Adventures of a Breach Millennial In A World Of Business DisruptionFirst off, I would like to start a designation of my own. If the term Millennial is going to be thrust upon me, I reserve the right to restore some ownership of the term by referring to myself as a Breach Millennial (BM). One thing about being a Millennial is that you don't get to choose whether you are or not, classification depends upon selection of arbitrarily fluctuating dates and the assertions of a secret society of generational dignitaries. So, Breach Millennial is one who teeters between generational markers, someone like myself who is Gen X and/or Gen Y depending of who is ordaining the categorization. As a Breach Millennialist, I have some life experiences that are more in common with Gen X than I do with Pure Millennials and one hit me rather abruptly as I sat in front of a national chain of Orange Chicken producing fast food restaurants. As a sidenote, for the purposes of this collection of ramblings, the significant distinction between a Breach Millennialist and a Pure Millenialist would be whether one can quote Top Gun...if you don't know what Top Gun is - you are a Pure Millennial. No shame in that. Not having observed or knowing Top Gun, there is shame in that. I grew up in a small town, going to the video store was one of few universe expanding escapes from our slow paced reality. All that separated me from other worlds were several miles which friends and I could usually traverse on bicycles or as we grew older and were allowed further from the bramble, rides with friends. As I entered neared closer to the finale of my primary education experience and teetered into adulthood the portal were non existent as I had my own video store membership and my own motor vehicle. One experience these younger generations, my own four children included, will never have reference for is the trip to the video store where you spend over an hour reading the backs of VHS tapes to decide which 5 movies you will take home for The Weekend Special. These are foundational decision metrics and formative processes that Pure Millennials will have to develop through other mean as movies for them come from a brightly colored boxes stationed outside the Golden Arches or are viewed on their non-movie-screen-sized handheld devices. Where is this story going? Probably nowhere, but you've come this far...let's see what we can do. Back to Orange Chicken...there I was, sitting in my badass minivan, staring at a building - THAT USED TO BE A BLOCKBUSTER (did you hear tones of a Jeff Foxworthy-esque delivery there too? Probably only if you are a BM) but is now a Rice-or-Noodles assembly line and a chain dental service provider. That building used to be filled with multiple copies of varying degrees of cinematic accomplishments, now it's Beef & Broccoli with a side of halitosis. Why did Blockbuster die? Wait, did you just say, "What's Blockbuster?" Well, young PM, that used to be where you picked up your movies. It's hard to explain but they were HUUUUGE. They died because they couldn't see the future. Redbox popped up, and at first it was a luxury because movies were $1 instead of $5 (or more). Hollywood Video disappeared even before Redbox got popular, but there was no way that Blockbuster would falter, they were too big to fail, too entrenched in the culture. And yet it happened, an un-manned video portal with only a few copies of each move played the role of David and shot a industry transforming rock right through the Blockbuster storefront with its thousands of copies of every movie known to humanty, and exploded the bearded head of the video rental giant. Supposedly Redbox and Blockbuster met at one point to discuss merging or working together...hindsight? The video renting Philistines were shocked, but the mediums through which we receive content are constantly changing, and mammoth corporations such as Blockbuster are being disrupted by innovation. If conventional wisdom says, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it," those that live by that philosophy better hope their retirement success isn't anchored to the sinking ship they are toiling their productive years away in. The reality is that everything around us is changing, the only constant is that the rate of change is accelerating. There is a strong possibility that Redbox will face it's Blockbuster moment far sooner than Blockbuster did, not because they aren't smart people but because of acceleration. So what do we do, whether you think you are in a progressive field or know you are in an industry prime for disruption, we all have to keep pace with the music. There are no safe bets, but the best practice is to be engaging in leading the disruption rather than waiting for the tsunami to rip through your efforts. How do we innovate, progress and even disrupt ourselves to keep our teams moving forward? I wish I could take full credit for the next analogy, but I was listening to the Awesome Office Podcast with guest Andres Izquieta, CEO of Four Club and he shared a story about Steve Jobs. Izquieta noted that Steve Job's favorite invention was the Sony Walkman (Pure Millennials who are still reading - Google it) which lead Jobs into creating the iPod (originally released in 2001) and completely disrupted the medium through which the public listened to music while starting a ripple through the music industry itself (another industry that was too HUUUUUGE to be disrupted). Apple made significant waves with designs, marketing, capacity and the availability of a music library at your fingertips. Because of Jobs all those Sony Walkman's were rapidly being distributed to Goodwill or the dump along with the three ring binders full of thousands of dollars worth of compact discs (sorry PM's, I know, no reference). So, on that seventh day, Steve Jobs rested and remained satisfied in