Generational Differences in the Age of Social Media

Where Generational Differences are Now

2011-02-07T11:49:00.000-08:00

We've Moved!

The Generational Differences in the Age of Social Media blog has been moved to our corporate website.

Please visit JAD Communications to read our most current blog posts.

As always, your comments are welcome.

Yvonne F. Brown
CEO
JAD Communications.com

Teenage Paparazzo Sets new Career Standard

2010-10-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

The New Career Option

Sitting in my hotel room recently, I happened upon an upcoming movie created by Adrian Grenier Star of the TV show Entourage.

I found it fascinating because the subject of the movie was a young home schooled kid who is the youngest Paparazzo in the world.

Now, typically I would not have been able to see this show because I do not have HBO cable. Within seconds, I was hooked. 13 year old Austin Visschedyk was on the run, chasing a celebrity to obtain that lucrative money shot.

Who is this kid, I wondered? Where are his parents? Why is he running around the streets at this time of night instead of doing his homework?

I found out soon enough...

He is just one of several young people whose lives have taken a turn in this new direction.

What's the Buzz on this Generational Difference?

Here's the thing. Today's generation is not content to follow the path their parents and grandparents took. They are not interested in giving their creativity away to the corporation. They have seen the results from their father's and mother's commitment to the organization. It is not a pretty sight. So they forge their own paths.

And they start younger all the time.

Let's take the example of Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. He is a mere 26 years old but just this week, the company made two announcements that illustrate they may indeed be the next Google. They have partnered with Bing and Skype.

Back in the day, that idea would have belonged to the corporation and he might not even have received a bonus. They said "your ideas belong to the corporation." Well not anymore!

So, Is It Worth It?
That's a natural question, and the answer is a resounding, YES!

Our teenage paparazzo earns $500 to $2000 for each picture he captures that is used by his organization. It's no wonder his mother is one of his biggest supporters.

Imagine making that kind of money in today's economy for having that much fun.

By the way, Austin is not alone. There are several teenage paps around he's just the one the HBO movie focuses on.

Would I see the movie, you bet. Based on what I saw in my hotel room it's a great documentary.

So how about you? Please share your comments and tell me what you think of this new emerging talent, the teenage paparazzo.

Third Grade Students Learn Blogging

2010-09-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

It always amazes me when speaking with a Baby Boomer business owner, that they eschew the social media tools and platforms as too time consuming.

They say "I don't have time for that and don't see the value in it."

I say, "the train's pulling out of the station, you can get on it, or be left behind."

They sometimes find that annoying, but remain professional. I can see it their faces and in their manner. Perhaps the video below will demonstrate to them how fast the train is moving.

Here's another Generational Difference in the Age of Social Media

Students in the Third Grade are bloggers

The students in the video are bloggers and I love it. Now they have a new medium to share their thoughts about the books they read.

Like the Gen Y cohort before them, a tool is simply that, something to get a job done.

As a speaker I bring PowerPoint presentations to the seminar but often leave the screen blank, as I know many audience members used PowerPoint in the first grade. They are not impressed and can probably do a slicker one in no time flat. What they seek is experience and knowledge transfer.

Do you Blog? If not, why not?

When students begin using a tool at this age, it means it is an integral part of our social communication.

You should have a blog. There's no reason to not have one. It provides a platform to share your thoughts and ideas. It is a business necessity.

If you do not have a blog or don't know where to start, send an email to Yvonne at YvonneFBrown.com and I will help you get one started. It's quick and easy to do. You'll be blogging in no time flat!

How will this affect the younger generation?

Now I pose this question to you: What do you think about this? Is the third grade too soon to have students writing blogs?

Helicopter Parents Micromanage A New Generation

2010-09-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

Helicopter Parents continue to micromanage their children while focusing on their own needs rather than the needs of their children. One parent moved into her daughter's dorm and slept there for four days until the room-mate kicked her out. Check out the video below to see what I mean.

While this has been going on for many years, it appears to be getting out of hand. The net result is a workforce unable to make decisions or problem solve.

Yes, the new workforce is highly educated. Many join the employment ranks with an MBA in hand but without the ability to make decisions or problem solve.

