How Overcoming the Generational Gap Can Create Opportunities for Success
“This is a topic that has been used and discussed many times.”
Yes, that is what my Editor-in-Chief told me when I told him the topic of my opinion piece this week. I do agree with him. However, I would like to dive into this discussion a little deeper and view it from a slightly different lens.
The inspiration for this story comes from our company’s top dog, a young senior and seasoned professional in the financial industry. He told us a story at our regular Friday townhall meeting that goes like this…
There was a young man who jogged at a park in Tokyo, Japan, every morning. This was a regular park except that it was mostly frequented by the elderly on their morning routines. Over a period of several months, the young man befriended other regulars at the park, but he got along especially well with a particular elderly man.
One day, as they were walking together in the park, the elderly man asked the young man what he does for a living. The young man replied plainly that he was an insurance agent to which the elderly man replied, “Such a coincidence, I was thinking of making some financial plans for myself. Could you help me with that?”
The young man went on to close the largest personal insurance deal in the industry’s history at that time. As fate would have it, the elderly man was one of the top ten wealthiest person in Tokyo at that time. Subsequently, the young man went on to own the largest insurance agency in Japan.
The truth of the matter is that the young man was always at the park because he lived there. He was homeless and invisible. He woke up every morning and used the nearby public toilet to change into his running outfit. It would also be the same toilet he would wash up every day too.
Not a Typical Rags to Riches Motivational Story
Many common narratives would be that the young man never gave up and had an incredibly positive attitude. However, I do think the narrative goes a lot deeper than that.
My point of view is that it all starts with positivity. He goes for his morning walks despite his circumstances and he opened up to make new friends. This was a not a guy who delved into bitterness and unhappiness, became close minded, defensive and inward looking.
This was evident when the young man made new friends from a different generation. Some would say that he has no other choice under his circumstances but I beg to differ because as a salesperson, he had to be outward-oriented.
Now, the term ‘generation gap’ did not come without basis. Most young people would find it difficult to connect with an elderly person, unless it is functional in nature, let alone making friends. For many young people, perhaps the only elderly person whom they have a relationship with are those within social constructs like family, learning or workplaces. But even in these scenarios, such relationships may not be amicable.
The young man in the above story did not shy away from making friends with the elderly gentleman, and that may have played a part that convinced the wealthy elder man to trust him with his request.
Is this rags to riches story about hard work, never giving up or having a great undying positive attitude? For me, it all starts with treating everyone equally and just being a decent human being.
Simple no?
