Whoooo!!! What A Ride!!!

Thank you all for your responses, both written and scratched into the side of my car (kidding). I appreciate you participating in the dialogue and am glad that so many of you are moving this conversation forward.  A special shout out to Mrs. Slater, my high school English teacher who claims the Transgenerational title and corrected a grammatical error in the title of my last post.  She simply wrote... It's Lying not Laying.  I love and appreciate her.  LOL.  Thanks Mrs. Slater.  My friend Amy Knapp took a few days to process the subject matter of Boomers, Xers and Gen-Y. She offers great insight and good solutions.  I encourage you to continue engaging others in conversation around this topic. 

Amy's Response:

I went round and round on this, thinking of it from my own work experiences, to a business/economic/political viewpoint and every other which way.  I've settled on just making some few next comments to play the conversation forward.  As the financial picture remains bleak, the Wall Street Journal talks about 80 year-olds in the workplace and the demographers point out that the centennials (yes! people 100 or older) is the fastest growing population cohort, it does seem that multi-generational misunderstanding and conflict will be a constant in our workplaces going forward.

I know you heard from plenty of Boomers who pointed out that they need to work not just for personal fulfillment (which they could theoretically find many outlets for) but also for financial reasons—and I know you respect that, especially since you X’ers and Y’ers will end up supporting us through increased taxes if we don’t earn our own way. But organizational vitality is a real issue, multi-generational workplaces are challenging and human potential is precious. There is a lot of conversation about integrity/compliance/transparency/regulation in the air right now, but just as importantly for the economy to flourish, we need to practice meritocracy more consistently in the workplace. Meritocracy implies competition and competition implies winners and losers, however we spin it. Meritocracy is the only way to end workplace discrimination (and discrimination is ultimately the waste of human potential) and it is a critical part of improving business or organizational performance in support of a healthy economy and free society.

So, if you think you are better qualified to take the lead than your Boomer boss or your Boomer board—you need to compete for the right to step up. I’m suggesting more than just doing your job well, you need to actively work for the job you want, even if it means that in the pursuit of your dream and through an honest contest to lead, you push someone aside. I have all kinds of career advice on this—having been both victor and vanquished in my 30 years in corporate America, including many years at the levels where this is a blood sport. I don’t think this culling of the heard needs to be ruthlessly Darwinian if we think about organizations and human potential differently. I believe there is a natural tipping point where most people evolve from wanting to learn and master and get gold stars for our personal achievement (even as we’re wise or graceful enough to acknowledge the team) to wanting to teach and to leave a legacy as a part of a team with a record of achievement. 

We need to find ways to mainstream, institutionalize and respect training and talent development. Like, what if there were CEO/Executive Director Emeritus roles that were half the pay, full benefits, off to the side in terms of line responsibilities, but active and respected contributors in some defined and meaningful way—constituency relations, strategic planning, Gen Z talent development, whatever. I don't have a "put so and so out to pasture gracefully" notion, I have a let's capitalize on what so and so is best at, limit him/her to that and let a new leader step forward. 

Career pathing has always sort of ended at the zenith with a fantasy retirement party and gold watch. For all kinds of reasons that model is dead. We need a new model where people are in the right place for them and for the organization. Similarly, we need to find ways to bring fresh and multiple perspectives to the table and not let the human assets of any organization be under-utilized. Like, what if you took your most talented Gen Z employees and invited them to the Board strategic planning retreat or what if some big important project had different levels of staff assigned to it.  We need to mix it up. If we think of our organizations as other than hierarchical pyramids, we can find ways of using people of whatever age who bring the right perspective/experience for the task at hand.  

Anyway, Le, I just need to thank you for all the thought you give the world around you and for prompting the rest of us to reflect, too!

Amy 

The Messenger Has Been Shot & Is Lying On The Side Of The Road Bleeding

My last two posts hit some nerves. My Mama called. My boss said that she wanted to respond in writing. I have recieved emails from Boomers and Xers. Both groups have quite a bit to say on this topic. And for the record... to my Gen X peeps... I didn't apologize for what I said in the original post. I apologized for the tone I took and in doing so acknowledged that truth is relative. Our truth and Boomer defined truth is different. Our experiences are different and the way we see the world is DIFFERENT and vice versa. Where is the middle ground? Especially in the workplace.

I posted a few comments from readers for you to marinate on. Let the dialogue begin...

