GI Griffin | People Are Lost Because They Don't Respect Their Elders

19 Jan People Are Lost Because They Don’t Respect Their Elders

Posted at 11:54h in Featured, GI SAID IT by GI Griffin

Elders aren’t outdated—they’re underrated. This episode dives into why respecting experience beats relying solely on Google or AI. Real-life lessons from mentors trump textbook knowledge every time. GI discusses the power in shutting up and listening, how ego-driven individualism leads to dead ends, and why applying wisdom from those who’ve been there is your ultimate shortcut to growth. Brutally honest and unfiltered, this is your call to prioritize learning from experience over inflated self-reliance. Because if you’re not listening to those who know better, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Take notes, and thank your elders later.

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Let’s be real—people today are stumbling through life because they think they’ve got it all figured out. And who could have guessed: they don’t. The root of the problem? A total lack of respect for their elders. Yep, I said it. Somewhere along the way, we decided the older generations don’t know sh-t. Boomers, Gen X? “Out of touch.” “Irrelevant.” “They don’t get it.” Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing—you can Google all you want, binge YouTube tutorials, or even feed prompts to your shiny new AI tool. But none of that amounts to squat if you don’t know how to apply the knowledge you’re cramming into your brain. That’s what experience is—applied knowledge. Guess who has the experience you don’t? That’s right, the people you keep ignoring.

Why You Need to Listen More

News flash for the ego-driven crowd out there—elders have been around the block a few (or a dozen) times more than you. They’ve made the mistakes you’re about to make, and they’ve figured some stuff out. Why reinvent the wheel when someone’s already got the blueprint?

Take advice. Just for a minute, shove that ego aside and actually listen. The value here is massive—they might point out pitfalls you’re blind to. They might share a shortcut that makes your life a hundred times easier. And you know what? You don’t even have to like taking advice. Nobody is saying you have to follow every word like gospel, but you sure as hell should be listening, processing, and deciding what’s useful to YOU.

The Myth of Going Solo

Here’s another hard truth you’re avoiding like the plague—this whole “I’m going to do it on my own” narrative? It’s pure BS. Somewhere along the way, society overhyped individualism. Sure, it sounds cute in theory, but in practice, it’s a one-way ticket to burnout city, population you. Nobody builds anything substantial without advice, collaboration, and a little help. You think successful businesses thrive because a CEO locked themselves in a room and muscled through it alone? I’m sure Elon Musk thinks he did.

You can be talented, sure. You can have significant knowledge, absolutely. But if you don’t know how to translate that knowledge into actionable results, you’re not going anywhere. That’s why experience matters. Those who’ve been IN IT can spot inefficiencies, anticipate challenges, and help you make better moves. That’s where elders step in.

Real-Life Wisdom vs Your Internet Search

I’ll say it loud for the people in the back—AI and Google can’t teach you life. Yes, they’re brilliant tools. Yes, they’re faster than trying to figure stuff out from scratch. But they cannot replace lived experience. They cannot replicate the insights brought by a 90-year-old who has lived through ups, downs, and societal shifts that would fry your circuits.

My grandfather knew plants like people know their phone passwords. He taught me more about agriculture, growing food, and life itself than any tutorial or book could. Why? Because he didn’t just know things; he lived them. He shared his fears, his past mistakes, and the context of a changing world. And you better believe I was soaking up every single drop of wisdom like my life depended on it. Hint—it kind of did.

Meanwhile, people everywhere are ignoring the 70-year-old walking encyclopedia in favor of the trendy guru who took a course last week and now calls themselves an “expert.” Stop it. Just stop.

Respect Isn’t Blind Trust

Before you start rolling your eyes and whining, “But not every older person is wise,” yeah, I know. Some people are clueless regardless of their age. Respecting your elders doesn’t mean hanging on every word of every senior you meet. Use some common sense. Assess their character, their track record, and their expertise.

Are they legit? Have they actually achieved the thing they’re trying to teach you? If the answer is yes, shut up and LISTEN. If the answer is no, thank them and move on. It’s not rocket science, but it does take discernment.

Fast-Tracking Your Success

You want success, right? You want your career, your business, or your personal goals to skyrocket? Guess what—the shortest distance between you and success is listening to people who’ve already walked the path. When I started out, I didn’t assume I knew better than those advising me. Nope. I kept it simple. I sat down, shut up, and learned.

I’m not saying you have to kiss anyone’s ass. It’s not about inflating egos or bowing down. It’s about being smart enough to recognize when experience can shave years off your learning curve. Every leap I’ve made in my career, I can trace back to a mentor who shared their wisdom, and I applied it. Period. If I had brushed those people off (like I see so many do), I’d still be stuck, spinning my wheels, wondering why nothing’s working.

Ego Is Your Worst Enemy

Here’s the kicker—most people resisting advice NEED advice the most. You don’t hate being told what to do because the advice is bad; you hate it because your ego can’t handle it (or someone was too bossy in your childhood). Put that oversized ego to bed for a minute and set those emotions you’re holding onto to the side. Nobody is coming for your independence or your intelligence. People are offering to help. Take the help.

And no, this isn’t about bowing to authority or blindly following orders. You take the advice, evaluate it, pick what works for you, and discard the rest. Simple as that.

What’s Not Working in Today’s Culture

Take a step back and really evaluate where we’re at as a society. People are burnt out, dissatisfied, broke, and mentally drained. The global culture screams “modernize everything,” but… how’s that going for us? Maybe the new way isn’t always the best way. Maybe there are lessons from the past worth revisiting.

Again, this is about balance. It’s about picking the best from both worlds—taking proven practices and combining them with fresh innovations. But that takes humility. That requires you to actually seek out wisdom from those who’ve seen it all before.

Final Reality Check

When it really comes down to it, would I choose a shiny AI tool or a seasoned elder who’s been through hell and come out stronger? My answer is the elder—every single time. They’ve lived the challenges. They’ve navigated the chaos. And most importantly, they’ve emerged with practical, actionable life wisdom.

Respect your elders. Not blindly, but intentionally. Use their knowledge to fuel your growth. Listen when they speak from experience. Apply what works. Skip what doesn’t. And for the love of all that is caffeinated, stop thinking you know everything.

At the end of the day, respect and growth go hand in hand. You can only learn so much from articles, AI, and secondhand data. Real transformation comes from doing the work, and a lot of that work involves leaning on the shoulders of those who came before you.

GI’s unique perspective delivered in a style that is unapologetically honest, straight to the point, and at times a bit brutal. GI SAID IT: Brutally honest, no BS. Click for more GI SAID IT shows and articles.