May 31, 2007

Boomers, GenY, and Changing the World

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 6:14 am

A Circle of Our Selves

Change the World!

Recently in his discussion of authenticity, Steve Roessler shared the work of Peter Vajda. One sentence of Dr. Vajda’s echoes to my past.

The kicker for me is that everyone is born authentic.

We used to talk about that idea constantly when I was in college. We’d say that babies were born high on life, then the world slowly knocks it out of them.

Years later as the mom of a son, who was about to go to college himself, I was part of a conversation about the other end of life — how some people get crankier as they get old and others get more generous. I theorized that cranky, old people were trying to defend their right to be on the planet. A wise friend suggested that the answer was simpler — that

as people get old they become more of what they are.

Sounds like a circle doesn’t it? From authentic to authentic — it’s a circle of our selves.

Boomers, GenY, and Changing the World

I’ve read a lot and heard even more about about GenY and Boomers and how far apart we are. They say it’s a problem in the workplace that GenY employees want to IM their Boomer bosses. Magazine and newstalk is of a technology/relationship gap that exists.

The first thing people notice are differences. That doesn’t mean that’s all we’ve got.

When I look at Boomers and GenY I don’t see such a great divide. If we look at who we are below the surface, the picture changes to how much we have in common.

Boomers

I’m a Boomer. During the years that I was at my university, the organized system of fraternities and sororities was at an all time low for membership. Don’t go Greek. Go Freak! was a popular saying. Timothy Leary told us to trust no one over 30. We believed him. The Moody Blues enshrined him in a song. I still can sing it. Most Boomers still know Boomer anthems like that.

We wore jeans that looked just like the ones I see now — dirty, with holes and embroidery — my mom kept asking me to leave them home so she could “wash them” for me. We knew we were going to have an impact on the world as a group. We also invented the idea that our lives should have a soundtrack, and it was deep in our college years that the LOVE sculpture went up in Love Park in Philadelphia.

GenY

My son is GenY. They call him an Echo Boomer because his generation is the largest since the Boomers were born. Wikipedia points out the characteristics that they share.

These individuals typically share moral qualities with their grandparents (usually the G.I. or Greatest Generation). Some of these include the importance of hard work, dedication, and being an effective team member. Most political views of Echo Boomers are shared with their parents (Baby Boomers). This is due to similar presidential tension and the largely opposed war in Iraq. Many of the Echo Boomers have a closer relationship with their Baby Boomer parents and enjoy similar tastes in music and styles. It should be noted that while Echo Boomers are not as rebellious as their parents, they are not shy when it comes to speaking their minds.

When it comes to dreams, no generation seems to be more like the Boomers than this one that’s the largest generation since the Boomers descended on the planet.

The shared dreams are more than the differences. I’m not the only one who thinks so. Other folks have seen it too.

It’s true that Generation Y workers are different — but only to a degree, and not in as many ways as people think.

I recently conducted research that examines the motivations of about 3,500 people. It shows that twentysomethings are no more likely to express lifestyle concerns than workers in their 40s and 50s. In every age group, about the same number of people cite work/life balance as one of their key work motivators.

Though they are separated by age and experience, there’s not much difference today between boomers’ and Gen Y-ers’ outlooks on work/life. –Barbara Moses, Ph.D, is an international speaker, work/life expert, and author

So, the problem is one of communication, not deep-seated motivation. It’s not about differences at work. It’s about working together to make a difference in the world.

As Boomers get back to dreaming again, and GenY gets on to making things happen, isn’t there something important that we’re missing, if we don’t connect? Think of it, the two largest generations with our heads and hearts in the same place. That’s electric. That’s power. Better yet, it’s hope for the future.

What is the first little thing we might do?

We don’t have to stop at talking about changing the world.
We could actually do it.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

______________
If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there that Sandy designed back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.

Change the World!.

Email me about what you’re doing or what we might do. Let’s change the world one bit at a time together. Together it can’t take forever.


Filed under Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog, The Big Idea |



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23 Comments to “Boomers, GenY, and Changing the World”

  1. May 31st, 2007 at 6:51 am
    Karin H. said

    What is the first little thing we might do?

