#4: Gen. Wars
Author’s Note:
Welcome to Part 4 / 10 of my weekly Wednesday series, “One-Third's Century: What I've Learned so Far”.
After an adequate peek down the rabbit’s hole last week—so to speak—it’s time we move to the “middle-third” of this one-third’ien adventure.
Friendly reminder that this blog is a medium-long form, 1st person perspective on what a *wildly* wide cross-section of professional life experiences has taught me. I'll publish it directly to you every Wednesday through at least Jan. 18, 2023.
Welcome to "Gen. Wars".
[It’s like "Mad Max", but hopefully lighter-hearted].
Now the real, palpable fun begins :)
Generational Wars: The 2020’s Edition
If it feels like you’re sentient during oddly + historically uncommon times, you’ll be happy to know you’re not alone [me, others].
Most of the smart people I know are staunchly resolute in the belief that recent human innovation has outstripped common, “majority of the masses” level of understanding of how to rationally (and ethically) apply new technology to old problems.
Kindly hold my Deepfake's hologram seltzer—we’re going full ‘red-pill’ this week, and beyond.
Time + Talent + Treasure
One of those mysterious, aforementioned mentors of mine once (ok, more than once) told me the following:
“Time, talent, treasure—that’s really all anyone has to offer someone else [professionally] in this life”. --“KT”
With any luck, you’ll have varying amounts of each (and either, and maybe neither) throughout your life--however long. The rub seems to be *always* striking the right balance.
Enough of each, but never too much of anything. Yes, I’m describing moderation.
More Similarities, Less Differences
I’m definitely one of those [rare?] people who sees more of the similarities around us, as opposed to the innumerable differences that tear us apart.
However, these tumultuous three years (2020-22) has put the US squarely in the scary hairs of innumerable global enemies. Think cybercrime.
But like late Rome, most of the dissolution appears to come from within our own borders.
Hence, my need today to talk about what makes us different [Dec. 14, AKA #5 will cover the similarities]. And, sadly, as a country founded by and for immigrants, America (the hegemon) has really lost its way. Perhaps irreparably so.
I’ll save some of my ever-verbose speculation on all of the reasons why I believe this is. But rest assured, there are no shortage of right answers.
Division has taken root in Rome. What next?
The 1960’s (Part Deux…et Trois?)
The picture below is from one of my most beloved books in my entire (but shrinking) library: “The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage” by Todd Gitlin.
A dozen or so years ago, I bought this historically relevant text as part of a mandatory reading assignment for one of several, infinitely rewarding Special Topics classes during my undergraduate ‘salad days’ at Kent State University
The class was called, "Special Topics: The 1960's" (ca. 2011 at #KSU ).
More on that premise--and a legendary professor who left an academically indelible cross everywhere she went--toward the end of this weekly holiday series.
One of my long-held (10+ years) theories is that I've been living through a sequel [or trilogy?] of the American 1960's. All of the social upheaval, bi-directional ageism and ominpotent mistrust that currently eminate are eerily reminiscent to that of the 1960's.
So much so, that I fear we may only be one-third to one-half the way through the 'extended 60's' (generally, late 1950's - early 1970's). Hope, dearly, I'm wrong.
But that seems less and less common the older I get.
Important Deal
“The most important deals we make with anyone are the deals we make with ourselves".
Respect + Love + Loyalty
"Couple things you can’t buy inside this town: loyalty, love and respect".
—Airmiess Joseph Asghedom (d/b/a Nipsey Hussle, RIP)
Gen Z + Y vs. X’ers + Boomers
No one knows how to communicate (with modern elegance), and everyone's angry at their proverbial Other.
There it is.
Now, this is not uncommon to me, or my fellow Millennials.
I’m simply now old enough to:
But also, I’m young enough to:
Idiomatic Madness
These are all various types of aphorisms that I’ve heard throughout my first 15 years of [legal] adulthood.
They’re all remarkably typical of the Midwest, too.
But you’re probably not from the Midwest [right?]
So let me explain.
My Hometowns (Ohio)
Originally speaking, I hail from the prideful-but-humble Stark County municipality of Ohio.
More specifically, I grew up in the Massillon/ Canton, OH area.
Yep, that one. With the football, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the irrationally loyal—ok, Browns fans.
My ‘old stomping grounds’ is highly representative of Midwest America:
Canton, OH Overview
Geographically: Foothills of Appalachia; approx. an hour’s drive from the south side of Cleveland, OH.
Politically: Conservative (leaning-dominant)
Economically: Pretty broke, but not as broke as some.
Socially: Wut? #workfriends #kidsparentsfriends
Townies or Locals Only?: Oddly, both.
领英推荐
So basically, people from my home-region are disposed to liking a) football, b) honest work, and c) little else.
Got it? K!