Very good reasons
I understand the pain of pushing your little bird out of the next and the psychological effects on you as a parent. I too had separation anxiety when my son Charles transitioned into adulthood. An empty nest feels, well, empty.

It is a necessary component of parenthood though, because in order for your children to be successful in life, they must learn self-reliance. Consider what would happen if something happened to you, how would they survive?

I've experienced it in my seminars
I've seen the results of micromanaged young adults in my seminars. When presented with a case study to generate ideas and find business solutions the respond with a blank stare. They really don't know where to start.

Now, if they are presented with a group of ideas, they can take the ball and hit it out of the park. Coming up with their own ideas is difficult and I blame it on their parents.

Here's why, when parents consistently make decisions for their adult children, these young adults miss the opportunity to learn self-reliance and problem solving skills.

My message to College Students
It's time for you to step up and take responsibility for your own actions. That's why I am pleased to see you asking Mom and Dad to take a hike in the video. I recommend you tell your parents:

"Drop me off at school and leave. I'll be fine. I'll learn how to take care of myself. Then after graduation I will more prepared to go out into the world and make my own way. I promise, I will make you proud of me."

It will be difficult for many of your parents to let go, as their intentions are good. They want to take care of you. But you need to take control of your own life now to ensure your future success.

The reporter in the story shared a little video from his own son requesting "Mom, Dad, It's time to let go." Good for you, that's the first step of growing up and taking responsibility for yourself.

Your comments are welcome. Please share your thoughts or experiences with this. I'd love to hear from you.

Beloit College Mindset List for 2014 Misses the Mark

2010-08-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

Texting During Class

The Beloit mindset list for the class of 2014 was just released and it's pretty interesting.

Response to the Beloit Mindset List was immediate and mostly negative. There's a lot of push back on the items listed.

On NPR the response was instantaneous. The writer particularly takes exception to several items on the 75 item list especially #58, "Beethoven has always been a good name for a dog."

I'm with you Linda Holmes, especially regarding the opening section about Benny Hill.

I for one find item #73 "Silicone breast implants have always been regulated" especially of interest since they seem to be everywhere these days. To many college students, getting implants are equal to new shoes or a backpack for school. It's nothing more than an accessory.

Some things missing from the list include more serious topics such as the aspirations for the class of 2014.

While previous generations aspired to being a doctor or the President of the United States, today's graduate dreams of being a celebrity.

Getting hired for a "Reality Show" is most highly favored.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the path to success in life for the Class of 2014 is more likely to be:

Get a sex tape
Get exposure
Get a reality show
Get famous

Just watch Baby Boomer Laurence Fishbourne squirm in recent news about his shameless daughter.

At Boston.com they selected their 10 favorite items on the Beloit College List including the ever popular, "they don't need wristwatch and find email antiquated." Text them, or be ignored. It's your choice.


I'd rather text than talk

In a recent class I noticed a Gen Y student responding to a text using one hand and her thumb moved so fast it made me chuckle.

I think the writers of the Beloit College Mindset List for the Class of 2014 made an incomplete list. What do you think of their list and what would you add to it?

Finding Work the Social Media Way - Use Creativity

2010-07-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

Let's take a look at how it works

As the economy slowly picks up, job seekers are using more creative means of finding a new position. Thinking outside the box can put you in front of the right people, the ones who have the authority to bring you on board.

Traditional methods no longer work

One must design a specific plan of attack and work it like no other. In one of my previous blog posts, I shared the strategy of one job seeker who created a video demonstrating the company's product on himself.

In that same blog post, a Baby Boomer created a mock interview video including a unique means of presenting his resume to his potential employer.

Create your own fantastic opportunity

Finding a job in a tough economy requires standing your previous strategy on its head. Posting resumes no longer work, simply using sites like LinkedIn are single threaded means to get hired.

As this video shows, using Social Media strategically can get you an interview with the CEO. Done correctly, the turn around time for your "in person" interview could be just a few keystrokes away.

3 Keys To Facebook's Success - Mark Zuckerberg

2010-07-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg share's his views on how to be successful.

