Should Younger Generations Join Industry Associations? Yes!

While speaking to a group of young professionals I was asked about the importance of joining industry associations.  

The person asking the question thought that membership organizations were dead and that the live (face-to-face) meetings industry was drying up.  He was convinced that the internet had brought live events to a trickle, and that only his grandmother could find value in joining a business / trade group.

The audience nodded along as he made his points, but some were surprised to hear my response and advice:

While it is true that there is much said about Generation Y not flocking to join old-school associations, I pointed out that many industry groups were changing with the times.  The best ones are changing their meeting agendas, adding generation specific sub-groups, allowing younger members to have a voice, and adding valuable online and mobile tools to their traditional offerings.  

While the recession did hurt the meetings industry, in 2013 it is currently booming. The Economic Significance of Meetings to the U.S. Economy Study (2011) reveals that the U.S. meetings industry directly supports 1.7 million jobs, $263 billion in spending, a $106 billion contribution to GDP, $60 billion in labor revenue, $14.3 billion in federal tax revenue and $11.3 billion in state and local tax revenue. Those numbers are growing, and the predictions are that there will be more face-to-face meeting in the future (not less).

The advice I shared with the audience was to be open minded about industry associations.  I pointed out that while a fast "like", "link", "share", or "follow" is one thing, sharing live experiences with other people is still how real relationships are built. 

People will always bring opportunities to those they know, like and trust.  Throughout time humans have congregated in community, and that is not going to change.  Being part of something will expose all involved to fresh ideas, interesting experiences, fun times, and more opportunities.

While fewer of their 20-something peers are currently joining trade groups, the path to leadership opportunities inside these organizations is not as competitive.  The time is now to get involved.

Their perception that that these groups were populated with "old" people is not necessarily a bad thing.  All the generations can (and should) actively learn from each other.... so the age of other members is irrelevant. If they can find a solid mentor with whom they can establish a long-term and mutually-beneficial relationship, then everyone wins.

My advice to the generations:

• If you are in your 20's you need to make a friend every year who is over 50.  This will expose you to a variety of experiences and a different world view.

• If you are over 50 you need to make a friend in their 20's every year.  This will keep you exposed to new technology and you can witness the opinions and actions of those from a different age group.

• If you are in your 30's and 40's you have double the work.  Make a new friend over 50 and one under 30 each year.  This will bring you countless opportunities.

When we only spend time around those our own age (or our same gender, religion, political party, sexual orientation, etc...) we limit ourselves.  Knowing people who have differing backgrounds helps us grow and learn.

Since these membership associations are not going away (some will fail, but overall most will continue to serve their industries and change with the times), these younger professionals may eventually see the value in participation.  Seeing their peers discover key connections and advancement in careers will be all the encouragement required.  Those who join early will have an advantage, as it takes time to cultivate the benefits from being engaged in a community.

Over the last few years there has been much said about the "differences" in the three generations that are currently in the workforce.  But we are more alike than we are different. My 98-year-old father pointed out that people continue to fight the same battles throughout history.  He says that by reading the Bible you discover that for thousands of years man has struggled with money, careers, fame, sex, raising kids, natural disasters, jealousy, corruption, wars, sadness, etc....All the same issues that exist today. New technology is not going to change the human condition, thus people are still people (and not as different as we like to believe).

What do you think?  Will Gen Y join trade associations in greater numbers as they get older?  Is there still value to a career in being part of an industry group?  Do personal relationships matter in growing a career?  I think YES.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Generation X -- Yes, We Are Still Here. Thanks For Asking!

I never liked the term "Generation X".  It was dumped into the culture when I was in my mid-twenties.  I had never looked at my peers as having shared the same cultural experiences as the World War II veterans, or the turmoil of the 1960s that bonded those pesky "Baby Boomers".  We grew up in a time of relative peace (well there was that invasion of Granada) and there was not a group concert that captured our souls.  Sure, we had MTV and Madonna, but a pop star with her underwear on the outside is not really the same thing as fighting in WWII, protesting against Vietnam or a stoned weekend at Woodstock.

Nowadays the media spends far too much time describing, dissecting and deluding the different generations.  We all get lumped together with people born over decade plus span of years, and the worst traits of those around us are flaunted as the norm.