Hill William Epitaph
Now let’s kick around a now-famous (at least amongst the nerdy literary circles I populate) brother-city on the opposite side of the state.
Yep, I’m talking about the separated-at-birth twin, known as ‘Middletown, OH’
Uh oh.
Special, direct disclaimer to the more politically, socioeconomically and/or rant-inclined {me} among us:
Firstly, let me just flatly state that I genuinely don’t care what your politics are.
Like, at all. I don’t care. And frankly, you shouldn’t much care what mine are.
And guess what? Virtually and statistically speaking, no one else cares either (your opinions or mine).
But also, guess what?
I’m the one with the digital ink here.
Also, and again, italicized words and phrases will often be sarcastic.
Example: “This tastes great, honey”
— nameless friend
Beyond the superficial: the self-sacrificing--if not fatalist--nature of the people of Middletown, OH very much parallels that of the natives of Canton, OH.
Point is—at one point in this nation’s relatively young and complicated history—for both worse and better, Ohio was the original ‘unsettled West’ of the early U.S.
That spirit of self-reliance runs deeply throughout both Canton, OH and Middletown, OH.
It’s partially why I became interested—originally, a few years ago when it was published—in the quasi-historical memoir by J.D. Vance (U.S. Senate-elect), "Hillbilly Elegy".
[Again, I don’t care at all how you feel about politics—or any of my muses, for that matter]
In the spirit of the present “season of giving” I’m (v soon) going to offer free promo to some local businesses in my actual hometown(s) of Massillon/ Canton, OH.
It’s an economically depressed, steel-gray place to live (and love). But they're loyal, hardworking people. And they bleed whatever football colors of their favorite high school, college, AND pro teams.
So it's high time I give back.
Later this month, I'll cover some of the highlights of the economic and aesthetic impacts of the Hall of Fame Village project. Which, spoiler alert, I believe has genuinely rejuvenated a city that sorely needed a gem it could be proud of.
Disclaimer: If you own/ manage any of these real places I'll soon be featuring, and would prefer me to remove the anecdote featuring your business, then please message me here on LinkedIn (and I'll remove any/ all references to your business) or email me at [email protected]
Barbers, Mechanics + Bakers
I’ve known--and still know--a lot of each. All over NE and SW Ohio, for that matter.
Guess what? Regardless of talent, aspiration or technical skill—they’re universally some of my favorite people.
Once I get a few, official green lights, I'll start profiling these awesome humans.
Head West
So, I did.
South-by-Southwest (#SXSW) if you will.
About six years ago, I relocated (relo’d) for work from home region (Canton/ Akron/ Cleveland, OH) to the opposite corner of the state (Middletown/ Dayton/ Cincinnati, OH).
It was my first “relo” beyond 50 miles of everything I knew.
And it almost killed me. Many times over.
But it—now, with the benefit of hindsight—forged me into the man I am now. The very man who writes to you from his modest Apple MacBook Air.
Relo’s are hard, man.
As in, back in 2016, it was the hardest thing I had ever done theretofore in my adult life.
Ha.
If only I had any inkling of what would come to pass (sheesh).
More on other relo's [to the real American West], likely around the turn of the calendar to 2023.
Closer
If you're one of the many among us who is prone to the Grass is Greener fallacy, I encourage you to check out the totally fictionalized (but sadly, not that actually far off) "dating profile" bio that I wrote for myself:
"Morose minor character in a Tim Burton film (any of them, fr) seeking the living fusion of 'Daisy Fay', Sofia Vergara and Megan Thee Stallion"
Any tips? No? Ok, cool.
Song of the Week: “Wicked Games” by The Weeknd
I’m a lifelong audiophile (among many, other musical inclinations).
As a result, I’m going to highlight one song/ album/ artist every week.
This week’s song is “Wicked Games” by Abel Tesfaye (d/b/a The Weeknd).
Disclaimer: *SO NSFW*, note the lack of external link to the song.
No, seriously. Don’t even ‘Google’ the lyrics of this song—let alone watch the uncensored version—on your corporate-issued (and/ or monitored) device.
Also, don’t be that person who overly squints, or extrapolates, anything from this week’s song choice. One of my longest-standing pet peeves is people who annoyingly diffuse, then re-fuse, then re-diffuse an artist and their creation (e.g. don’t blame poor, dead Mary Shelley for Frankenstein’s monster, k?)
This is in ‘no way’ representative of ‘any’ of my own life experiences. It’s just a great song from a generationally talented artist, The Weeknd.
Thx, Next
As always, THANK YOU, for taking time out of your busy daily life to read my modest musings. It seriously means a lot!
As far as what’s next, check out the schedule below.
Upcoming Schedule
Dec. 14: "Odysseus I"
Dec. 21: "Odysseus II"