Joel Stein: A Quick Discussion

Millennials have gotten a lot of press over the last few years.  It probably has to do with us moving into the workforce, voting (or not voting) and just being a biggest  group in American history (there are 80 million of us).  In May of 2013 Joel Stein wrote an article for Time Magazine titled “The Me Me Me Generation“.  The article certainly generated a lot of buzz.  Obviously, the biggest claim of the article is that Millennials are narcissistic.  Stein argues that technology, coupled with being raised by a generation overly concerned with “self-esteem”, has left Millennials between a rock and a hard place.  Our expectation are too high!  Does that mean we think as ourselves as entitled and spoiled?  Maybe, but is that different from any previous generation?  Probably not.  Imagine if Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were around during the 60’s?  Imagine the pics and video’s that would have been posted!  While Millennials have certainly benefited from technology, it is also the tool that has made us more self-aware.  Is that a bad thing?  I’ll let you decide.  Regardless, technology has marked our generation.  How we use that power, that information, will determine how history sees our generation.  Let that be a motivator!

So…what is Joel Stein up to these days?  I sent him an email with some question and he was kind enough to reply.  I’ve added some of my own, reflective comments, following his answers.

Joel: “We better get an A. Answers below.”

How did you end up  becoming a writer?

Joel: “End up? It wasn’t a long journey. I wrote a column in HS and then college and then interned. Oh, just read my Wikipedia page.

Me:  Should have seen that coming.  Guess I’m not accustomed to referring people to my Wikipedia page.

How did you end up writing about Millennial’s?

Joel: “I pitched it to my editors after a researcher I know suggested it to me. They seemed a little interested. Then, oddly, the editor of Time asked me to write it as if I never pitched it (he hadn’t heard about the pitch.)

“Being that you have 938K Twitter followers, how has twitter impacted your life?  How has it impacted Millennials?

Joel: “Not all that much. Not that many people are on Twitter. It’s no Facebook.”

What does the world expect from Millennials?

Joel: “The world? What do you mean by that?”

Me: I guess another way to ask the question would be, “How will history view Millennials?”  or “Does the world expect Millennials to get things right?”  This question stems from the challenges our generation faces.  Global warming, terrorism, social justice issues, the list is seems endless.  At the moment, our generation seems pretty upbeat about the future.  I sometime wonder if that will continue.

What do Millennials expect from themselves?

Joel: “The same thing as everyone else, only they don’t believe that they’ll have the success of their parents since they grew up during a recession. So they expect a little less success and even happiness, perhaps.”

Me:  Your answer gets at the heart of generational studies, in my mind.  There really is not a big difference between generations!  There is certainly a difference between being 24 and 65 but to claim that 24 year old today is drastically different than a 24 year old 40 years ago seems like a bit of stretch.  Sure, the world is different.  As Millennials, we grew up with more pictures of ourselves and the internet but we still want the same things.  We are all human after all.  I’m curious, how do you define “happiness” and “success”?

How has unlimited information (the internet) impacted younger generations?

Joel: “It’s made them a little more self-focused, ironically.”

Me: Agreed.  What does that mean for the future?

With regards to your latest book, where did the inspiration for it come from?

Joel: “My son. And the idea of pushing yourself to do things that are uncomfortable to yourself.”

Joel: “Now get that A.”

Thanks for the time Joel!  Appreciate your willingness to help out an undergraduate student!

A quick blurb about Joel’s new book, it looks awesome.  Admittedly, I have only read the Introduction, well….most of it.  Amazon likes to leave pages out.  The book is titled Man Made: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity and you can find out more about by clicking here.  Poke around the website.  There are some great pics of Joel doing “manly” things!

Until Next Time,

Stay Connected Millennials!

 

 

Millennial Stereotypes. Which ones bother you?

We all know that there are stereotypes out there.  Some of them are unfounded, others are appropriate.  I’ve chosen just three in this poll.

Millennials, Why They’re Liberal

On Tuesday, CNN published an article written about David Frum titled, Why are millennials more liberal, lest trusting?  I would encourage you to read the article in its entirety because I’m only going to highlight some main points.

Frum recognizes the demographic shift that has taken place over the past few decades.  Millennials are much more diverse than previous generations.  Nonwhite Millennials are now the majority, putting their white counterparts in a position their ancestors were never in.  (This trend has continued.  Half of the newborns in America today are nonwhite).  The result?  A Millennial generation that is primarily liberal, but that’s not all.  Frum also points out that Millennials are more distrusting than every before.  It seems that diversity, which has mostly bee seen as a positive change, has alienated different ethnic groups.  Only 19% of Millennials claim that most people can be trusted, compared to 40% of Boomers.

Frum indicates that diversity is behind feelings of mistrust but could there be another explanation?  Has the internet played a role in this?  As Millennials, we’re constantly bombarded with ads, emails, pictures and videos.  Most of us have learned to “check the facts” about things we have seen on the web.  While we can all recognize the benefits of shared information, instant communication, and global communities, has it come at a cost?

Until next time,

Stay Connected Millennials!

Shout-Out!!

For this week, I would like to give a shout-out to my good friend Scott Eyre.

