The Snowflake Dilemna: Defining the Millenial Generation
Millenials are entitled, brash, entrepreneurial, confident, and disengaged from reality. At least, that is a sampling of what you will hear when conversing across the generations.
While Baby Boomers are defined by their pursuit of the American Dream, Millenials have a similar interest but are more concerned with the journey to that dream.
Two of the most suitable words for defining the Millenials are lifestyle, and belonging. A Millenial wants the monetary benfits of the American Dream but they want to do it in a way that is sustainable, beneficial for all parties, and allows them to work when they want. If a Millenial does not feel like they belong to a group or something that has purpose, they will disengage.
I am in that Millenial generation by birth but not always by ideology. Yes, I want to have a tremendously wealthy lifestyle, give 90% of it away in my lifetime, and own an Audi R8. Belonging to a family has always resonated with me more than an organization or certain friends. I think what the Millenials get right, even though we have the tendency to be highly cynical, is that we want to live for experiences and find joy more than accumulating things that burn.
We have already lived through one recession. I was in high school when the crash of 2008-09 happend. At the time, I was buying my first house and moving out on my own. Thankfully, the neighborhood that I moved into kept its value and I was able to work and pay bills albeit barely.
>The recesion spurred my research of monetary history. My dad had helped me accumulate a nice nest egg to fly the coop with but when stocks came tumbling down, I began wondering why these things must be.
Silver and gold were my first research subjects, and naturally in the last year or two, digital currenices have followed. I don't see these opportunities before us as just a means to be wealthy - I'm still young enough to want to make the world better.
The examples in my family are rampant for leaving a legacy. I have an uncle who runs an organic dairy farm, another uncle who runs a third generation multi-national wellness business, and my grandparents who routinely give 5-6 figures to charitable causes.
My example is not the norm but with nearly every Millenial I speak with the desire to see what difference their work is making is prevalent.
Doing Work that Matters
If you have never watched an interview with Simon Sinek or read his book Start with Why, I suggest you get on that.
I am not going to bore you with charts and outlines of what Millenials believe they want in their work/life balance (most of them don't know what that is). What I will leave you with is an interview with Simon Sinek.
This is the most succinct and descriptive piece I have found that helps Millenials put words to what they want, and helps everyone else see what it is Millenials dream about.
My closing thoughts for Millenials are this: put the phone down for a day or two. The Dopamine hit you are craving is not going to solve your lack of direction. Every successful CEO I have ever listened to spends at least 30 minutes a day in silence while they imagine what it is they want, and how it is they are going to get there. You can do the same.
Now, invest the 15 minutes this interview will take, and find clarity amidst the blizzard.
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Sources: Millenials Bloomberg
Simon Sinek Video
Millennials are the leaders of the future.
Period.
So many don't recognize how they've been handicapped as a result of coming up in the most amazing technological time in history.
If you're a millennial and you see this, realize your power, while recognizing your programming.
YOU have the power of everything the future offers; directed by your fingertips.
Act wisely and accordingly, my young friends.
He doesn't always give advice on Steemit, but when he does it's worth your attention.
wouldn't that be every generation by default? because people have to die?
though maybe we are in a time when AI might lead us instead aye?
You're absolutely right.
Every preceding generation, however, seems to have a nasty habit of forgetting this fact.
No less Generation X and Generation Y, regarding Millenials with such criticism from their lofty perch of wealth and wisdom born of being in the right place, with the years behind them which only time itself will permit this next generation from acquiring.
The leaders of the future will care for the elders of tomorrow... May those of us in a more senior position regard Millenials and those who follow with the same care, concern, and respect we should hope to have offered, in kind, to us.
@scan0017
I very rarely ever resteem posts. I am definitely resteeming this! This post and the video were really fascinating and insightful. As a fellow millennial I could relate to so much of what this post and video covered. Thanks for posting this!
That is quite the compliment! Thank you!
I am thrilled that you found the info insightful! I enjoy most of what Simon Sinek puts in the market.
You are very welcome!
Struggling to find a sense of purpose is something I can relate to. I understand wanting to feel that you are making the world a better place.
I am glad to see that you are so passionate about charitable work. Are there any specific projects or charities you want to support?
I hear you. A lot of Millenials are in the purpose searching boat. It takes time.
Thank you for asking. I am called to be a Theologian in Business and see the orphans in Africa trained in life skills through Rafiki Foundation to stop the T.I.A. (This is Africa) cycle.
I went on there website, it is quite the organization, with missions all over Africa!
Have you thought about traveling there to do some mission work?
Yes, it is! They have seen exciting growth.
Some short missions trips, yes, not a full time work though.
