Non Sequitur – So relevant it hurts!

The September 17th Non Sequitur comic was so on-the-mark that it hurt. A stuffed animal asks a child, "Shouldn't you be studying for tomorrow's math test?"

"Of course not," the child says. "Cuz it's the teacher's job to teach us, so if I haven't learned enough to pass, then it's the teacher who actually fails the test, not me." The final frame says, "Hey, I'm just trying to act like an adult".

Ouch…

As a recruiter I hear many people talk about "Generation Why"…"the millennials"…or whatever other term that is being used to decribe those born between 1978 and 2000. I hear some people say they aren't sure this generation has the focus or the commitment to spend the hours necessary to succeed. Of course, this is usually said by someone in my generation – the Baby Boomers. We know how to work! We don't know how to stop working, however, and for some inane reason, we think the world should be like us.

Hold on here – let's look at who we are.

We are those born from 1946 – 1964. Many of us went to Vietnam or did college protests AGAINST the war. We had race riots in the street of L A and Detroit. We went to Woodstock, wore love beads, got married at 21 and frustrated the hell out of our parents.

We worked. We achieved. We were results driven.

Then something happened. Something I'll call personal RESPONSIBILITY. Somehow many of us found reasons to avoid "taking the blame". We loved "taking the credit", however.

You just saw it with that Senator from Idaho. You saw it with Mark Foley, the Congressman from Florida, who was once known as a crusader against child abuse and exploitation. Foley resigned from Congress on September 29, 2006 after allegations surfaced that he had sent suggestive emails and sexually explicit instant messages to teenage boys who formerly or currently served as Congressional pages. You saw it with our former President who tried to confuse us by trying to learn what the meaning of the word "is" is.

You've seen it with Baby Boomers who are lawyers. They file suit against McDonald's for serving hot coffee. They file suit against tobacco companies because although the cigarette package says that they CAN cause cancer, they actually DID and people were surprised (duh). They protect the guilty and abuse the innocent. They make "logic" a four-letter word.

So here you are, the new generation, getting ready to find a career. Please do us Baby Boomers a favor. Show us how to take responsibility. Remind us that people who make mistakes can actually admit they made them without checking themselves into a rehab center, making up lies or simply embarassing the rest of my generation. Tell us in your interview that you want a mentor who will guide you, support you and be honest with you. Tell us that you will probably make mistakes — but you will own up to them and try not to repeat them.

When I look at what the experts say about your generation this is what I read:

Positive, future-oriented
Flexible
Want meaningful work
Want ongoing feedback – not just annual reviews
Technical
Quick learners
Ambitions, demanding

Hey, I think this is EXACTLY who most of us are looking for as we look to hire.

I'm glad your generation is here. We Baby Boomers need a break from ourselves.

The Personal Branding Evolution: Gen-Y vs Gen-X

Some Background

Personal Branding is a self-application form of marketing, where you articulate your value to an audience, with the sole mission to build a reputation and credibility for your niche or idea. For a more refined and respected definition of Personal Branding, you can view the wiki I created, where I collaborated with many of the experts in this field.

Like me, Ryan and Ryan have been a huge proponent of Personal Branding, as they have developed great Gen-Y personalities through Employee Evolution. I think it's important to realize that Personal Branding effects each and every one of us and the sooner we come to the realization that we have a brand, the more successful we will be.

Now for the comparison

As a member of the Gen-Y group, you tend to find new methods of success and creativity. Gen-Y members are more susceptible to technological changes, and with the growth and breadth of Web 2.0, there are no boundaries for achievement.

Many members of Gen-X have not been educated in these new tools and are still using tradition methods of marketing and career development. Although these methods have worked in the past, they have less reach than mediums such as YouTube and Blogs. Without new education based around these new arts, Gen-X is left to lose key opportunities that could expand their businesses.

On the other hand, Gen-X has professionals that have a brand name and enough income available to pay other experts for these services, such as blogging, podcasting and media outreach. Gen-Y has the tools available and is being educated on this new technology (Web 2.0) in classrooms, which is a huge advantage. Personal Branding will link Gen-Y to new opportunities and create the self-development realization that will make them successful. The sooner you discover your brand, the more time you have to develop a strategy that will position you as a leader in a given market segment.

Gen-X has had to work much harder to figure out who they are and what mediums they can leverage to accomplish their goals. As a matter of fact, the majority of Gen-X only understands and is comfortable with using few tradition tools, while Gen-Y is ready and willing to try new methods of communication.

One of the biggest advantages Gen-Y has is lack of responsibilities. Gen-X has already established themselves, possibly with marriage, children and pets. Gen-Y is free to try new things out, fail and then start over with little to no impact on others.

Personal Branding allows for members of Gen-Y to become successful early in their careers, so that they are set up for success later!