We Don’t Need Crutches to Connect

I recently stumbled across this video on my For You Page and I have some thoughts:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRcXwy6jN9H/?igsh=cXd4b2RreHFjZG41

Scott Galloway makes a wildly sensational claim here that remote work is supposedly dismantling an entire generation. According to him, the office is the sacred incubator of career growth, friendship, romance, resilience, and every good thing in between. He even goes as far as tying the anti-alcohol movement into the downfall of social connection.

Strong take, BUT not exactly the full picture.

So let's talk about it.

Remote Work Is a ReCALIBRATION

Galloway leans heavy on the shock-and-awe here. The idea that remote work is the worst thing to happen to young professionals? That’s a stretch.

Younger workers aren’t drifting aimlessly through a wasteland of isolation. They’re building purpose-driven, lifestyle-aligned careers with more integration than any generation before them. They’re chasing hobbies, exploring interests, and making friends outside the workplace.

And honestly, companies calling themselves “family” has always been a stretch. Families don’t restructure you out of a job.

The Alcohol Argument? We Need to Pump the Brakes.

The claim that removing alcohol from social spaces is harming young adults is dangerous.

Many people aren’t cutting back for health trends. They’ve seen firsthand how alcohol can wreck families, finances, and futures. Choosing sobriety is the right choice for many people.

And suggesting alcohol is required for connection? That’s how you accidentally market a coping mechanism as a relationship strategy.

Human interaction doesn’t need liquid courage. It needs confidence, curiosity, and a willingness to say, “Hey, I don’t know anyone here, but let’s see what happens.”(You can say that without clutching a beer.)

Some of my best social experiments happened years ago when my roommates and I would go out sober, give each other ridiculous phrases we had to slip into conversations, and basically test our ability to be human without the chemical assist. It worked. People laughed. Nobody needed a drink to pull it off.

There are entire ecosystems, clubs, sports leagues, hobby groups, volunteer orgs, community meetups, where connection is built through shared experience, not shared shots. And let’s not forget the oldest tool for bonding: breaking bread, not breaking open a bottle.

Where This Hit Home for Me

My first public event with On Purpose Adventures was a multi-day whitewater rafting trip that involved three days, two nights of camping, and forty people. We were at a South Carolina state park, which meant no alcohol allowed. I made that clear up front, fully expecting pushback or creative “but what if we just…” loopholes.

Much to my surprise? The vast majority respected it. Sure, maybe a couple folks took a car break, but inside the park there were no bottles, no coolers, no buzz.

At the end of the weekend, a guy in his late 30s pulled me aside. I was barely 30 myself. He said:

“I cannot remember a weekend since I was 16 when I wasn’t hammered at least one of the nights of the weekend. And I have to tell you this is by far the best weekend I've had in those 20 years. I had more fun, laughed more, remembered more, and felt better.”

(Well… minus one little bang up falling out of the raft.)

Later I learned that weekend was the spark for his sobriety journey. One alcohol-free weekend showed him he could have connection, joy, community, and fun adventure without the crutch.

Sometimes people don’t need the usual social lubricant. They simply need the chance to experience real connection in a space designed with purpose.

So What’s the Leadership Lesson Here?

Leading On Purpose means knowing when someone’s leaning on a crutch they don’t actually need.

It might be a drink. It might be the belief that the office is the only place to build a network. It might be the fear that they can’t show up socially without a boost.

Sometimes people need a pep talk, not a pour.

And coming from someone who’s naturally introverted and very happy sitting and people-watching, I can tell you firsthand you can choose to be social without numbing yourself first.

Confidence is a skill.

Community is a practice.

Both grow with use.

Remote workers aren’t doomed. Sober young adults aren’t deficient. Connection isn’t dying. It’s evolving.

And leaders who want to guide this generation forward need to evolve right along with it.