Facebook is on the brink of 500 million users and people are signing up every day. This is one site where multi-generations at a global level connect and communicate on a daily basis. Cross-generational sharing and learning is seamless.

Millennials in the Workplace - Great Expectations

2010-06-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

"I love flashmobs or commercials that talk about concepts rather than products; both are a refreshing change to marketing and make me feel like I'm part of something by engaging me rather than inundating me." - Mia, age 24

They are not like previous generations. The communicate differently and view work through their own unique lens.

They are the Millennials in your workplace.

They want shared responsibility & flattened leadership
Previous generations respected the corporate hierarchy and wouldn't dream of doing end runs around their personal manager. Millennials think nothing of sending the CEO an email to share their ideas directly with the person in charge.

They don't understand why this is an issue. In fact, they will call senior staff by their first name on day one.

"That's his name isn't it?"

Managing Millennials
The 7 minute video below shows Millennials in action at work.

Generation Save
According to the Chicago Tribune, in a recent survey by Microsoft Inc., titled "Millennials in Financial Services" conducted by KRC Research in Washington, DC,

"Of the estimated 80 million Millennials in the workplace, only half report they are currently planning to invest in the stock market, savings accounts, or 401(k)s" because they have less trust in banking and investment firms since the bailouts of AIG, and global banks a year ago."

Millennials in the survey believe that the U.S. financial industry is out of touch with the way they would like to communicate with their financial institutions.

What is your company's approach?
As you can see from the video and the survey cited, Millennials in your workplace have great expectations of their corporations and their career. They are glad to share it with you and are not averse to telling you exactly what their expectations are.

What approach is your company taking to accommodate the Millennials? Have you even considered this aspect in your recruitment techniques? Your comments are welcome.

Lessons Learned on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice

2010-05-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

Celebrity Apprentice is finally over and we have a winner. The Donald promises that the next Apprentice show will again feature regular people instead of celebrities. I think that's a good thing. Yes, I know it ended a week ago, but I wanted to let the idea for this post marinate before I wrote it. I wanted to ensure I captured the communication styles.

One of the interesting things that caused me to watch the show this season is the mixed generation of the teams.   Unlike previous versions of the show, this season the communication demonstrated (for me) a vivid disconnect between the generations.

Here are a few of my observations:

4/18/10
I'm getting a kick out of the generational disconnect Cyndi Lauper and Maria Kanellis is having during their communication. "I watched you and I listened to you 'when I was growing up' and you hurt my feelings" Maria says. The interesting thing is they are talking AT each other and processing what each hears through their own generational filter. This is a difficult situation for both of them.

At one point during the project a young artist is made up for the photo shoot and the makeup artist tells Lauper; "I air brushed her"

Cyndi Lauper "YOU AIRBRUSHED HER?!" You spray pained this kid? She's 25, you don’t spray paint a kid. You spray the old buzzards, not the kids."

Maria says "Cyndi thinks she's right and everybody else is stupid.

Sharon Osborne says "This is how Cyndi and I make our living. This is what we do professionally and we've both done extremely well out of it. So yes, she's going to ask me my opinion over all the girls. It's just the way it is. It's not about you, you, it's about the task."

Cyndi wants her to have a look like Bridgette Bardot. More generational disconnect. (As I observe I wonder if Maria even knows who Bridgette Bardot is).

They don't feel any respect from Cyndi. They feel like she treats them like two turnips who just fell of the truck.

Maria '"Think about what you can say" - for the media training portion of the challenge.

The guys are also having communication disconnects. They find it incredulous that Rod Blagojevich can't even turn on the computer. "this is a man who was Governor of the State of Illinois" one of them mutters. Yes, some boomers who are not computer savvy but this is ridiculous!

Maria whines and pouts all through the photo shoot task about how she's been a model, etc. etc. BUT this is a missed opportunity for her. She could have used the time to learn from an experienced pro. Thirty years of experience for crying out loud. Instead she's jealous and whining.   She could have learned a lot from Cyndi. Instead, she tunes Cyndi out.

