The social integration of young people represented no considerable problem in the previous centuries, as intermediary stages existed, such as the apprenticeship, which evolved under conditions of severe tutelage by adults. Towards the end of the last century, things changed dramatically. Visible mutations of the individual role and statute determined the reconsideration of the primary values and understandings of human condition. Youth has established itself as a distinct period in the social life and the specific problems have been amplified, creating the so called “crises”. As a consequence, young people suffer the most, as they are strongly aware of the contrast between reality and desideratum.
Today, the topic of personal performance is gaining more and more attention, but is it completely and, most importantly, correctly understood? The most common misunderstanding when it comes to personal performance is associating it to individual performance.
All throughout their lives, people get engaged in self-improvement activities, be it in a structured or non-structured way. From simply reading a new book, taking on a training course or establishing personal goals and initiatives, all these activities need specific drivers. So what makes us establish goals and stick with them? What pushes us into becoming better? What drives us to act? What are the factors that enhance our motivation and, ultimately, our well-being?
Working long hours, fighting to meet deadlines, burning the midnight oil while trying to spend more time with the spouse and children or taking care of household activities can become overwhelming for the 21st century worker. A faulty work-life balance mainly affects family life, but it can negatively mirror work productivity as well, once burnout sets in.
Today’s working generation lives in unprecedented times in terms of societal functionality and human interaction. Contradictions among decisions, opinions and beliefs have become, more or less, too trivial to even take notice of their irregularities. Present times are indeed, challenging, from whatever point of view one might approach them. It remains our duty, however, to transform “challenging” from a term with restrictive connotation into a word that implies hidden opportunities.
