The GenX Advantage of Living in Two Worlds

Dear Lovely Human,

The younger ones don’t realize this: we are that generation who can time-travel—one foot in the past, the other firmly in the future.

That’s the strange gift of us Gen-Xers: we learned patience from waiting on dial-up, and we learned speed from living in LinkedIn’s constant motion.

The real question is: what do we do with that double lens? Do we let it hold us back, pull us apart—or do we claim it as our bold advantage?

Make no mistake, the world is racing forward—faster than ever.

But maybe, just maybe, we are the ones who can hold both past and future, slow and fast, analog and digital. We are the living time capsule—the storytellers and gatekeepers of analog and digital.

We are the translators between eras, carrying the human story forward.

How can I stay ahead in Learning and Development?

• What happens when you reverse your Bucket List?

• When your parents warned you (or you warn your kids) to watch who they hang out with — they were onto something. Curiosity actually grows because of that choice. 

• If you are in Dubai this month, we have three of our community members as keynotes on the stage. Futurists event featuring David. Holistic Health featuring Sheena and Doers Summit featuring Raffic.

• Ex-Spotify executes just launched this learning platform that may just kill all others . Meet Oboe

 How do I broaden my Global Worldview? Vietnam (Part 2)

Last week, we followed Samantha’s journey into the silence of Vietnam’s mountains.
This week, we step into its motion — loud, fast, and beautifully choreographed.

On Day 3 in Vietnam, Samantha tried to cross the street in Ho Chi Minh City. She hesitated as scooters zipped past like a swarm of bees, fast, fearless and unbothered. Then a student beside her whispered, “Just go. They’ll move.” And somehow, they did. That’s when she realized it wasn’t chaos at all, it was choreography.

In Vietnam, hustle isn’t a badge, it’s built into the bloodstream. Morning markets roll into Zoom meetings. Sidewalks double as nail salons, startups, and banh mi labs. At noon, she ordered lunch from a vendor livestreaming on TikTok while balancing her baby on one hip. By sunset, she was coworking next to a teenager editing product videos for his sneaker brand.

To understand this country, Samantha quickly learned, you don’t just visit it, you move with it.

The Local Map of the Hustle: Samantha’s Field Notes

Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Saigon — Roller skaters, food vendors, crypto bros, and newlyweds posing in ao dai — all within a two-block radius. It’s not a street. It’s a startup pitch deck come to life.

Toong Coworking, Hanoi — Bamboo interiors meet lightning-fast Wi-Fi. Samantha shared a coffee bar with UX designers, climate tech founders, and a guy pitching NFTs in four languages.

The Alleyway Studios of Da Nang — Streetwear brands are stitched behind noodle shops. One minute you’re sipping sugarcane juice, the next you’re watching a Gen Z design collective prep for a pop-up in Seoul.

TikTok Market Livestreams — Who needs a store? Samantha watched vendors sell thousands of dollars’ worth of skincare from bedrooms, night markets, even train stations.

The future isn’t either/or. It’s both/and — and that’s an edge.

Mastery today means holding opposites — patience and speed, analog and digital.

Living in two worlds isn’t a burden. It’s our bold advantage!

And finally…..

🎯 What can I do to Impact, Live Sustainably and Make the World a Better Place?

• The UN is hiring a CIO to shape the digital future of 190 countries. This could be the most impactful tech role on earth!

• If age is just a number, why is it the first thing careers get judged on? 

Your fans,
— Sal & the Gleac team

P.S. Meet some of the lovely humans in our Gleac community making waves around the world!