" What you think of as 'experience' might actually be a deadly liability."
Just before the workday ended, my best friend shared a screenshot of a work chat in our group. She groaned that she was in for another late night. The next morning, she showed up at the office at 9 a.m., complaining in the group chat about how exhausted she was after working until midnight. With over an hour's commute from home to the office, we urged her to take a nap at noon to look after her health. But instead, she had lunch with the tech team.
Despite her relentless efforts, her manager gently suggested at the beginning of the year that she transfer to another team. The rest of her colleagues were in their 30s, and as Fang Qi from Sisters Who Make Waves would say, "There’s a concern that you might not keep up with the pace." When I asked her why she pushed herself so hard—whether it was fear of being laid off or an overwhelming sense of responsibility—she gave a bitter smile. "I guess it’s become a reflex. I feel like I’m letting myself down if I don’t give it my all," she said. Truly, a tenacious woman, through and through.
This reminded me of a news story about a 36 - year - old tech worker curled up on a stretcher in the emergency room of a top - tier hospital at 3 a.m., suffering from acute pancreatitis. His amylase levels were five times the normal limit. This was his fourth all - nighter this month for a project. His desk was always stocked with nitroglycerin for heart palpitations and melatonin for sleep. As the "overachiever" in his internet company, he believed in "out - hustling Gen Z with a Millennial work ethic." His social media posts showcased city skylines at 4 a.m., his computer wallpaper read "Go big or go home," and he even joined his child’s parent - teacher meetings via video call. But at that moment, while his Gen Z subordinates were using AI tools to generate project plans in one click, his 120 - page hand - crafted PPT lay beside his hospital bed, a grim reminder of the price of his dedication.
"35 - Year - Old ICU Candidates," dark humor plays out daily:
This is the absurd reality for people over 35 in the workplace:
Trying to prove their worth with a 20 - year - old’s work ethic,
Bearing the pressure with a 30 - year - old’s body,
Only to receive a metaphorical "battery depletion notice" as they approach 40.
Hustling ≠ Surviving: The Rules Have Changed
A decade ago, the "workaholic" approach was indeed the key to career advancement:
- In 2015, pulling all - nighters for data analysis could earn you stock options.
- In 2018, posting about working non - stop on social media earned you the title of "role model."
- In 2020, meticulously crafted marketing plans were highly valued.
But the 2025 workplace tells a different story:
- AI Invasion: GPT - 6 can generate business plans autonomously, and Stable Diffusion has tripled the rate at which designers are becoming obsolete.
- Gen Z Shaking Things Up: They reject unproductive overwork and use "AI leverage" to achieve three times the output.
- Corporate Cost - Cutting: The cost of hiring one 35 - year - old employee equals two AI systems plus three interns.
The harsher truths:
- Experience as a Liability: Ten years of experience can’t compete with what AI learns in three days (according to a financial company’s risk control department).
- Health Risks: Overwork increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by threefold (a 2024 The Lancet study).
- Financial Costs: Out - of - pocket medical expenses for liver diseases caused by overwork can equal three months’ worth of unemployment benefits.
I recently chatted with a former colleague whose career transition offers valuable insights:
- Morning: As a strategic consultant for a new energy company, he uses his 15 - year internet experience to guide traditional industries through digital transformation (his consulting fees are ten times that of a fresh graduate’s monthly salary).
- Afternoon: He trains AI to mass - produce industry reports, freeing up time to obtain a "carbon emissions management" certification.
- Secret Weapon: Packaging his professional experience into an e - book, he earns over $7,000 per month on knowledge - sharing platforms.
His philosophy is blunt: "Trying to prove your worth through overtime at 35 is like using an abacus against a quantum computer—the harder you try, the more absurd the outcome."
Three Strategies for "Pseudo - Diligent" Workers
Rebuild Your Competitive Edge
- Foundation: Master the AI toolkit (ChatGPT, Midjourney, AutoGPT, Deepseek).
- Middle Layer: Translate your decade - long experience into actionable methodologies.
- Top Layer: Develop your ability to integrate resources (cross - industry networks × policy benefits).
Launch Your "Second Curve"
Devote 20% of your work time to side hustles, such as:
- Traditional salesperson → Cross - border live - streaming product selector
- Finance manager → AI - driven audit process designer
Build an Anti - Fragile System
- Financial Aspect: Invest in prime - city real estate, low - cost housing in smaller regions, and digital currency assets.
- Health Aspect: Purchase high - end health insurance, undergo genetic testing, and take an annual "digital nomad wellness month."
The tragedy of middle age often begins when people treat relentless hustle as a creed. At 35, the lesson isn’t about working harder but about discarding the old "burn - out" playbook. In this new landscape where AI and humanity intersect, it’s time to write your own success story.
No comments:
Post a Comment