his turtle neck perch for the rest of time - right? Nope. Six years later, Apple released the iPhone which now gave you calls, text, camera and music all in one handheld device. Steve Jobs didn't wait for disruption, he disrupted himself and in so doing made his prior success (the iPod) an obsolete vessel. Think of this, disrupt yourself while people are still trying to copy your original innovation and by so doing initiate your own prior success' death. Not all changes and disruptions are as sexy or make as far reaching of an impact, but the acceleration of the system shows no signs of slowing. If you are near retirement, you may have been smart enough to save up and ride out your days enjoying the fruits of your labors with the ones you love most. If you are starting your career, are in its prime or in the post mid-life crisis phase, you have to stay on your toes. What shall we do? I don't have the answer but a few thoughts. 1) Think about your people - what are you doing as an organization to engage the culture, the community and the system of commerce? Do you have people on your team that are ready to face the challenges of the new economy are you empowering them to help you identify and disrupt your organization? Is your team embracing cross generational integration of ideas and collectively working to recognize and battle against entrophy? 2) Think about your processes, what are you doing as an organization that doesn't make sense? Get to work on fixing your own solvable internal problems - don't procrastinate. Small problems can become big ones when thrown in with acceleration. Not all innovations and disruptions are about massive scale or having the greatest idea of all time, there are many thriving businesses who have made a good living with serving niche markets with quality. 3) Think about your position, what is your organization doing that is making a difference in the lives of your customers and the world as a connected system? Al Gore has literally brought the global economy to our fingertips through his invention, don't miss your opportunities to be an agent of the larger picture through engagement in your local communities. It's not always bigger is better, but acceleration requires attention to cultural and marketplace shifts and meeting those challenges. 4) Think about the public that you serve, are you getting feedback from those who are invested in your brand as well as those who are not customers? Both groups can provide you with important data to determine how your products and services are being translated to those who may be willing to spend their hard earned dollars with your organization. 5) Think about the person in the mirror, what are you doing as a leader to identify, embrace and battle the challenges of the marketplace that you compete in? Are you leading by example by developing your knowledge, skills and perspectives? As I was recently challenged by our local group of Young Professionals - Get #INformed. Get #INspired. Get #INvolved. You don't have to start wearing a turtle neck and jeans, but if you think it will help...you're wrong. Reach out and connect with other professionals, together we are stronger. If you're ever in the Eugene, Oregon area - let's get some coffee.
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If you are like me, then you are aware of The Eugene Mission, but do you really understand what they do? That's easy, right? They help homeless people. End of story, thanks for reading. What does helping homeless people look like? If you're like me and you're honest, perhaps helping the homeless isn't your highest priority...maybe the homeless should help themselves...maybe I work hard for my dollars and I don't always think that they should be "wasted" on people who aren't willing to work hard to change their own situation... So, I'm putting it out there - these are some of the thoughts (one's I don't like to admit) but ones that bounced around in my hollow head. If you are better than me and have never thought these things, please hang around, you may still learn something you didn't know about the reach of The Eugene Mission. I decided to take The Eugene Mission up on their offer to "Schedule A Tour" - this can be done through the website, a simple email or by calling. I had some time and had some specific interests, so we were able to walk through and discuss the majority of their 11 official structures (there are technically 13 if you count the 2 chicken coops) on the 7.5 acre property in the Whitaker District of Downtown Eugene, Oregon. Driving by the facility from Chambers street you cannot grasp the full layout of their campus, it is quite a range of structures with the primary building having been built in 1967 and the newest structure, The Women's Center, having been built in 2013. From a facilities management standpoint, which was one of my inquiries that led to the visit, it is amazing to think that they are able to keep things maintained and functioning with 2 full time maintenance staff (that's 6.5 buildings and 3.75 acres each) on buildings some of which are nearly half a century old. As I walked with my tour guides I was humbled by their care, they knew names of guests at the facility as well as who had assisted them in reaching benchmarks/project around the campus. Everyone from volunteers that were assisting in the one of a kind gardens, employees working in various capacities, volunteers who were assisting in the kitchen and guest/members of the The Eugene Mission Life Change program who were in their final sessions of re-entering the public as productive members of society. One important distinction that rattled my assumptions was that those who visit The Eugene Mission have to be sober, they are constantly testing and confirming the commitment to sobriety, as the team members noted, "You cannot begin to restore your