6 Millennial traits I wish I had at their age - Post 426

The employment landscape has changed dramatically over the years. In fact I am a little bit jealous of this millennial generation because they have a realization that if they want to be successful they must do it themselves. That they must have an entrepreneurial spirit and not be so dependent on big companies to provide for their future. They have the attitude, when looking at potential employers, they have the attitude of what can you do to progress my career.

Looking back that is something I wish I had when I was their age.

When I was young I was taught to go to school, get good grades, get a job at a major corporation then work my way up the ladder of success within that company one day retiring.  I bought in to it whole heartedly but things have changed drastically since then.
I had the good fortune of going to work for a fortune 50 company right out of high school. At the time I was making more money than many of my friends that went to college and where now managing fast food restaurants. I had my career all mapped out.

My goal was to get into midlevel management so. I gradually bid my way up to better paying jobs within the company. I also started going to college to make myself more marketable to the company. Not once did I entertain the thought of leaving. My plan was to put my 30 -35 years in then retire and start doing something else that I enjoyed doing while collecting my retirement benefits.

Needless to say, that plan never worked out. Several years later the company went through some government mandated restructuring and in that process I lost that job. It was devastating to my psyche. I went through a period of 3 to 4 years trying to find something else to do. Finally I decided to do what I had always been taught. Go to school, get good grades then find a job at a major company then work there until I retire.

So I went back to college, graduated with a professional degree and began the climb in corporate America once again. I worked hard, working long hours and volunteering to work extra. I volunteered to take on extra projects that would financially benefit my employer. What did that get me?

Sixteen years later, once again I found myself without a job not knowing what to do. Corporate America failed me again.

This time I was bound and determined to not rely on corporate America. This time I decided I was going to map out my future; to have an attitude, when looking at potential opportunities, to have the attitude of what can this opportunity provide me to progress my career.

Starting in 2007 after reading the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” I realized that everything that I had learned about success and job security was false. That book started me on a 5 year journey that has changed the way I look at everything in my life. I decided that if I wanted things to change in my life instead of learning how to be a better pharmacist, or better salesman or better whatever; instead of going out and getting more degrees or certifications, I needed to learn to do the things that the most successful people in America had done.

What is amazing to me is I see these same traits in many people from the millennial generation. I don’t know if it is because they have seen what their parents and grandparents have gone through with their corporate America jobs or if it is a product of the tough economy that they have grown up in but these are some of the traits that I wish that I had had when I was their age. I can’t imagine what life would be like today if I had just a fraction of the entrepreneurial spirit that I see in many of these folks.

1. Entrepreneurial Spirit. The guys and gals in the millennial generation are college educated. Their parents have told them they must get an education but they know from older siblings or friends that the college degree doesn’t guarantee anything except debt. They grew up hearing all the success stories around Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft founders. They want to have a better understanding for the impact that their own work has on the overall company so they can share that with their friends. They want to feel that the work that they do is important and that one day they can take the experiences that they are gaining so they can start and run successful businesses themselves.
2. They don’t want to feel like they are just a number in a large corporation; they want to feel like they are a part of something bigger. They don’t want their contribution and their opinions to be lost in the crowd.
3. Results Oriented. No matter what they did or how they performed, they grew up with parents that always told them how great they were. I don’t believe they want to be told how great they are, I believe they want to see the results of their work. They want to know that what they do really matters and they want frequent feedback about how they are progressing.
4. Socially Connected. They know how to use the most advanced technology tolls and they are very socially connected. They are more likely to share over social media and being able to socialize whether online or off is important to them. Feeling like they are a part of a family is important. 56% won’t accept employment that bans social media use.
5. Flexible Work Schedule. Unlike those of us in the previous generations the millennial don’t feel the need to relocate to where their job is. Again they are tech savvy and know that they can use that technology to be able to work from anywhere. According to the recent PwC Next Gen: A Global Generational Study, 66% expect to be able to work flexible hours either from home or from the office.
6. Greater Good. In my generation we were driven by pay and promotions. We knew that to make more money we had to focus on what we could do to make the company a better company. The millennial generation takes a broader world view. They are passionate about finding ways that they can contribute to the world. They want to feel that what they do is making a difference in the lives of others.

Fortunately for me it is never too late. You are never too young or too old to take charge of your future. These 6 traits are exactly what I found when I decided to become a part of a team of independent business associates. We are a group of individuals from all walks of life that are dedicated to helping people improve their health and their financial well-being. My wish for you is that if what I have written here resonates with you that you take an honest, open minded look at what we are doing. I think that once you do you will see the possibilities that I have seen and you decide to also become an independent business associate so we can all work together to help others realize their desire to become healthier and have financial piece of mind.   To learn more visit http://AIMHighEnergy.com