'My Generation Is Lazy': 23-Year-Old CEO Says One Specific Thing Is Destroying Gen Z's Work Ethic Luke Lintz was 16 when he co-founded public relations firm HighKey Enterprises with his brother.
By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas
Key Takeaways
- Luke Lintz had odd jobs starting in seventh grade, from babysitting to demolition work.
- Social media helped his company find success — but it's not without its drawbacks, he says.
- Lintz hopes his social media content helps Gen Z peers addicted to the digital realm "wake up and smell the coffee."
Luke Lintz, the 23-year-old co-founder and CEO of Puerto Rico-based public relations firm HighKey Enterprises, says he knows what hard work looks like because he's been working side gigs since he was in seventh grade.
Over the course of middle and high school, Lintz babysat, worked at an organic food store, did demolition work and painted houses.
He and his brother launched HighKey when Lintz was just 16, and he says their inspiration came from "constantly trying to find the best use of [his] time, wanting more out of life, and [he and his brother] pushing each other regularly to be better."
Related: What Is a 'Lazy Girl Job?' New Trend Explodes on TikTok.
Starting up the venture at such a young age came with some challenges: Lintz recalls he couldn't sign corporation papers, apply for a bank account or credit card or access funding, and some people didn't take him seriously. But he pushed forward until his "personal and company brand [spoke for themselves] with undeniable amounts of social proof."
Lintz says he grew the company's social media accounts to millions of followers and has been featured in media outlets worldwide.
Lintz admits social media has played a "very significant role" in his entrepreneurial success — but he says it's also many of his peers' downfall. "My generation is lazy because they have been growing up in a very digital-heavy environment," he says, "and most of Gen Z doesn't know what hard work looks like."
"The average Gen Z gets overwhelmed with rolling out of their bed in their PJs and working on their computer for a school day or a work shift," Lintz adds.
According to Lintz, Gen Zers who scroll on social media get trapped in a "comparison mindset."
"[It] can give a perception that there is unlimited opportunity," Lintz explains. "[This] gives people a false reality of always searching for the next shiny object, where the grass is greener, and what happens, in reality, is no progress is made."
The result? It "makes life less meaningful" and distracts people from their responsibilities, Lintz says.
Related: Are You a Social Media Addict? Here's 5 Unexpected Ways to Quit.
Lintz doesn't use social media personally aside from "messaging some business friends to keep in touch."
"I have and always will use social media as a tool to reach an audience," Lintz says. "I am trying to provide more value in my social media content so the users who are stuck scrolling on social media will wake up and smell the coffee."
