Returning to the Office, Advice for the Mediocre, and Why Scott’s Still Bullish on America

Summary

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
Episode: Returning to the Office, Advice for the Mediocre, and Why Scott’s Still Bullish on America
Release Date: June 13, 2025

Scott Galloway, the renowned professor, entrepreneur, and bestselling author, delves into some of the most pressing topics affecting today's workforce and society in this episode of The Prof G Pod. From the dynamics of returning to the office post-pandemic to providing guidance for those who consider themselves "mediocre," and concluding with his unwavering optimism about America's future, Scott offers insightful analysis and practical advice.

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1. Returning to the Office: Navigating the Shift from Remote Work

Timestamp: [02:29] - [10:25]

The episode kicks off with Scott addressing a heartfelt question from a listener—a mother of two—who is grappling with her company's decision to revert to a five-day in-office schedule after five years of remote work. Her concerns center around the longer commute, reduced family time, and overall discouragement.

Key Points:

• Benefits of In-Office Work:

  • Social Connections: Scott emphasizes that the office environment fosters critical relationships, including friendships, mentorships, and romantic relationships. He states, "One in three relationships begins at work, and most of them are consensual" ([03:22]).
  • Professional Growth: Being physically present in the office can enhance career development through immediate feedback, spontaneous collaborations, and greater visibility within the organization.

• Challenges for Caregivers:

  • Scott acknowledges the difficulties faced by caregivers who may need more flexible working arrangements. He suggests that "smart corporations should offer benefits similar to parental leave programs" to accommodate those balancing work with caregiving responsibilities ([04:45]).

• Corporate Flexibility:

  • He advocates for companies to adopt a more flexible approach, allowing employees to choose a hybrid model that suits their personal circumstances. Scott mentions, "Corporations should facilitate remote work for people who need to be home more and are willing to make that trade-off" ([05:30]).

• Advice to the Listener:

  • Scott advises the listener to communicate her needs with her organization and explore the possibility of a reduced in-office schedule. He remarks, "Five days a week is a lot if you're moving from zero to five, especially with small children" ([07:15]).

Notable Quote:

"The office is a feature, not a bug, for young people."
— Scott Galloway ([03:50])

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2. Advice for the Mediocre: Embracing the Unremarkable

Timestamp: [10:25] - [13:24]

In response to a thought-provoking question from Reddit user 532, Scott tackles the concept of mediocrity, or what he prefers to term "the unremarkable." This discussion revolves around the societal overemphasis on higher education and the undervaluation of vocational training and skilled trades.

Key Points:

• Critique of the Higher Education System:

  • Scott argues that American higher education disproportionately benefits the top 10% while neglecting the bottom 90%. He states, "Higher education is leading to the downfall by deciding we are there for the children of rich people or the freakishly remarkable" ([11:00]).

• Promoting Apprenticeships and Vocational Training:

  • Highlighting international models, Scott points out that countries like Germany and the UK have higher percentages of apprentices. He advocates for an apprenticeship culture in the U.S., noting, "The number of people who have 'Apprentice' on their LinkedIn profiles in the United States is 3%" ([12:10]).

• Economic Reforms for the Middle Class:

  • Scott suggests several economic strategies to support the middle and lower classes, including:
    • Tax Reforms: Implementing tax holidays for young people and eliminating certain capital gains taxes to prevent wealth transfer from young to old ([12:45]).
    • Minimum Wage Increase: Proposing an increase to $25 per hour to empower workers financially ([13:00]).

• Valuing Non-College Careers:

  • He emphasizes the honor and stability found in working to live rather than living to work. Scott asserts, "Living a good life with modest means—taking care of your family, being a good partner, being a good citizen—there's real honor in that" ([12:30]).

• Addressing Unrealistic Aspirations:

  • Scott critiques the unrealistic dreams of becoming influencers or attaining massive wealth without the requisite hard work. He emphasizes that reaching the top 1% in any field requires dedication and time ([13:15]).