IN THE BOARDROOM

Maria: " The vision of my childhood idol is being ruined"

Cyndi: "I'll send you a picture and you can throw darts at it."

Maria: "Cyndi treated me like a child. So I got defensive. She's gone from Girls Just Want To Have Fun to girls just want to be mean."

Donald: "Do you think she was mean?"

Maria: "She was mean."

In the end the Women won. So Cyndi must have done something right! Vindication! Yes!

May 2nd show

Cyndi Lauper is still caught in the generational communication disconnect with two of her female teammates. The project manager Summer talks down to her and Lauper walks out muttering "I'm not in high school anymore."

Then while she is working on her task the project manager comes in and crosses out what she wrote and her tone is not a friendly one.

Later on as I watch them "working" in a room to create their 30 second jingle, I notice that Cyndi Lauper has shut down. She is following instructions and being quiet. The unfortunate result is that only two of the four team members are working on the task. This is due to the fact that they have also alienated the male member of the team. He too has shut down.

Soon Cyndi remarks "I'm on the girls don’t have any fun" team.

Truth is Cyndi is creative and they are more corporate. This is another communication style disconnect as part of the team is very serious while the other wants to have fun with the creative process.

Watching the team dynamics of both Tenacity and Rock Solid is truly a lesson in the creative process, communication styles and generational differences.

After Maria grabs a piece of Curtis' pizza for Bret Michaels, Curtis is angry and pouting. This sparks a remark from Sharon Osborne "A 33 year old young guy thinks he's so HOT! That's a put off for me and it's like "God bless you kid, but I've got nothing to say to you." Later she tells Trump he's too smug for her and she doesn't like him.

In the van on the way to the presentation Holly Robinson Peete had the nerve to tell CYNDI LAUPER "it's all about live performing" - she didn't want Cyndi to sing the jingle.

Cyndi's response "You know, I can do live performances because I do it for a living."

These young people are amazingly disrespectful to Cyndi Lauper. It's truly appalling the way they speak down to her. I realize this is the Celebrity Apprentice and Trump encourages them to do awful things in order to win, but people's personalities revel themselves in times of stress.

They asked Cyndi NOT to sing live because she might miss her cue.

Team member, Curtis, couldn't believe it and said "You've got to use a Cyndi Lauper voice it's unique." He thinks it's a mistake not to use her.

In the end, the executives favorite part of the commercial is Cyndi singing.

Bottom line, the team lost so the project manager was fired. I wonder if the result would have been different had the project manager communicated better with Cyndi and Curtis (who are both still there). She essentially shut down the creativity of two of her people and ultimately paid the price.

Communication skills are key if one is to succeed both personally and professionally.

The Winner

Ultimately, the Celebrity Apprentice winner, was Brett Michaels. This was a surprise as his communication style was out there. First of all he is a Gen X, second of all, his creative style is closer to Cyndi Lauper's which is talkative and fun, third he thinks outside of the box.    Both are nonconformists with a non-corporate style of communicating. Turn them loose and ask them to be creative and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Lesson Learned

When emotional outbursts and communication disconnects happen with your team, don't assume it's any one thing. It could be a combination of personalities, generations, management styles, listening styles, or communication styles.

This season of Celebrity Apprentice had an interesting mix of generations, communication styles, management styles (creative vs. corporate) and reactions to stress.

Donald Trump was the puppet master whose leadership style leaves a lot to be desired. He seems to revel in the stress he places on the actors, but I wonder how he would behave if that level of stress were placed on him. I have a feeling, it wouldn't be pretty.

Using Twitter to Find Your Next Job - Learn how to find the Decision Makers Quickly

2010-05-06T07:12:00.000-07:00

This video demonstrates how easy it is to find a job using Twitter.

I recently attended a face to face networking event with a group from LinkedIn in Chicago and was surprised when some attendees told me they were "old school" and weren't interested in sites like Twitter.

They had joined LinkedIn because it is known as a professional social network but viewed Facebook and Twitter as time wasters. Many of them are job seekers and I hope they see this post as it will help them to realize the power of Twitter as well.

In this video one person shares how he was able to connect with decision makers and get hired not once but twice using Twitter.

