Unexpected Lessons from a Millennial

Most of the people we film are older than I am. I’m Gen-X but spend most of my time chronicling the lives of Boomers and a sadly dwindling number of productions with the GIs and Silent Generation folks. Last week, however, I ventured to Hood River, Oregon for a special project with an amazing Millennial couple that completely upended my preconceived notions.

I’ve always thought of Millennials as if they were a kid brother. Without any younger siblings of my own, I had relegated Millennials to a perpetual state of tweenhood—vain, incapable, hyper-emotional crybabies. But this couple proved me wrong.

They owned a successful company and had recently enjoyed a lucrative exit, providing them with the financial freedom to live anywhere. However, the wife was reluctant to leave their beloved Houston. She worried about uprooting their children, losing friends, and facing unfamiliar new surroundings. The husband, understanding her reservations, proposed a compromise: could they live abroad for a year? She agreed.

With their three kids, they embarked on an extraordinary adventure, spending a month or more in various countries. They brought a teacher to ensure their kids’ education continued seamlessly, and they immersed themselves in local cultures, bonding deeply as a family. Their journey took them to Colombia, Brazil, Cape Town, Italy, Kenya, Spain, and beyond. They explored big cities, jungles, deserts, and beaches. They volunteered with local charities, dined at Michelin-starred restaurants and roadside stalls, attended churches and indigenous ceremonies, and embraced the world with open eyes.

This year of disparate exposure imparted countless lessons to the couple and bestowed a priceless gift upon their children, one they may only fully appreciate in adulthood. The film we’re creating documents this transformative journey. We sifted through 40 gigs of their photos and video clips and conducted interviews, focusing on the lessons mom and dad learned.

I didn’t realize I would learn things, too. I initially assumed this was a dotcom Millennial who got lucky with an app and decided to play Scrooge McDuck around the world. How wrong I was. These young whippersnappers had a focus and intentionality that I certainly don’t possess. Their organizational skills far surpassed mine, and they earned their success the old-fashioned way—through hard work and perseverance.

They took terrifying financial risks, overcame massive challenges, and faced personal tragedies that would cripple most. Yet, they persevered. From their story, I learned that I need to be a better man for my own family. I learned that you can prioritize family without sacrificing your presence. Perhaps most importantly, I learned for the millionth time not to make assumptions about people based on demographics.

The best part of the whole experience? My daughter works with me, and at 24, she got to learn all of these things, too.