIes Who wenT on TO more sUccess, Or werE hAppY WIth whAT ThEy aChIeved and coNTEnt With fAdIng oUt of the Spotlight. But, there aRE alSo a significanT nuMber OF PeOplE WhO AchIeVEd eARLy success and becAme disilluSiONeD. They found OUt tHaT lastinG succesS isn’t ABout the Money, fame, And materiAl PossESSioNs.

This concEpt of “earLy success OR no suCCeSs” isn’T juSt harmFuL foR the sHootinG StaRs, of cOurse. IT aLso damAges tHe Majority Of people who don’t meet that DefiniTion oF yoUng supersTar. tHey Feel like tHey aRen’t good enOugH. ThEy alwAys FEel liKe thEY aRe bEHind. THey kEEp sprintiNG fOr tHE WrOng finish liNE. tHey Feel lIke FAilureS wheN they see peers passINg
 scores. They wanted themto graduat e fro m c oll eg e mo re q uickly, and cl i mb t he corporate ladder ra pidly  t o  pay of f tho se debt s .A  ge ne ra tio nw ho  hadwit nessedtheir ownpar en ts with life t im e jobs, in clu ding guarant eed  retir em ent and p ens ion p lans,e xpecte d the sam e. But, i n stead,f o un d th emselves laid off or forced out tomake w ay fo r you nge r and more  a fford a ble emp l oy e e s . T h e media began  focusing o n  awholene w w a ve ofyoung  c e leb rities in t he m usic andfilm i n dustrie s .

TheTech e cos yst em s h if te d f ro m  tr a di tio n alhardware  a nd  soft ware c o m pani es,  whi ch of ten had older  em ploy e esand l eader ship ,intoa newera o fInternet compan ieswith youn ger  e mpl oy ees a n d foun der s.The ave rage ag e  of  a n e mp loyee at IBM? 38.Th e av erage ag e at F a ce bo o k? 28. A schi ldre n grewup w i th  compute rs and th eInterne t,  a who le  ne w g enera t ionof fou nders ex plode d  onto the scen e  (e.g., MarkZ uc k e rb e rg,Eva n Spiegel,Bria n  Che sky, Ke vin Systr om).
N o w, it’s all the rage f or  the m ediato fawn overthe younge s t multimil lion a ir e s and billiona ires.  Forbes ha s  its 30Under  30 list . The New Y orker ha s i ts20und e r  4 0 list. Heck, e venTi me maga zin e has i ts25mos t i nf luentialteens.
Gi ve nth e m ediaa ttention ,the  a cce lerat i on tha t tec h ha sbr o ugh t intoo ur l ives ,an d th e e xp ectat ions bro ught on  by const ant comp ar is on at o ur fingertips  ( thank you,  I nst agram) , it’s nowonder this increased p r essurehas  crea tedan obsess ion  withear l y succ ess.
Why i t’ s a l l  wron g 
E arl ysuccess do e s n’t  nece ss aril y leadto lasting success .  We ’re all quite  fa mili a r  w ith th e  ch il d  st a r s who skyrocket ed to theto p  a nd then we r e d es troyedby that  fame .  It has  happened  with a n um bero f  pr o athletes  as well .

The bu s iness wo rld i sn’ t immu ne  ei ther.  Yes,t her e are  certa in ly som e ear ly  success  stories who went on to  moresucce ss,  or werehap p y w ith whatthey  achievedand  co ntent  wi t h fad ingo ut  of the s potl i ght. But, th ere a re  also a sig n i f ica nt nu mbe r  of pe ople  who achieved ear l y success andbeca m e  di sil l usio ne d. They foundout  t h a t lastin gsuccess isn ’t about  t h e mon ey, fa me, an d mater i a lp ossess ions .
This conc ept  o f  “early  s uc c ess or  nosu ccess”  isn’t just h armful for the s hooti n g  star s , o f cou rs e. It a l so d amages the  majority o f peop le w ho do n’t mee tthat d efi ni tion of yo u ng supers tar.They fe el  lik e t hey ar en’t g ood e noug h.  Th ey always f ee l  l ik e  th ey a re be hi nd.They keep sprintin g f o r the w ro ngf i nish l i ne . They feellik e fai l u res when t h ey s e ep eerspassin g
 scores._They wanted_them to graduate from_college more_quickly,_and climb_the_corporate ladder rapidly_to pay off_those debts.

A generation who_had witnessed their_own_parents with lifetime jobs, including guaranteed retirement and pension plans, expected the same. But,_instead,_found themselves_laid_off_or forced out to make_way for younger and more_affordable employees._The media began focusing on a whole new_wave_of young celebrities_in the music and film industries.

The Tech ecosystem shifted_from traditional hardware and software companies,_which often had_older_employees_and leadership, into a_new era of Internet companies with_younger employees and founders. The average_age of an employee at IBM? 38._The average age at Facebook? 28._As children grew up with_computers and_the Internet, a whole new_generation of founders_exploded onto_the scene (e.g.,_Mark Zuckerberg, Evan Spiegel, Brian Chesky,_Kevin Systrom).

Now, it’s_all the rage for the media_to_fawn over the_youngest_multimillionaires_and billionaires._Forbes has its_30_Under 30_list._The New Yorker has its 20_under_40 list. Heck, even Time magazine has_its 25 most influential_teens.

Given_the media attention, the_acceleration that tech has brought_into our lives, and the expectations_brought on_by constant_comparison at our fingertips (thank you, Instagram), it’s no wonder this_increased pressure has created an obsession_with early success.

Why it’s_all wrong

Early_success_doesn’t necessarily lead_to_lasting success._We’re all quite familiar with the child_stars who_skyrocketed to the top and then_were destroyed by that_fame._It has happened with a number_of pro athletes as well.

The business_world isn’t immune either. Yes,_there_are_certainly some early success stories_who went on to more success,_or were happy_with what they achieved and content with_fading_out of the spotlight. But, there_are_also a significant number of people_who_achieved_early success and became disillusioned._They found out that lasting success_isn’t about the money, fame, and material possessions.

This concept_of “early success_or no success” isn’t just_harmful_for_the shooting stars, of course. It also damages the majority_of people_who don’t meet_that definition of young superstar. They feel like they aren’t_good enough. They always feel like they_are behind. They keep sprinting for the wrong finish line. They_feel like failures when they see peers passing