I encourage you to watch this video and learn another way to use Social Media to make powerful connections. In today's world knowledge is power only if you use it.

I would love to hear your comments on this.

A new Generational Difference in Networking & Job Seeking

2010-03-09T15:31:00.000-08:00

Recently I shared with you the new video resumes used by more than one generation. The method changed how recruiters view potential candidates and demonstrated the lengths to which the jobless will go to stand out from the crowd and be the one selected for a position.

Participants uploaded their resumes and other relevant documents.

Here is another example of a market differentiator that did not exist just a few years ago.

Networking with your Avatar

Now this is the way to go eh? Teleport into the venue and experience the things you can only do in Second Life.

The interesting thing to me is that More than 70 people registered from all over the US as well as from Canada, the UK, France, Spain, and Hong Kong. And they probably did it in their pajamas.

Part of the fun of this networking event is the presenters are able to use their PowerPoint presentations, or not, as they preferred. LinkedIn profiles are also featured. What are you doing with your LinkedIn profile? How comprehensive is it?

Check it out and share your thoughts. I would love to hear what you think of this medium both for networking and for job seeking.

Oh How College Has Changed - New MBA Program Demonstrates Generational Difference

2010-03-01T19:57:00.000-08:00

When traditionalist women were of college age, they were not allowed to attend institutes of higher learning. Some wanted to, but like having their own patents, credit cards, or the right to vote, it simply wasn't allowed. Women fought long and hard and eventually were granted these rights. Today the number of women attending college is greater than the number of men seeking higher education.

The Baby Boomer generation also has a small percentage of college graduates. Most boomers, both male and female learned their skills on the job.

They grew into their position. Many received promotions to the management ranks as "home grown" senior ranking members in their industry.

Perhaps that is why they are so committed to their children's education.

Generation X, the "latch key kids" knew what they wanted and an even greater number of them than the boomers are college graduates.

They are college educated employees highly skilled in technology and committed to their careers and their personal life.

Many are married with children or are thinking of taking this step as they note that time is skipping along and it's time to buckle down.

Generation Y is one of the most well educated groups in the workforce. They have a different take on college education and many entered the workforce with their MBAs and a Plan. They expect to climb the corporate ladder rapidly. Some enter the company with their business plan for the change they want to see in the organizaitons they join.

If they are not promoted within two years they bail, quit, move back home. Whatever it takes, they show their displeasure with the corporate decisions by skating away.

I found it interesting when one of their college courses was a study of Drew Barrymore's life.

Drew was in her twenties at the time. Hardly enough life to study in my estimation. Yes, they received college credits for this class.

Times change and there's always a new generation on the horizon with their own unique needs, and generational differences, that demand to be met.

The digital generation barely speak to each other. They have lost the crucial skill of face to face communication. Their spelling and writing skills are in the toilet due to increased time talking with their thumbs. Even when sitting or walking together other they use digital devices to communicate with each other.

It is the age of Social Media.

So it was no surprize to learn today that Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) has announced plans to offer a new MBA specialization in Social Media Marketing.

The new program will allow students to study Web 2.0 concepts like microblogging and podcasting, and adapt these new ideas to existing business plans. The MBA in Social Media Marketing will be offered both online, and at seven campuses. You can learn more about it here.

This confirms that the ubiquitous social media is here to stay and today's generation is gearing up to take advantage of everything it has to offer.

What do you think of this new MBA? Would you like to have one, to teach one of the classes, or to hire one of the graduates? Click below to leave your comments.

Using Video Resume is a Generational Difference in Personal Marketing

2010-02-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

Whether you are a recruiter or a job hunter today's job market is a stressful one. Job hunters are hard pressed to stand out in a sea of resumes so that they are the ones selected for an open position.

One recruiting manager informs me that his staff has gone from receiving 2000 resumes a day to 40,000 per day. It is difficult to keep up with the high volume of people seeking employement and using the internet to post their resumes for open positions. It is no wonder then that job hunters have found a novel way to find a job, the YouTube video.

Witness HireMeHeadblade:

Eric Romer created a video resume, posted it to YouTube, and sent the link along with his resume to the hiring manager.