He is a fellow blogger and a fellow millennial…barely.  Scott is 32, so if my math is correct (and it should be since I’m using a calculator), he was born in 1982, therefore he is definitely on the older side of the millennial generation 🙂  We also have some things in common.  For instance, we’re both “older” undergrad students at EMU.  We’re both married and depend on our wives for financial support.  I’ve never discussed it with Scott, but being dependent on my wife took some getting used to.  It hasn’t been easy and I’ve had to overcome some of the “cultural norms” I have grown accustomed to.  Scott just posted a blog titled “Bill Watterson is My Hero” and I think it is a great representation of the journey Scott and I have both been on.

Scott is also on a journey of his own, a twitter journey!  While the main theme of this blog is “connected millennial’s”, it is important to remember that not all millennial’s are connected!  For some, social media platforms, like twitter, represent a vast expanse of uncharted territory; moreover, finding the courage to plunge ahead can seem like a daunting task.  Scott’s blog 32GoingOn19, highlights some of the obstacles a new “tweeter” can be presented with.  By using the metaphor of “walking down a highway at rush hour”, Scott describes his confusing, and often times maddening, encounters with the realm of twitter.  Figuring out @’s and #’s were just the beginning.  He eventually experimented with “live twitting” and ironic hash-tags, which he has mastered become a master of.  Click here to see him on twitter! 

32GoingOn19 is honest and strait forward.  It’s clean and easy to navigate.  All of this I really appreciate but it does seem to be missing some elements of self expression.  I’d like to see more color (I realize my own blog is black and white, I’m working on it) and artistic expression.  Nothing over the top, maybe add a picture to the background.  Also, I’d like to see a little more personal detail.  This would be a great addition to the About page!

Overall, I found the blog to be an interesting read and it’s challenged me in my own blogging adventure.  How do other Millennial’s stay connected?  What tools do we use to share information?  Though provoking.  Thanks for the great work Scott!

Until Next Time,

Stay Connected Millennials!!

Sharing Our Creativity Online

Why is it that our society teaches us to cling to our own work?  If you come up with an innovative design for a new product, or write a new song, your taught to get it patented or licensed.  I guess the answer to that question is easy: money.  If you don’t take credit for your work someone else will; and they’ll make a lot of money with it.  Pride probably makes its way into the equation somewhere along the way.  If someone uses my idea I want the recognition I deserve, that’s not asking too much is it?  What would happen if people shared their work?  Is such a thing possible?  Check out this video from Creative Commons.

If you get a chance, I would recommend checking out CC’s About page.

It seems that our culture is changing into a Shared Culture….hallelujah!  To be sure, this transition is not happening over night.  I myself have experienced others unwillingness to share information.  If you poke around the Creative Commons website you’ll notice it has a lot to do with art, music, photos etc.  I want to take a minute to look at it through a business lens.

Over the past few years blogging has come to dominate the business world.  Companies are beginning to realize the potential in shared information, or as they say in world of business blogging, content.  It’s now called Content Marketing.  Companies are having to engage their audiences with useful, relative content.  To do so, they maintain a blog and advertise it through different social media platform.  I mean, it’s what any blogger does.  It drives people to your website and optimizes you SEO.  It leads to making money!  Simple right?

Here’s the kicker.  I’ve noticed that most content is shallow.  It lacks personality and sophistication.  The goal really isn’t to share, it’s to catch your attention and get you to a company website.  I think most companies refrain from being too vulnerable.  They don’t want to reveal any secrets (as if they are the only ones in their given industry that know how to do business).  Give me a break!  What’s really going on?  Businesses are sharing without really sharing anything.

The good news?  The game is changing.  Artist, social activists, photographers, film producers, entertainers, creators and their viewers (everyone) are becoming increasingly accustomed to shared information that can be reused.  The internet has given everyone a part in this story.  We’ve started to realize that shared creativity connects us in ways that go beyond followers, friends, and likes.  Our imaginations start to become one and when that happens, change is possible.

Thank you Creative Commons for giving people creative freedom!

Until Next Time

Stay Connected!

How Millennial Are You? 7 Ways to Determine Your “Millennialness”

1.  You’re a city dweller.  Millennials seem to be flocking to urban centers, and I can’t blame them.  Being able to walk, or take some form of public transportation, to work  has its upside.  Plus, cities have all the jobs!  Finding employment after college seems to be getting tougher.  I actually just went to Job Fair here at EMU.  I couldn’t believe the amount of companies offering unpaid (or low paid) internships!  It’s a job fair for crying out loud!  Big cities definitely have more opportunities.  Check out this list of the Top 15 Cities for Millennials.

2.    Smartphone Addict.  This one seems obvious, and it doesn’t seem to be limited to only Millennials.  The little handheld computer is just so stinking fun and functional.  It’s our connection to the world!  They contain everything from a our calendar, to our music, to random apps that help us pick a restaurant because we’re indecisive.  In fact, this article argues that most of us are more willing to give up our car than our smartphone!

