# When did everyone become the Main Character™️?

## Метаданные

- **Канал:** Simon Sinek
- **YouTube:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQagtmnBYZc
- **Дата:** 28.04.2026
- **Длительность:** 1:38
- **Просмотры:** 20,696
- **Источник:** https://ekstraktznaniy.ru/video/49422

## Описание

Do you think you're an important person?

In 1952, only 12% of Americans said yes. By 1990, that number was 80%. Keep in mind that this is before Millennials and Gen Z could answer that survey.

Historian and generations expert @Dr.Eliza.Filby. breaks down exactly how we went from a culture of humility and teamwork to one of hyper-individualism.

So before we accuse a generation of being self-obsessed, maybe we should ask: when did everyone become the main character? And why?

🎧 Listen to the full episode of A Bit of Optimism wherever you get your podcasts.

## Транскрипт

### Segment 1 (00:00 - 01:00) []

Do you think you're an important person, Simon? I think I — I'd be curious — I do. I'm very important. Well, if you said it, who am I to disagree? — Right, okay. I mean, you're the PhD, I'm not. What percentage of people in the US, right? — Yeah. I think Americans think they're more important than — Right, in 1952 said they were very important. I'm going to say it's high above 50%. — No. 12%. What? 12%? — Right? The survey was run again in 1990. — Okay. And let me just be clear, — right? Millennials weren't in the group. — Right, right. — Gen Z weren't even born or conceived. What percentage of people in the US? — Go on. I can't even guess. No, go on. Well, I'm hoping the number went up. It did. 80%. 80% of people said they were very important person in 1990. Because those numbers, now that I hear them, make sense to me. Because you have a generation that went through war together and humility and teamwork were the thing. So, how can I be more important than everybody else? No, but it's really basic. It's actually one of the biggest markers is smaller families. If you're one of 12 you just fit in and you just carry on. Smaller families, okay? And then individualized education in which it's always I, not we. We never get rewarded for teamwork at school. It's always individual results. And then we throw in tech which is an algorithmic now completely individualized perspective. You ever picked up someone else's phone? Foreign country. You have this ever closing you know, atomized individualism.