Let Them.
Gen Z Wasn't Built for Permission
There’s a phrase that’s been echoing in my mind lately: let them.
I received Mel Robbins' book as a Christmas 2024 gift. At the time, I had no idea how deeply those two words—let them—would come to influence how I see leadership, identity, and the power of generational momentum. Here’s a clip from the author explaining its impact:
Made popular by Mel Robbins, the “Let Them” theory is simple: when people doubt you, question your moves, misunderstand your purpose, or leave you out? Let them. Because the goal isn’t to convince anyone to believe in your path—the goal is to walk it anyway.
And that mindset? It’s exactly what Generation Z understands better than most.
This is a generation that isn’t waiting for permission. They’re not asking for a seat at the table—they’re building new ones. They’re starting businesses in their teens, reshaping activism with a hashtag, and redefining what leadership, identity, and purpose look like in real time. They’re not perfect. They’re persistent. And most of all, they’re unmoved by outdated expectations.
While other generations are busy questioning what Gen Z is doing—and frankly, some do so because they couldn’t, or wish they had the wherewithal to achieve so much at such a young age—Gen Z continues to break barriers, move mountains, and set new standards for what leadership and success can look like.
Let them roll their eyes. Let them say it won’t work. Let them underestimate what this generation is building.
Because here’s what Gen Z is showing us: resistance isn’t a reason to stop—it’s a reason to press harder.
This is the same energy behind every timeless Black proverb you’ve ever heard: “One monkey don’t stop no show.” “God bless the child that’s got his own.” “Make a way out of no way.”
This spirit of unapologetic forward motion is not arrogance. It’s clarity. It’s legacy. It’s knowing that sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is keep going.
As Bryan Stevenson reminds us, "Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. Our power is in our ability to speak the truth, even when it’s hard." Gen Z is filled with those voices. They’re leading from TikTok, from classrooms, from community centers, from campuses and boardrooms alike.
The world may not always understand them. So, Let it catch up.
Let them worry about the small things. Let them cling to the minor wins. I'll stay focused on what actually moves the world forward—and make space for opportunities they were never built to carry.
Because the show? It will go on.
And just in case you're wondering where this all started—here’s the cover of the book that first put let them in my hands. Grab a copy FAST!
Oh yeah, and it’s backed by empirical research, so it’s legit!
Robbins, M. (2024). The Let Them Theory: A life-changing tool that millions of people can't stop talking about. Hay House LLC.
#FutureForward #LetThem #GenZLeadership #Unapologetic #OneMonkeyDontStopNoShow #LeadershipRedefined #KeepGoing