Notable Quote:

"We need to stop shaming people who don't have college degrees and create more on-ramps for young people."
— Scott Galloway ([12:50])

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3. Why Scott’s Still Bullish on America: The Land of Opportunities

Timestamp: [13:31] - [16:28]

The final segment features Scott addressing a question from Reddit user HollywoodKid350 about the allure of the United States compared to Europe. The discussion delves into Scott’s personal experiences living abroad and his steadfast belief in America's unparalleled opportunities.

Key Points:

• Personal Experience Abroad:

  • Scott shares his journey of moving to London, emphasizing that his departure was not due to dissatisfaction with America but a desire for personal growth and global exposure. He mentions, "The reason I moved to Europe was not because of America... It was because of the prosperity I recognized" ([14:00]).

• Prosperity and Opportunities in the U.S.:

  • He underscores America's unique advantages, including agility, risk-taking culture, robust rule of law, world-class universities, and unmatched professional opportunities. Scott states, "The universities, the DNA, the opportunities in the US are just absolutely unrivaled" ([14:30]).

• Advice to Europeans and Others Considering Moving:

  • While acknowledging the benefits of living in Europe, Scott recommends aspiring economic achievers to consider the U.S. He advises, "If you're just an economic animal, get to the biggest city in your nation, then try to get to the U.S." ([15:10]).

• Stock Market Perspective:

  • Despite being bullish on America’s potential, Scott notes his strategic decision to divest from the U.S. stock market due to overvaluation, balancing his optimism with prudent financial planning ([15:30]).

• Encouraging Return to America:

  • Scott advocates for those abroad to return to the U.S., believing that America’s resilience and opportunities will continue to attract and benefit its residents. He concludes, "I'm bullish on America just because I think the opportunities in the US are just absolutely unrivaled" ([16:05]).

Notable Quote:

"The DNA, the opportunities in the US are just absolutely unrivaled in terms of professional opportunity and economic upside."
— Scott Galloway ([15:45])

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Conclusion

In this episode, Scott Galloway offers a balanced perspective on the evolving work environment, the value of embracing one's unique path outside traditional higher education, and a reaffirmed belief in America's enduring promise. His insights encourage listeners to navigate their professional lives thoughtfully, advocate for systemic changes that support the broader workforce, and maintain an optimistic outlook towards the future.

For those seeking further engagement or wishing to submit questions, Scott invites listeners to reach out via voicemail at officehoursofgmedia.com or participate in the discussion on the Scott Galloway subreddit.

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Note: This summary excludes sponsor messages, advertisements, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions within the episode.

Transcript

[Scott Galloway]

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Principal welcome to Office Hours with Prav.

[Scott Galloway]

G. This is the part of the.

[Anonymous]

Show where we answer your questions about business, big tech, entrepreneurship and whatever else is on your mind. What's happening today is a little different. We're coming to you on a Friday and starting next week, office hours will drop every Monday and Friday. Every Monday and Friday starting next week. That's right. Twice a week, twice the questions, twice.

[Scott Galloway]

The very good or very bad or.

[Anonymous]

Somewhat in the middle advice from Prof. G. If you'd like to submit a question for next time, you can send a voicemail recording to officehoursofgmedia.com Again, that's officehoursofgmedia.com the questions have been outstanding recently.

[Scott Galloway]

Or post a question on the Scott.

[Anonymous]

Galloway subreddit and we just might feature it in our next episode. What a thrill.

[Scott Galloway]

First Question.

[Anonymous]

Hey Prof. G. Love the pod. Thanks for all you do in support of young men. As a mom of two young boys, it's really opened my eyes and changed the way that I parent them. My question today is more so looking for some advice? We just got the news that our company is going back in office five days a week. I'm a little bit jarred because I been fully remote for the last five years since COVID and I guess I'm just looking for some encouragement, some upsides because I have a longer commute now, less time with my kids and I'm just feeling a little discouraged overall. But I know that you're in support of in office time, so make me feel better.

