As a general rule, people in their 20s want to learn on the job. In their 30s they want to advance. And in their 40s they want to rule. No matter what their age, though, understanding their desires is like trying to pin down mercury. You have to find out what they want at every step—by literally asking them—and you can’t assume that one size fits all. The person who sees the noble goal of ‘work-life balance’ as irrelevant at age 24 may find it critical at 34.