    Stop ‘branding’ ;-)
    Boomers in their teener-twenty years experimented with freedom (in groups). Gen-Y in their teener-twenty years experimented with freedom (in groups).
    Before Boomers everyone was just a person growing up: experimenting with freedom (in groups).

    What has changed? Branding was invented ;-), labels were placed upon us.

    We are all persons, growing - experimenting with freedom, with life. The ‘tools’ are the only things that changed, not us ;-) So, no real differences in personalities, wishes, goals, aims, life-experiences. Just new labels.

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  2. May 31st, 2007 at 7:07 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin,
    Whoa! How interesting!You are at a place I just got to in a conversation with a friend.

    You probably noticed that recently branding articles were about relationships. You might not have noted that the last was called Personal Identity. I’ve decided to leave the word <1> brand to products and services that are sold by people, but no to include people under that umbrella.

    I hadn’t taken it so far as to think divisive in this way, but I didn’t like the way it was starting to make us all a commodity rather than living beings.

    So I’m with you. Your point is well taken. Though I can’t say whether branding was the cause or a symptom.

  3. May 31st, 2007 at 7:21 am
    Robyn said

    Let’s all stay as “high on life” as we can no matter which generation we’re part of. That is what will bring us all together and the key to making a difference.

  4. May 31st, 2007 at 7:23 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Robyn!
    You know, if we stay high on life, maybe then we will listen to each other . . . Sounds like a plan to me. :)

  5. May 31st, 2007 at 7:26 am
    Karin H. said

    Though I can’t say whether branding was the cause or a symptom

    Don’t really think it’s one or the other. Symptom of the time, perhaps - everything is getting ‘branded’ now, even personal identities and I don’t like a personal ‘label’ like that, feels too much like being ’stuck’ in a pigeon-hole. Cause labels stick a long time, don’t they, without ‘room’ for change.

    The different (forced) naming of generations IMHO has more to do with trends. Trends in technology - I know we Boomers use the same technology, but we can remember life without them ;-) But underneath this trend all generations are the same: finding their feet in a changing world (and the ‘world’ has, is and will change always - not two ways about it).
    I relate as well to ‘before’ Boomers as I relate to Boomers and ‘after’ Boomers, I see no real differences.

    Karin H.

  6. May 31st, 2007 at 7:43 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    From what I’ve read GenY is the last generation to understand the changes brought by the move to digital, even though they have been “digital” most of their lives.

    It is interesting to me how the characteristics of a generation can be shared and have impact on a nation. For example those children raised during WWII and the Great American Depression, as those raised in Britain during WWII, have a different relationship to money than those of us who have never know deprivation on that scale.

    That said, with our dreams so the same and a similar quest for balance, it would seem that if we got together with folks in their 20s we might bring some balance to the world.

  7. May 31st, 2007 at 8:03 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Liz

    I’m all for balance (a see-saw is a balance too, not? - because there will be slight differences in every generation, but not so much to ‘rock’ the balance - so I like to balance on a see-saw with a 20-ier)

    Karin H.

  8. May 31st, 2007 at 8:11 am
    ME Strauss said

    Yeah Karin!
    That seesaw is a great metaphor! Moving toward balance doesn’t mean we have to tear things down, does it? It can mean we refine how they are done. :)

  9. May 31st, 2007 at 8:45 am
    Kirk M said

    Oh this is a good one. So many aspects to think about and I’ve been considering this same question most of my life. Not only is Gen Y the last generation can remember what life was like before the move to digital but there also the last generation to have born several years before the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. That was an event that changed the way of life of most Americans and is still doing so today. Both those events were the turning point of our society and both generations were around and aware enough to realize it.

    To me it comes down to this: We began the change and it’s up to them to continue on with it. they have quite a challenge ahead of them. And they know us better than they think. I mean…they still listen to our music and they enjoy it and that definitely means something.

  10. May 31st, 2007 at 8:53 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Kirk,
    Yeah, and they were born before, during, and after the Berlin Wall was torn down. . . .

    We began the change and it’s up to them to coninue on with it.