Today's youth (are they Gen Y or Millennials?) have been spoon fed an identity before they were old enough to figure it out for themselves.  Meanwhile, the Baby Boomers have hogged all the oxygen in the room since the late 1960's, with each milestone in their lives (They turned 50, 60, 65, etc...) chronicled on the cover of Time Magazine.

When I was coming of age nobody yet had placed a label on me and my peeps.  We grew up "Free Range" until some Canadian novelist dropped the "Generation X" title on the world in 1991.  Wammo, the news media went on a feeding frenzy trying to categorize everyone born post baby boom through 1979. Then Kurt Cobain died and we were pegged to the event as if the had been the death of JFK or MLK (the proof that the grunge musicians passing is not the same thing is clear in the fact that nobody refers to the late Mr. Cobain as KDC).

Is my life experience being born in 1966 the same as my friend, Kurt Gregg of Boise, ID, who was born in 1979?  In the 1980s we lived on the same street in Southern California.  We are both called Gen X, but I babysat him, changed his diaper and was in college by the time he was 5-years-old.  Where I watched Scooby-doo on Saturday mornings he watched Ninja Turtles on cable TV or video cassette.  Those crime solving cartoon kids who came on once a week are not the same role models as mutant reptiles on demand.  Hardly the same generation, yet we fall prey to the lumping of generations.

I regularly speak to corporate audiences about the mix of the generations in the workplace as part of my "Some Assembly Required" presentation.  My belief is there are fewer differences than the media and the paid consultant "gurus" want you to believe.  Millions of dollars is being spent by corporations to "understand" how to work with the olds and the youngs, but people are really just people.  Remember in the 1960s the Boomers said "Don't Trust Anyone Over 40".  Today the same group does not trust anyone under 40.

Today's Gen Y is taking on many similar chants and mantras of superiority to other generations, as did their Boomer parents, who also falsely believed they were the unique pioneers of wanting to change the world (I think everyone has that desire to change the world for the better).  They too are disregarding their elders experiences and mistaking the technologies they use as something they invented.  It will be interesting to see what happens when they reach middle age, become parents, and have the mortgages and BMW payments.  Will they really be as different as the media is predicting?

While situations in the outside world have always changed over time, people are still people.  Reading about the issues facing humanity in historical texts (the bible or others) shows many challenges we face today are not that different than the challenges of the past, we just have the internet.

Sure there are some generalizations within each generation, and the narcissistic tendencies of the Boomers and Generation Y do play well to having all the attention in the media lumped upon them.  But Generation X is coming of age (currently in our 30s and 40's and 46 million strong in the US) and are assuming leadership positions in corporations, governement, and non-profits.  You will not read about it on the cover of Time Magazine, as the media does not see the sizzle of Gen X.  But yes,,,,, we are still here and working hard.  Thanks for asking.

I think the smartest thing anyone can do is make friends across generational lines.  Diversity is key. It is common to see HR departments in companies of all sizes educating employees about tolerance and acceptance of different races, religions, sexual orientations, etc.... but rare is the advice to embrace meaningful connections across the lines of age.  Friendships lead to respectful mentoring (in both directions).

If you are over 50-years-old invest the time to make a new friend every year (a real friend, not a "Facebook friend") with someone in their 20s.  If you are under 35-years old, make a new friend who is over 50.  If you are in the middle (That's you, Gen X), make two new friends each year (one older, one younger).  This will provide you with perspective on the generations and help keep you relevant.  You will discover there are many more similarities than there are differences.  Knowing this will make you laugh at the media's love affair with creating artificial divisions between people of different ages.

I grew up as the youngest of 26 grand-children, and I am the only one who is not a Baby Boomer.  My brothers were almost teenagers when I was born.  Many of my sibling's and cousin's children are Millennials, so I see both sides.  I am in the middle.  I am the bridge.  We choose to divide, but there is no reason for it.

Batons are being passed from older to younger generations, but that has happened for thousands of years.  It is not a conspiracy or a phenomena.  It is the circle of life (yes, we have all seen the Lion King, it was not just a movie for the Gen Y crowd!).

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Post "Me Generation" Economy

Get ready for a big gulp of gratitude!

The hot topic for 2011 is "Gratitude" (AKA: Showing Appreciation, Saying Thank You, etc...).

