Inflammatory email coming; brace for impact!
"Having grown up in good times, Net Geners have laboured under the illusion that the world owed them a living."
- The Economist
Most of us on this email were born before 1980, so we don't qualify as the "Millennial Generation", "Net Geners", or "Generation Y". We still remember the days of 13 TV channels and the rotary telephone. These spoiled kids were raised* (I should put raised in quotation marks for some of them!) by superficial, doting, low-discipline baby boomers during an era of mostly economic growth and political apathy. So maybe they come to expect that good times come easy, nothing really needs to be taken that seriously, and sacrifice/compromise/hardship are someone else's problem. They are great when it comes to gossip, excuses, and instant gratification, but struggle taking no for an answer and working hard without reward ("job well done" doesn't cut it anymore). It's never their fault, and they feel entitled to so much. Well that unfair characterization might apply to some middle-upper class suburban types at least, but forgive my blatant pessimistic generalizations throughout this email (though I'm not the only one, as the links below demonstrate). And of course I at times also exhibit some Gen Y traits in my behavior (and emails!).
Now before you label me Clint Eastwood in "Gran Torino", of course I give the "Millennies" credit for being much more tech-savvy, "productive" (on activities of their choosing), and multi-tasking than their predecessors (for better or worse - Google the scientific research). Commendably, they probably are more open-minded and tolerant of diversity than any other American generation (as long as they get their way!). They are tremendously self-aware, but not sure if the big picture matters. In other words, they don't care about anything outside of their needs. They will face the most competitive, complicated path to financial security since The Depression, and some will rise to the top and accomplish great things. Maybe even a handful of underprivileged minorities will make it too. They may also be more equipped to think outside the box and challenge dysfunctional status quos. They will spearhead huge innovations in the way we use the Net, consume, and socialize with one another. Maybe that type of untraditional thinking and work ethic is what the world needs to tackle the daunting environmental, economic, health, and sociopolitical problems we face. But if John Mayer's "Waiting for the World to Change" is any indication of the Millennies' leadership potential, we are in deep doodoo. At least we still have about 20-30 years until they do actually run the show.
I find it curious that this generation can't moderate its motivation. Some are completely devoid of it ("smoking weed and playing XBox all day" - TC), yet others are so wound-up and achievement-obsessed even by age 15. But of course they've been conditioned as such. You've probably had uncomfortable brushes with the latter: irritating Millennies who want it all, which is both ambitious-admirable and unrealistic-narcissistic. A top education, a perfect family, a fulfilling powerful career, and all the comforts of "successful people" as depicted by Hollywood. They plan out their storybook lives like a 10-step program. Older generations just wanted a paycheck; Millennies want a calling. And they want people to recognize their "gifts" and constantly tell them how great a job they're doing. Career-wise, it's a high bar to set (especially in this economic climate), and like the American Dream, it's not available or possible for many of us. They want a job with great compensation, personal growth potential, opportunities to "make a difference", and plenty of fun, exciting things each day. Basically they want Doctors without Borders-meets McKinsey. So if they're not getting all that, they'll move on, like pollinating bees. And I guess they'll just mooch off the 'rents while they're between jobs or saving up money for professional school?
Well this recession is giving them a strong double-shot of reality, and it tastes horrible. Wake up, kid. Free time isn't free. Sometimes you have to clean up your own messes. Things are expensive. You're not that special. And no, life is not fair. But the fact that our society has created a generation like this should lead people to ponder WTF is going on, and what values we are (intentionally or not) instilling in our youth by the behavior example set by elders.
Accommodating (or should I say babysitting) Millennies at work:
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12853955
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/08/60minutes/main3475200.shtml
Are Millennies "The Dumbest Generation"?
http://www.newsweek.com/id/138536
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