It has been said to me many times, “Well, I’m Gen-X, and I don’t think this way or agree with you.” It sounds like a fairly innocuous comment, but it always got me thinking about how I present myself and my content. With “GEN-X” literally in the channel name, people would get butthurt in the comments section if what I said didn’t represent their version of being a Gen-X. With me being me, that often leads me down a spiraling rabbit hole of self-doubt, questioning my recollection of the past, and if I’m “Gen-X” enough.

Those of you who have been here from the start know that this has impacted how I show up and create videos here. As I’ve said in videos many times, the viral video that got my channel monetized was made as a joke. I never intended to make a Gen-X themed channel. I just latched on to that success and rode the wave. Sure, being a Gen-X is technically what I am, but it’s not who I am. And that is what prompted me to change the name and rebrand my channel.

Silver Play 100k – My Way!

This channel is a long-term commitment for me. I plan to grow this channel to 100k subscribers and earn that Silver Play Button. Come hell or high water – it will happen! But when I reach that goal, I want it to be in my voice. Not the performative version of myself where I’m trying to be something that, even though I technically am, I don’t really feel like the majority in our ranks. My lived experience as a Gen-X was very sheltered and not latch-key, and left to my own devices. I had three older siblings who made growing up relatively easy. Because of that, I am not as tough as the rest of our generation. But that’s a story for another time.

Many of you have told me time and again to just “be me“, but the name of the channel kept me trying to be the quintessential “Gen-X’er” and not my authentic self. (yeah, I used a snowflakey buzzword – so sue me! this is a bit emotional for me…)

For me, changing the channel’s name removes that pressure. I no longer feel as though I have to correctly represent an entire generation with every video I create. I can do away with feeling as though I have to appear on camera as a stereotypical Gen-X’er, all the while wondering if I am doing it right. This removes the performative, so I can be 100% myself. Hence, the simple change to “Brandon POV“.

50 Hit Me Hard! So This Is Me Hitting Back.

I’m a 50yr. old man who is starting to seriously think about retirement and what that future will look like. And to be honest? It scares the hell out of me. Like so many of us X’ers, we are not where we thought we would be in regard to being prepared for that stage of our lives. I try to tell myself that “I’m Gen-X! I’ll figure it out. Adapt and overcome. That’s what we do!”

But remember what I said earlier? I’m not that kind of Gen-X. Life honestly scares the shit out of me sometimes, and feeling unprepared for the future is hitting pretty hard right now as a newly minted 50-year-old. And I’d honestly like to talk to you about it. I mean, if you’re cool with that. If not, it’s whatever. It’s fine…MOVING ON!

This rebranding gives me the freedom to do just that. Talk about the ups and downs of approaching retirement. Talk about the fear of getting laid off between now and 63, which, if I’m to believe the flood of YouTube videos I’ve seen recently, is the sweet-spot age that companies like to “encourage” taking early retirement with a loss of benefits and a good chunk of change to boot. Seriously – WTF is up with THAT!?

This change gives me ownership of my content and comments in a way I never felt I had before. I’m no longer speaking as a representative for a generation. I’m talking for me. How I feel, what I think, and all that goes with it. Agree or disagree with me if you want but, as Linkin Park says, “…in the end it doesn’t even matter.”. Because I no longer feel as though I have to justify what I say to appease everyone everywhere. I can be me, be confident in what I’m saying because it’s what I believe to be true, and stand behind what I said without any lingering doubts.

But if I happen to be wrong on something – well, that’s an opportunity for you to teach me. And I really do welcome that.

Lastly – for the OG GEN-X POV’ers in the house…

First and foremost – THANK YOU! Thank you for subscribing, commenting, joining memberships, and always cheering me on even when I was completely lost. (honestly, I still am…but at least I feel better in my own skin now) This channel and the opportunity it is giving me wouldn’t exist without you. I will never forget that.

Secondly, “Gen-X” will always be my generational denomination – fear not! But as President John F. Kennedy said: “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” I also like this quote that I found when searching for inspirational quotes to leave you with so you think I’m smart – so I’ll include it too. “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” – Rumi

Also, all the Legacy GEN-X POV content will still be available for you to reminisce over. I even put it all in a playlist for your convenience!

Check it out here: Legacy GEN-X POV

This is still my channel, and the great thing is that moving forward, you will be getting exactly what you have been telling me all along. You’re going to get me. Just me and my ridiculous thoughts because I just can’t seem to shut my mouth sometimes.

Lastly and most importantly, I love doing this. I love every aspect of creating videos and having this channel. There are days I fall asleep thinking of ideas for the channel and wake up the next morning still thinking about it. It’s my creative voice that I get to see real-time reactions to, and as a creator, there is no greater gift than that. The fact that you show up to watch and engage in what I have to say means more to me than I could ever say. And that’s saying something! You’ve seen how long-winded I can be. I mean, look at this blog post FFS!

Blame the writer in me . . . OH, and I can talk about that here now too! But we’ll get to that later.