3.  Familiar with the term metrosexual.  This seems to be the marketing buzz word of late.  To me, it refers to men who are in tune with the their feminine side.  Men who are just as interested in fashion, wine, and moisturizers as there female counterparts.  Our generation seems to be redefining the traditional stereotypes of masculinity and femininity.  I’m don’t know if this is good or bad, but it’s happening.  Wondering if your a metrosexual?  Click here to find out!

4.  Obsession with Documentaries.  Thanks to Netflix, I now have a constantly updating list of documentaries.  I’m becoming increasingly conscious of the impacts of every decision I make.  I can’t eat prepackaged foods, by a product or turn on a light switch without wondering what materials I’m consuming, or what catastrophic pollutant I’m putting into my body.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to know the things I know.  It’s just easier to watch documentaries than it is to alter lifelong habits.

5.  Love the Night Scene!  This goes without saying.  Millennials love there nights out on the town (another explanation for us flocking towards big cities).  We also love our alcohol!  Click here for some interesting statistics.  I live in Harrisonburg, VA.  We were recently voted as the #1 Beer Town in the Blue Ridge Mountains!  Guess whose drinking it all?  Millennials!  Click here for our towns demographics.

6.  Pay Rent.  Paying rent does not seem as glamorous as the previous 5 but it’s true!  Some are even calling us the “Rent Generation“.  It’s gotten harder to buy a house.  Interest rates may be low, but more and more banks are wanting a significant down payment, something few Millennials are capable of.  We’re too busy trying to pay off student loans!

7.  Progressive.  While this certainly does not apply to every member of this generation, it is certainly true by and large.  We are progressive!

Until Next Time,

Stay Connected!

The Power of Storytelling

A few weeks back I attended a conference at American University title Media that Matters.  It took place over the course of two days and covered a variety of topics, for more information see their website here.  During this conference I attended a workshop put on by Felicia Pride and she introduced me to the concept of participatory storytelling.  Has an active ring to it doesn’t it?  Now most of the folks attending this conference were film producers whose main objective was to bring awareness to a variety of social issues.  I was amazed at innovative these people were!  As I listened to the presentations I kept hearing the same message, get your audience involved!

We live in an age of information and our access to that information is incredible.  Just a few decades ago, major corporations and government agencies had control over everything.  Copyright laws ensured that they maintained this level of prestige, but the world has changed.  Check out this video by Henry Jenkins, Ph.D. Comparative Media Studies, MIT.

Crazy right?  We all have a voice!

As Millennials we face a host of societal problems.  Climate change, terrorism, government/corporate/financial corruption, injustice, a busting food industry and the list goes on.  The problem is most folks are completely unaware!  The good news?  Technology has equipped us with the tools necessary to make a difference.  A documentary title Food Inc dramatically changed how I view the food industry and it’s even led to some changes in my own life.  Here’s the trailer.

If you haven’t seen it I would encourage to watch the film in its entirety.  I believe its available on Netflix.

Perhaps you have not found something your passionate about.  Not to worry, there is still plenty of time.  My advice, education!  And I’m not referring to college!  Although college is a great thing.  Watch documentaries and youtube videos, read blogs, engage people on twitter!  There is no limit to what you can find!

Until next time,

Stay connected!

5 Attributes of Millennials

In an effort to push back against the negative generalizations of Millennials, I have developed this list of 5 attributes that I think are noteworthy.

1.  Connected

As if this needs an explanation.  We live in a time of instant communication.  Emails, status updates, tweets, text messages, likes, pokes etc. all instantly pop up as a notification on our conveniently pocket sized computer/phone.  At any point in the day we can check on stocks, the news and a variety of social media platforms.  We know what are friends are up to, who the Redskins lost to and what’s happening in the Middle East.  Our twitter feeds are updating so fast that we can’t keep up.

2.  Informed

This goes hand in hand with being connected.  The internet has given us a host of information, albeit some of it useless.  Never are we left wondering.  The other day a friend and I were discussing the Navy Seals (we had just watched Lone Survivor) and we were trying to remember how they originated.  After five minutes of racking our brains we remembered the magic of Google.  We’re never left in the unknown!  I sometimes get lost in wikipedia spirals.  Link after link after link after link.  It’s brilliant.

3.  Open to Change

Millennials are generally open to change.  Perhaps this is because we are aware of the need to change.  Climate change, violence and inequality are the realities of our time.  Maintaining the status-quo is no longer an option.  It’s time we start thinking and acting differently.  Like the original “Great” generation, we are faced with seemingly insurmountable problems.  Change has become a way of life.

4.  Persistent

Because change is necessary, Millennials tend to be unwavering in their resolve.  This is evident in social movements.  Online communities serve as the focal point.  Social media seems to breed a subconscious support for a variety of causes.  It’s hard to quite a movement when there are millions of people egging each other on.  The March on Wall-Street is a prime example.  The movement lasted for months and found momentum via social media.

5.  People Oriented

Millennials seem to be embracing a different way of living all together.  Love and happiness are what we strive for and each of these revolve around people.  There are so many ways to live this out.  Farming, business, law, politics and religion are all spheres of life in which people interact.  They’re all necessary and some of them need to rediscover the humanity for which they were created to serve.

How would you describe Millennials?

-Josh