Stop Trashing Millennials Already 🙄!

(Four-Minute Read) This GenXer is tired of hearing Boomers trashing Millennials. I for one have found Millennials to be great to work with.

Can you believe Millennials began entering the workplace a quarter-century ago?!

Now they’re taking over, and frankly I’m delighted.

To be clear, I don't believe “Generations" are really a thing, but generationism sure is.

Let’s tackle 10 observations and stereotypes about millennials. Plus a bonus 11th observations about global millennials.

1. Millennials are Entitled. 

   • Umm, A: It's the Boomers who act entitled. Ask anybody in retail or customer service. 

   • And Two: Even if they were, why shouldn’t they be? "Entitlement" could be loosely defined as the feeling that you're owed something intrinsically. I agree with that. Yeah, we humans have to earn respect--no argument there. But there's a certain baseline of dignity, courtesy and deference due to every single human, before they ever lift a finger to earn their keep. The higher the baseline the better for all. More power to ya, says me.

   • Expectation ≠ Entitlement. What’s wrong with expecting more from your employer? Your professor? Your peers? I think that's what's really going on. Old people misreading high expectations as entitlement. They ain't the same thing.

   • Higher expectations keep everyone on their toes. Millennials have forced me--and many of my colleagues--to revise our management approach--for the better.

     • By the way, this isn't just a Millennial thing. Old people have been griping about young people for thousands of years.

2. Millennials Expect Validation for Every Little Thing they Do. 

   • A: Not their fault. Participation awards weren't their invention, were they? What did anyone expect?

   • And Two: Why not? OK, maybe it was a little over the top in the early days, when I first started working with Millennials, but you know what? Pats on the back are too few and far between, if you ask me.

   • Attaboy-to-Critique Ratio. Thanks to millennials I’ve come to believe the Attaboy-to-Critique Ratio should be 2:1, maybe even 3:1. Why don’t you give it a try? I bet the millennials can pick it up faster than you can.  (Story continues below; read to the end: we're going to have fun with AI by asking about millennials and seeing if any of it matches up with what I wrote.)

3. The World is their Oyster.

   • A: Millennials are less apt to confine their lifestyles to the fifteen-minute radius around the neighborhood they grew up in. And they’re far less apt to regard people who move abroad as unpatriotic. Remote work and the digital nomad lifestyle are big features of the Millennial generation. Travel while you work/work while you travel has an extraordinary appeal. Millennials travel more than any previous generation (although I haven't found any studies that distinguish war and displacement, which isn’t exactly "seeing the world"). As a consequence, Millennials are far more likely to view the world beyond the borders of their birth country as their stomping ground.

   • And 2: As another consequence, Millennials probably have a better appreciation for other cultures than previous generations, siloed within the patriotism and exceptionalism of their birth countries.

4. Millennials Tend to Reason from First Principles.

   • A: Their obsession with technology (another bogus stereotype--Boomers are just as obsessed) has resulted in a higher likelihood to problem-solve using logical if-then statements.

   • And Two: Remember the computer science law of garbage-in-garbage-out? Well, Millennials tend to run with that principle and apply it beyond the realm of computer science. (Stay tuned: in a future newsletter issue I call BS on some of these jokers from the new billionaire class claiming that they reason from first principles.)

5. Millennials Question Everything, including inflation and central banking.

   • A: Because millennials are right now experiencing inflation pretty much for the first time, they're asking questions about its cause. And it's a lot harder to pull the wool over millennials’ eyes than it was boomers.

   • And 2: Older generations asked questions, too; they just allowed themselves to be smacked down so many times that they stopped.

   • Now we just need to sit back and watch: will Millennials and GenZ realize how much money can be made off of central banking and inflation, and hack their way into the halls of power? Or will their desire that work have meaning/impact cause them to hack out of existence all these old-world scams?

   • All the questioning: it's still not enough. Millennials, and especially GenZ and GenAlpha, need to question even more: is saddling developing countries with debt really the best way to help them? Does inflation really bring about price stability? Should the Federal Reserve exist?

6. Millennials are way more inclusive.

   • A: Millennials don’t bat an eye when coworkers wanna let their freak flag fly.

   • And 2: If anybody's keeping racism alive in the workplace, it certainly ain't Millennials.

7. Millennials don’t vote. 

   • A: Good! That just means their BS detectors are functioning. Voting is a copout, anyway. I voted; therefore I did my civic duty. That’s all it takes to be a responsible participant in society nowadays? Riiight 🤮🤮🤮.

