“Work for the Money, Grow for the Meaning”: A Mature Mindset for Gen Z in the Age of Overnight Success
"It’s not about retiring early. It’s about maturing early."
We often hear: “Do what you love and the money will follow.” But for many Gen Z students and young professionals, the reverse feels more realistic: “Do what pays well first, then figure out what you love.”
That might not be a bad strategy.
In today’s world of skyrocketing living costs, student debt, and economic precarity, choosing a job for financial stability is not giving up on your dreams. It can be an intentional move toward them. But making that path sustainable (mentally, emotionally, and practically) requires something many people underestimate: maturity.
When Money Comes First (and That's Okay)
There’s a growing number of young professionals who are entering jobs that don’t light them up but do light up their bank accounts. The logic? If I can save early, invest smartly, and maybe even retire young, I’ll finally have time and space to do what I actually care about.
It’s strategic only under certain conditions. And it comes with a cost if you’re not careful.
🧠 Neuroscience insight: The brain’s prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for planning, decision-making, and impulse control, is still maturing well into our 20s. Coaching can help accelerate the development of this executive function through intentional self-reflection and structured visioning.
The Real Challenge: Knowing When "Enough" Is Enough
Here’s the trap: Once you start earning, the goalpost keeps moving.
It’s called the hedonic treadmill - a phenomenon where your brain adapts quickly to new levels of income or comfort, and then wants more. What felt like “enough” last year doesn’t feel like it now. Without a clear internal compass, it’s easy to become stuck in high-paying but low-meaning roles far longer than planned.
📊 According to a 2021 study by Killingsworth & Kahneman published in PNAS, happiness does continue to rise with income, but only when that income aligns with greater autonomy, time freedom, and meaningful activity. It’s not just about more money, it’s about what that money enables.
Coaching Reflection:
What does “enough” mean to me: financially, emotionally, and creatively?
How long am I willing to trade meaning for money?
What will I do when I reach my financial milestone?
Burnout Doesn’t Wait for Purpose
One of the biggest myths in this path is thinking:
“I’ll figure out my purpose when I’ve saved enough.”
But burnout and mental depletion don’t wait. They creep in while you’re stuck in high-output, low-fulfillment roles. And when you finally reach your goal, you may be too drained (physically and emotionally) to pursue your original dream.
🧠 Neuroscience insight: Chronic stress reduces neuroplasticity - your brain’s ability to adapt and learn new skills. It also activates the amygdala, which increases fear-based decision-making. When you’re burned out, even thinking creatively about your next step becomes difficult.
Coaching Insight:
Start building your “parallel purpose” now:
Join a community project
Explore a hobby with future potential
Volunteer 1–2 hours a week in something that energizes you
Think of it as your emotional savings account. When the time comes to switch paths, you won’t be starting from zero.
The Mirage of Overnight Success
Every day, social media feeds flood us with images of 25-year-olds driving luxury cars, launching six-figure side hustles, or living in Bali as “digital nomads.”
It’s inspiring but it’s also misleading. What we don’t see are the 99 others who are stressed, stuck, or silently questioning their path. Toxic positivity tells us:
“You should always feel good about your job.”
“If you’re not passionate, you’re doing it wrong.”
“Success is supposed to look glamorous.”
📊 Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace reports that 44% of employees experience daily stress, and Gen Z in particular reports the highest levels of burnout and disengagement. Despite the aesthetics of success, emotional fatigue is real.
🧠 Neuroscience tells us that social comparison (especially on platforms like Instagram and TikTok) activates the brain’s threat circuitry. It can lower self-esteem and increase anxiety, especially when our current reality doesn’t match what we see online.
Coaching Insight:
Audit your feed: Are your “inspirations” lifting you up or draining your energy?
Redefine success based on your values, not your timeline
Create boundaries around consumption and self-worth
The Goal Isn’t Early Retirement, It’s Early Self-Leadership
It’s not about quitting work at 35.
It’s about knowing, at 25, why you’re working, who you are, and what kind of life you’re building.
Early self-leadership is the antidote to burnout and aimlessness. It means:
Making decisions from purpose, not panic
Designing a plan that serves both your present needs and future desires
Having the emotional intelligence to course-correct when needed
Coaching builds this muscle. It helps Gen Z professionals:
Cultivate intrinsic motivation
Develop cognitive flexibility (holding both “this job isn’t me” and “this job serves a purpose”)
Strengthen emotional regulation during high-stress career phases
Create a vision for life that doesn’t depend on likes, titles, or escape fantasies
Working for the money can be an act of wisdom if it’s done with maturity, intention, and regular self-reflection.
If money gives you freedom, what will you do with that freedom?
Are you building a life or just buying time?
And if you're not sure where to start, that’s where coaching comes in.
If you’re working for the money, let’s make sure it’s serving you, not draining you.
Book a strategy call with me to explore how neuroscience-backed coaching can help you build clarity, maturity, and a long-term vision.
Your Coach,
Jocelyne
Further Reading & Resources
🧠 Research & Reports
Killingsworth & Kahneman (2021) – “Experienced well-being rises with income, even above $75,000 per year” – PNAS
Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report (2023)
📚 Books to Explore
“Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” – Daniel Pink
“Atomic Habits” – James Clear
“The Defining Decade” – Dr. Meg Jay
“Good Anxiety” – Dr. Wendy Suzuki
💬 Coaching Tools to Try
Values Clarity Worksheet
“Enough” Financial Milestone Tracker
Self-Leadership Journaling Prompts
(Ask me if you'd like templates for these!)