I lived in the Orlando Florida area for a few years and had the pleasure of meeting with the home office there. My conversations with the President and CEO allowed me to hear the vision and dream of where they are headed.
My thoughts on serving are related more to being on the board and an advisory role for the ministry. My education could come in to use for writing curriculum at some point but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
That is great!
It is always nice when the leadership make themselves accessible.
That would be great, the world is a much better place when we all use our god given talents!
Amen to that!
Enjoyed conversing with you about this. Thank you for investing your time.
Your posted has been upvoted with whale power thanks to htooms and recommended by @digicrypt.
It seems like our lives have followed similar paths except I have not purchased a house yet. We both have high hopes for our generation! You're exactly right that we all need to put our phones down, engage with others, and think about what we want and how we are going to achieve it!
Wow, that is an honor. Thank you my friend.
There is much to be hopeful for! And yes, there is no replacement for looking someone in the eyes and offering a firm handshake. We have the technology, the connections, and now we just need to define what needs to get done.
millienials need to work hard and party less.
Some of them certainly need to do that.
You have written a motivating Post. This is among the rare posts where we learn something and try to follow that in our Life. Got Inspiration. Thanks Dear
Glad to hear it! You're most welcome.
An interesting post, lydon, but I must respectfully disagree. I don't believe in birth order, horoscopes or generational differences and I've seen what zeigeist can do to a generation and I'm seeing that now. I believe in individualism and being true to one's authentic self despite what others are saying. That's my take :)
I believe I hear what you are saying, John. May you elaborate a bit more? :)
the part on zeitgeist, the spirit of the time? LOL! I don't identify with generational stereotypes. Yes, we live in an era and are affected by what goes on around us, but that is only superficial IMHO. For example, Christianity is always counter culture if you think about it...unless of course we lived in a theocracy :)
Ahh, I follow your reasoning now.
My hope was to highlight the influences for some of the behaviors of the Millenials. I realize now that using the word "defining" was too strong as a Christian. You're right, generational stereotypes don't define us as believers.
Cultural influences are just that- influences. I suppose it's also ingrained in me as a writer that relevance can be so ephemeral - I think of Faulkner's speech On Receiving the Nobel Prize and how truly significant influencers aim for universality, and things that speak to all ages and times. As Faulkner said in his speech, the griefs of writers today oftentimes grieve on no universal bones, leaving no scars. I don't just want to be a man of my time. Maybe this is my preoccupation at the moment...I don't know, but that's how your post impacted me ...a personal response perhaps
There is wisdom there.
When I read what you're saying the word classic keeps coming to mind. There are certain things that endure because they are true.
Rabbi Daniel Lapin once said, "We must seek to constantly change the changeable, while steadfastly clinging to the unchangeable."
I work with a millennial who has a bumper sticker on his truck that says, "the meaning of life is to live it." I have to agree. Although I'm in my mid-forties, I tend to relate to the point of view that many millennials have regarding life being more about experience than having combustible stuff.
I hear you my friend.
Love that bumper sticker. Live more and hold things lightly.
How is sunny Arizona treating you?
Despite working outside everyday, it's not as bad for me as many others. My body chemistry seemed to change in 2015, and I tend to prefer hotter temps now. My arms start to chill at 70 degrees. 80 is comfortable for me.
Interesting. It amazes me how our body chemistry adapts like that.
And are you doing well?
Very much so. Loving HF19. How about you?
Great! Oh, I am too, haha. It's fun voting for people who need the money and your vote makes a difference.
The meaning of life is to do as many good deeds as you can to people have earn't it.
The system is completely rigged- I admire anyone that refuses to jump into the standard rat wheel and spin their lives away. And I'm not a millennial- almost 50 and am educated in finance but have been a hands on construction contractor for most of my adult life.
Here here!
I admire an answer like that. We each have talents that are meant to benefit us and not just the company we sell our hours too.
Your answer sounds like it has influence from Kiyosaki.
That was a really great video. I want to share it with some friends and my manager at work. They know millennials are different but they don't understand what to do with them. Thank you for your reflections too.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Yes, that video is fantastic. Don't agree with everything but Simon gets a lot of things right.
Well baby boomers weren't liked by those that were slightly older and didn't have their privileges, and now people older than millenials don't like millenials, so I think this is just something that depends on when you were born and I don't think it should define a whole generation.
There are growing pains as each generation grows into the digital age that has such an effect on us.
You're right, each generation should take a step back and talk to one another.
Well, it was a baby boomer who drafted the maxim, "don't trust anyone over thirty."
Well then my trustworthiness disappeared a long time ago.