life if you are addicted to substances." The organization remains firm in this commitment to restoration but have changed gears with regards to requiring guests to attend chapel, "No where in the Bible do we see that Jesus required the people He interacted with to listen to a message before they were fed." Faith remains a core of what inspires the staff to engage in their mission and they believe that the power of God's love is essential to long term change in the lives of those they serve, but this aspect is not forced upon anyone in their care. On average The Eugene Mission serves nearly 400 people every day - men, women and children in our community that are in various stages of need. There is a significant number of those guests served by The Eugene Mission that have a very short stay with the organization as their lives have been suddenly impacted and they just need a little bit of help before they are back on their feet. The Eugene Mission partners with organizations such as Goodwill which brings in staff every Friday to assist with job training assistance as well as other community or government organizations who are following up with guests they are working with. Many guests served by The Eugene Mission have problems related to mental health, substance abuse or other traumatic experiences that are holding them back from restoring their lives, the organization has 5 full time social service case workers that are laboring to assist these persons in finding resource to get their health and lives back on track. Every guest of The Eugene Mission assists with at least 1 hour of chores, is required to shower and is given clean pajamas as well as bedding which significantly assists with maintaining cleanliness throughout the campus. In addition to the transitional services that we traditionally think of, The Eugene Mission facilitates a 12-18 month intensive Life Change program that takes men and women who are intentional about rebuilding their lives and further equips them to achieve this goal. Members of this program undergo case supervision, life and skills training and put many those skills to work by daily assisting with areas such as food services as well as work around campus. The Eugene Mission is a wellness center for the homeless in our community. While this contingency of our local population may be misunderstood or even seen to be a detriment in many areas, I believe it is an important distinction to understand the standards, process and reach of The Eugene Mission in their goal of restoring lives in our area. In their own words, "The Eugene Mission’s ultimate goal is to provide holistic long-term solutions that lead to the wellness of its guests. We are positive but assertive with our guests, asking as much of them as they do of us. We arm them with the skills they need to move forward, while inspiring and motivating them to do so." I thought I knew, but after taking the tour I am humbled and inspired by the reach of The Eugene Mission. I would encourage you and your family, or your friends or your organization to set aside 30 minutes and take the tour of The Eugene Mission. I was excited to be a part of the first ever annual Eugene Young Professionals Summit and am proud to report that the event was everything it was advertised to be. The vibe was electric, the presentations were inspiring and the material was direct. While Millennails may get a bad wrap throughout the nation, this gathering in Eugene, Oregon on June 2nd of 2016 was a celebration of the efforts of many motivated young professionals sharing stories of battles won, lost and on-going for the development of our community as well as our professional aspirations. The Eugene Young Professionals Summit was an extension of the fruits of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network and their many partners in the local community. For the Eugene area, the bar has been set rather high for the launch of an event aimed at connecting young professionals and further inspiring their engagement in the local economy. Since the event was social media charged, this first recap will showcase live tweets highlighting moments from the event. I tried to discipline myself to primarily experience the event, something that can't always be done when you are tweeting every moment, so here are some of the key points. If these grab your attention you can reference my Twitter feed for corresponding photos as well as the links to other young professionals who tweeted throughout the event. Event Kick Off & Keynote Speaker This is what millennialism in action looks like. #eugeneypsummit Watch Out! @jessemthomas speaking at #EugeneYPSummit - secret to success "LARPing" (if you didn't attend you missed it) Start Up Panel @upstreamOR @iamcarolina @derekedws @youngmtntea Startup Panel for #EugeneYPSummit #EugeneYPSummit Start Up Panel - Feel the buzz in Eugene/Springfield, an ecosystem of start ups w/ a sense of balance @eugenerain @nedcocdc Post Lunch & Young Professionals Panel Thus far #EugeneYPSummit is everything advertised, well done by all involved #EugeneYPSummit Young Professionals Panel - @DutchBros @nedcocdc @RolfPrima @JakeWeatherly @PIVOTarch Table Talks Frustrated w macro politics, individuals can make an impact at the local level by showing up & entering discussion #INvolved #EugeneYPSummit @LoniChristine83 @Eugene2030 is a great way to connect with your community and give back while growing your leaderships skills. #eugeneypsummit Deep Dive: Eugene Civic Alliance @KidsportsBev & @EugeneCivic discuss Play On, Civic - revive & reimagine following disaster #EugeneYPSummit Don't wait for someone to come and ask you, find something you want to get #INvolved in and go do it. #EugeneYPSummit Deep Dive: DWN TWN EUG Denny Braud of @cityofeugene speaking at #EugeneYPSummit - 5 years $300M invested in Downtown Eugene Development