> It’s not the worst advice to try hard things

No, absolutely not. I agree.
But framing it as if going after hard problems is all you need to succeed is disingenuous.

As far as I understand it, gen z's primary issue is that outside factors, those beyond "running towards the hardest problems" and outside of your direct control are stacked against them, whereas it used to be more favorable according to them.

Whether that perception is correct or not, telling them to just "do harder things, stupid" has close to zero value from that perspective.

It’s not the worst advice to try hard things

nkmg1c_ventures

“Run towards the hardest problems—not walk, run—and that’s where you find the biggest opportunities, where you learn the most, where you set yourself apart, and most importantly, where you grow.”

That is so representative of your run of the mill LinkedIn garbage. Peak motivational poster material.

Even if it was meant sincerely, how does that approach work any better in 2026 than it would have in 2006, 1986, 1966?

It's a TED-talkified variation of "trust me, all you need to be is a hard worker, kiddo."

And as such, it completely misses the point of what gen z is griping about.

econ

As Gen Zers face unemployment, CEOs say opportunity is still there w mindset

winteryeti

> “Run towards the hardest problems—not walk, run—and that’s where you find the biggest opportunities, where you learn the most, where you set yourself apart, and most importantly, where you grow.”

That is so representative of your run of the mill LinkedIn garbage. Peak motivational poster material.

Even if it was meant sincerely, how does that approach work any better in 2026 than it would have in 2006, 1986, 1966?
It's a TED-talkified variation of "trust me, all you need to be is a hard worker, kiddo."

And as such, it completely misses the point of what gen z is griping about.