Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Backlash: Gen Y disputes Naomi Wolf's opinion

Loved this recent editorial in the Washington Post by a very smart Gen Y student (Rob Anderson).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/27/AR2007112702221.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

He is upset by how author Naomi Wolf is attacking his generation and charging that young people are not politically active enough. Anderson is right. Wolf is wrong.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Generation V

Are you looking for a level playing field, where age, gender, class and income of individuals are less important and less rewarded than competence, motivation and effort? Then you may be a member of Generation V. Check out more at: http://crmweblog.crmmastery.com/?p=971

Friday, November 16, 2007

It's gettin' hot in here...

Office workers and educators are not the only ones dealing with generational conflict - check out how generational differences are affecting firefighters:

http://www.industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?releaseid=16908&magazinearticleid=322782&magazineid=157&siteID=26

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Gen Xers redefine fatherhood

Although not a fan of the automobile - and a staunch advocate of light rail - I find it ironic that a car company can seem to get a grasp on what Gen X men are like.

Gen Xers - men and women alike - are often misread, misinterpreted, and misrepresented in the media. However, this article out of Ontario offers some great insight - from the perspective of an automotive company.

Here's an excerpt from the article which was posted to: wellandtribune.ca

"Insecurity at youth spawned a need for security and strong relationships as the men in the group enter marriage and fatherhood, said Amy Casey in Nissan's planning group.

Not quite ready to grow up as they grow older and certainly not ready for a minivan, Casey learned that some of these men don't want to be seen as just a dad or just a husband.

"They are the stealth dad," she said. They are youthful and edgy to the world, nurturing and caring at home. And he likes his flat-screen TV, communication devices, quality athletic gear, gadgets and cooking utensils, all of which he embraced before fatherhood.

What I find really interesting here is that Gen X dads seem to be a lot like Gen X moms. We're holding on to our identities, while still focusing on parenting. Parenting is our most important job, but not our only one.

Click here for the entire article: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=767597&auth=Mark+Maynard

Thursday, November 8, 2007

What does it mean to be nice?

I had a great conversation this week with a 30-year-old Gen Xer who says she's annoyed with her Boomer colleagues saying she needs to be nicer. At the start of the conversation, she didn't realize that she is not alone in this challenge and it is a common complaint among Gen Xers.

To Boomers, being nice often means small talk. That's nice. However, this same chit-chat often seems insincere to Xers. So when the Boomer colleague inquires about the Xer's kids, the Xer will be polite, but may feel the Boomer is faking interest. When the Xer does not reciprocate the family question, it can obviously offend the Boomer.

Another scenario is when giving criticism. Often Boomers will give you the criticism sandwich - a good comment, the criticism, a bad comment. This can be affective with Xers, yet, the critical point (the criticism) may be lost in the sea of compliments. Conversely, when a Xer just spills it, the Boomer can be offended, because they only got the meat - not the bread and the condiments.

I think once Xer and Boomers are conscious of this different, the conflict goes away, because they then interpret the messages as they are meant to be.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

The Millenial Mindset

If you really want to get inside the heads of Gen Y, I have a blog for you:

http://www.employeeevolution.com/

They are doing a great job with this one and their ideas really give insight into the newest generation to enter the workforce. These guys are chronicling the transition into the Information Age/21st Century workforce that's currently happening. Great information.

Friday, November 2, 2007

What's Gen Y thinking?

A promising new column in the Cincinnati Enquirer has begun and features analysis of trends in the workforce from a Gen Y perspective.
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071031/BIZ03/710310308/1001/BIZ

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Senior Citizens Become Adults

By now, most people know that Babyboomers will never be seniors. Shoot, they can barely handle being called grown ups.

When we market to this demographic, we can't do what worked 20 years ago for the 55+ market. I found a really good example of how to market to Boomers.

http://www.cafebabyboomers.com/travel-leisure/Adult-Golf-Vacations-For-the-Babyboomer-Age.php

What's best is that these "Adult" trips are clearly for people who are over 55. But they never mention the terms seniors or "active adults" (which I think implies seniors). They just say adults.