Two best selling authors are releasing new books on this topic early next year (Tim Sander's "Today We Are Rich", and Gary Vaynerchuk's "The Thank You Economy"), and countless articles on the subject are already appearing in magazines, newspapers and across the Blogosphere. Keynote speakers at conventions and company meetings across industry lines are delivering the message - "Say Thank You!"

Look around, you will see this too. It is the new "Buzz Word".

And this is a good thing!!!!

The concept of expressing appreciation is hardly new. Most people had a parent or grandparent who tried to instill the importance of sending that handwritten thank you note following receipt of a gift. One person recently told me of his aunt who would not send birthday presents the following year unless a thank you note had been received from the previous birthday (and she gave cash as gifts!). It is standard etiquette. Emily Post style.

But we lost our way from doing the simple things that really do matter. The "Me Generation" ran rough-shot over those things that took effort and produced no instant gratification. (Why send a note? You already got the gift!).

For all the boom-boom times and fun, the "Me Generation" (and all that went with those heady times) had some flaws. Today there is clearly a shift in our society to move "Back to Basics", and one of those basics is gratitude.

I have been writing and speaking about this topic for over five years. My first book (and all my books since) and early speeches included lessons of the power of sending hand written notes, and finding amazing and memorable ways to say "Thank You" to those who helped you succeed (beyond a text that reads "thx dude" as one person sent me recently!).

If you want people to send you opportunities then you must let them know you appreciate their efforts. Too many people get busy and forget this step. Those who send referrals are quick to send the next one to someone else if you fail acknowledge them. The well goes dry if you do not show gratitude.

As we move into this "Post Me Generation Economy" there will be many things that will surprise us as revolutionary ideas (that are really old-time common sense). The focus on gratitude is just one topic. We already see the younger generations looking for ways to simplify their lives and placing priorities on community, charity, environment and other non-self-centered causes.

What else is key to "Getting Back To Basics"????

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

They Laughed At The Younger Generation - Until It Was Their Turn To Rule The World

The November Leadership Austin Engage Breakfast tackled the topic of the "Changing of the Guard – Leadership Turnover in Central Texas". The event was held at Chez Zee Restaurant (a great place to meet and eat!) on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 and was sponsored by Aetna and Lee Hecht Harrison. Nearly 100 people were in attendance.

"Change" is in the air everywhere following on the heels of our historic presidential election. But successful change does not just happen by accident. The panel discussion focused deep on what the Austin area faces in the coming years as many of the top jobs across the city are already beginning to have new faces moving into the corner offices - and more seasoned leaders are scheduled to retire in the near future. Change is looming on the horizon, and it will forever impact our fine city.

The panel, which consisted of entrepreneurial legend, Kerry Tate (TateAustinHahn) and the uber-smart Matt Kouri (Greenlights for Non-Profit Sucess) kicked off with the statement of "SHIFT HAPPENS!". Clearly things are shifting in Austin as many of the areas top business, government and non-profit leaders are moving onto retirement or other assignments, and that is creating both challenges and opportunities throughout our community.

Each individual Austinite views their nostalgic picture of the "perfect Austin" as the day they arrived in town. For some that is the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s or just a few weeks ago. For generations Central Texas has experienced fast growth and change, but the speed at which our key leadership roles are turning over in the current environment is unprecedented.

Ms. Tate, the youngest member of Austin's old guard, read a long list of well known pillars of the community who have or are soon to vacate their roles. Mr. Kouri added his view point of the state of the over 5000 non-profit organizations that make Austin one of the highest per capita cities in the country for active charitable organizations. These groups are also are facing a high churn in their executive director positions. Are our elders moving aside to make room for the next phase of leaders, or are they just leaving?

The answer goes beyond our Hill Country vantage point. Austin is reflective of the changes that are happening all over the United States. While Austin prides itself in bucking trends, in the case of the generational leadership changing of the guard, we are the perfect example of what is soon to be happening everywhere.

Our workforce across the globe is having never before seen changes as Generation Y and the Millennials move into the workforce. Human Resource consultants and others are perplexed with how the aging baby-boomers and their younger collages are handling the perfect storm of generational differences converging in the marketplace. The younger workers have different views of leadership, work, social life, family, politics, and of the world at large.

Change is constant, but at this rapid pace, what does Austin need to do to avoid just riding the wave of change?

