The new pandemic of entitlement. Millions of people acting like they’re owed the win without putting in the reps. It’s expecting the trophy—promotions, handouts and high 5’s—without grinding for it. You see it in:
Workplace settings: People wanting big titles or paychecks without proving they can carry the ball, lead a team or execute consistently.
Social media noise: Our feeds are loaded with videos of people behaving terribly in public or people thinking they should be rich an famous for their A.I, edits.
Policy fights: Demands for freebies—think loan forgiveness (sorry guys) or maybe even universal cash—without owning the trade-offs.
Everyday life: The “Karen” mindset, where someone’s personal drama trumps everyone else’s game plan.
Calling it a “pandemic” isn’t just hype—it’s got legs because:
Tech’s rewired us: From TikTok to DoorDash, we’re hooked on instant wins. Our phones let us dial in (no pun intended) to nearly anything we want at any time of the day. When our brain is functioning in this NOW-NOW-NOW phase, how dare someone slow down traffic. We want it all NOW!
Economic pressure: When the system feels rigged—sky-high rents, stalled wages, high interest rates—people start demanding theirs, fair or not.
Echo chambers: Online, everyone’s cheering their own side, making compromise feel like losing. It’s like a team that refuses huddle up.
Culture drift: We’ve got a generation raised on “you’re special” energy, not enough “earn your spot” discipline. We all knew those participation trophies were a problem, but we continued anyway.
Some say this “pandemic” is overblown:
It’s not entitlement—it’s people fighting for a fair shot in a game that’s stacked against them, like workers needing real wages.
Every generation gets this label. Boomers, Millennials, Gen Z—same old sideline critics calling the young’uns soft.
The accusers ain’t saints. Pointing fingers at the “entitled” while sitting on unearned perks like tax breaks or old-money networks? Pot, meet kettle.
What’s Fueling It? If we’re real, this mindset’s got roots:
Instant gratification addiction: Tech trains us to expect quick scores, no sweat.
Inequality’s sting: When the top of the food chain isn’t sharing… it’s only a matter of time before the tribe turns. Check out Simon’s “Why Leaders Eat Last.”
No alignment: Like a team without a playbook, we’re not united on goals, so everyone’s just yelling for their piece. Throw me the ball!
How Do We Fix It? If we’re gonna turn this around, it’s about getting back to basics, like we’ve talked about with leadership and culture:
On the field: Step up, own your role, and quit expecting a carry without the work. Channel some of that “treat others how you want to be treated” wisdom from the “Mama Said,” entry—empathy, not ego.
Big picture: Fix the system’s leaks—housing, wages, education—so people aren’t raging for scraps.
Team culture: Build discipline and accountability, like a unit that drills together and wins together. Less whining, more executing.
My Call
This “pandemic” talk’s got some truth, but it’s a symptom, not the disease. It’s what happens when trust’s shot, systems creak, and we forget how to align for the win. Like we’ve said about leadership, it’s about clear roles, shared goals, and executing with discipline.