Bummer! I do think you and a very few are the exception to the rule for your generation. Remember us Boomers no longer have a retirement plan because we helped Gen Y get through college without schools loans because we have them, we also, help purchase that first house that was way unaffordable because gen y started pouting, remember we lived and SHARED apartments first. We had talent, hands on experience (from working since we were 14) and education. Gen x/y didn’t work through high school, they did sports; quit because they didn’t like their bosses; and moved back home to live off the fat of the land. - Baby Boomer

LOL...Hey Leatrice, I can't say I fully agree, but I did find it very entertaining! My Dad is probably one of the Boomers you are talking about though.....lolol - Gen Xer

You are so right on. And you may be interested to know that I am doing research on this topic right now. I want to interview you. Much is made of the "leadership crisis" in the arts, but the only crisis is the unwillingness of the previous generation to pass the torch. Epidemic at those organizations started by a group of friends around a social goal - they refuse to "business up", even after 40 years. The leadership group acts like a cabal. In many, many cases I see baby boom-age leaders completely unable to embrace technology, even though that is the way 90% of audiences gather information about programs and events, and communicate with one another. Maybe we can do a round table at the next Arts in Tech? Put a group of people together. - Gen Xer

Well the economy certainly has changed all the rules on this one. We will be working way too long as we see the error of our ways way too late. Employers are no longer tolerating outburst in the workplace by gen x and gen y because now they can hire boomers! Every surviving species adapts to their environment or dies. You can survive, thrive and reach the top, hire who you want because you will adapt until you’re in charge. Another rant, can you see I work with scores of Gen x and gen Y and they all think I should be as kind as their mothers. Wrong. Get a grip, I’m working two full time jobs. Quit whining. - Baby Boomer

Amen Leatrice!! I feel you to the 5th power on this! I have to train Boomers on new technology, and after my class, most times I want to go smoke a cigarette and drink some brown liquor - I don't do either of those, so I just cuss (not curse) up a storm with one of my friends that loves to hear my stories about these Boomers! Thank you so much! I needed this today! - Gen Xer

I loved your rant. As a Jones Boomer (who knew?) I think it is the start of an important, necessary and provocative conversation. I've just got to get my thoughts together, but I say don't apologize. There are hard issues and people need to deal, not get sensitive and defensive. I'm getting my thoughts together for you, girl. I need you to succeed so you can pay for my social security. LOL. - Baby Boomer

Hey Le- You are a true Gen-Xer because one quality we have is speaking the truth no matter how harsh. I just shared your blogposts with my pre-boomer war baby mother(born 1942). We were cracking up together and amazed at your ability to express so much in two short posts. The true genius of a gifted writer. Kudos my sista! Keep it up and we'll keep reading. - Gen Xer

Leatrice - You cop'd out man!! You should've expected the retaliation when you wrote the blog. That's like Jay Z and Nas apologizing for their battle. I thought you were reppin' for the X'ers man. Don't pull a gun if you ain't go shoot ;)

- Gen Xer

I notice that my friends without children are retiring at 55. Those with children (adult or younger) don’t even have a date. They are having a difficult time seeing how to pay off all the bills without their 401K as backup. Some have loss their job already and some already retired are bailing out their children, to keep them afloat. Ask around to see if this observation is a universal truth. All three of my bosses who are Boomers are my age and are going to work another 7 – 10 years because of college for their children. Years ago several of my older bosses would not go! Coming to work was their hobby! They died out since having a healthy lifestyle was not on their agenda. Hence the new three bosses who will work until death to pay bills. So all in all each generation has a problem. Some self inflicted and some imposed. I now consider the boomers the squeeze generation; we must take care of our parents and deal with our children. Oh, that is a whole new topic! On a personal note, I am an artist, but my degree is in Chemical Engineering. I work full time in both. Being an engineer keeps the roof over my head and retired at 55. Being an artist keeps me sane. - Baby Boomer

Peace - Le

Apology to the Baby Boomers --- Sorry

Need I say the Boomer Post didn't go over too well with BOOMERS.  I have been getting hate mail all day long. LOL.  Actually they make pretty accurate points about why they will continue to work until they stroke out and why we (Xers and Gen-Yers) need to stop whining and get over it. The feedback from Xers and Gen Y was "thank you for saying it"... "may the Church say Amen" and similar verbal high fives. 

