Gen Z Is Tired Before Life Even Starts—It’s Time for Men to Step Up

We used to grind because we had to. Now, young men are too tired to even start. This is how we fix it.

A few days ago, I wrote about stepping off the treadmill. About feeling disoriented after a break. And people worried.

But here’s the truth: I’m fine.

They thought I was burning out. They were wrong.

This wasn’t exhaustion—it was evolution. Here’s the raw truth: I’m not just fine. I’m awake.

Yesterday, during a performance review, lightning struck. As I sat there, telling my team how much I care about their growth, their futures, their dreams, it hit me:

I’m not climbing anymore.
There’s no mountain left to scale.
I’ve been the CMO, the early employee, the builder.

Now? I have one mission:

To make Alpian the most revolutionary fucking bank on Earth.
To finish the job I started.

I’m not chasing titles.
I’m hunting legacy.

And that’s when the pieces fell into place.

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The Paradox of Becoming Useless

"Useless." The word that haunts every man’s nightmares. But here’s the twist—there are two kinds of uselessness, and only one leads to freedom.

The Void That Consumes

This is the uselessness that destroys. It’s the black hole of purpose that swallows men whole.

• The young man scrolling his life away, paralyzed between too many options and no real action.

• The mid-career man trapped in golden handcuffs, too afraid to let go, too numb to keep going.

• The retired king who built an empire but lost himself.

This uselessness doesn’t just hurt—it hollows.

The Liberation That Creates

Then there’s the uselessness you earn.

• The leader who builds a team that thrives without him.

• The father who raises children strong enough to leave.

• The founder who steps back, knowing his creation will soar without him.

The first kind of uselessness imprisons.
The second sets you free.

And that’s when I realized: the moment I become useless in my job, I know I’ve done it well.

Because then, I move on to something new.

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The Trinity: Freedom, Belonging, Purpose

At Alpian, we’ve built our foundation on understanding true wealth.

Not the numbers in your account—the richness of a life well-lived.

Stage 1: Freedom (The Wild Years)

You begin untethered. No obligations. No dependencies. Pure potential.

• You grind because you can.

• You risk because nothing holds you back.

• You optimize for yourself because there’s no one else to consider.

But freedom without purpose is its own kind of prison.

Stage 2: Belonging (The Warrior Years)

You build your empire. Your team. Your family. Your reputation.

• Responsibility grows.

• People depend on you.

• Your freedom shrinks, but your impact expands.

You can’t just vanish anymore. Every decision ripples through the lives you touch, the business you’ve built, the family you lead.

This is where most men get trapped—grinding endlessly to maintain what they’ve created.

Stage 3: Purpose (The Sage Years)

Then comes the shift: Your creations learn to fly without you.

• Your children become adults.

• Your company runs itself.

• Your team makes the decisions you once made.

For some, this is death.

For others—those who see it coming—it’s rebirth.

You stop chasing freedom. You transcend belonging.

You pursue purpose.

And the questions shift:

• What mark will I leave?

• Who can I elevate?

• How will the world remember my presence?

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The Crisis of Young Lions

"Gen Z men are tired before they’ve even started life."

These words, coming from a seasoned HR professional should haunt us.

Our young men aren’t exhausted from working too hard—they’re exhausted from having no clear path forward.

They’re drowning in:

• Economic Quicksand – Fewer opportunities, higher barriers, collapsed career ladders.

• The Masculinity Maze – Expected to be warriors and poets, tough and tender, dominant and understanding.

• Digital Dopamine Demons – Endless stimulation without satisfaction.

• The Identity Vacuum – A world that seems to have no place for them.

They’re not lazy.
They’re not weak.
They’re not broken.

They’re lost in a world that offers infinite choices but no direction.

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The Path of the Mentor

I’m not the young lion anymore.

I’m the battle-scarred veteran who knows which fights matter.

My role isn’t to dominate the jungle—it’s to guide the next generation of leaders.

Here’s what I wish someone had told me:

💡 The Grind is Your Foundation, Not Your Destination.
Hustle builds muscle. But wisdom decides which battles to fight.

💡 True Strength is Strategic, Not Just Physical.
The strongest men aren’t those who never break—they’re those who know when to bend.

💡 Rest is a Weapon.
The lion doesn’t sprint all day. He knows timing is everything.

💡 Purpose Transcends Achievement.
Winning feels good. Building something that outlasts you feels eternal.

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Breaking the Cycle

To the young men feeling lost:

• Find your mentor. No one conquers alone.

• Build something. Anything. Movement creates direction.

• Earn your place. The world doesn’t give meaning—you create it.

To those who’ve fought these battles:

**Our duty isn’t just to succeed—**it’s to ensure others can follow our path and surpass us.

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The Ultimate Truth

This cycle only breaks when:

• The lost find their path through action.

• The successful share their maps.

• The wise build bridges for those behind them.

If you’re stuck, congratulations.

You’ve just found your starting line.

Now move.

Because the world doesn’t wait for those who hesitate.

And neither should you.

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