age based objections

Why youth is an edge

This applies to building a business - or working for a corporate - or any walk of life.

People will say ‘you’re too young’ to do X.

It is however true that some of the most productive and powerful years of a persons life is when they are young, and it’s often true that it’s when they do their best work.

Age isn’t a flaw - it’s a competitive advantage if you know how to direct it.

Here are a number of things to think about:

You can bring a fresh perspective to outdated methods because you haven’t been fixated into old ways.
People will judge you based on WHAT you do, rather than your RESUME - so you need to focus heavily on the skill your trying to offer.
People crave authenticity, and if you come with energy, and demonstrate value and a willingness to have a go, people will be incluenced by that.
People know you’ll be HUNGRY if it’s clear you want to get somwhere.

It is important to note, that with some people it’ll be impossible to persuade some people. Just because 1 person says no, doesn’t mean everyone will. So don’t let early rejection dissuade you.

And if you’re trying to do something that requires formality, (that limits you doing something due to a limitation of experience) - perhaps just find another way - or do something different. Direct the energy where it’ll get runs on the board first.

Understanding age based objections

Very rarely are age based objections about you. It’s typically related to someone elses fears.

By understanding the psychology behind a rejection based on age, you can lever skeptisism into opportunity.

What the objections look like, and how to reframe it

People say you don’t have enough experience

Acknowledge the inexperience, but reframe your adaptability and fresh ideas and show real tangible examples of your work.
Psychology: People equate time with skill due to the “experience heuristic,” assuming older means better. Your youth signals innovation, which counters this bias by appealing to their desire for new solutions.
How to use it: Highlight how your fresh approach solves problems differently.
Example: “I get why experience feels important. My fresh perspective helped a client double their Instagram engagement by targeting Gen Z trends.”

An objection to your credibility of your claims (“How do I know you can deliver?”)

Use tangible social proofs and testimonials or trust - to show the results.
Psychology: Risk aversion makes people seek guarantees. Social proof (e.g., client success) reduces perceived risk, satisfying the brain’s need for safety.
How to use it: Share specific achievements. And sometimes you want to just invest your time to build up the social proof for your experience.
Example: “I understand wanting proof. Here’s proof of what I did’.

An objection to your authority (“I need someone more senior”)

Build authority by getting an endorsement from someone with the credibility they seek
Psychology: Status consciousness drives preference for hierarchy. Your confidence and external validation (e.g., mentors) trigger the authority bias, making you seem credible.
How to use it: Reference respected connections.
Example: “I work with a mentor who’s been in marketing for 20 years, and they back my approach.”

An objection to the risk of hiring a young person (“This is too important to trust a young person”)

Offer guarantees or risk-reversal strategies. E.g. Try it, if you don’t like it I wont charge you.
Psychology: Fear of failure drives caution. Reducing risk through guarantees taps into loss aversion, making action feel safer.
How to use it: Provide a safety net in the way you pitch. Say I’ll do X, and if doesn’t work I won’t charge you. You can even use this to gather upside.
Example: “If my social media plan doesn’t boost your reach in 30 days, you get a full refund.”

Peer objection (“What will others think if I hire someone young?”)

The client thinks they’re peers will make fun of them for hiring someone so you. The idea here is to make youth trendy and socially acceptable.
Psychology: Social pressure fuels fear of judgment. Framing youth as cutting-edge leverages the bandwagon effect, making it desirable.
How to use it: Highlight industry trends.
Example: “Top brands are hiring young creators because we know what Gen Z wants.”

Value objection (“You charge too little—you must not be good”)

This can work against you. The key here is to price confidently, or highlight you’re offering a lower price to gain experience and you see that as value they can benefit from.
Psychology: People equate high prices with quality (the price-quality heuristic). Confident pricing and clear value counter this bias.
How to use it: Explain your worth.
Example: “My rates reflect the results I deliver—like 10x engagement for my last client.”

How to weaponise your youth

Flat out reject the notion that age is a disadvantage. The trick here it to pick domains, and styles that the buyer is willing to explore. Here are the advantages you can play on as it relates to youth.

Highlight the fact that your a Digital Native

What it is: Highlight your natural tech fluency.
Psychology: Growing up with tech gives you an edge, appealing to the novelty bias—clients want someone who “gets” the digital world instinctively.
Example: “I’ve been on social platforms since I was 10—I know what makes content go viral.”

Bring a fresh perspective and SHOW it

Be the one to bring a new perspective unlike anything else they’ve seen and tie it to a new trend or capability that others haven’t mastered yet. E.g. AI.
Psychology: A beginner’s mind avoids “we’ve always done it this way,” triggering curiosity and the desire for innovation.
Example: “I see opportunities others miss because I’m not stuck in old patterns.”

Bring a level of energy and dedication they wont get in older workers

Emphasise stamina and passion and show you are willing to hussle beyond others.
Psychology: Youthful energy signals commitment, appealing to the effort heuristic—people value hard work.
Example: “Your project gets my full focus and 110% effort every day.”

Focus on Future Disruption in the way you communicate

Don’t talk about now. Talk about what will be required tomorrow for which there is no experience now.
Psychology: You build a pathway in their mind and a sense of FOMO if they don’t expore it now with you.
Example: “My strategies are designed for where your audience will be in 5 years.”