The Boomer disgust with my post was pretty strong, but in hindsight I guess the post was pretty strong.  (Insert "sorry" here.)  I could write a list of what I did not mean and what I meant, but if nothing else I am more sure than ever that there needs to be a forum to discuss what steps should be taken to ensure Gen-X participation and growth in the workplace in terms of organization and corporate leadership.  I understand the reasons that Boomers must continue to work.  I promise I do. They are taking care of their children, spouses, parents, grandchildren; rebuilding after losing 401K's, homes and jobs; overextended, paying college tuitions and of course they like going to the office every day because they are still a healthy bunch and what else would they do.  Golf?

Are we the whining, slacking, living at home, video game playing idiots that the Boomers think we are? I personally don't think so. (Note: by the way most Boomer responders actually admitted that I am an exception to the rule.  LOL.)   I know some slackers, but for the most part all of my friends and associates are amazing.  The grind is a way of life for us.  

So what's the deal?  In the words of Stevie Wonder, a favorite Boomer of mine.  Everything Must Change... Nothing Stays The Same.  As a result of this shift, a new dynamic could be evolving.  If I know my fellow Xers they are not going to wait around forever.  They will inevitably leave the workforce all together and go do something that makes sense for them, their families, skill sets and peace of mind.  Xers will do something meaningful that changes the world as we know it. Yes, we are THAT generation and change, while painful is inevitable.

Peace,

Le

Dear Baby Boomers: I Have A Beef

Before I start this post let me say for the record that I love Baby Boomers.  Some of my absolute favorite people in the world are Boomers.  However I've been Boomer challenged lately.  I've had to go and do some research to understand what the hell is going on and how to combat my current case of the Baby Boomer Blues.

In case you are not hip to the way generational demographics are broken down, let me briefly fill you in.  Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964.  The younger Boomers, born 1954-1964, are referred to as Generation Jones as their cultural characteristics vary slightly.  On the heels of the Boomers is Generation X (that's me), born 1965-1976.  Following the Xers are the Millennials or Generation Y, born 1977-1998.  The generation born after 1998 has not officially been named yet, but early forecasts include Generation Z (how original), the Internet Generation and Generation Now.  They all suck.  I hope they get a decent name before it's all said and done.

At any rate, each of the generations have characteristics that are used to describe that generation.  Boomers are self centered and KNOW IT ALL (insert scream here)... Xers hate rules and will tell you... Millennials are demanding and entitled.  Toss this mix into the workplace and what do you get?  Crazy frustration, communication breakdowns, soliloquies and blog posts like this one.  

At any given gathering where food and alcohol are present, my fellow professional Gen X friends and I often sit around on our pragmatic, diversity embracing, individualistic, friend loving, self-reliant, rule bending butts and wonder aloud when our Boomer bosses are going to retire... move on... go enjoy their golden years.  After reading the COVER STORIES, watching the BOOMER TV SPECIALS and DOCUMENTARIES and knowing them as I do, the answer to our question is NEVER!  Boomers will not move on.  They will not retire.  Will not pass go.  And will die in their current positions (as our bosses) at the ripe old age of 75 or 80.  (Insert another scream here). They have broken all of the rules and because they run the world... they are getting away with it. Will future anthropologists,  historians and sociologists be kind to the Boomers or will they call it as they see it?  That has yet to be seen. 

In the meantime, what is the Gen Xer to do?  We don't want to squander our most progressive professional years. We want to be free of the Boomer run regimes to be able to breathe and be on our our grind like we are anyway.  We can always go and start our own thing as Boomers are quick to tell us.  But since Boomers have jacked up the economy the opportunity to even get money from banks to start a business is slim to none.  

Dear Baby Boomer: Is it too much for us to ask you to respect our grind and/or our serious knowledge base?  We don't think we are better than you or know more than you Boomer (although we got you on the technology thing.  Note: Please learn how to use email), we are simply DIFFERENT.  We tick differently. We see the world differently.  Different is good. Different is progressive.  Different is relevant.  Gen-X/Gen-Y Different, coupled with a tad bit of Boomer wisdom and experience can take us all to another level.  

Okay... rant over.

Peace,

Le  

Early Morning Ruminations!

Another sleepless night. Up since 2:30 AM.  I watched CNN for a while, played a game on my iPhone, changed my status on my Facebook page and sent out a tweet on Twitter.  Did that for about 1 1/2 hours.  I spent the rest of my early morning listening to God.  I have been given a heart for people, the spirit of a warrior and amazing vision.  Sometimes those gifts are incongruent with one another and often not in sync with the rest of the world.  Being the lone voice in the midst of noise is challenging.  No one listens...  Noah tried to get the people to listen. We all know how that story ended.

Le