I have to start with the “me, me, me” generation as they fascinate me the most. They are described as narcissists and self-absorbed. They are the first generation whose lives as children were scheduled with school activities, extra-murals and day care.
Born between 1977 and 2000 approximately – there is some debate around when the Millennial generation starts and finishes – they are influenced by digital media, HIV/AIDS, 9/11 and school shootings. Yet even though they were influenced by these factors, their parents tried to shelter them as much as possible from the “evils” of the world. As a result they are very confident and want to correct these evils. They believe that they have a voice and with platforms such as Facebook and Youtube, they make sure their voice is heard. They are fame-obsessed as they have grown up in a time when anyone can become famous through Youtube, reality shows and other social media platforms.
As the children of the Baby Boomers, they are narcissistic, so much so that The Times (20 May 2013) quotes that people in their 20s are nearly three times more likely to have Narcissistic Personality Disorder than people older than 65. The average American family walks amongst 85 pictures of themselves and their pets, according to The Times. Whereas previous generations might have a few pictures in the home, Millennials record their everyday movements by taking selfies and putting it onto the web for all their friends to see.
They are extremely confident and very competitive and will phone the CEO of a company to set up a meeting, not going through the usual the channels. Their strength is their “no holds barred” attitude and as a result will get the meeting with the CEO! They enjoy a challenge, have tenacity and are able to multi-task.
Unfortunately they change jobs on average every eight months and as a result have a very low job satisfaction level. Because they don’t plan for the future and are swayed by peers, they do not save and would rather spend now and worry about the bills tomorrow. They are not savers but rather live for today.
It will be interesting to see how they embrace adulthood, responsibility and impact business and the political landscape.
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