He heard about a marketing manager job at razor company HeadBlade via Twitter and decided to set up a blog called “Hire Me, HeadBlade,” where he included a YouTube video of himself shaving his head with the company’s product. “I got a response within 24 hours, and the founder/CEO flew me out to interview less than a week later,” said Romer.    He got the job.

Boomers do it too
Louie Bernstein, age 57 created a video resume as well. He wrote the script and had his son play the role of the interviewer.

While he has not yet had an interview, his video has been viewed 167 times.

He also posted his resume to YouTube

Still somewhat traditional
One job candidate created a video that included why he wanted to work at the company. The recruiter was impressed by the research and work the candidate had done in preparation of the interview.

What this means for job seekers
In the age of Social Media setting yourself apart from the competition means you must be creative in ways that didn't exist before.    It also changes the game as the recruiter is no longer simply viewing your experience, knowledge, and credentials.  With video resumes they can see your age, weight, race, and more.

This can put some people at a disadvantage and knock them out of the running for a job opportunity right out of the gate. Before the age of social media, recruiters examined a piece of paper and selected candidate based on skills and credentials. Video resumes changes that.

What do you think about video resumes? Please share your comments here about this new change for job candidates.

Generational Differences in the Church Causes Conflict

2010-01-27T08:45:00.000-08:00

An article about generational differences in the church caught my eye recently. It seems that the young pastor's communication style is causing disconnect with the older members of the congregation.

The question posed was "Our church just hired a pastor who is young enough to be the child of many members. His language about 'the emerging church', 'post modernism' and 'interfaith dialogue' distresses older members."

The result is unhappy constituents in the church. The communication style and words used by the young pastor is causing sparks to fly and a disconnect between the generations. Older members have trouble understanding what he means by "the emerging church" and the terms he uses makes them turn away from his sermons.

Michael Clingenpeel, pastor of River Road Church believes that the young pastor is responsible for the words he uses to encourage change.

I believe this is a continuation of the ubiquitous generational conflict we all face. Regardless of the industry, people of different generations have trouble communicating with each other. It is not simply a matter of verbiage. It is a matter of mindset. Yes, people don't like change, but the truth is change is inevitable.

In this instance, the responsibility lies both with the young pastor and his congregation. This is an opportunity to open a dialogue whereby everyone can candidly hold a discussion about their faith.

If the young pastor relents to the older members of the congregation, he might lose the support of the younger generation. They are the future of the church and we need them in order for there to be a congregation going forward.

I say, follow the action of the Pope. On January 23, 2010 Pope Benedict XVI gave a new commandment to priests struggling to get their message across: Go forth and blog.

As a matter of fact the Pople has several blogs and many are right here on blogger. A really good blog by the pope allows the visitor to choose the languge that works for them.

Just google pope: blog and you might be surprised at the quantity of blogs out there.

My point is, the pope has jumped on the social media bandwagon because he realizes that generational differences mean that you must communicate with your constituents the way they expect it. He communicates with his flock using the medium that works for them.

Here is another good pope website. He is on Facebook as well. You go with change and meet the people.

I dare say the young pastor should do the same. Help the congregation to realize the value of varied styles of communication and work with them break down the barriers he currently faces.

Moving from Generation ME to Generation WE

2010-01-11T13:33:00.000-08:00

It's the end of the decade and it's been an interesting one. We went from the "Me Generation" as the baby Boomers called themselves to "Generation ME" as the Gen Ys call themselves.

Generation ME focused on what happens outside of themselves. Everything begins and ends with "ME" - My videos, my Flickr, YouTube which is all about ME, MySpace, and numerous other online means of showing off how wonderful I am.

Admittedly, there were some positive aspects of creating videos for fun, but meaness, bullying and showing off was off the charts this decade. The decaide was filled with incidents where the good samaritans were scarce. If they helped at all, they did so *after* they took a video of the incident.

Book titles bore out the focus on one's self. Books like "Not Everyone Gets a Trophy" and "The Narcissism Epidemic" chronicled the mindset of the new generation and looked for ways to connect with the mindset of the young generation.

