Adulting is hard
Adulting is hard.
Note: In case you were wondering why I have not posted in the past two weeks, I’ve been off-the-grid and off-line for a much-needed, and yes, well-deserved break. Even though I’ve not been posting, that does not mean I haven’t been busy and active developing material to help you create and achieve your goals, even while I’ve been on vacation! You will hear more in the coming weeks and months as that material is incorporated into these weekly posts. Especially stay tuned to hear more about my second book, Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life, which is due out later this month! It will be available on Amazon and here on my website. Now, on with this week’s post!
The first time I heard this phrase, "Adulting is hard,” uttered, I almost fell over laughing at the ridiculousness of it. American writer William Brown, then 24 years old, first coined the tongue-in-cheek term in 2008 and described typical daily tasks, such as laundry, grocery shopping, and other functions that are considered a standard of maturing. Over time, as I pondered the comment and heard more and more of the challenges facing the current generation(s), I thought to myself that there may, just may, be something to it. I recently had a conversation with a very successful millennial where he spoke of his challenges “making it,” and it caused me to conclude that, perhaps, yes, there is something to the comment, “adulting is hard”.
This recent conversation prompted me to conduct some research, and I’d like to share some of that research and my thoughts with you today. And then you can decide if “adulting is hard” is true or not. Of course, none of this is really scientific, save what my references may state; it’s just one man’s view of the world as I see it. You know, “The World According to Dave.” As you read the post, see if you agree with me. No harm in not agreeing. Remember a post from a few weeks ago? In the post entitled "All Decisions Are Emotional," I spoke of the actual test of any action being a favorable outcome or end result. In our case today, the favorable outcome is transition to successful adulthood. Of course, what a favorable outcome is, a successful transition to adulthood, is a matter of debate. Draw your own conclusion, that’s one of the reasons I write these posts, to stimulate thought. And action, if needed!
An off-schedule post
This is an off-schedule post. That means something different or interesting is going on that warrants paying attention to. So, my friends, read on to find out more!
Life is hard
If you take a holistic look at the total world population, you find there are 8.2 billion people. If you want to do something cool, click on the link in Note 1 and watch the population calculator rapidly increase in front of you. Not only will you see real-time births, but real-time deaths that result in an actual net change in the population, which is, incidentally, growing rapidly.
Of the 8.2 billion people in the world, 8.5%, or 700 million, live in extreme poverty, on less than $2.15 per day. Another 3.5 billion, or 44% of the world’s population, are considered poor, living on approximately $6.85 per day (Note 2). When I think I want to complain about how bad I have it, I try to remember these statistics, that is, over 50% of the world’s population is poor or worse, and I thank God that I’ve won the birthright lottery. Birthright lottery, you ask? What’s that? Besides being a book of the same name, The Birthright Lottery by Ayelet Shachar (Note 3), we often use the term "birthright lottery" to describe how, when, and where we are born, grow up, and live. “Winning the birthright lottery” is a term that aptly describes the disparities among us, which shape our entire lives. What that means in practical terms is that we in the Western world, and especially in the USA, have it so good, as bad as it may seem sometimes, as to have won the lottery. I try to keep this in perspective myself, and as we continue our discussion today, even though “adulting is hard” sounds bad, in the big picture, it’s really just relative.
The USA’s share of this 8.2 billion people is 347 million, third behind India (1.46B) and China (1.42B). As we live in the USA, my discussion today will focus on the issues affecting each of us, our families, friends, and everyone in our country. If you’ve ever traveled to other Western countries in recent years, as I have, you quickly discover that it’s often difficult to discern someone's origin until you hear them speak. As such, what I am about to describe may be similar to that of other developed Western countries.
What is adulting anyway?
Merriam-Webster defines adulting as “the act of attending to the ordinary tasks required of a responsible adult.” In the US, the legal age of adulthood is 18 years old, although many people don’t fully embrace adulthood until their 20s or even 30s. When I was a teenager, the drinking age was 18, you could join the military, vote and fully participate in any activity deemed fit for an adult. The drinking age has since been moved back to 21 (probably a good thing, given the maturity of a typical 18-year-old). Additionally, we are having more and more discussions today of young adults suffering from “failure to launch.” Uh oh, another new term. You can learn more about failure to launch syndrome by clicking on the link in Note 4. Like adulting, it’s a rather new term, having first been coined by American psychologist Mark McConville in his book Failure to Launch, Why Your 20-Something Hasn’t Grown Up and What To Do About It. The book was first published in 2020.