There is risk, but this transition is exciting. Paying attention to the change and managing it is the key. Leadership is not a straight line, but instead it is an imperfect circle. A circle made up of dots and dashes that allow new players to enter when these "holes" appear. Thus when experienced leaders move on, there is an opportunity for someone new to come into the circle and make an impact on the individual organizations (businesses, non-profit, or government agency) and the entire community.

How can younger folks get involved?

Show up and show you care! Austinites have an un-natural love affair with Austin. You do not see the levels of civic pride and sacrifice to make a city great in other municipalities. This is what makes Austin so wonderful. Individuals must get past any selfish motivations when it comes to leadership and care for the good of the whole community. With the mentality of service there is always room for anyone to take a seat at the leadership table.

If organizations are still looking at old business models, they are being passed over. Austin is at the cutting edge of the technology shifts that are impacting all areas. Where national thought leaders are talking about the internet and social media changing the way companies and other organizations hire and communicate - we are already seeing Austin companies and indidviuals coming together, finding jobs and advancing their organizations through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twiter and a variety of other online facilities. The message to all types of organizations is to embrace the change.

Gen Y and the Millennials have a different mindset, and their presence is changing the face of how work gets done. They grew up with text messaging and email, but also were raised to feel special and want to be part of the process in the organizations where they work and volunteer. Their need to feel connected is not necessarily good or bad, it is just a different point of view. Savvy organizations realize this and are tapping into the talent and creativity that they bring to the table. They do not need to bring turmoil into the workforce, but instead have a lot to teach their more seasoned co-workers who are newcomers to much of the new technologies.

Local leaders of past generations had lives that more focused on our small geography. They understood the common heart and soul of each other's civic dedication. They personally knew and liked one another (even if they disagreed on specific issues). Many of the new leaders live and work in global companies and are connected to a variety of communities around the world. This allows them less time to be engaged in Austin specific issues, which means that many of our younger leaders may not have established histories of knowing other local leaders. When conflict occurs they cannot draw on a lifetime of mutual understanding. Instead this leaves them on opposite sides of what can appear to be a great divide. Knowing each other is important.

The antidote for this disconnect of those who will lead Austin into the next several decades are organizations like Leadership Austin, who can work to introduce, educate and inspire the new generation of leaders. With mutually beneficial goals, outcome based objectives and established friendships that foster understanding, tomorrow can be navigated with success and expertise that will continue to set Austin and Central Texas apart for other cities around the world.

This is an example the reality of the importance of your network. Leaders need to invest the time up front to establish and cultivate relationships with others who will look to serve our community as we continue to expand. Hiding behind the excuse of "being busy" is not acceptable. "Busy" has been embraced by our culture and is not going away. Everyone is busy, but leaders must make the time to connect with other leaders.

The real message of the morning was "Do not just observe the change - embrace it and help shape the future". For those who are called to lead, the opportunity is right now. Austin has room at the top for those who can (and will) create and manage our tomorrow.

Have A Great Day

thom

Social Media, Web 2.0, Changing Communication Styles and The Great Flood

Much of the focus in the business world is moving away from the organization and toward the individual. With this I am perplexed as to if the individual can handle this power.

Not any specific individuals, as there are amazing people in all organizations (corporations, non-profits, religious, political, social, etc....), but there are also many lost souls who look for direction from others. I wonder if our moves toward a decentralized model leave many people on the sidelines looking for guidance. Are the haves and have nots no longer just divided by economics, but also by their ability to embrace the changes that the digital world is bringing into our lives?

Those who are natural leaders and entrepreneurs are seeming to thrive in this new transparent environment. Many of the people I know are striving to excel in the new online social media world that is now finding its way out of the fringes and into more traditional industries. You see them writing and reading blogs, active in social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and beyond), while creating new opportunities for themselves and their employers all at the same time. These people are out front into this brave new world.

Yet where there are leaders, there must be followers. But in this case I see much of the movement being in an individualistic parade. All the leaders seem to simultaneously be following each other.

The blogosphere and Twitter are a great example of the leaders all linking together. People have power that has never existed before to build their personal brand in exciting new ways. They do not need to have the platform of a larger organization to succeed. They self-select the community and bathe in the circular adoration.

This allows many to express themselves and cultivate a persona that extends beyond what it says on their office door or their business card: A business professional can turn their hobby into a side career. An entrepreneur can be a philanthropist and build both a company and discover ways to impact those in need. Anyone can make their own version of art and share it with the world. People who create a following have a voice that transcends the noise of Web 2.0.