Even when alone, some took videos of themselves in various states of undress while debasing themselves. It seemed as though no one knew the word or the emotion called SHAME. The hottest new means of becoming famous was a sex tape, done alone or with others.

Parents joined "REALITY SHOWS" to demonstrate how dysfunctional their families were. This type of 'entertainment' was so popular that one "D-List" couple crashed a White House Party so that they could get on a reality show. Another family pulled a stunt that included implying that their young son was trapped in a balloon that had taken off. After thousands of dollars were spend and hundreds of emergency personnel tried to save the boy, we learned that it was a publicity stunt.

So let's close the decade on a positive note. We learned a lot about networking, connecting, finding and reconnecting and that there's more to life than just ME.

What's to come in this new decade?

Lets commit to making 2010 the beginning of a new decade called the "WE Decade." Let's use the connections we made with Social Media to help each other enter the decade of wonderful possibilities where we come together to create a better decade than the one we just ended.

Let's commit to learning more about each other and communicate better. Like anything else, the decade will be what we made of it. We can use it to synergize our differences, use the best from each generation and forge a union of the minds.

Tiger's Trouble and Generation X Social Existence - Top 7 List

2009-12-21T08:10:00.000-08:00

You would have to live on Mars to miss the media frenzy around the Tiger Woods debacle. For weeks now it's as though nothing else is happening on the Planet. Every day, almost every hour, somewhere in the world, magazines, television, radio shows, blogs and tweets have featured negative news about the golfer in a non-stop image bash.

It's to be expected when golf's version of Mother Theresa, a perfect person with a perfect image, disappoints us. We Americans love to build people up and put them on a pedestal. Our second favorite thing to do is knock them off that pedestal.

Since our third favorite thing is to build them back up again. This is Tiger's savior. We will forgive him eventually, build him up again and return to a new way to worship him.

It is difficult to be perfect. Many try, few are able to. Ghandi and Mother Theresa come to mind as examples of success. But they are from a differnet time. Today's version of the American Dream has changed from when Boomers were Tiger's age. In today's world the path to the American Dream looks like this:

Create a Sex Tape - have someone leak it to the internet and/or the press
Do the TV Program rounds - Take a tour of all media outlets to protect your good name while showing snippets of the video (as allowed)
Get a "Reality" show - Sign with an agency and get yourself a "reality" show where you debase yourself for the pleasure of the public
Paparazzi Chase - Be chased by the paparazzi taking your pictures and asking 'is it true that...' questions
Get drunk at a club - Do this specifically for the sensational value
Complain - Why is this happening to me? I just want to live my life in peace, etc.
Ligitimacy - Now that you're famous, clean up your act, and get a ligitimate job as an actor, singer, rap artist, or dancer

Tiger didn't take this route. He is the Athlete of the Decade. Yes he deserves this title no doubt about it. However, all of us, including Mr. Woods bought into his "Perfect" image. Sorry folks, no one is perfect. It's impossible to maintain. We're all just human beings trying to live our lives and be happy.

In today's social media world it simply isn't possible to do anything and get away with it. Everyone has a cell phone, tiny video camera, and YouTube account. They await any single mis-step and rather than help, they use it for their own celebrity. From YouTube views, to selling it for $$$, most of the younger generation would rather their 15 minutes of fame than to help anyone. Wait, they will help you *after* their 15 minutes of fame.

Tiger's mistresses are cleaning up using this new model of the American Dream. They broadcast in the news that one of them has a Maxim layout. What they fail to mention is that she is NOT being paid. This is a testament to the fact that they would even do it for free if there is exposure in it. Apparently negative exposure is better than no exposure.

What I find difficult to understand is the lack of shame these women have. Infidelity is nothing new, but Boomers and Traditionalist women were ashamed of this type of behavior. This younger generation revels in it. They can't wait to share how disgusting they are. Our new Miss California proved that by debasing herself and video taping it.

Don't get me wrong, I do not condone Tiger's actions. What he did is 'off the hook' as Gen X, Y and Millenials would say. As a wife myself I find it heartbreaking for both him and his wife. But I think he has been hounded enough. He did not kill anyone, he had multiple sexual indiscresions. Awful yes, is a crucifixion necessary no. Enough already. Let's move on to other topics.

