3
O P I N I O N
What millennials get right
B y 2020, nearly half (46 percent) of all U.S. workers will be millennials. They outnumber baby boomers by 7.7 million according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau estimate. As a baby boomer, I sometimes find that rather frightening in light of all the press discussions regarding the many things that millennials do poorly. The new generation brings a lot to the table, much of it good, so lighten up, be honest, and enjoy yourself as you roll up your sleeves and work.
Millennials are not intimidated by their elders. They talk openly and candidly. Some see that style as intrusive or that millennials expect to have greater standing than they actually have. In truth, I have come to recognize that millennials simply want a voice – their voice – to be included in company dis- cussions. Their careers are as dependent on our deci- sions as older staff, so obtaining their input only has positive implications. not different than the generation before us? I am convinced that millennials get more things right than we have given them credit for.” “Their attributes may be different than mine, but then again, were we
Stephen Lucy
However, given that almost half of our firm’s staff are millennials and that we are still successful, they obviously have more redeeming qualities than are sometimes reported. Granted their attributes may be different than mine, but then again, were we not different than the generation before us? I am convinced that millennials get more things right than we have given them credit for. Here are my top 10 millennial takeaways: 1)In work/life/play, there must be balance. I actu- ally think that millennials reorder this as play/life/ work balance. We boomers talk about balance, but to be successful we focused on career above all else, many times with a personal cost in other areas of our life. Rarely do I say that I should have worked more versus taking more time for myself and my family, so why should I criticize millennials for doing what I wanted to do myself? 2)Having a voice in the conversation is critical.
See STEPHEN LUCY, page 4
THE ZWEIG LETTER September 17, 2018, ISSUE 1264
Made with FlippingBook Annual report