Another – new – reason to take Generation Y seriously

There is a mountain of media wordage about “generation y” at the moment. This group of young people has been variously defined as those born from 1978, 1984, 1989 and 1990 until present (or year 2000). However you define them, this is the youngest generation of employees and customers impacting the world of work at the moment. Their earliest generational memory was of the momentous shifts that shook the world in 1989 (Tiananmen Square, the Berlin Wall comes down, Romania is freed from dictatorship, the Communist Party is banned in Russia, America invades Panama – just to name a few. Oh, and Nelson Mandela was released from jail in February 1990). The Internet and mobile phones have been ubiquitous in their lives as long as they can remember, and the world has become increasingly “hot, flat and crowded” in their lifetime.

So, it’s vital to understand them as potential employees and customers. A Google search – or reading entries on our blog – will get you started. You can also check out our presentation on Making the Most of the Millennials.

But, and this is important, there is one other VERY important reason to take them seriously. They are already starting their own businesses. They are likely to be the most successful young entrepreneurs of all time. And you need to be aware of who they are and how they will compete with you over the next few years.

Probably the best article written on this comes from Inc magazine’s October 2008 edition. Read the article, Cool, Determined & Under 30. This is how they describe the piece: They are running businesses in fields as diverse as Wi-Fi and fashion, blogging and music. Combined, they manage nearly 600 employees and have raised more than $100 million from investors. They have graduated from (and, on occasion, dropped out of) some of the very best schools in the country. They are collaborative, creative, and — above all — confident. And here’s one more fact: All of them were born after October 31, 1978.

Related posts:

1. 1989 – a year that changed everything (everywhere) Today is the twentieth anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming...
2. Office Technology, Boomers and Generation X & Y For most Boomers (born 1950s and 60s), the office had...
3. Why my generation mourns Michael Jackson As in life, so in death. I am watching the...
4. The Recession Generation Each generation is defined by the economic experience of its...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.