Yo, Hello The Google Guys Are Gen Xers - So 'Whatever' at work OK

2009-12-05T17:24:00.000-08:00

Gen X is starting to feel the squeeze. They're stuck between the Boomers and Gen Y and lately, it seems that companies are passing them over for the younger generation.

Book: Understanding and working effectively with

5 Generations in the workplace

Gen X is starting to whine because a recent survey done this year for Deloitte Consulting LLP, found that nearly two-thirds of executives at large companies are most concerned about losing Gen Y employees, while less than half of them have similar concerns about losing Gen Xers.

According to a recent article on MSNBC Generation X is increasingly 'whatever' at work. Their disappointment with their companies grow, especially in light of the fact that they were just beginning to buy into how the system works. They were finally ready to adapt to the process and integrate their work/life balance needs with the corporate needs.   Just then, Gen Y joined in huge numbers and now seem more poised to reap the harvest that Gen X planned for themselves.

It's sad, I know.   But now, Gen X, you know how the Baby Boomers felt when you entered the workforce and pushed them out of their jobs.   To you, Boomers are old. In fact I once had an attendee at one of my seminars say, out loud, in a group of other attendees, "I wish they would just get the hell out of the way already. How am I supposed to get my promotion, if they won't leave?" She was a Gen Xer and she was committed and passionate about her job. She was also frustrated at not getting ahead in her career according to her schedule.

So what if, now Gen Y feels the same way about Gen X?

What if Gen Y, the most highly educated group the country has ever known, is ready for Gen X to 'get the hell out of the way?"

Remember that Gen Y is the group with 'helicopter' parents who told them they deserve the corner office and don't have to start at the bottom.   They enter the workforce expecting to call the CEO by first name on day one and to start at the top. Well there's only one way that can happen and that's if Gen X get's passed over when the Boomers retire.

Oh yeah, with the economy in the toilet, Boomers are opting to retire later. So I guess the next group we can expect to complain is the Gen Yers, when they are passed over for the Millenials, who have already entered the workforce.

The Greatest Generation of Texters and Networkers

2009-11-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

During my seminars, I often recommend that those who text should get one in before we start. I realize they are unable to help themselves. It's an addiction and they will do it anyway. Sometimes during my Generational Diversity programs attendees are incredulous that Gen Y and Gen M won't attend meetings or respond to email.

I explain that they are texters and to communicate with them one must also text. A perfect example is bourne out by this article about a 17 year old who was texting while being reprimanded for texting.

So what do you think? How will the workforce be changed when these people join it a year from now? Will they be able to put down the devices long enough to get work done? Will they participate in meetings or text under the table the whole time?

It's true they are more networked than ever, but face to face is another issue. Just look at the picture above and consider how networked they are.

Read the full article here

Gen Y Provides Their Perspective on 'Why" They Think This Way

2009-10-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

Gen Y shares their perspective on the reasons why they are the way they are. It would help them greatly if they read a history book. It would also be valuable for them to share some solutions rather than just the problems.

We're listening Gen Y - What do YOU recommend?

I Hate Conflict but ... I Want Coaching

2009-09-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

Gen Y hates conflict and will do anything to avoid it. Listen as a Gen Y manager tries to get the point across.

Face to Face Communication is So Outdated

2009-08-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

The world is a big place and I want to talk to everyone. I don't understand why we have to meet face to face. What a complete waste of time. Yeah I get it, to you getting the eyeballs means looking into my eyes. You need to understand that to me eyeballs mean who's reading my blog, following me on Twitter and friending me on Facebook.

Face to face is totally outdated. With My Space, Twitter, Facebook and my other online connections I can talk to people on every continent.

And I can do it in my pajamas.

Barefoot or naked.

While eating my bowl of cereal.

Look, if you want to talk to me, you have to do it on my terms. Meet me and communicate with me the way I want to. If you decide not to learn social media or participate in it, then don't blame me for not connecting. You know what I want, why not just give it to me?