The misconception about millennials

[john.quinn]

Don't let Alex fool you... he's a Millennial... I was gonna say in GenX clothes, but no... even Millennial clothes.

So I'm gonna go esoteric... GenX is the "buffer" between the Baby Boomers and Millennials.

And it really is this simple: Baby Boomers were about "Service." Serve your country, serve your family, be "of" service. Serving was the thing, the way to enlightenment.

Many in GenX took the same mantra, maybe a bit softer. Somewhere in GenX was introduced this notion of "happiness." That being happy/fulfilled was the way to enlightenment. GenX still toes this line... knowing that somewhere between Service and Happiness, you find enlightenment.

Millennials jump right to happiness... that the way to enlightenment involves strictly following what makes you feel good.

I make absolutely NO JUDGEMENTS. I don't know the way to enlightenment any more than anybody else... I just hope we all end up there in the end.

But if I have to choose, I'm gonna say Service has rewards the pure pursuit of happiness cannot find. But I'm a GenX... of course I'd think that way

 

[Alex Snyder]

↑ one of the whiney ones I was referring to earlier

 

[john.quinn]

 

[John.H]

Just another millennial chiming in here.

I think the biggest problem in our generation is a lack of accountability. Which stems directly from influence, and an overall shift in perception of what is normal and what isn't. Not to say that we're not at fault, because we can be. But a person is TRULY a product of their environment.

Due to lax parenting styles, what was once broadly considered discipline which is now considered abuse, and an overall desire to gratify so instantaneously. We've fueled the MOST unproductive, unaccountable, terribly mannered, uneducated, immoral, unfaithful, unhappy, unwise, irrational, lustful, and distasteful humans to ever exist.

Truly, our generation may be one of the most lost generations there ever was. With heavy drug/alcohol use no longer an abnormality, marriage becoming less appealing and incredibly unfaithful, conflict and drama preferred over resolve and happiness, I'm here to say there's something missing.. And that's true happiness and contentedness - not to be confused with being complacent.

I don't know about you, but I feel like a 40 year old in a 24 year old body. For a decade I've felt so displaced from my peers, almost as if I never belonged in this generation. I do so much self reflection, we discovered a black hole today:

 

[Alexander Lau]

Just another millennial chiming in here.

I think the biggest problem in our generation is a lack of accountability. Which stems directly from influence, and an overall shift in perception of what is normal and what isn't. Not to say that we're not at fault, because we can be. But a person is TRULY a product of their environment.

Due to lax parenting styles, what was once broadly considered discipline which is now considered abuse, and an overall desire to gratify so instantaneously. We've fueled the MOST unproductive, unaccountable, terribly mannered, uneducated, immoral, unfaithful, unhappy, unwise, irrational, lustful, and distasteful humans to ever exist.

Truly, our generation may be one of the most lost generations there ever was. With heavy drug/alcohol use no longer an abnormality, marriage becoming less appealing and incredibly unfaithful, conflict and drama preferred over resolve and happiness, I'm here to say there's something missing.. And that's true happiness and contentedness - not to be confused with being complacent.

I don't know about you, but I feel like a 40 year old in a 24 year old body. For a decade I've felt so displaced from my peers, almost as if I never belonged in this generation. I do so much self reflection, we discovered a black hole today:

You ABSOLUTELY nailed it bro. Eloquently stated indeed!

 

[craigh]

EDIT BY MODERATOR: political posts Alex. It is against DealerRefresh rules you jackass. You made those damn rules dummy.

 

[craigh]

I do so much self reflection, we discovered a black hole today:

Ends up it was a Millennial that figured out how to capture this black hole.
It's like I always say: Millennials are the golden standard of excellence in 2019.

 

[EmilyDA]

Just another millennial chiming in here.

I think the biggest problem in our generation is a lack of accountability. Which stems directly from influence, and an overall shift in perception of what is normal and what isn't. Not to say that we're not at fault, because we can be. But a person is TRULY a product of their environment.

Due to lax parenting styles, what was once broadly considered discipline which is now considered abuse, and an overall desire to gratify so instantaneously. We've fueled the MOST unproductive, unaccountable, terribly mannered, uneducated, immoral, unfaithful, unhappy, unwise, irrational, lustful, and distasteful humans to ever exist.

Truly, our generation may be one of the most lost generations there ever was. With heavy drug/alcohol use no longer an abnormality, marriage becoming less appealing and incredibly unfaithful, conflict and drama preferred over resolve and happiness, I'm here to say there's something missing.. And that's true happiness and contentedness - not to be confused with being complacent.

I don't know about you, but I feel like a 40 year old in a 24 year old body. For a decade I've felt so displaced from my peers, almost as if I never belonged in this generation. I do so much self reflection, we discovered a black hole today:

Heard someone once say "We're not the generation that wanted a trophy for participation, we're the generation whose parents demanded we get one."

I agree with how you put this, John! There's an element of "those lousy kids" with every new generation, but does it seem like it's especially prominent with ours? (Maybe it just seems that way since I am a Millennial.) Lately, every live broadcast or article topic seems to be centered around how we can't or won't do X, Y, or Z. It bothers me that I'm being lumped into a group that absolutely does not represent how I tackle my professional or personal goals.

I'd be interested to hear from others how they've found successful ways to prove the Millennial stereotype wrong in their job roles.

 

[craigh]

Heard someone once say "We're not the generation that wanted a trophy for participation, we're the generation whose parents demanded we get one."

I love this and I think it's very true. I also think the media has a huge part in this.
So many things like "safe spaces", "everyone gets a prize", socialism, professional protesters, university degree in dance, etc are promoted as if they are widespread millennial things. The reality, as it is with every generation, is that you can't just lump people together because of their age. I have 3 very distinct groups of friends - those with kids, those I work with cars on and those I travel the world with. Not one of those groups is anything like the others and none of them qualify for any of these millennial sterotypes.

What the media loves to do is show you how life is in California and then build biases based on that.

I'd be interested to hear from others how they've found successful ways to prove the Millennial stereotype wrong in their job roles.

• Don't tell people you know what you're doing, show them you know what you're doing
• Communicate better. Write proper emails. Learn to use grammar properly.
• Talk about the future. If you want to make a career out of your job, let them know and ask them what it's going to take to reach your goals. One of the sterotypes of Millennials is that they get promoted by changing jobs. This is one I have personally seen to be true, which means I really appreciate it when an employee is willing to talk openly about how they want to build a future here, not elsewhere.

 

[Alex Snyder]

I'd be interested to hear from others how they've found successful ways to prove the Millennial stereotype wrong in their job roles.

Before the question of whether generations are doing things better/different within the same work environment is asked one should look at the leadership in that work environment and ask a single question:

Is there a clear mission every employee understands? What's the vision? Is it achievable and specific?

From the places I worked (when I worked there):

• Checkered Flag's was to beat the competition in volume while making sure the customer was happy. Do the volume and make the customer happy so that long-term gross will follow.
• Dealer.com's was to beat Cobalt no matter what and that later transitioned into other competitors.
• Dealertrack's.... I don't remember.
• Cox's was to transform the way people buy and own cars. To this day I still don't know what that means to how I should have been doing my job.

If the mission isn't clear I don't know that any employee's performance can truly be judged... even though it always is.