THE CREATOR MINDSET

I've noticed a distinction between young men who appear to be thriving and those who feel trapped. This difference is not driven by their circumstances, advantages, or even their talents. Instead, it stems from a fundamental choice in how they perceive themselves: as creators of their own destiny or as victims of their circumstances.

I'm not talking here about positive thinking or ignoring the reality of problems. Real challenges confront anyone trying to build a meaningful life. However, in my experience, those who concentrate on what they can create, rather than on what hinders them, often uncover paths forward that complainers never find.

The Language We Choose

Listen to how people describe their situations, and you will notice two distinct patterns.

The first sounds like: "The job market is impossible." "Dating apps have ruined relationships." "Nobody values genuine skills anymore." "The system is rigged against people like me."

The second sounds like: "The traditional job market is challenging, so I am developing skills for the digital economy." "Dating apps are not effective, so I am joining clubs to meet people in a more natural way." "Companies may not appreciate this skill, so I am seeking clients who do."

The same challenges elicit completely different responses. One perspective explains why things cannot work, while the other explores potential solutions through experimentation.

Why Creating Beats Complaining

When you focus on what is wrong, you are essentially asking the world to change for you. In contrast, when you concentrate on creating, you are changing what you can control. The difference may seem subtle, but the results can diverge dramatically.

Consider two young men facing identical challenges. Both graduated into a tough jobs market and submitted dozens of applications, yet received minimal responses.

The first spent his energy analysing why the system was broken. He joined online forums that validated his frustration and explained to followers on X and anyone else who would listen why his generation faced greater challenges than any before.

The second started freelancing on small projects, taught himself new skills through online courses, and started documenting his learning journey. Six months later, the first was still explaining why nothing worked, while the second had inadvertently built a consulting practice.

Neither had any advantages over the other; they simply chose different areas of focus.

The Creation Habit

Creating does not necessarily mean starting a business or making art (though it can). It involves approaching life as a builder rather than a critic. This mindset manifests in subtle ways:

• Instead of complaining about boring weekends, you organise something engaging.

• Instead of moaning about the absence of a community, you set up a regular gathering.

• Instead of criticising poor content, you create something of higher quality.

The habit reinforces itself. Each small act of creation demonstrates that you possess more agency than you previously believed. Each problem solved uncovers new possibilities. Each creation draws in others who are also eager to build.

Beyond Individual Impact

Creators naturally find one another. While those who complain bond over shared grievances (which can become exhausting), creators collaborate on projects. They exchange skills, share opportunities, and introduce each other to valuable connections.

I've seen this phenomenon repeatedly: young men who concentrate on creating solutions rather than merely cataloguing problems find themselves in entirely different networks. This occurs not through deliberate networking, but because people are naturally attracted to those who take initiative and make things happen.

The Subtle Trap

There is a seductive comfort in explaining why things do not work. Analysing systemic problems feels sophisticated and fosters easy connections with others who share your frustrations. It absolves you of the discomfort associated with trying and the possibility of failure.

But this comfort is a trap. While you perfect your analysis of what is wrong, others are imperfectly creating solutions that may work. While you wait for conditions to improve, they are adapting to the current circumstances.

Starting Small

The transition from being a complainer to becoming a creator does not require dramatic gestures. Begin with small experiments:

This week, identify one thing you frequently complain about. It could be the lack of engaging events in your area, the subpar quality of available food options, or the challenge of meeting like-minded people.

Then create the smallest possible response: organise a gathering, cook a great meal and share the recipe, or start a conversation with someone who seems interesting. Take a risk. Be willing to fail.

The goal is not to solve every problem but to demonstrate to yourself that you can create rather than merely critique.

What Creators Understand

People who create and construct often uncover insights that those who merely complain overlook:

Most barriers are smaller than they seem. The distance between an idea and action is shorter than you might think. Perfect conditions may never materialise, but adequate conditions are available right now. Small actions can accumulate into significant changes. Other creators will support you if you are genuinely working on something.

They also learn that creating is more energising than complaining, even when it is more challenging. There is a unique satisfaction in bringing something into existence that no amount of validated frustration can match.

The Choice Available Now

You can spend the next year articulating why things are difficult, unfair, or impossible. You will find plenty of evidence and considerable agreement. Ultimately, you will remain in the same position, but with more persuasive arguments.

Alternatively, you can invest your time in developing small solutions to the things that frustrate you. Along the way, you will encounter setbacks, make mistakes, and occasionally feel foolish. However, you will also acquire new skills, forge alliances, and uncover abilities you never realised you possessed.

The world has plenty of critics who document what is broken. What it truly needs are people willing to create something better, no matter how small.

The question is not whether the challenges you face are real; they are. The real question is whether you will be someone who merely explains these challenges or someone who creates despite them.

What will you create this week?

— Richard Morrissey