Why Gen Z Are ‘Moving in Silence’ — And Whether It’s Really Working

Young people are keeping their business plans and ventures to themselves, and they’re calling it “moving in silence”.

The phrase has seen a 51% spike in search interest over the past year, as more Gen Z and Millennial entrepreneurs choose to keep their goals hush-hush. 

The thinking behind it is that keeping your cards close to your chest gives your ambitions a better shot at becoming reality. But is staying silent really the secret to success?

Mindy Paul, manifestation expert and business coach, weighed in on whether we should be speaking our goals into existence, or staying quiet until they come to life.

Should we be keeping our goals to ourselves?

“Keeping your goals private can be surprisingly powerful. Often, we depend on external validation to stay motivated. 

“We enjoy sharing our plans. The businesses we’re launching, the ideas we’re nurturing, the visions we hold for our future. It gives us a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

“But this can backfire if we’re in the wrong environment or mindset.

“When we rely too heavily on the encouragement of others, we risk losing motivation if that support dwindles. Worse still, if those around us respond with doubts, unhelpful opinions, or even jealousy, it can chip away at our confidence and focus.

“This can cause us to give up on those plans that we were so excited about, and put our ambitions on the back burner.

“There’s also the danger of becoming too comfortable talking about your dreams instead of acting on them.

“People often confuse speaking about their goals with making progress. But real progress happens in motion, not in conversation.”

Why are Gen Z “moving in silence”?

“Many also loathe the oversharing and ‘grind culture’ that social media perpetuates. Take, for instance, the influencers documenting every minute of their morning routine, from dunking their face in an ice bath to back-to-back meetings.

“This is less inspirational than it is performative. Rather than following suit and showing off to the world, they’re realising the benefits of taking people by surprise with their success.

“Gen Z have grown up largely online. Because of this, they’re very aware of how quickly personal news can spread.

“They’ve seen the judgment, unwanted attention, and criticism that comes from being too loud about your goals. ‘Moving in silence’ serves as a way for them to protect their peace and laser-focus on their ambitions.

“The phenomenon is also deeply rooted in pop culture, from the lyrics of their favourite artists like Meghan Thee Stallion and Drake, to Instagram creators posting cryptic captions like “You’ll see when it’s done”.

Are there any famous examples of “moving in silence”?

“Many businesses and figures have achieved groundbreaking success off the back of ‘moving in silence’.

“Take the development of the iPhone, for example. This massive leap forward in technology was carried out in great secrecy.

“Even internally, few people knew the full extent of what the project entailed. It resulted in Apple breaking boundaries and ultimately changing the world. 

“But they’re not the only ones who have sat on great ideas until the last minute. Beyoncé dropped Lemonade without any prior promotion, changing the way artists approached launching albums. 

“Childish Gambino did the same with This Is America, causing a storm within the music industry with zero warning.

“You don’t want people to predict your next move. You want to let your results speak so loudly that they can’t ignore you.”

How do you ‘move in silence’?

“Moving in silence doesn’t mean isolating yourself, working 24/7 and never asking for help. Rather, it means thinking strategically about whom you’ll share your goals with and when. 

“The first step should be action, not announcements. Start by making progress on your plan before shouting it from the rooftops.

“It’s important to avoid the trap of performative productivity. You should be pursuing your ambitions for you, not for anyone else online or in your personal life. 

“Let your results speak for themselves. When you’re ready, show the finished result, not the potential you believe it has.”

Gen Z Is Ditching Pet Names Like ‘Darling’ and ‘Babe’, According to New Research