But what about the rest of the people who have not the drive or the clarity of self? Those who do good work when given direction, but will never use their internal initiative on their own, are left to languish on the sidelines while the corporate and political structure of society shifts.

I am not here stating that online social media in of itself changes the infrastructure of the planet. However, it is not a fad that will soon fade away. The new methods of communication are having an impact on people. As the younger generations grow up to assume their roles in shaping our society, there will be drastic changes.

The differences between the campaign infrastructure and communication styles of the Barak Obama campaign and that of John McCain are just a scratch on the surface of things to come (and not just in politics). A new area is being ushered in and regardless of if you are 15 or 50, you need to be conscious this or you will be left behind.

We are being swallowed up by a great flood of information. Everyone is bombarded by choices like not other time in history. Many are looking for ways to embrace and capitalize on the massive amounts of information. Others are ignoring the rain and assuming the sun will come out tomorrow. Yes, there will be sun, but it will shine on a different world.

I don't have the answers, but I do suggest we all look at the questions. This is a time for the "Big Tent Thinkers" I have referenced in past blog posts. Do not close your small tent to new ideas. Allow all perspectives to be put in front of you for observation and contemplation. Look beyond what you know and welcome the future.

Have A Great Day.

thom

Gen Y Mostly Great People. But Reputation Spoiled By Self-Appointed Leaders Who Whine & Complain To The Distruction Of Entire Generation's Reputation

I read a post on Penelope Trunk's Brazen Careerist Blog that made me vomit. Almost literally. I have become sick of the self appointed leaders of Generation Y acting like they live under a new set of rules. Life is still life. Ask all those who invested in Tech Stocks in the year 2000 who claimed that the economic model had changed for public companies. Ooops, the more things change, the more they stay the same!

This nutty blog post was written by a some dude who apparently is a Generation Y celebrity (I had not heard of him, but he had heard of himself!). The title was "Seven Reasons Why My Generation Is More Productive Than Yours", and he went on to point out why today's twenty-somethings are better human beings than anyone born before 1979. Apparently there has been an evolutionary shift leaving those of us born earlier in a state of inferiority. Sorry, I never got that memo.

At first I thought that the post was written as a April Fools Day joke, then I realize the author believed his mommy too much when she told him he was wonderful. His observations were a tapestry of his own youthful point of view, and were written as if some PhD at Stanford had conducted decades of research on his pontifications. It was insulting. Not just insulting to people over thirty, insulting to anyone with who lives the reality of life.

I was going to site his name, and link to the post, and encourage you all to read it (so you would understand what kind of generational divisive dribble people lap up on the internet)...but that would be rewarding him for bad behavior. I hope you don't read it. Save yourself.

But my faith in the future of humanity is not ruined. On Monday I had lunch with three Generation Y people who are not sniveling self-obsessed morons. My lunch companions were ambitious, gracious, and enthusiastic business professionals who are working hard to create real experiences that will lead them to achievement both personally and professionally over their lifetimes.

Never once did they seem need to prove to anyone (or to themselves) that they were part of some superior generation. Instead they showed by their conversation that they are motivated individuals who are focused on creating futures.

They completed lunch and did not feel entitled to having the owner of the restaurant to bring them a trophy.

They do not view the different generations as part of some cosmic competition, but instead they looked at establishing a network of contacts in the business world with people of all ages and levels of experience. Creating mutually beneficial connections that lead everyone toward success is their aim.

The contrast between my lunch companions and the punky post on Penelope's blog are night and day. My guess is that those who will achieve real success in their lives from this generation are not those who relish in their "twenty-ness" -- but instead those who take stock in themselves and produce results. Whiny people are always the same, regardless of their date of birth.

I am here to tell you that being "twenty-something" ends. You cannot stop it (although I have read about many social media industry executives who will not reveal their real ages, as they fear being seen as obsolete by their followers if their "thirty-ness" was known.... OH PLEASE!).

The problem with baiting young against old is that time marches on. The BabyBoomers who proclaimed "Don't Trust Anyone Over 30" now have to look in the mirror at their 50 and 60 year old selves. For some it is not a pretty sight.

