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Gen-Y Gurus: Hit Or Miss?Finally a topic I feel I have some inherent knowledge in. My pal MeggiePoo pointed me to this recent Washington Post profile story on “Generation Y Guru” Anne Loehr. The story talks about Loehr’s on how and why Gen-Y communicates and her thoughts and insights on the topic. Let’s say a couple of people thought she didn’t really hit the mark. Let’s take a look at her “Generation Cheat Sheet” and see what she has down for Gen-Y: Generation Y
Life-Shaping Events
Traits
Overall I found that she was very hit or miss in some of her thoughts, what I really hate hearing about my generation is how pretentious we are and how we come in with a sense of entitlement. As a first generation American I embrace the a culture of hard work and I never expect anything that I’m not going to work for. Well let’s look at another Gen-Y guru, Penelope Trunk. Yes the one I totally think is hot. She has also written on how to handle Gen-Y a few times and has also spoken on the topic: I tend to agree with Trunk and her points, I find myself reading her thoughts and finding myself more enlightened, having my own ah-ha moment. What do my Gen-Y friends think? Do you agree with Loehr? Trunk? Both? None? UPDATE: Thanks for all your opinions, looks like my post caught the eye of a certain columnist whom I think is hot: from: ***********@penelopetrunk.com Sent: Fri 7/17/09 11:08 AM To: p_pho@*********** Hey, Patrick. Thanks for the nice blog post you wrote. It’s fun to read the comments, also. Fun to hear people analyzing their own demographic. It’s so hard to do. Reminds me of how my friends can all tell when I should dump a guy, but it’s really hard for me to see when I should dump him… – Penelope Trunk Oh I think I’m going to swoon. Related posts: 15 comments to Gen-Y Gurus: Hit Or Miss? |
 
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I’m definitely with you, feeling annoyed at being called pretentious and entitled. I would guess the current 40-year-olds thought the same thing of the current 30-year-olds 10 years ago. I think it is a common trait of youth, though common doesn’t mean it applies to everyone. I think this is an interesting topic, but I don’t think any of these people talking about it has done a great job.
I would go into more detail, but it’s late…
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As with all group stereotypes, there will be some characteristics that are correct and others that don’t apply, depending on who you are….rarely are all traits seen in all the people in the group, ya know?
I think it’s the same with the life-changing events too…if you grew up in certain environments you might be more shaped by certain life events than others.
.-= The Northerner´s last blog ..Snippet of Our Conversation =-.
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I think one of the overarching characteristics of our generation is the fact that we are, more than any other generation before us, socially aware. Lots of those other traits feed into and are a product of this awareness: tech-savvy, educated, tolerant. Just the mere fact that we are more aware of life outside our own little bubbles then say our parents means that we inherently are going to care about those things more. I think that one of the downfalls to that awareness/education thing is that we also have higher expectations of ourselves. And the rest of the world has those same expectations. We’re expected to not only finish college, but to get a Master’s or Ph.D. or some other higher degree. We’re expected to contribute professionally in a way previous gens. haven’t necessarily had to. We’re expected to know significantly more, technologically speaking. So I find it incredibly hypocritical when we also get criticized for being pretentious or selfish or narcissitic. Part of the expectations set for us also mean that we are going to have higher expectations of society around us. If that comes off as a sense of entitlement, than it’s an awfully unfair judgement of the vast majority of our generation.
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..priorities =-.
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Twitter: dmbosstone
Melanie: I like Penelope Trunk’s ideas a lot… but then again she’s kinda cute with that accent and all…
The Northerner: Ya I mean in general I think the gurus are on to something…
Rachel: You thinking we naturally but a burden on ourselves because we think everybody is watching?
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I’ve honestly never really thought about any of this. I guess there are some things I agree with and some I don’t. Just because I don’t fit the stereotype to a T doesn’t mean it’s not there. It is. I can see it.
.-= Jaime´s last blog ..I LOVE…Fridays (and a little something extra!) =-.
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I think firstly, no one ever wants to consider themselves pretentious or entitled and it’s difficult to see bad qualities in yourself, not to mention your generation. As I work at a college, I’m dealing with students of this generation on a daily basis. And yes, not all of them are pretentious, or have a sense of entitlement. But. A great many of them are. These ones are spoiled and lazy. They can’t do a darned thing for themselves, and more prudent to this conversation, they don’t have to because their parents are doing it for them. Their confidence comes off as arrogance. They don’t respect anyone or anything. I’m not the only one who experiences this. Our affiliate schools abroad constantly complain about the quality of American student we send abroad.
Now, maybe it’s due to the University where I’m employed. It’s a private college-and there are quite a few students here who don’t need financial aid. Does money breed that attiude, who knows. Though a far cry from my own college experience, I’m sure you could recount as well as I a few pretentious people we may have known, well off or not….
The tech-savvy-ness is completely true, and of course making our world one step closer to becoming just like Farenheit 451. You have to admit, it’s a little sad when students can’t go one class without texting their friends.
Of course, these points could entirely be moot. I’m teetering on the very edge of this generation (born in 1981), so I may identify more with the previous one, who didn’t have all that great of a rep either–Starbucks-drinking slackers, I believe? I guess every generation has it’s good and bad points-but I think instead of denying them, people should embrace them. You are what you are, afterall, and there’s no sense in thinking an entire generation is filled only with good points.
And for the record, I do drink a ton of Starbucks and I’ a complete slacker, who loves the environment, cares about her community and embraces tolerance and diversity. And let’s face it, I was a film major. I’m the definition of pretentious.
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Twitter: dmbosstone
Jamie: No stereotype ever does, but I’m glad you can identify with parts of it because that means they might be close enough. I know I can identify with one or two of the traits.
Devon: Yes. That’s all I’m going to say for you. I think the many pretentious types out there make it hard for ones willing to work to get recognized.
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Well, look at you, all elbow-rubby. I can say “I knew him when.”
.-= lacochran´s last blog ..Sex and death, but not in that order =-.
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Twitter: ajw93
I’m with you Patrick, on the AIDS issue. I’d say it is much more life-changing for Gen-Xers like me, we were the ones coming of age when it was a scary unknown. Now, it’s still scary, but known and pretty well-understood by folks your age.
Right?
Please, don’t make me bail you out this weekend.
.-= ajw_93´s last blog ..Friday Cat Blogging – July 17, 2009 =-.
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Twitter: dmbosstone
Lacochran: I’m just trying to be the hardest working, pretentious, prick I can be.
ajw_93: Hahaha you might need to bail me out if you knew what I was doing this weekend.
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The fact that she answered you? Proves that she is truly Gen-Y (read: social media savvy) conscious.
.-= LiLu´s last blog ..Yes, a Whole Goddamn Post About the Hole in My Shirt =-.
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Twitter: dmbosstone
She is very socially media conscious, her Twitter feed is hilarious.
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