Demonstrate adaptability and learning speed

Showcase your ability to learn fast — and show it tangibly with examples
Psychology: Neuroplasticity in young brains allows rapid adaptation, appealing to the efficiency bias—clients want quick results.
Example: “I can master your industry’s trends faster than anyone set in their ways.”

Be creative and innovative and bring new perspectives and clarity

Demonstrate unboxed thinking with examples.
Psychology: Youthful creativity feels limitless, triggering excitement and the desire for breakthroughs (the novelty effect).
Example: “I haven’t been told what’s impossible, so I find solutions others don’t see.”

Hunger and ambition

Demonstrate massive hunger and drive. This will differentiate you from almost all young people. Those that take the initiative will win hard.
Psychology: Ambition signals you’ll go the extra mile, appealing to the effort heuristic and trust in your motivation.
Example: “I’m hungrier than established pros—your success is my success.”

How to cut through and build credibility

In the era of AI - you do NOT need decades of experience to prove your worth - even at the highest levels.

Cutting through is surprisingly easy. Just start building.

Here are the techniques:

Prepare to overwhelm the customer

Show up over-prepared with research and insights. The cost of doing this is far lower than you think.
Example: “I studied your business and found 3 ways to boost your TikTok reach.” You could even build them an application to show specific value.

Results portfolio

Lead with measurable outcomes. Show them what you have.
Psychology: Data-driven proof reduces risk, appealing to the evidence bias and building trust.
Example: “My last client gained $5K in sales from my ad campaign—here’s the data.”

Associate with experts

Name drop who you’re working with, or the training your completing and show them.
Psychology: Borrowing credibility from respected figures leverages the halo effect, boosting your authority.
Example: “I trained with a top marketer who’s worked with Nike.”

Client testimonials

Use endorsements from respected clients.
Psychology: Social proof from older clients counters age doubts, satisfying the trust heuristic.
Example: “The CEO of [company] said my work doubled their leads.”

Go and speak in public

Speak and act with authority in public settings.
Psychology: Confident body language and tone trigger the authority bias, making you seem seasoned.
Example: Stand tall, speak clearly, and match their energy in meetings.

Understanding generational emphasis

Generations all speak slightly differently. It’s how they were educated and the environment in which they went in to. This is what it looks like.

Each generation has its own psychology and overlaps into the next generation

Baby boomers (1946-1964)
Generation X (1965-1980)
Millennials (1981-1996)
Generation Z (1997-2012)

When you’re writing communications to each group - leverage these concepts to frame the way content is written.

You could take 1 pitch and re-write it with AI four different ways for 4 different audiences.

How to build long term authority

It’s not much point, employing all of the above techniques to get respect - only to have to repeat it over and over until you are old.

You need to think about how you frame your content. Age is irrelvant if you become a recognised expert in something. ways to do this

Create content:

Start publishing valuable insights via blogs or videos.
Consistent public demonstrations of expertise builds trust, leveraging the exposure effect. It’s something to point to.
Example: Publish on LinkedIn or make Youtube Videos or Build a Facebook Page.

Write or contribute to formal through leadership

Create original frameworks or reports and publish them.
Unique ideas and positions on a topic position you as a leader, satisfying the novelty bias.
Example: Write a guide on “AI agents for Gen Z marketing”

Speaking in public (anywhere that’ll accept you):

You’ll be shocked to learn who will let you speak and where
Event hosts are hungry for material, and they often put out calls for speakers.
Take the time to apply.
Psychology: Public platforms boost authority, triggering the stage effect - speakers seem credible & you can connect with them all afterwards. Put your details on the ticket.
Example: Host a Zoom workshop on digital marketing and post it on LinkedIn. You dont know who will turn up.

Join mentor networks or BECOME a MENTOR

Creating connections between people - either upward or downward is an opportunity to meet like minded people. Even if you were to mentor someone, that person could connect you with other people you might want to know. Talk about it with them.
Being a mentor makes you more credible, and you can leverage that halo in other interactions. And you can always leverage those relationships in future.
Example: Reach out to your local University and offer to be a mentor.

Talk to your peers

Pretty much every interest there is has some kind of interest group.
And if not, create your own.
Peer support creates opportunities, and there is a bias to collaborating in these groups.
Example: Join a local startup group to share leads.

Pick a niche to be an authority in:

New areas (like AI) won’t be overpopulated in the beginning. Pick an area and dominate at it.
Specialisation or being the best at something, signals expertise and appeals to focus.
And you can mash concepts to create new niches. AI and politics for example.

Be a leader in the innovation space

Come up with demonstratable innovation and new ideas.
People that can demonstrate a pioneering attitute build relevance.
Example: Experiment with AI tools to solve a particular niche problem and drive that.

Conclusion: Your youth, your empire

The best thing I wish I knew as a young person was knowing when not to waste my time with clowns. Every generation has its annoyances.

Yes you can influence them with all the above techniques; but mash them - and don’t hang your future on someone saying yes.

Often the best way is to find a path that doesn’t even need a yes.

Just add value - build what you build and invite people to participate.

You can use the above techniques - but if it doesn’t work - just pitch a lot. You’ll find who you need.

AGAIN - iteration, and pivoting over and over without fear is what matters.

Stop hiding your age - whatever that is. Just own it and get started.

The same applies to people that are seen as too old. You can start a business at the age of 70 if you want. There are no rules.