Age happens. I say "bring it on", as I understand and like myself better the older I become. I am finding that wisdom and experience are not things you can claim, but instead something you must earn.

I did leave a comment on Penelope's blog, which I share below:

This is the most self serving piece of bulls**t I have read on any blog in a good long time.

Are you really better than me? Really, do you believe this in your heart and soul? Did your mommy tell you how wonderful you are today.

PLEASE. Please. please. Realize every younger generations thinks they are more cleaver than the earlier ones. In the 60s they knew their music was better. They said "don't trust anyone over 30". Your self love is not real, it is a product of being young.

I am so sick and tired of these types of generational argument posts. You know what the facts are. I mean real facts, not how you feel….

Every generation has good people. And schmucks. Sure, technology changes, and those who are exposed to it when young adopt it faster and have an easier go with it. But it does not make the "old school guy" bad or yesterday's news.

I think that everyone who reads crap like this post should stand up and cry "STOP" and not put up with it any more.

BARF.

Don't encourage those who want to set generations apart. Tell the people who write baiting and insulting (and just wrong) stuff to STOP it. We should avoid them. But instead we flock to these contrarians and shower them with attention. It is like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Why must we enjoy them so damn much? And it goes on and on and on.

The good news is that I do not believe you can lump a whole generation together. There are just too many people in the world with too many ideas. It would be like saying "all republicans" or "all democrats" -- it is just not that easy.

Instead, most of the younger business professionals that I meet are just cool folks trying to find their way in the world. Few have these huge chips on their shoulders like the writer of the above mentioned blog post.

Most are just like other people who have come through their twenties in decades past. I admire their enthusiasm and dreams. Our future is in good hands, because those who give Gen Y a bad name will need to grow up, or they will be the ones who become obsolete. Those who are so focused on "being Gen Y" cannot compete with the cream of their generation who are focused on success. The three folks I had lunch with on Monday are a perfect example of the best that Gen Y has to offer!

Thanks for reading my rant!

Have A Great Day.

thom

Generation Z-Squared

Jason Alba at the JibberJobber Blog had a post about all the whining of Generation Y. I have written about this before, and think that with each new crop of young whipper-snappers, the older folks complain that they just don't have the work ethics of their forefathers.


Here is my reply to Jason:


Jason-


Good post, but I do not think that this generation is any different than those that have come before. Sure, the technology has changed so fast that they get to be “cutting edge” coming out of college (there is a big shift now when your better tech equipment is at home than at the office. Think about that, when we all started working the best stuff was at work!), but “cutting edge” only takes you so far.

We all come out of school wanting to live large. We feel we have earned it, and look around at our “bubble” of our college and think we are so far ahead of everyone else. But a few years later the real world kicks in. Marriage, children, mortgages, college funds, retirement savings, aging parents, health care, the cost of random stuff, work pressures, bosses, employees, etc…. (the list is long).


What the young idealist discovers is that you have to make it all work, and to do that means that you have to show up at work on time, and work hard, and build alliances, etc… The lone ranger, do what I want mentality takes a back seat to the real world of responsibilities.

Look at the baby boomers when they were this age …”Don’t trust anyone over 30″ was their mantra. Now they are all pushing retirement in the next few years and they have a different outlook than they did as teens and young twenty somethings. Sure, they long for the idealistic days of the Summer of Love,…..but they have kids to put through college and parents to care for and busy careers, etc….

My guess is that in 20 years there will be a new crop of idealistic kids and journalists hungry for anything to write will lump them in as Generation Z-Squared and people will complain about their work ethic. Meanwhile, Generation Y will be living in the real world and wondering what hit them.


Have A Great Day


thom

Millennials, What's On Your Profile?

The June edition of Money Magazine features a small clip of excellent advice for college grads by career counselor and author Alexandra Levit.

Levit states:

"Clean up MySpace and Facebook pages because potential employers will check them. One test: Make sure there is nothing up there you wouldn't want your grandmother to see"

Her two sentence observation should be expanded into an entire article for Millennials (and others), as it is often shocking to see what these aspiring young professionals have posted on the internet. I wrote about this a few months ago, when one young buck whose "Chick Magnet" persona made him look less than professional. Since then I have been made aware of dozens of other similar incidents that have kept people from getting jobs, clients and other opportunities.