Adulting across the generations
What I thought I would do today is to overview the generations that are alive today and describe the challenges and benefits of living during the times they “came of age.”. I’ll provide a reference to the source of my material, and once we are done, feel free to look it up and verify it. Then ask yourself, “Does this reflect my life? My problems and opportunities facing me as part of (the whatever) generation?” And whether it does or does not, as you know by now, at Afterburner Success Partners, we may be sympathetic to the plight of individuals or groups of individuals and their situation, but we don’t allow ourselves, nor do we allow our students, to dwell on those issues. As we do ourselves, we get up, dust ourselves off, tuck our shirt in, and get after it! Because we’ve won the birthright lottery, there really are not enough excuses of sufficient magnitude to keep us from doing what we want when we want. As we say, we all can achieve our dreams (Note 4)!
The Greatest Generation (born 1901 to 1924). While there are few of this generation left, this generation’s “coming of age” was defined by The Great Depression and World War II. Their name came from a 1998 book by NBC News Journalist Tom Brokaw. Brokaw described this group of about 63 million people as “a generation of towering achievement and modest demeanor, a legacy of their formative years when they were participants in and witnesses to sacrifices of the highest order.” He described them as “The greatest generation any society has produced.” (Note 5). The greatest generation also experienced the post-war surge in economic activity, suburbanization, and growth in both white collar and industrial jobs. It was also during this time that women, many of whom worked in factories during the war, continued to enter the workforce in large numbers.
The Silent Generation (born roughly 1928 to 1942-1945). Children of the Silent Generation grew up during the Depression. Some lived through the Dust Bowl relocation. Although they did not serve in World War II, they lived through it. They did, however, come of age during a period of tremendous economic expansion and prosperity. Those of the silent generation are sometimes called “The Lucky Few” because at almost every stage of their life, they have been well-positioned to benefit from favorable economic activity that became available to them. Because there were relatively few silents, some argue that they were able to benefit from a favorable supply and demand for their talent, resulting in increased wages. They also experienced low mortgage interest rates and enjoyed generous pensions. On a personal note, my parents were both able to leave rather poor, stagnant small towns to come to Washington, DC, enjoying all the inherent opportunities that came with Washington during that time, including the growth of the Washington, DC, suburbs. (Note 6).
The Boomer Generation (born 1946 to 1964). Many Baby Boomers were born during the surge in births that followed World War II. The boomer generation is 60% larger than the silent generation and many attribute that greater birthrate to the end of WWI and the Depression, in addition to the great economic expansion that the silent generation enjoyed. Because of a reduction in immigration due to the Immigration Act of 1924, which was not removed until 1965, the combination of surging US citizen births, combined with an abnormally low immigrant birth rate, meant that the boomer generation was generally less diverse until 1965, when immigrants were again allowed into the US. Because of the abnormally large percentage of teenagers, children of boomers, there was a great surge in consumerism. Some boomers were impacted by the first draft lottery since WWII in 1969, and the Vietnam War. Protests, a surge in college enrollment, accompanied a decrease in church attendance, marriage, and political party membership. During the 1980s, most employed people were boomers. Television and events of the 1960s and 1970s defined the Baby Boomers, along with the generational turmoil of the time. Boomers began their decline at the tail end of The Great Recession (2007-2009) and, for those not prepared, faced financial insecurity, possibly for the first time. By 2023, boomers made up only 20% of the US population (Note 7).
Gen X (born 1965 to 1980). Sometimes called the middle child generation, due to following the Baby Boomers and preceding the millennials. They have also been called the baby bust generation, possibly due to the introduction of the birth control pill in the early 1960s. There are fewer Gen Xers than there are boomers, Gen Y, or Gen Z, which is one reason Gen X is sometimes considered overlooked or forgotten. Gen Xers grew up in a time when there were more dual-income families, single-parent households, and divorces than among the Baby Boomers. This resulted in the term “latchkey kids,” meaning they sometimes returned home from school to an empty home. They were the first generation to grow up with personal computers, and many became technology proficient. MTV debuted in 1981; many Gen Xers were also sometimes referred to as the MTV generation. They lived through AIDS, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the first flight of the space shuttle. Interestingly, it is thought that Gen X will be squeezed professionally due to the delayed retirement of many boomers and the rise of Millennials, both of which are competing for higher-tier professional positions (Note 8).
Millennial (born 1981 to 1996). The term was coined by William Strauss in 1991 in his book, “Generations,” as he felt it was appropriate for the first generation to reach adulthood in the new millennium. Millennials were the first generation to grow up with home internet, smartphones, social media, and streaming entertainment. They experienced 9/11, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, COVID, and thus increased concerns with domestic security. They typically have more open attitudes regarding diversity due to their upbringing in a less homogeneous culture. In addition to increasing college debt, Millennials faced economic challenges stemming from the Great Recession of 2007-2009, as well as high unemployment and underemployment. As a result, many millennials have delayed typical adult milestones, such as becoming independent, getting married, owning a home, and having children. This generation is often adaptable, perhaps because they have had to be. By 2019, they were the largest adult generation (Note 9).