Anonymous I think remote work is a disaster for young people. Pre mating, pre mentors, pre friends. I think it's a fantastic place to find friends, mentors and mates. Yeah, I said it. One in three relationships begins at work and most of them are, you know, 99.9% of them are consensual. We have a tendency to immediately distill everything down to one big blob and think this is the right thing for everybody. I think if you're a care what I'll call a care worker and I think that should get its own classification, you're taking care of young kids, aging parents, or you're having some health struggles yourself. I think that corporations, smart corporations, should offer the benefit the same way they might offer a great parental leave program or great health benefits. To say we are a caregiver organization in that we go out of our way to try and facilitate remote work for people who need to be home more and also they're going to make less money. And I think that's fine. I think that trade off is worth it. And there's a lot of people such as yourself that I think would willingly make that trade off. So my I'm not here with a message of hope. It doesn't sound, it sounds like you've probably already gone to the organization and said, look, is there any way I could go to two or three days back in the office for them to go from zero days a week and with someone with small children to five days a week? That seems a little rough in my view. And I want to be clear. I think in office, I think the office is a feature, not a bug for young people. But as we age and we collect dogs and kids and especially for those who are on the sandwich generation that are caregivers, I think it's in society's best interest to encourage companies to give them more flexibility such that they can be at home providing that caregiving. I apologize. I don't have anything more inspirational or no silver bullet here other than to say five days a week is a lot if from zero to five. And you may want to think about and always be on the lookout for an organization that offers you circumstances that are a better fit for your specific situation. Appreciate the Question question number two our second question comes from reader 532 on Reddit. They say Prop G From teaching the upper crust at NYU to your podcast, much of your advice for young people is aimed at how to improve their personal brand, how to climb ladders, how to become well educated economically and secure ballers in society. But millions attend lower tier colleges and half of those graduate in the bottom half. And 2/3 of young adults don't go to college. A vast majority are just trying to navigate having a job, working for a paycheck and might not possess that extra gear to thrive. Serious question. What advice do you have for the mediocre? Mediocre is a weird word. I call us the unremarkable. I was unremarkable growing up. Didn't do well academically, didn't test well. But back then, America loved the unremarkable. And one of the things I would argue is the wrong trajectory for America is that higher education in America is about helping the bottom 90, not identifying tax breaks and programs to make the top 10% the and I feel like higher education is leading this downfall by deciding that we are there for the children of rich people or for the freakishly remarkable. And I can prove to every one of us that 99% of us are not in the top 1%. So in terms of the first is, I think as a cultural zeitgeist, we need to stop shaming people who don't go to college. I go to parties where someone will say, inevitably parents say, well, I don't know if you heard, but Bobby's home from Tulane and is dropping out. And we all speak in hushed tones like the family has done something wrong or that Bobby is mentally ill because he decided he didn't want to finish college. And I don't think that's the right approach. I think a lot of kids are just not cut out for college, especially a lot of young men. But if you look at what's happening, if you look at LinkedIn profiles in Germany and in the UK, 11% the title is apprentice. I think we need more of an apprenticeship culture such that the vocational trades return. And by the way, this is not trying to reshape the economy. The economy has a lot of I think there's something like it's either 4 million or 7 million open jobs for vocational work. And these jobs pay good money. I just read that a junior juniors in high school who take this one class in auto shop are making 55 to $70,000 even if they don't complete their senior year of high school. I think we need to stop fetishizing the college degree, put more pressure on colleges to lower their costs and think more about programs that create more on ramps for young people. Again, the number of people who have Apprentice on their LinkedIn profiles in the United States is 3%. To lift up young people. I also think it's a series of economic programs. Whether it's a tax holiday for young people, getting rid of capital gains tax exemption or mortgage interest rate tax exemption. There's no reason why people renting or making their money from salary are less noble than people who own stocks or own homes. That's just a transfer of wealth from young adults. We need to stop the transfer, give young people more hope. I would increase minimum wage to 25 bucks an hour. You know, like Lincoln said, God must have loved the common man. He made so many, so many of them. And also I think that we need, I don't know, kind of more respect, if you will, for people who get up, work to live, not live to work, move to a lower cost, a lower cost region and lead good lives. You know, have their sport, have their church, or not have their family and don't aspire to be ballers professionally. I think that's okay. What I would argue though is a lot of young people are unrealistic. They talk about wanting to be an influencer or make millions of dollars or have huge cultural relevance, but don't really want to work that hard. And then they talk about the issue of balance. And what I found is that if you want to be in the top 1% of anything, you pretty much got to devote 10 or 20 years to it and little else. You. So I don't think there's. I think we need to stop shaming people who don't have college degrees. Do a better job of creating aspiration around those jobs. Recognize that living a good life modest means getting up, taking care of your family, being a good partner, being a good citizen, that there's real honor in that. And if you don't start a tech company or get options worth hundreds of millions of dollars, that's okay. Because my sense is that young people are not only suffering from this incredible transfer of wealth from young to old, fomented by old people who figured out a way to vote themselves more money over and over and over. Average 70 year old is 72% wealthier than they were 40 years ago. Average person under the age of 40 is 24% less wealthy. But give young people a leg up economically such that they have more opportunity. I think all of these things add up to falling back in love with what you say is the mediocre, but I think it's the unremarkable have built this country and I think we need to do a better job of nodding our head to how important the middle class is. And the 99% of us who are not in the top 1% appreciate the question. We'll be right back after a quick break.

