The social media lifestyle has pushed perfectionist expectations to an all-time high. With users feverishly soaking up experiences and published content, there is an emerging generation that’s increasingly aware of and appreciates the value of ‘self-branding’

However with the ‘good’ comes the ‘bad’, because these attitudes also carry plenty of self-delusions that hide in the bubble of seeking perfectionism. We find ourselves thinking about the ‘perfect’ job, food, friends, travel adventures and life in general. The value of the ‘journey’ which brings failure to the foray is NOT appreciated.

I follow an array of content developers across the African content; bloggers, vloggers and the like and there has been a definite shift on what kind of content they share with their followers/subscribers.They influence a myriad of followers and bring to the table conversations that were not the norm just a few years ago. Hashtags like #Selfcare, #mentalhealth , #Workplay, #Workbalance #Mindfullness and so on burst the not so perfect bubble.

Failure in the present day has been recurrent amongst young adults in the millennial generation. The main reason being the reluctance to accept the challenges the real world throws at you versus a quick grab for the perfect ideal. They have forgotten all about work. Working in a developing economy like Uganda presents several hurdles but also provides valuable life experiences for young adults who lack a manual on how to get by apart from the background perhaps achieved from business school.

Jeff Miller shared an article in 2016 on ‘what it means to create a culture of failure, noting –“Embracing failure isn’t about patting people on the back when they miss the mark—at its core, a culture of failure is about feedback that helps you make the mark next time. If you want to progress as an individual or as a company, you need to be willing to identify your weaknesses and maximize your strengths. Even the most self-aware people are limited in their ability to identify these strengths and weaknesses on their own.”

The millennial generation which, in many ways, reflects the desires of every generation, finds that almost everything points back to the desire for growth and development, for continuous feedback.

Most people are craving conversations that push them to the next level. The question is: how do you get there? The answer is structured communication. Asking for ‘feedback’ and prioritizing ‘growth’ are the themes of content I would recommend as a good start to explore.