I wanted to give a Bravo to Connie for picking such an interesting topic for last night's meeting. I spent the drive home trying absorb the different point of views on the subject matter, and I wanted to share my thoughts, and see if anyone wanted to continue to share the study.

Since I wore a "First Timer" tag I'll try my best to keep it short

The slide and the presentation brought out some very good differences of our coexisting generations. Though it may be seen through the boomer's eyes that the millennial's work ethic just "aint what it used to be", it's indisputable that the dynamics of business in general is directly proportional. It's in this, that we managers must do like the Marines and adapt, improvise, and overcome, in the same way we do with our consumer _base_. Our customer _base_ isn't what is used to be either. Tape Decks, and Vinyl aren't cutting it, because no one has the time to wait for a song to rewind. We need MP3s and ipods! Business in America is not as relational as it used to be. It's much more competitive. Outsourcing is a perfect example as to how stakeholders are wanting more bang for their buck. It's no wonder that every graduating adult is a young entrepreneur. Growing up, it doesn't take long to look at life, and realize how important to use what you've got, to get ahead. Like any entrepreneur the Generation Y individuals are seeking to sell their product (themselves) to the highest bidder. Edward Demming believed "Americans work too hard and that's the problem....we work too hard, without knowledge". I beleive what Demming is saying is that we should be working smarter, not harder. That's the mentality that our millennials have welcomely grasped. They want to feel like they are having the opportunity to work "smarter" and not "harder", which means that their decision making process is evolving from the boomer's phase. What is important now is different from what was important back then. In this study I would have to say that the system is actually fixing itself. I never got to see my father growing up because his job would completely rule and rob him of time with his family. Of course I beleive my dad is the best Diesel mechanic in the world, and as his son it frustrates me to see him get half the pay that i make, with double the work hours, no bonus appreciation, and that's with almost 15 years committed to his company. In my particular case I'd have to agree that our Millenials are doing and getting exactly what I would want them to, if I were a fatherly boomer myself. I think it would be naive to say that corporate America is not/or will not consume and take advantage of boomer employee's ethic now-a-days. Maybe corporate America has been holding out on employee benefits for all these years, and our millenials are liberating the workforce to bask in the fruits of their labor.

With all the lay-offs in the state of our economy it's very difficult to give corporate America the benefit of the doubt, that they will honor our commitment to them, by having them commit to us in equal measure.

The part that is really going to blow our minds are what it's going to look like for Generation Z. How much more dynamic and complex will the situation of the workforce be then? The future will only get weirder.

So what do millennials want? Be creative. Millenials want something unique that they can tell their friends about and have them be in total envy. Much like we all were when we watched the 60 minutes clip on the "nap room", office parades, and flex time. If you can find a way to make work seem less like work, then you've got something good. Do yourself a favor and don't try to be old-school, stubborn, or salty...try a little bit of the pie yourself, and enjoy life. When you're 100 years old in your dying bed, you'll thank yourself. Chances are there won't be a company rep by your bedside after 50 years of service, but your family and friends who have been with you along the way will be present. Life is short, Work Hard but Play Hard.

Everything in balance is healthy, and may you boomers believe that you can be and do, anything that you set your mind to.

Gary V. Watkins
-Semper Fidelis
“To achieve the impossible, it is precisely the unthinkable that must be thought.”
—Tom Robbins