   • And Two: They don’t labor under the illusion of the fully informed voter. The idea that anyone can be fully informed about any topic--they're just not buying it. Millennials are far more likely to vote with their dollars and with their feet. Perhaps we oughtta follow their lead.

8. Millennials are job-hoppers. 

   • A: Not true. Many millennials have been at my company for 10, 15, even 20 years. 

   • And Two: Why shouldn’t they job-hop? After all, how did all that loyalty work out for their parents? Grandparents? Changing jobs is simply another example of voting with one's feet. (All that being said, I do round-file some resumes that indicate too many job changes.)

9. Millennials are lazy. 

   • A: Just because they found a faster, smarter way, doesn’t mean they’re lazy. Ever heard of the law of the disutility of labor? Good for them.

   • And Two: Just because they don’t let work consume them, doesn’t mean they don’t care.

10. Millennials have no use for older colleagues. 

    • A: I just haven’t experienced this. 

    • And Two: Sure, they go to their peers first–they’ve probably already hacked the problem! We GenXers did the same thing. I'll bet you boomers did too; you just have a selective memory about it.

11. Second- and Third-World Millennials are parents now, and they are far less likely to be hardliners.

    • A: Take Iran for example. What did we learn from the Mahsa Amini protests? We learned that Millennial dads don't want their daughters to live in a world of deadly crackdowns by morality police. Millennial brothers don't want that life for their sisters. Millennials husbands don’t want that for their wives.

    • And 2: Since I moved to Canada I have observed that Millennials from other countries are far less likely to perpetuate the more oppressive and misogynistic features of their cultural traditions. There are exceptions, of course, but my magic eight ball tells me it's getting harder and harder for despotic regimes and fundamentalist religions to keep their thumbs on younger generations.

Thanks for reading.

As promised, I asked ChatGPT "What are 10 things we can learn from millennials?" Here was its verbatim answer:

(Begin AI Content) Certainly! Here are 10 things we can learn from millennials:

1. Tech-Savviness: Millennials are often adept at using technology for various tasks, from communication to problem-solving. Learning from them can help older generations adapt to the digital world more effectively.

2. Work-Life Balance: Millennials prioritize work-life balance, valuing experiences and personal time as much as professional success. This mindset can teach others the importance of maintaining a healthy equilibrium between work and personal life.

3. Social Consciousness: Millennials tend to be socially conscious and advocate for causes they believe in, such as environmental sustainability, diversity, and social justice. Learning from their activism can inspire others to become more socially aware and engaged.

4. Entrepreneurial Spirit: Many millennials are entrepreneurial, seeking opportunities to create their own paths and pursue their passions. Embracing their entrepreneurial spirit can encourage innovation and risk-taking in other generations.

5. Embracing Diversity: Millennials embrace diversity and inclusivity, valuing different perspectives and experiences. Learning from their openness can foster greater acceptance and understanding among people of all ages.

6. Flexibility and Adaptability: Millennials are known for their ability to adapt to change quickly, whether it's in the workplace or in their personal lives. Their flexibility can teach others the importance of resilience and adaptability in navigating an ever-changing world.

7. Lifelong Learning: Millennials value continuous learning and self-improvement, often seeking out new skills and knowledge throughout their lives. Embracing a mindset of lifelong learning can help people of all ages stay relevant and adaptable in a rapidly evolving society.

8. Focus on Experiences Over Possessions: Millennials prioritize experiences and memories over material possessions, preferring to spend their money on travel, entertainment, and meaningful experiences. Learning from their mindset can shift priorities towards experiences that bring lasting joy and fulfillment.

9. Remote Work and Digital Nomadism: With the rise of remote work and digital nomadism, millennials have embraced flexible work arrangements that allow them to work from anywhere in the world. Learning from their experiences can help other generations adapt to remote work and take advantage of the opportunities it offers.

10. Mental Health Awareness: Millennials are more open about mental health issues and prioritize self-care and mental well-being. Learning from their emphasis on mental health can help break down stigma and encourage others to prioritize their own mental well-being.

These are just a few examples of the valuable lessons we can learn from millennials. Their unique perspectives and experiences offer insights that can benefit people of all ages.(End of AI Content)

Wow. Not bad, ChatGPT! You did that in about three seconds; it took me four hours!

Sincerely,

Gene