When I talk to Millennials about social networking profiles that include wild party pics, booze, innuendos of drugs, sexy pics of themselves or friends, etc.... most defend the phenomenon and opine that the world is just different now and those things on MySpace pages are just "normal" and that it wont effect them negatively later because their generation expects these things.

Their statements of how different things are remind me of those who thought the stock market was operating under different rules in 1999 and that the dot-com companies had created a new economic reality. Certain things do not change as much as one thinks they might.

The reality is that job seekers and those concerned with building their future career should make conscious decisions about the image they portray on the internet. Regardless of if you like it or not, people will search for all your online information when making hiring and purchasing decisions. The information they find will influence their decision on if you get the job or if you win their business.

I am sure that the guy in this video would be the prize hire for any company:

Underwater beer bong


Think about this for a minute... you are 23 years old have this clip on your MySpace page and the hiring partner at a Fortune 500 company has to choose between two highly qualified candidates for one great job. She is fifty years old and the mother of three teenagers. What effect will watching this clip have on her choice?

Even those who already have jobs need to think about this, as employers are regularly searching to see how their employees are representing their brand. Very often these social networking profiles will include professional information, and you boss may not be happy about you listing your company name or logo next to the underwater beer bong or the nearly naked Playboy centerfold. Employees are an extension of the company's brand and any time you list your employer publicly they will find your profile (*a good marketing department is always searching for the brand on line!).

Take Alexandra Levit's advice and think about what grandma would say if she found your profile. It is not bad advice, because most grandparents are becoming web savvy and she probably will Google her grandchildren just to check up on you. Unless granny is a beer-bonger, you might want to rethink your profile!

Have A Great Day.

thom

Millennials Need To Stand Up For Themselves

There is a lot written about the Millennials, that group of young up-and-comers born between 1980 and 1995 now storming the workforce. Their different approach toward work and life is getting a lot of buzz online and in the traditional press, and it isn't always warm and fuzzy. Harvey Mackay's syndicated column covers them this week, 60 Minutes recently piped in on the subject, and bloggers like Penelope Trunk have made a career out of showing us the differences between the Millennials and other generations.

They are portrayed by some as having an evolved level of social consciousness (apparently much better than the baby boomers and generation X if you listen to their ranks), and vilified by others for the fact that more than half live with mom and dad after college, allowing them to avoid taking on all the hard knock responsibilities of being a grown up. Most of the attention goes to how they will not "pay their dues" in the workforce, favoring instead their friends and family - only wanting jobs on their terms. Some accuse them of being pampered and lazy while others grant the whole generation sainthood.

I say phooey. YES, PHOOEY. Not a word that bloggers use in that many posts...but I'll say it again...PHOOEY! There are more important similarities between people of all generations than differences, but those similarities do not keep demographers in business!

Look back at the baby boomers when they entered the work force and what was said about them in the press and all over the internet (okay, there was no internet in the 1960s and 1970s...I wanted to see if you were paying attention). The age of Aquarius was not build around a bunch of starched shirts. Yet there came a time when that generation had to step up and take over the economy, and everything changed. This anti-establishment, free-love, don't trust anyone over thirty generation became the establishment.

Guess what, the Millennials are smart, educated, and ambitious people....just like every other generation. Sure, they grew up playing soccer games where nobody kept score so that no kid would need to lose....But guess what...they all kept score! Even when the adults said winning didn't matter, these kids knew damn well who won the game. Sure, everyone got a trophy, but not one of them was so dumb as to think they all won.

These folks entered the work force and have a lot of options, but that will not always be the case, and if jobs are harder to find you will see them doing what it takes to "pay their dues" and staying put longer in jobs. I argue that living with mom and dad or jumping to better opportunities is less a slap on the Millennial's character as it is a sign of the times. Additionally, when they get married and have kids their priorities will change just like their baby boomer parents. Sure it is cool to live with mom and dad rent free while driving a cool BMW after college...but when you have a spouse and three kids, your own home and a minivan become more appealing.

I think it is time that the Millennials stand up for themselves and tell the world that they are motivated hard workers who are qualified and interested in climbing the economic ladder. While being born after the US Bicentennial and the release of the original Star Wars does make for some different life experiences than those who came before, that is true of every generation.

I predict that this group will do just fine in life (as have their ancestors) and that the kids of the 2040s and 2050s will see them as stodgy!

Have A Great Day.

thom
www.thomsinger.com