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Ryan Paugh graduated from Penn State in 2006 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business. After working in corporate communications, freelance writing and reporting, he co-founded 
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New here? Employee Evolution is a blog written by Ryan Healy. Ryan is a Co-Founder of Brazen Careerist, the webs #1 social network for young professionals. Ryan speaks with organizations on best practices for recruiting and retaining Generation Y and how to effectively use social media to reach your target market. To contact Ryan, please visit our contact page.
Millennials have been called everything from the Next Great Generation to praise-hungry narcissists. Of course, the media loves to sensationalize (especially news magazines), so we’re either “really great,” or we “really suck.”
I have my own opinion. Since entering the blogosphere over a year ago, I’ve met some great young people who are challenging the negative side of the stereotype. And the best of all, older generations are starting to listen. But I still wonder, does blogging—all by itself—have the power to alter, perhaps even to define, the image of my generation?
Part of me says no. It takes a lot more than an online presence to change how a generation is defined. And I just don’t see enough young people proving their greatness in considerable ways outside of the Web 2.0 realm.
But then again, if enough of us do it well, we can change some minds and create a better reputation for our generation.
Making a change on our own terms
Even though we’re still being tagged as self-centered and egotistical, our community-oriented approach to the Internet tells a different story. The Brazen Careerist network is a prime example of Gen Y working together to share ideas and show cooperation.
Every day I find at least one new Gen-Y career blog. We’ve taken the initiative to talk back. And with all these eager voices ready to provide answers at the drop of a dime, is it fair to say that Millennials are really the root of the problem? Or do we all need to find a better way to bridge the gaps between Boomer, GenX, and Millennials?
Blogging is not mainstream (yet)
Still, blogging may not be the best weapon towards eliminating the millennial Scarlet Letter, because blogging’s popularity is growing, but not quickly enough. While university professors insist that it’s a great medium not only for personal discovery but also for your career path, many students simply resent it. I was once one of them.
For many young people, a blog still has that “dear diary” feel that was marked by early blog platforms. I still remember how lame it seemed when I first read an entry by a girl I knew in high school. It was a turnoff, why would I want to be a part of this today?
Granted, blogging has changed. In many ways, it’s as credible a media source as any big mogul out there. In fact, even big name reports like CNN, Newsweek and Fortune have blogs. Most of which are marketed at the millennial generation.
But like most people (even those not in my generation), word of mouth is still the most powerful marketing tool. And right now, blogging isn’t getting widespread respect on the street, so it’s hard to believe that it is already changing our reputation in any real way. Yet.
Not enough great millennial bloggers?
So what’s missing? To change something as widespread as a stereotype, there needs to be strength in numbers. And while I consistently find great young bloggers every day, more voices are needed. And they need to be individuals with a solid, though-out opinion. Not just ranting about being called selfish.
Most rants are totally lame. They lack substance and I wish someone had told me this when I started blogging. I had to learn it on my own.
Taking your opinions seriously doesn’t mean you have to tailor your posts to boring corporate jargon, but it does mean you have to have an opinion, not just a voice. Be more than just a young person shouting for change. Build the bridge that makes change possible.
Regardless of whether blogging has the power to change people’s minds and break stereotypes, I don’t think anyone can argue that it hasn’t had a positive impact on the millennial generation. It’s still the best way to communicate our thoughts and ideals to a media world we have little ownership in. And the best part is we can’t be censored.
The problem with blogs is that people are stuck in the early myspace days of blogs- where girls cry about how their high school’s quarterback barely notices them. I’ll be the first to admit, some of my blog posts are a bit preachy, or ranting. But damnit, I’m trying!
I usually avoid making posts with little/no content, because every one of those posts is a point against blogs that practice good posting practices.
People need to think of blog posts not as streams of thought, but as mini essays- you know the ones from school with introductory paragraphs, and works cited!
Oh, and headers help- I read 5 newspapers, and 10+ blogs daily. On busy days, I only have time to skim. On really busy days, I only have time to read headlines! This is a practice I need to work on!
Even though blogs are not necessarily in the mainstream, there are an awful lot of them. And a lot of these awful lot of blogs are awful. Even good blogs can be awful sometimes. Getting 1,000+ feeds in my reader daily and only about 5-10% are worthy of me stopping to look and skim, not even read.
Gen-Y career blogs or whatever this genre wants to be called is also not necessarily mainstream. Millions of people do not yet want to read my blog (although I wish they would) but they will come by the boat load to read TechCrunch or Engadget. Those blogs have appeal to a wider audience.
Even though I am speaking to Social Media Marketers, Gen-Y and musicians, it doesn’t mean they want to listen either. I think I have some cool stuff to say. You might think it’s crap.
I view myself as a leader, but a leader of my circle. Would I like to have influence over the masses, damn right. But hey, I’m 25. I have time, right?
Another great post, Ryan. It’s surprises me how much your opinions have changed since you started the blog - I’d love to hear a post about that - how being in the real world has changed how you think.
