GenXers Are the Slacker Generation--Not

We're the Entrepreneurial Generation, bitches

The least parented generation in US history was also the least prepared for adulting when we grew up. Sure, we knew how to diaper the baby siblings, cook macaroni & cheese, and wash our own laundry by the time we were 9, but few of us were taught things like financial literacy or how health insurance works by the time we hit 18. With little-to-no parental guidance, a hefty dose of cynicism for the American Dream, and an intuitive adaptability honed as latchkey kids, we launched adulthood doing whatever we could to survive while trying to figure out how to thrive.

We didn’t want to follow in our parent’s footsteps by settling for the stable office job because we’d been told all our lives to “follow your dreams”. They called us lazy when we rejected becoming workaholic overachievers, but really, maybe we just needed to take a breather from all the bullshit drama the adults in our lives heaped on us before we felt ready for (more) adult responsibilities. We said, “Excuse me for not wanting to jump into marriage, buying a house, and having babies after watching you divorce your third spouse, use us kids to hurt each other, and scream at each other over splitting your assets”.

But here’s the thing: some of the most hardworking people I’ve ever known were GenXers. Rejecting society’s expectations and learning how to navigate life through our own trial and error meant we had to be innovative, multi-skilled renegades. GenXers wear many hats; we’re the Multi-hyphenate Generation.

According to the Harvard Business Review, we’re the “greatest entrepreneurial generation in US history”. GenXers are known for being tech savvy but not tech dependent, making us excellent moderators between Boomers and both Gens Y and Z in the workplace. Our resilience and self-reliance makes us perfect for growing something from the ground up.

To illustrate, here’s a list of just some of the Gen X entrepreneurs who’ve changed the world.

Sara Blakely, born in ‘71: Founder of Spanx

Jack Dorsey (‘76), Biz Stone (‘74), and Ev Williams (‘72): Co-Founded Twitter

Daymond John (‘69): Founder of FUBU and Shark Tank Investor

Julian Assange (‘71): WikiLeaks Founder

He’s thinking deep Gen X thoughts, like ‘What can I do next to stick it to The Man?’

Jay Z (‘69): grammy-winning rapper, Founder of Roc Nation and Roc-A-Fella Records

Michael Dell (‘65): Founder of Dell Computers

Jawed Karim (‘79), Steve Chen (‘78), and Chad Hurley (‘77): Co-Founded YouTube

Larry Page (‘73) and Sergey Brin (‘73): Co-Founded Google

Wendy Levy and Kim Etheredge: Co-Founders of Mixed Chicks hair care (I couldn’t find their birth years but the internet assured me they’re Gen X)

As a biracial girl in the ‘80s, most hair products were either too oily or not moisturizing enough so I know what they went through—the struggle was real