Ever-Blooming
In October 2016, Gina Pell published an article called Meet The Perennials. "Perennials" is a positive term she coined to describe a mindset of curious, relevant, ever-blooming people of ALL ages who defy generational stereotypes, share an insatiable thirst for learning and constantly push up against their growing edge.
Gina says, "What I meant to be a diary entry on my personal blog blossomed into a movement that focuses on behavior, not birth year—mindset as opposed to generation. Perennials transcend the one-dimensional timeline that runs from birth to death and instead focuses on exploring our interests and the world around us. I want to plant this term into the public lexicon because I am tired of Millennial-bashing and generational stereotyping. Perennials comprise an inclusive, enduring mindset, not a divisive demographic.”
The subject of Perennials has appeared on CNN and MSNBC. The original article has been translated into nine languages, and the concept has been written about or referred to in more than 50 articles around the globe. "In all my years as a content creator, it was the first time something I'd written resonated so quickly and deeply with people everywhere. And I think part of the term's success is that readers get the idea that relevance belongs to every age and not only during the period of a generation's ascension to power.”
After reading Pell’s Perennial article, I knew we needed to connect. She was articulating a concept foundational to Liberty Road—the pursuit of calling is ageless. She was redefining something that I knew begged for a paradigm shift. After being introduced by a mutual friend, Gina and I connected. It was one of those conversations that lasted over an hour but felt like fifteen minutes—fifteen minutes of nodding in agreement and solidarity. I wanted to know more.
My mind immediately went to all the women I have walked alongside who felt like the sun had already set on their opportunity to pursue their dream. Could Gina's concept help prioritize the need to group people based on similarities rather than differences? Imagine the shift if we could change the way we see each other, or more importantly, imagine the shift if we could change the way we see ourselves. So many women think they have missed their window or believe they are no longer "in the know" enough to be relevant. Unfortunately, many women believe their time has passed just when experience, timing and need are intersecting. Why? Is this self-imposed or socially imposed? Since when did dreaming and activating those dreams have an age?
I then asked Gina what she thought of the growing number of entrepreneurial resources, books and even conferences targeted at Millennial women. Are women 38+ washed up when it comes to launching or growing their dream ventures? She replied, "I get why marketers want to target Millenials. At one time they represented the largest demographic segment of the population (now it's Gen Z). But this kind of demographic targeting is shortsighted, especially in an age when people are healthier, more productive and living longer. Launching anything new has nothing to do with age and everything to do with mindset. It's not a novel idea. In 1955 Lynda Weissman, the founder of one of my favorite learning platforms, founded Lynda.com at the age of 40 when the Internet was brand new. Julia Child wrote her first cookbook at age 50. And Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first "Little House" series at age 65. Age has nothing to do with success." Gina was on a roll, "Wisdom and confidence happen at all ages. Nobody is washed-up unless they believe they are, and the inverse is true. If you believe it is your time, it is your time!"
As I look at the landscape of women considering entrepreneurship, especially in a digital economy, it seems Millennial women have a corner on the market. I asked Gina how a Perennial should approach an idea if she lacks digital know-how (an issue I run across frequently with my consulting clients). Gina says, "Digital fluency comes easier to those born with it. But everything and anything can be learned with desire and tenacity. I don't believe in a divide between generations but more in a camaraderie that focuses on mutual support. Regardless of our age, it's impossible to know everything. My friend Chip Conley, celebrated entrepreneur and author of the book Wisdom At Work, brilliantly suggests that we turn our bewilderment into curiosity. I particularly love his quote: 'In the digital era, libraries—and elders—aren’t quite as popular as they used to be. But wisdom never grows old.'"
I shared my own conference-going experience as a full-fledged Perennial. It was crystal clear that other attendees thought I was either the speaker, a mentor—or someone's mom. I asked Gina how I can help spread the Perennial gospel and not fall victim to the demographic date stamp. "How we feel about ourselves is all that matters, and it will eventually influence how others see us. Chronologically, we might be the oldest person in the room, and certain glances or tones might reinforce the old paradigm. But as long as we continue to be who we are—act how we feel—others will SEE us for how we think, feel and behave. They will see past the mom jeans, frown lines and whatever else. I have two very close friends who are in their 90s, and I never think of them in terms of a demographic. It's because they don't either. We see each other and relate to our passions."
Liberty Road believes women should consider their possibilities regardless of circumstance or demographics. Gina reminds us, “By identifying ourselves as Perennials, we supplant our constricting labels with something that better reflects our endless world of possibilities. Remember how big and bright the world felt when you were 19; but with the passing of each decade, it became smaller and less shiny. The thing is, the world has not changed much. Only you have. Some of us have "parked" in life thinking, 'I got this, and this is enough'. But having a Perennial mindset is a self-selecting state of mind. You can bloom again if you so choose. So can fallow relationships, careers, and anything else in your life. Being Perennial means taking control of your own growth.
Gina reminds us, "Being a Millennial doesn’t have to mean living in your parents' basement, growing an artisanal beard and drinking craft beer. Midlife doesn’t have to be a crisis. And you don’t have to be a number anymore. You’re relevant. You’re ever-blooming. You’re Perennial.”
GINA’S TIPS:
1. Keep learning. Platforms like Lynda, Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare, and General Assembly offer online courses to add to your professional toolkit. I also recommend classes from Creative Bug, MasterClass and Babbel’s language platform, which may be unrelated to your entrepreneurial goals, but they’ll help get the juices flowing. A creative mindset can lead to innovation, which can directly impact your bottom line. I also keep a rotating stack of business books by my bedside. Recent favorites include The Power of Onlyness by Nilofer Merchant, You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero, and Hit Makers by Derek Thompson.
2. Meet IRL. Make a point to talk to or meet with a minimum of 3 people who can move you towards your goal daily. These could be potential clients, inspiring and creative friends, or experts who can give you advice. Email doesn’t count. Try to meet in person or by video if they live afar. “Putting it out there” is the most underrated activity you can do as an entrepreneur.
3. Stop multitasking. MIT neuroscientist Earl K. Miller says, “Multitasking is not humanly possible.” You cannot focus 100% on more than one task, plus you work faster and smarter by avoiding this myth.
4. Organize your workspace. It’s crucial to declutter and organize your surroundings to give you the peace of mind needed to create and achieve. Less clutter saves time, reduces stress, and helps you stay focused on what has been and needs to get done.
5. Get healthy. Whether your business is up or down, we’re in a constant state of urgency. It’s always go, go, go and it’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits when life gets stressful. But if we’re not getting enough sleep, eating well, or taking a few moments to recharge then we’re only operating on half a stack, which is neither sustainable nor efficient.
6. Make downtime sacred. My friend and Emmy-award filmmaker Tiffany Shlain turned me on to Tech Shabbat, a modernized version of Jewish Shabbat, a time spent away from screens every Friday and Saturday night. It's a beautiful practice for yourself or to create meaningful moments with loved ones.
Interview By Nada Jones with Gina Pell