Generation WTF
From What the #$%&! to a Wise, Tenacious, and Fearless You: Advice on How to Get There from Experts and WTFers Just Like You
We all know what “WTF” usually means: it’s an exclamation of frustration, anger, and an understandable reaction to the brutal new economic realities that have hit young adults harder than any other group. WTF happened to promises of a bright future? What happened to the jobs? And what do we do now that the rules have changed?
Recent college grads were raised in a time of affluence and entitlement, lulled into thinking that a golden future would happen. Young adults with few role models to teach values like thrift, perseverance, and self-control are ill-equipped to cope with sacrifice and failure. Their dismal employment prospects are merely the most visible symptom of more significant challenges. Fortunately, it’s not too late to change course. This optimistic, reflective, and technologically savvy generation already possesses the tools to thrive—if only they learn to harness the necessary skills for success.
In Generation WTF, Christine Whelan does just that. Dr. Whelan, one of the foremost authorities on the history of the self-help genre, worked with more than one hundred young people to test and tweak the best old-school advice and personalize it for the modern twenty-something. After a decade of researching the industry—and years advising “WTFers” as they struggle to make their way in the “real world”—Dr. Whelan knows firsthand what advice works and what Generation WTF has to offer.
Rather than focusing on the frustration that “WTF” usually stands for, Dr. Whelan leads the charge to reclaim the acronym as a battle cry for a positive future: Generation WTF will be a wise, tenacious, and fearless generation, strengthened by purpose and hope. This practical new guide will show these WTFers the way to success and instill lasting habits that will serve them well in both good times and bad.
Christine B. Whelan, PhD, is a professor, author and journalist. She is a visiting assistant professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh. She earned a doctorate from the University of Oxford for her research on the self-help industry. Dr. Whelan is the author of Marry Smart: The Intelligent Woman’s Guide to True Love and Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women. She has been published in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times, among others. She writes a bi-weekly relationship advice column for BustedHalo, a young adult website. She has appeared live on television and radio programs across the nation.
What Happened? And Where Did All the Jobs Go? / 3
The Experiment That Could Change Your Life / 5
How to Read This Book / 9
Part I: Get Wise
Chapter 1: Who Are You? Why Understanding Your Values Is the First Step to Success / 13
What Are Values? / 16
How to Live Your Values / 17
Is Your Internal GPS Leading You in the Right Direction? / 20
Finding Your Purpose / 21
Putting It All Together: Your Personal Mission Statement / 28
Chapter 2: Get Honest with Yourself: The WTF Guide to Journaling / 35
WTF Is Honesty? / 36
Top Honesty Advice: Grab a Journal / 39
WTF Did I Just Learn? / 51
Part II: Get Tenacious
Chapter 3: Got Goal? The SMARTER Way to Achieve / 55
Why Do I Need Goals? / 55
The SMARTER Plan for Success / 58
Create Lasting Change the SMARTER Way / 59
The SMARTER Plan in Action / 60
Chapter 4: Self-Control: Your Key to Self-Improvement / 77
Is the Way You’re Working … Working? / 78
Want a Marshmallow? The Mischel Experiments / 80
What Is Self-Control? / 82
Seven Steps to Amp Up Control of Your Life … Starting Now / 85
Dieting: A Case Study in the Challenges—and Possibilities—of Self-Control / 102
Putting It All Together / 106
Chapter 5: Procrastination and Stress: The Dysfunctional Relationship That’s Holding You Back / 109
Do You Procrastinate? / 110
Meet Mr. Procrastination and Ms. Stress / 111
Why Am I So Stressed Out? / 112
What Is Procrastination? / 113
The Epic Battle of Procrastination vs. Self-Control / 118
Frazzled and Stressed? Be Nice to Yourself to Boost Self-Control / 122
Urgent vs. Important: Stephen Covey on Overcoming Procrastination / 124
Breaking the Procrastination and Stress Cycle / 129
WTF Did I Just Learn? / 131
Part III: Get Fearless
Chapter 6: Thrift: Old Word, New Secret to Success / 135
Money and You / 136
Materialistic Much? / 137
First, a Little Background / 138
Step 1: Learn What Thrift Really Means / 140
Step 2: Understand Your Money Psychology / 143
Step 3: Generation WTF Solutions for Thrifty Living / 149
WTF Does My Money Go? / 157
Chapter 7: Become a Fearless You: The Five Life Skills You Need to Know / 183
Life Skill 1: Smile (Seriously) / 184
Life Skill 2: Admit It When You’re Wrong / 186
Life Skill 3: Avoid Arguments by Thinking Win/Win / 188
Life Skill 4: Interview like a Pro / 195
Life Skill 5: The Importance of an Honest Day’s Work / 199
Chapter 8: Make Meaning: Thinking Outside the “You” Box / 207
Create More Meaningful Friendships / 211
Create More Meaningful Relationships / 221
Create More Meaningful Communities / 234
Don’t Know How to Start Giving Back? Try This / 235
WTF Did I Just Learn? / 243
Conclusion: Generation WTF: 5 Things to Do Before You Put This Book Away / 245
So What Next? / 248
Finalize Your Personal Mission Statement / 248
Join the Generation WTF Movement / 249
Remember Your Core Values / 249
Set a Goal—and Accomplish It—This Week / 251
Spread the News / 251
Acknowledgments / 255
Appendix: A WTF Advanced Calendar Strategy to Keep You on Track / 257
Victory: More Helpful Tips / 263
Notes / 265
Resources / 275
