Have some 20 Something at home ready to conquer the working world?

What do you tell them?

Photo © John McDermott | mcdfoto.com

How does the young generation want to create their work and lifestyle?

How can they know what kind of lifestyle they want?

How can they know what kind of work they want, if they will like it in the long run and if it does go together with a lifestyle they imagine?

A recent conversation with an eighteen-year-old laid out an interesting picture. The young woman grew up between two cultures and appreciates the opportunity to study at a good university in the US but also loves the more down-to-earth perspective on life in Italy.

She was lucky to be exposed to different experiences, the fun teenage years in America and the forming roots in Italy. It taught and still teaches her what she likes or dislikes, what she is attracted to or what makes her feel uneasy, what sparks, and what demotivates her.

This formed an interesting perspective on what she wants to do:

• She doesn’t like the competitive atmosphere of many American universities and prefers to study at a smaller school (in the US) where there is more of a sense of community, caring, supporting and knowing each other
• She wants to experiment with different options and get the guidance of professors and seniors who work with her and get to know her to find her passion and unique skills- For her future work, she likes to earn an income that allows an enjoyable lifestyle but not to work insane hours with no time left to live
• Her work should be flexible so that she can also spend time in her “other home country” Italy
• If things don’t work out with a professional career in medicine / professional medical career, she can easily imagine herself building a bed and breakfast business in her dream location in Italy (yet to be found) and welcoming people from all over the world and enjoy their company while taking care of them
• She likes to stand up for a better world and engage in respective activities

To me, this sounds like a desirable, healthy, refreshing way of looking at work-life style. It does not sound unrealistic, quite the opposite. This looks like a…