[Scott Galloway]

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[Scott Galloway]

Off foreign.

[Anonymous]

Welcome back. Our final question comes from Reddit user HollywoodKid350 asks, hey Scott, as a European, if given the chance, would you move to the US right now? So I moved to London three years ago and a lot of people will naturally say, well you well good. You know, a lot of my friends have progressed as well. Makes sense that you left or America right now is such a shit show. I can see why left.

I want to be clear.

The reason I moved to Europe was not because of America or anything wrong with America. It was because of the prosperity I recognized because I was so fortunate to be born in America. I've recognized such incredible prosperity because of my brilliant decision to be born in America. I've always said a lot of my success is not my fault. It afforded me and my family the opportunity to do something for my kids that I think is just a gift, and that is to give them three or four years overseas. My parents are from here, so I've always felt a calling. Always thought of myself as sort of the kind of guy that would live abroad for a few years and feel as if I'm running out of time. So boom, move to London and it's been great. I am planning on moving back one because I absolutely love living in America and two because I think it's time for people who are worried about what is going on in America to return home. Not to leave, but to return home. And so to your question, never miss an opportunity to virtue signal Would I move to the US Right now? Yeah, I would. If you're already sort of tracking and moving into the latter part of your career and maybe in a little bit more of the spending part of your life, I would say stick in Europe. So a lot of it's your situation, your opportunities and where you are in your life. But generally speaking, if you're just an economic animal, I advise getting to the biggest city in your nation, getting to the biggest city in your continent, and then trying to figure out a way to get to the U.S. because the U.S. you just don't count the U.S. out. I I am divesting out of the U.S. in terms of stock market just because I think it's overvalued, but I'm bullish on America just because I think the agility, the risk aggressiveness, the rule of law, the universities, the DNA, the opportunities in the US are just absolutely unrivaled in terms of professional opportunity and economic upside. And even if it doesn't work out, I don't think you'll regret it. I think very few people think, well, I fucked up moving to either America or Europe for a few years. And I think more people from Europe and other countries that move to the US Decide that their prosperity is so much greater, the upside so much greater, they decide to stay. In sum in some come to the U.S. okay, that's all for this episode. If you'd like to submit a question, please email a voice recording to officehoursoftymedia.com Again, that's officehoursoftymedia.com or if you prefer to ask on Reddit, just post your question on the Scott Galloway subreddit and and we just might feature it in an upcoming episode.

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