MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.
Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1525170
the ones that helped develop the stuff and had to adopt/embrace the technology. One didn’t replace the other; but the newer solutions became more natural, more accepted … quickly. The same is true of today’s workforce where individuals are collaborating, focusing, using their insights and expertise in unique ways to produce results for organizations. Unfortunately, we tend to assume that creativity wanes with age and individuals become rigid in their thinking and their approaches to challenges/issues. Back in 2007, at Stanford, Zuck said, “Young people are smarter,” implying that middle-aged people were bogged down with stale ideas and older folks couldn’t make the imagination leaps required or even get out of their own way.” Of course, when Zuck heard that Dr. John Goodenough, of the University of Texas at Austin, received a co-patent for a new type of battery at 94, he probably thought he might have been “a little over complimentary” regarding youth. It turns out, most inventors peak in their late 40s and are most productive in the last half of their careers. In the U.S., the highest value patents tend to come from folks over the age of 55. As Dr. Goodenough said, “I’m old enough to know you can’t close your mind to new ideas. You have to draw on a fair amount of experience in order to be able to put ideas together.” But as companies and investors hunt for new ideas, new opportunities, new growth and new employees, they often rely on Zuck’s youth myths. Maybe if some of the deceased start-ups in CB Insights venture capital funding tracking reports had hired senior people with more street smarts and experience, they might not have encountered so many bumps on their road to riches and fame. Economists note that unlike earlier generations, there is a growing shortage of people entering the workforce. And, as people leave the active workforce, they take with them significant business and industry knowledge that can’t be replaced. Pew Research reported that baby boomers reached nearly 21 percent of the US population while younger generations haven’t kept pace. In addition, more than 10,000 people across the US will reach the age of 65 every single day, despite the fact that Boomers don’t believe old age begins until 72. This trend is even worse in Japan, China, Europe and almost everywhere but Africa where young people are increasing. At the same time, Pew researchers found that the average Boomer felt nine years younger than her/his chronological age. Researchers at Harvard also noted that retirements deprive companies of critical experience and knowledge which impacts productivity across the board. They note that with a wider breadth of talent in the workforce, firms have access to a broader array of skills, knowledge and experience with each enriching collaboration, focus, added insights and expertise.