Now look, I’m part of the boomer generation myself, so this isn’t a hit piece. It’s a gentle walk down memory lane—with a bit of reflection along the way.

We grew up in a different world. A world with rotary phones, manual transmissions, and advice that was passed down like gospel. And while some of those lessons were solid—like showing up on time or treating others with respect—others haven’t stood the test of time quite as well.

That’s the thing about wisdom: it has to grow along with the world. And if we’re not careful, we can end up clinging to beliefs that served a different time—but don’t serve anyone now.

Let’s take a look at some of those ideas we boomers still pass around, even though they could use a second look.

1. “Hard work is all you need to succeed”

I grew up hearing this one on repeat. And for a long time, it seemed true.

You worked hard, showed up early, kept your head down—and usually, something good came from it.

But nowadays? That equation doesn’t always hold up.

You can be the hardest-working person in the room and still struggle to make ends meet, especially with the way housing, healthcare, and education costs have shifted.

I’m not saying hard work doesn’t matter. It does. But we’ve got to stop pretending it’s the only thing that determines success.

Luck, access, timing, and who you know play bigger roles now than we ever admitted.

2. “If you don’t like your job, tough it out”

There was a time when sticking with a job you hated was considered noble. You put your head down and pushed through.

But the younger folks today are more likely to say, “Life’s too short.” And honestly? I think they’re onto something.

I once spent five years in a job that drained the life out of me. I stayed because it paid well and because walking away felt like failure. But by the time I left, I was burnt out and emotionally fried.

These days, I admire people who are brave enough to pivot before they crash.

3. “Don’t talk about your feelings”

This one really dug in deep for a lot of us men.

We were raised to believe emotions—especially anything soft or vulnerable—were a liability.

“Be strong.” “Shake it off.” “Man up.”

But bottling everything up doesn’t make you strong. It just makes you explode later. Or quietly disconnect from the people you love.

I’ve mentioned this before, but I didn’t learn how to talk about feelings properly until I was in my fifties. And it changed everything.

Let’s stop teaching boys to bury their emotions and start teaching them how to name them.

4. “Respect is earned by age alone”

Growing up, if someone was older than you—even by a few years—you showed respect, no questions asked.

But these days, respect is more mutual. It’s based on how you treat people, not just how long you’ve been on the planet.

I’ve had to adjust to that myself. Being older doesn’t automatically make you wise or kind.

If we want respect from younger generations, we’ve got to model it—by listening, learning, and showing up with humility.

5. “College is the only path to success”

Back in our day, college was the golden ticket.

You went, you graduated, you got a stable job.

But times have changed.

Now, college can leave people with mountains of debt and no guarantee of employment. Meanwhile, trades and creative paths that were once dismissed are now viable and even lucrative options.

I’ve got a grandson who’s thriving as a video editor—something that didn’t even exist when I was his age.

It’s time we stop shaming young people for taking different paths. There’s more than one way to build a good life.

6. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

This one might work for appliances, but not for relationships, systems, or ways of thinking.

Sometimes something is broken—but we’re too used to it to see it.

I once resisted getting a smartphone for years. I figured my flip phone worked fine, so why change? Then one day, I finally upgraded—and I’ll be honest, I felt like I’d stepped out of the Stone Age.

The same goes for beliefs. Just because something worked once doesn’t mean it still works now.

7. “You shouldn’t talk about money”

This old-school idea has led to generations of people feeling lost when it comes to finances.

We didn’t talk about debt, savings, negotiation, or how much things really cost. It was all hush-hush.

And now? We’ve got folks in their 30s and 40s trying to figure out mortgages and retirement with zero financial literacy.

Talking about money openly—without shame—is one of the most powerful things we can do for younger generations.

8. “Stay out of other people’s business”

There’s value in minding your own, sure. But this belief has sometimes been used as an excuse to ignore injustice.

We were taught not to rock the boat. Don’t question authority. Don’t get involved.

But silence can be a form of complicity.

The world needs people who speak up when something’s wrong—not just for themselves, but for others. Especially those who don’t have a voice.

It’s okay to care. It’s okay to intervene. That’s not weakness. That’s courage.

9. “Once you retire, it’s time to slow down”

I’ve heard this one countless times.

“You’ve worked hard. Now just relax.”

But here’s the thing: retirement isn’t the end. It’s a transition. And for a lot of us, it’s a chance to finally pursue the things we put on hold.

I took up writing after I retired. It gave me purpose, structure, and a way to connect with others.

Staying mentally and emotionally engaged is just as important as staying physically active.

You don’t have to stop growing just because you’ve stopped working.

10. “Young people today have it easy”

This one gets tossed around more than it should.

Yes, some things are easier now—technology, communication, access to information.

But younger generations also face challenges we never had to deal with. Skyrocketing costs, job insecurity, climate anxiety, and a culture of constant comparison.

It’s not a competition. Every generation has its own battles.

Instead of rolling our eyes, maybe we could offer support. Or even ask what they’re struggling with before assuming we know.

Final thoughts

Just because we were taught something doesn’t mean we have to keep passing it along.

Some beliefs need updating. Others need letting go entirely.

So here’s a question worth asking: Are there any old ideas you’ve been carrying around that might be holding you—or someone else—back?

Because wisdom isn’t just about what you know. It’s about knowing when it’s time to rethink.