Why you may be acting like a Boomer

I’ve been out of the blogosphere for a while due to 1) a vacation (awesome, by the way) and 2) taking on a new project at my “day job” in which my learning curve has been a little steeper than usual.

One thing I’ve been thinking about is how it’s important to not only take advantage of your generationally-typical qualities (i.e., I’m an Xer and I usually don’t have a hard time learning new software, because that’s what I grew up with) but also the qualities you have that may be typical of another generation.

For instance, although I grew up in the 80s with computers, technology, acid washed jeans, I’m also an Xer who was raised by a leading-edge Boomer and trailing-edge silent. Sometimes I use some really out-dated slang (thanks, mom), which throws people off. On more than one occasion I’ve had my Boomer colleagues at work do a double take because I was talking their talk. I also know most of the Peter, Paul, and Mary catalog, because that’s what records my dad had when I was a kid. So enjoying a little beatnik folk music has endeared me to some, too.

I’ve been a long-time believer that the single most important indicator of success is your ability to get along and work with others. And most people like people with whom they have something in common. Often, it doesn’t have to be a major thing. Finding those similarities may benefit you a lot more than sticking to your generationally-specific uniqueness.