HAVE you come to realise the world does not work as you thought it did in your teens? Here are some things you were woefully misinformed about.
Your parents are terrible people
As you get older, you’ll come to realise that your parents weren’t awful, they’re just well-meaning idiots. Obviously this does not apply if you had genuinely terrible parents who made you live in a weird cult or pop out and sell some crack.
Suburban averageness is shit, but the worst that can happen to you
As a teenager you believed suburban conformity would be beneath you thanks to your successful career as a rapper, film director, being ‘the new Radiohead’, prime minister, etc. Have a good cringe as you now insulate the loft of your two-bed semi, which Thom Yorke probably doesn’t do. Or realise you’re 40 and still in a crap rented flat.
Employers want creative, free-thinking staff
No. What employers want is basically ‘someone who’s done exactly the same job before’, which disbars you because you don’t have enough experience. It’s a catch 22 situation, but f**k you, they don’t care. Other useful skills are: being a company drone and not costing much. It’s a shame you can’t just put this on your covering email and cut the bullshit.
Personality is more important than looks
Generations of teens have been brainwashed with this clearly wrong idea, from Roald Dahl readers to fans of ‘YA’ fiction. Research has actually suggested attractive people are more successful, but you’ll find out for yourself after a series of doomed crushes.
Talent will shine through
If you do have talent, people will notice it, right? Nope. What actually shines through is: being related to someone famous, rich or important; incessant, creepy networking; or getting lucky with some asinine business idea like selling dressing gowns for cats.