    I don’t understand why you don’t mention us collaborating. Our experience and their skills seems like the most incredible combination. :)

  11. May 31st, 2007 at 8:07 pm
    Kirk M said

    Hi liz,

    I really need to watch my syntax when I’m writing a comment. My mind always runs faster than my fingers.

    On collaborating…I agree that we seem to harmonize (even on key). I wouldn’t mind giving it a go although it would be a first for me.

    Would you mind sending me an email when you get some time and enlightening this age-ed mind a bit? :)

  12. May 31st, 2007 at 9:28 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Kirk,
    I think your age-ed mind is highly enlightened. It seems to hit the same glitches that this age-ed mind does, overlooking the obvious. We should just keep an eye our for each other. :)

  13. June 1st, 2007 at 3:04 pm
    Timothy Singleton said

    Hey, Liz:

    Just wanted to say hey!

    Going to have to think on the ‘Greatest Generation’ versus the Boomers, though. I am pretty sure I am a throwback in my values and am neither a Boomer nor a Generation Y, fellow. Could be that is because I was reared by my grandparents…I don’t know.

    Hope you are well.

    Tim

  14. June 1st, 2007 at 4:42 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Tim!
    Actually, accoriding to what little research I’ve done, both generations — Boomers and GenY — recognize the Greatest Generation and honor many of their values. It gets more interesting the deeper you go. :)

  15. June 2nd, 2007 at 3:30 pm
    ann michael said

    This is such a fascinating topic. The more I read Karin H’s comments (on all of Liz’s posts) the more I like her!!!!

    It seems as though in order to learn and process mass quantities of information (and see trends) we group things together and label them.

    Personally I find this very frustrating sometimes because (just like horoscopes, or birth order, or other attempts to define people’s attributes based on some grouping), I often find myself an anomaly.

    The problem is that nothing is as simple as one dimension - and we need to be careful when we count on these models to be predictive.

    There, I’m off my soap box :-)

    I just had to get that off my chest!!!

    Ann

  16. June 2nd, 2007 at 3:36 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Oh Ann,
    I just can’t resist:

    You said that in the true form of a Boomer!!!

    We are all individuals, but our similarities are as important as our differences. To care too much about either is to be out of balance. Don’t you think the only way to fully fit is to know about both in equal measure?

  17. June 2nd, 2007 at 8:36 pm
    ann michael said

    Ironically - I’m not a boomer! I miss the cutoff by almost a year! I’ve always identified with the “tweeners” the group between the boomers and Gen X (that’s what’s after the boomers right???) - those born in the mid-60’s.

  18. June 2nd, 2007 at 8:42 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Ah! A tweener. I think it was a tweener that named me an elderly blogger. :)

  19. June 3rd, 2007 at 9:54 am
    Kirk M said

    @ Ann:
    I relate to how you feel. Although I qualify as a boomer I was born the last “certifiable” year (folks tell me I’m certifiable in fact). And I’ve always referred to myself as being part of the “lost” generation. Too young for Woodstock and too late for the draft. At least the latter wasn’t a bad thing. And humans have always been labelers. There isn’t one thing that you can touch, feel, smell or hear (ad infinitum) that doesn’t have some sort of label attached to it such as “rock”, “love” or “antidisestablishmentarianism”.

    But I know what you mean by “grouping”. The illegitimate offspring of the mob mentality is always frustrating to deal with especially when it starts making you question yourself (Yup, I go through that too. We all do.). The thing I always have to remember is that although the labels and groupings may be one dimensional as you say, it’s the people themselves that provide the depth to the one dimensional labels they created in the first place. And therein lies another balance.

    Not bad for another “elderly blogger”.

  20. June 3rd, 2007 at 9:56 am
    Kirk M said

    I have got to stop adding html tags. :P

  21. June 3rd, 2007 at 10:40 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Kirk,
    Pull up your wheelchair next to mine. I’ll send the nurse for a beverage or two and we can act silly. :)

  22. June 3rd, 2007 at 11:47 am
    ann michael said

    Kirk - I like the way you think!

    Kirk and Liz - you’re not elderly - just wise!!!

  23. June 3rd, 2007 at 12:14 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Wise . . . I’m leaving that one there. [It's taking self-control, but I think I can. I know I can. . . . oh Ann, how you test me. :) ]

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