Recently in Gen-Y Category
del.icio.us
Sorry for the delay, folks. It's been hectic here in the Norcross household. We've hired a second investment officer in my department, so I've been training them all week. My son is crawling, cutting 2 teeth, and being the overall awesomeness that we've grown accustom to. My wife is working part time, and studying for the Florida Bar exam. I've also started a small side business doing computer consulting work and website design, so that's been eating some time. I'll make an attempt to keep up on this. Promise. Now, moving on.
I was at one of my favorite cigar bars last night with the laptop working on a website and enjoying a nice smoke. There's a corner seat I usually take. There's a power plug, a ledge for me to keep my stuff, and small table I can put the ol' Toshiba Satellite M35 on. I also think it's close to the WiFi antenna, because I always seem to get a better connection there than anyplace else in the lounge. (Free WiFi + plush leather chairs + good cigars = a productive Norcross). Being that it was "Super Tuesday" (not to be confused with Fat Tuesday, Mediocre Tuesday, or Dance With A Badger Tuesday), CNN was glowing from one of the flat panel TVs on the wall, filling my otherwise serene space with political garbage.
Yes, I said garbage. I believe our political system is cracked beyond repair. And it bothers me.
I'll preface this by saying I've always had a rather large distaste for the political process. It all started when I asked my father about why he never ran for any office. Not only is he one of the smartest person I've ever met, he's rather charming and likable. Add in the fact that he's a baptist minister AND a true-blooded Massachussets liberal, you've got a formidable candidate. So I asked him once why he never ran. His response? "Because then I'd have to comprise everything. And some things aren't up for debate."
Ever since that simple statement, I've looked at the process in a different way. I believe many people get into the political arena with good intentions. But what do you have to give up to succeed? Well, from what I can gather, a small part of your soul. Yes, I've seen the Hope Speech. I've seen a lot of other things, too. None of it makes me feel any different now than it did before. All I see is someone who is trying to get me to do something. In this case, it's voting for them. If it were a boss, maybe it's taking on a project or training someone. But it still comes down to the fact that they need me to get things done.
Maybe that's what is really behind Gen-Y's strong desire to be entrepreneurs. Perhaps we've had enough of being told what to do, where to do it, how it's in our best interest, and that we're better off just doing it and not asking questions. I know I have.
I was at one of my favorite cigar bars last night with the laptop working on a website and enjoying a nice smoke. There's a corner seat I usually take. There's a power plug, a ledge for me to keep my stuff, and small table I can put the ol' Toshiba Satellite M35 on. I also think it's close to the WiFi antenna, because I always seem to get a better connection there than anyplace else in the lounge. (Free WiFi + plush leather chairs + good cigars = a productive Norcross). Being that it was "Super Tuesday" (not to be confused with Fat Tuesday, Mediocre Tuesday, or Dance With A Badger Tuesday), CNN was glowing from one of the flat panel TVs on the wall, filling my otherwise serene space with political garbage.
Yes, I said garbage. I believe our political system is cracked beyond repair. And it bothers me.
I'll preface this by saying I've always had a rather large distaste for the political process. It all started when I asked my father about why he never ran for any office. Not only is he one of the smartest person I've ever met, he's rather charming and likable. Add in the fact that he's a baptist minister AND a true-blooded Massachussets liberal, you've got a formidable candidate. So I asked him once why he never ran. His response? "Because then I'd have to comprise everything. And some things aren't up for debate."
Ever since that simple statement, I've looked at the process in a different way. I believe many people get into the political arena with good intentions. But what do you have to give up to succeed? Well, from what I can gather, a small part of your soul. Yes, I've seen the Hope Speech. I've seen a lot of other things, too. None of it makes me feel any different now than it did before. All I see is someone who is trying to get me to do something. In this case, it's voting for them. If it were a boss, maybe it's taking on a project or training someone. But it still comes down to the fact that they need me to get things done.
Maybe that's what is really behind Gen-Y's strong desire to be entrepreneurs. Perhaps we've had enough of being told what to do, where to do it, how it's in our best interest, and that we're better off just doing it and not asking questions. I know I have.
I've been reading various Gen-Y blogs lately. One topic that has come up a few times, in various forms, is how we're "taking over" and how other people (usually the older folk) aren't happy about us. They view my generation as whining, over-privileged, tech-obsessed kids who don't want to work hard, but still want the benefits. At first (like any other self-respecting 20something), I was defensive and quick to discredit the critics as out of touch and jealous. But the longer I think about it, and watch people around me, I see that they may have a point.
Now, before I'm blasted for being an apologist for "the man", hear me out. A gal named Jackie has been writing an ongoing series for Employee Evolution talking about her experiences with joining corporate America and all that comes with it. Now, in following her reading (which I enjoy quite a bit), I can relate to a lot of what she's talking about. Granted, I started in the 'cube when I was 18, so a lot of that has long since come and gone. But some of it...well...is just complaining. And I'm not attempting to single her out, because I see the same theme all over the place.
If you were to ask anyone between the ages of 18-24 if they'd be willing to "put in the hard work" to get a career going, I'm sure almost all of them would answer a resounding YES. And they'd mean it. But, my experience has been so far that many of them think they've ALREADY put in the work. I'm sorry, but college is not a proving grounds for the real world. I never went away to school (for various reasons), and when I would visit my friends in various campuses across Florida, it was a vacation. There's nothing realistic about sleeping until 10 am on ANY day of the week, nor is using the fact that you live at home as leverage for a raise. Then we've got people regretting good grades in college. I could keep going, but I think my point is made.
Rebecca Thorman makes some excellent points regarding the rift between Gen X and Gen Y. I think she's right on the mark, but I wonder why collectively my generation doesn't take any of the blame to go along with the credit. I mean, I'm heralded for my grasp of technology at work, but that doesn't mean that the criticism I get for coming across as arrogant isn't correct. I do come across that way sometimes, because while I may be more of an adult than I ever thought I'd be, I'm still a punk kid sometimes who doesn't play nice with others. And my boss's 30+ years of experience, while technologically outdated, is still worth a lot.
Now, before I'm blasted for being an apologist for "the man", hear me out. A gal named Jackie has been writing an ongoing series for Employee Evolution talking about her experiences with joining corporate America and all that comes with it. Now, in following her reading (which I enjoy quite a bit), I can relate to a lot of what she's talking about. Granted, I started in the 'cube when I was 18, so a lot of that has long since come and gone. But some of it...well...is just complaining. And I'm not attempting to single her out, because I see the same theme all over the place.
If you were to ask anyone between the ages of 18-24 if they'd be willing to "put in the hard work" to get a career going, I'm sure almost all of them would answer a resounding YES. And they'd mean it. But, my experience has been so far that many of them think they've ALREADY put in the work. I'm sorry, but college is not a proving grounds for the real world. I never went away to school (for various reasons), and when I would visit my friends in various campuses across Florida, it was a vacation. There's nothing realistic about sleeping until 10 am on ANY day of the week, nor is using the fact that you live at home as leverage for a raise. Then we've got people regretting good grades in college. I could keep going, but I think my point is made.
Rebecca Thorman makes some excellent points regarding the rift between Gen X and Gen Y. I think she's right on the mark, but I wonder why collectively my generation doesn't take any of the blame to go along with the credit. I mean, I'm heralded for my grasp of technology at work, but that doesn't mean that the criticism I get for coming across as arrogant isn't correct. I do come across that way sometimes, because while I may be more of an adult than I ever thought I'd be, I'm still a punk kid sometimes who doesn't play nice with others. And my boss's 30+ years of experience, while technologically outdated, is still worth a lot.
