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There's always a lot of talk about how much our generation is going to change the way the world works on some fundamental levels. What do you think will be the most earth moving change to come out of our efforts?

I think the world/society has always changed organically on its own. This will continue but these self-propelled changes have been and will continue to happen ever increasingly faster.

Among the age groups currently in the work place, Generation Breakthrough will be the most adept at navigating this exponential growth. While too many in the older generations will resist and try to suppress these blink-of-an-eye revolutions.

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As to answer the question: What will some of these massive societal shifts be? ...

I have read all of Raymond Kurzweil's books about the impending "Singularity." The eventual horizon when biological humans wont be the only source of intelligence. Our society will also be guided with the aid of cognizant computers and technologically enhanced humans.

His books, like "The Age of Spiritual Machines" and "The Singularity is Near" have been known to scare many people, and his timelines may be too hopeful. But they are extremely interesting and surprisingly likely predictions of the huge changes to come.

I believe Generation Breakthrough will be the group that propels these changes.

Lately, I've noticed a lot of people talking or writing about not believing in retirement. The fundamental idea of retirement makes sense: saving enough money now, so that you can still survive when you're too old to work. But retirement has developed into this concept of sacrificing your younger years doing something you hate, so that you can do whatever you feel like after you turn 60. This doesn't make sense on so many levels. Some people die before they're 60, and then they've spent their whole lives doing something they don't believe in. Some people lose all their money, or can't make enough, and they have to continue working after retirement. Some people get used to working so hard their entire lives that they can't bare the freedom and boredom of retirement, so they get another job.

I think our generation will change the perspective of work and retirement. We already naturally approach it differently. We're each trying to create a lifestyle for ourselves in which we can relax and enjoy life, while at the same time using our energy and vigor to work hard. And to many of us, hard work means dedication to something you care about, not working simply for financial gain. That's not to say that we don't save our money, and make smart investments. I think young people are making great investments for the future. We're so aware that no one taught us about finances in school, that we teach it to ourselves by reading the right books, and watching shows like Susie Orman and Mad Money.

My husband just said something that really represents how differently our generation approaches retirement. He said, "I don't want work and retirement to be separated by a chasm of possible doom."

It's not that we're afraid of the risk. It's that we know there are better risks we can be taking that lead to a more money, and a more enjoyable lifestyle now, as well as later on in life.

Go for it. Change the world. We did it in the sixties. But when you go back for your 25th college reunion, don't be shocked to find that almost everyone has gotten fat and lost their hair and has become a bank vice-president.

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never
Been this way before
------- Regina Spektor from "The Call"

I would apologize for being a buzz-kill but actually, they all turned out to be happy bank vice-presidents.