Gen Z (roughly born 1997 to 2012). Like Millennials, they have been shaped by the Great Recession, COVID, and the results of 9/11. They have experienced the legalization of same sex marriages. They are the most diverse generations of Americans ever and are more likely to have at least one parent who is foreign-born. They have higher percentages of single-parent, mixed-race, and LGBTQ+ families. They are more welcoming of shifting gender norms. They typically reside in major metropolitan areas, with only about 13% being in rural areas. Many Gen Zers are delaying or forgoing marriage. They are the first true native digital generation, growing up fully digitally connected. They do not remember life before the smartphone, and their interactions with the internet and each other are unlike any generation before them. Gen Zers are less likely to use public social media such as Facebook, Twitter, or blogs and more likely to use anonymous forms of social media such as Snapchat and Whisper. They are maturing earlier than previous generations and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. Indeed, a recent article in MarketWatch described how many Gen Zers are not dating at all. A recent survey noted that 28% are spending less than $100 a month on dating. Even among those in a relationship, 43% are spending less than $100 a month on dates. 48% of those cohabitating report spending the same amount. Indeed, over 50% of Gen Zers between 18 and 28 reported spending $0 a month on dating (Note 13). They are more concerned with safety and are even drinking less. Many Gen Zers hope to avoid many of the troubles they witnessed in previous generations (Note 10).
Gen Alpha (born, or will be born 2010 to 2025). Most Gen Alpha’s have Millennials as parents and are sometimes called “mini millennials.” Most Gen Alpha’s are still under the care of their parents, and it remains to be seen what impact they will have on society. They have been the first generation to experience remote classrooms, tablet computers, and artificial intelligence (AI). They will likely be greatly affected by COVID (Note 11)
Summary and conclusion
So there you have it. Based upon what you’ve read and your own personal experience, what do you conclude? Is adulting really hard?
Here’s what I say in “The World According to Dave.” This post began by describing the difficult lives many people in the world lead daily. We then went on to describe the “birth lottery,” that is, the fortunate event of being born in this country or many Western countries. Yes, some of us have, just perhaps, been dealt an unfair hand. We’ve had it hard. We find ourselves in the losers’ bracket. My question is, at what point do we quit using the events of the past as excuses, rise up, and pull ourselves up by our bootstraps? Say what you want, but until each one of us recognizes that if we want better for ourselves, then we will have to make a decision that we want this, and then act in a manner that is proven to be successful. Now, I recognize that there are some individuals who, for various reasons, are unable to do what I just described. Those individuals are not the ones I’m talking about, and obviously, compassion and care may be warranted for them.
That’s all I have to say about that. (Note 12)
That’s all for this week!
Victory!
What’s in it for Me
We all want to be the best we can be, and we can turn our losses into wins. Afterburner Success Partners can help get you on the path to achieving your dreams and living your best life.
Call to Action
Visit the Afterburner Success Partners website today. Purchase the very modestly priced course. View the many resources listed under the More/Books & Resources tab. Forward this email to any family members or friends who may benefit from it.
Recommended Resources
Be on the lookout for my book, soon to be published. Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life by David Giustozzi. It will be available on Amazon or my website.
Up Next
Back to regular posting schedule.
Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
Worldometer, current world population: https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/
World Bank Group, Poverty, Prosperity and Planet Report 2025:https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/poverty-prosperity-and-planet#:~:text=Today%2C%20almost%20700%20million%20people%20(8.5%20percent,%2D%20on%20less%20than%20$2.15%20per%20day.
The Birthright Lottery by Ayelet Shachar: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674032712
Newport Institute, What is Failure to Launch Syndrome in Young Adults:https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/co-occurring-disorders/failure-to-launch-syndrome/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NI_performancemax&utm_term=&kpid=go_cmp-17672242732_adg-_ad-__dev-c_ext-_prd-&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21499917536&gbraid=0AAAAACWYOxK-Nhw_Q2UC9wYPLaGRXBDTP&gclid=CjwKCAjwkvbEBhApEiwAKUz6-75IxvtO3DOlcuSXIEEotwqdFk_xnocKwb9CXUK9MW1Dx9-j-XVoOBoC1PoQAvD_BwE
Britannica, Greatest Generation: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Greatest-Generation
Britannica, Silent Generation: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Silent-Generation
Britannica, Baby Boomer: https://www.britannica.com/topic/baby-boomers
Britannica, Gen X: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Generation-X
Britannica, millennial: https://www.britannica.com/topic/millennial
Britannica, Gen Z: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Generation-Z
Britannica, Gen Alpha: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Generation-Alpha
Clips from Forrest Gump:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DZ4WDy0OIYQ
Half of Gen Z spends $0 a month on dating thanks to a “romance recession’ Market Watch, August 15, 2025: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/half-of-gen-z-spends-0-a-month-on-dating-thanks-to-a-romance-recession-efc76924
Achieve Your Dreams:A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Lifeby David Giustozzi: Coming out soon and available via my website or Amazon