Also, I was waiting outside of Barriques yesterday for a meeting and some guy walked inside and kept looking at me like he knew me. And then I thought, oh, crap, that was Paugh and I felt really bad. Then the guy walked outside, and thinking it was you, I gave him a big smile, but then right after that I realized it wasn’t you because he gave me the oh-wow-i-can’t-believe-this-girl-is-smiling-at-me look. So, thanks. I smiled at a complete stranger
Ryan, I’m very interested in hearing from you and other Millennials about your thoughts on presentation, especially in the area of English mechanics. I teach English and Organizational Communication for a couple of local colleges, and I have the opportunity to read a lot of material written by Millennials, including electronic messages of all kinds. What I see is a careless disregard for the use of language, and not much in the way of proof reading. When I use the word “careless,” I mean “not caring.” Is my assumption correct — does the Millennial generation view writing standards as obsolete or a waste of time? Should I be ranting less at my students for their “whatever . . .” attitude toward the rules of writing? Am I the only one who cares about this? Is it just my Boomer neurosis?
jehan: I personally don’t like to think of my blog posts as mini-essays, but I get your point. Thoughts need to be more clearly organized. Ideas need to be more thought out.
Thanks!
Greg: Plenty of time. And I think it’s great that you see yourself as a leader on a smaller scale. We all have to start somewhere. And even a small community can make a difference in some way.
Rebecca: Thank you! I’ve been thinking of writing that post for awhile, it’s nice to have some encouragement.
Sorry to hear about the rendezvous with my doppleganger, but it was nice seeing you at Brocach.
Barry: It’s your job to worry about those things, so I wouldn’t necessarily tell you to stop. One thing about social media and other high-speed communications is that it’s done quick and often times hastily (I’m sure I’ve left some grammar errors in this comment box). In certain circumstances this can be dire, like when communicating with a older professionals like yourself who might be doing the hiring, but in other scenarios it’s okay to be lenient.
I know that doesn’t paint the entire picture, but at least it’s a start. I’d love to talk more, feel free to drop me an email anytime.
ryanpaugh@brazencareerist.com.
Ryan:
Just gave a workshop on generational communications to a bunch of college administrators (2/3 Boomers, 1/3 Xers). We were discussing challenges of working with other generations - particularly Millennials. Then I asked the Boomers, how much of what we are saying today about Millennials was said 10-15 years ago about Xers? The Boomers said, “most of it.”
So I’m now starting to lean much more to the Millennials’ lifestage influencing how other generations are viewing them. I do think Millennials are breaking ground with blogging, but at the same time, it’s not always bad to be second out of the gate. I also think 2008 is the tipping point year for blogging - meaning that in a year blogging WILL be mainstream.
“Be more than just a young person shouting for change. Build the bridge that makes change possible.”
Very true, but make no mistake: blogging in and of itself, even if you have a strong and worthwhile opinion, does not build the bridge to change that Ryan is describing. Open, intelligent communication and is a critical first step towards swaying popular opinion, but at some point, discourse must become action. The old cliche that “actions speak louder than words” was perhaps never more relevant than to the Millennial generation.
Ryan-
At the age of 48, maybe I’ve missed the boat in terms of understanding the whole idea about blogs; perhaps you could enlighten me.
Every time I’ve read blogs, they seem no different than listening to somebody tell a story, get on a soapbox and rant, or read his/her diary. It seems to me like having, perhaps, a social gathering, but without people present. Granted, some percentage of the blog might be interesting, but not enough to keep me seated in front of the screen in long term. People (of all ages) have much more to say than others care to listen to.
The image I have gotten (partly from observing my kids), is that it seems so personally isolated. Granted, certain “connections” can be established in this fashion, but is it really different or better than meeting/hanging out with others at a softball game? It seems that face-to-face communication would build better connections, for professional as well as personal gain. Then, too, with direct feedback, one would quickly learn what is interesting and pertinent to whom, what society in general cares about, etc.
I guess I don’t really know the value of blogs. I’d like to hear more perspectives.
Hi Jan:
I think there are probably a few explanations as to why you feel this way about blog.
It’s possible that…
1. You’re not reading the right ones.
2. You haven’t found an author you consistently enjoy.
3. Blog just aren’t your thing.
Your soapbox perception of blogs is not off. Most bloggers get lost in conversations about themselves, their far-out opinions, etc. that they forget that they’re trying to get people to keep reading. But the best are pretty good at developing a consistent following. Does that make sense?
As far as blogs and isolation go, you’re not off there either. Real social interaction is far more important. And those who forget that suffer. Everything in moderation, right?
But still, blogging is a powerful networking tool. I make connections I could never make on the street online everyday. I even co-founder a company based on this very blog.
It’s hard to see the results unless you’re actively participating, but take my word, there’s potential in online social media.
Then again, blogging may not be for you. And that’s fine. But you just made a connection right now, and all you had to do was write a few paragraphs. Pretty cool huh?
You may be right. It’s probably not my thing, or I haven’t found one worthy of consistently following.
One of the good things about blogs is that if you look in the right places, there will always be someone who has something in common with you that can be shared.
I guess I’ve always felt that if you get “out there,” virtually or for real, you will meet people one way or another. Online has a sharper focus, depending on what sites one enters, and can be done from home. Real life has a more personal aspect to it (the dating scene is a good example), although some can get very personal with anonymity.
Maybe it ’s just my feeling that it’s just another meeting place or telephone party line, just the newest form of it.
This can get to be quite a deep subject!
Anyway, back to work; thanks for your reply!
J
My fellow on Facebook shared this link and I’m not dissapointed at all that I came here.