Denny expressed gratitude & inspiration that 63 people attended (58 under 40) @cityofeugene Public Renewal Meeting #EugeneYPSummit #INvolved @simplyelena If a group of us showed up at city council, we could make a difference! No, really. REALLY. @bqdub #micdrop moment. #eugeneypsummit Closing @CelesteEdman speaking to close festivities #EugeneYPsummit aka standing between YPs & adult beverages You can't just show up when YOU need help, participate in the community and it will reciprocate - @CelesteEdman #EugeneYPSummit @EugeneYPSummit #EugeneYPSummit 100% well done by EVERY person & organization up front & behind the scenes Eugene Young Professionals Summit @eugeneypsummit / #eugeneypsummit website Stay tuned for the Second Annual Eugene YP Summit 2017! We have awoken to a world and a work place that no longer reflect the environments and relationships of yesteryear. This new world is populated by a new generation of persons who share a new language, a new code and it is difficult to process that a bunch of youngsters will soon be running the world. If you are starting to say phrases like, "Back in my day," or "They just don't understand," or "I don't know how to get through to them," congratulations - you are now old. You have a decision to make - A) you can join the traditions of every generation before you and perpetuate a us (ie the good ol boys) versus them (these dang youngsters) OR B) you can recognize that a single noun (regardless of how popular its use) does not define over two decades of persons who are now emerging in the work force. The functional definition of a Millennial (Generation Y) is someone born in the 80's or 90's, more specific references state 1982 - 1994. This makes an interesting distinction, if you aren't quick with math, if you have an employee who is 21 years of age, as of 2016 that would put their birth date at 1995 which would technically classify them as Generation Z aka iGen (not as popular in our vernacular). As a member of Generation Y, born right on the transition point from Generation X to Y, I am uniquely qualified to assist with whispering into productive relational connection points for those who sincerely want to expand their understanding. Classification Is Not Realistic The first step towards productively engaging Millennials is to understand that the term does not define the individuals. Already there is such a negative connotation around the word Millennial that mentioning it does not help you connect, it creates a barrier. Are you defined by your generational category? When you were coming up the ranks with your first job, your first promotion at a young age, your first assignment of positional importance - how were you treated by the generations before you? Deal with individuals rather than define generations. Connection Isn't That Hard Are you so far removed from your professional journey that you cannot remember the generational obstacles you faced climbing the corporate ladder as a youngster? Do you remember those who opposed you just because of your age or your lack of experience? If you can tap back into that time in your life, you can empathize with your team members who are working to grow as humans and desire to be productive employees. Look past age and follow the effort. Who was the first person that gave you a shot or mentored you through your initial challenges as a young professional - it's now your turn to pay it forward. Mentor through empathy to create real connections. Categorization Is Not Productive Every generation has their lazy slobs but they also have their shinning stars. Like your generation, you respect your peers who have worked hard and made something of their opportunities while you detest that older generations would classify your generation as this or that because of a few degenerates who made a bad name for the whole group. If you interact with hard working Millennials you will find that they are as upset with those of their own generation who are dragging their efforts into question. Millennials can be your greatest asset to understanding, engaging and empowering other Millennials if you can create trust within their core group. Millennial Whisperer - Key # 1 Like most relationships, trust is built one small brick at a time. If you are able to create an open discussion with your team members, you will need to listen closely for the opportunities and make sure that you follow through. Most likely you will be given small openings in the trust circle and you will be watched closely to see if you do what you say you are going to do. If you make a promise, you better make good on it. No one can build or destroy your relationship with Millennials faster than you. With rising divorce rates, declining educational environments and political dissatisfaction, Millennials are used to being disappointed by authority structures. If you are overtly authoritative in your management style, you will not maximize your effectiveness in engaging the potential of your Millennial workforce. Engage the potential by creating an open culture in your organization and empowering all of your team members to input and own the solutions to the challenges your team is facing. Step 1 - Stop using "Millennial" immediately Step 2 - Empathize Step 3 - Engage Step 4 - Follow through. See above - LISTEN CLOSELY. @iz_fnb Discuss creative solutions for employee engagement and development with MIZDOTBIZ |
AuthorThoughts on personal and professional development. Jon Isaacson, The Intentional Restorer, is a contractor, author, and host of The DYOJO Podcast. The goal of The DYOJO is to help growth-minded restoration professionals shorten their DANG learning curve for personal and professional development. You can watch The DYOJO Podcast on YouTube on Thursdays or listen on your favorite podcast platform.
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