Meg Jay

The Defining Decade

1. IDEA 1

   The twenties matter enormously

   Jay, a clinical psychologist, argues that the twenties are a defining decade for work, relationships and personality. She challenges the popular idea that this decade is a time to delay serious choices.

2. IDEA 2

   Build identity capital

   Jay describes identity capital, the skills, experiences and qualities people collect that make them valuable. She argues that the twenties are a key time to build it. In her view, early efforts add up and shape later options.

3. IDEA 3

   Loose contacts open doors

   Jay explains that weak ties, acquaintances outside one's close circle, often lead to new opportunities. Close friends tend to know the same things. In her account, such contacts reach into different networks, so they bring information that close friends lack.

All 8 ideas from The Defining Decade →