March 17, 2009
I don’t want to be anything other than me…
Songs often capture the spirit of a generation. In his song Gavin DeGraw captures the concept of being genuine:
“…I’m surrounded by liars everywhere I turn
I’m surrounded by imposters everywhere I turn
I’m surrounded by identity crisis everywhere I turn
Am I the only one who noticed?
I can’t be the only one who’s learned
I don’t want to be
Anything other than what I’ve been trying to be lately
All I have to do
Is think of me and I have peace of mind
I’m tired of looking ’round rooms
Wondering what I’ve got to do
Or who I’m supposed to be
I don’t want to be anything other than me…”
1. Do you think the song is a good representation of the new generation entering the business world?
2. What do you think SHOULD change in order to maximize the intellectual and emotional potential of this generation in business?
3. Same as 2 except I’m wondering what you expect will actually change as a result of the entry of this generation into the workplace?
Thanks for your insights,
Reut
Learn more about the three pillars that make KindExcellence the best organizational platform: the KE organizational culture, the 8 emotional and thinking habits of effective management and the subconscious training process. I’m always happy to share how KE applies to the areas of employee engagement, retention and performances: reut@KindExcellence.com
It never ceases to amaze me how human beings can adapt to new conditions. I believe there will be a void of leadership, but I also believe after the void comes a new way of doing business. The internet is another important factor. We, I believe, will end up with many small connections in a company and the company direction will be governed by those who agree most. In my crystal ball, the future office is cubicles and computers communicating without leaving the cubicle. Action and decision will come from the personality that is most outgoing rather than “the boss”.
This, like so many other things, is about Balance. “The unexamined life is not worth living,” but very little living happens if all I do is “think of me.” We must be authentic and be the authors of our own characters and stories, but there are also a lot of contributing editors. I think this is true for all generations.
I can’t speak to whether this song is representational of the new generation entering business; everyone of us asks ourselves, “Who am I? Who do I want to be?” especially at certain stages in our lives.
Reut:
I think I am with Josh on this one. Authenticity is pretty important no matter what generation you are part of. I have two Millenial aged children. Both are committed to making the world a better place and recognizing that they are part of a larger society. I have encouraged both to “find their passion” and pursue it vigorously.
We do have kids in this generation who have grown up thinking they are the epitome of the world, blame that on the parents.
As you know I have pretty strong feelings about personal competency and personal accountability that permeate all generations.
I think we will learn as they enter the workforce that we will have to adjust to them as much as they adjust to us. Much of what they want isn’t unreasonable.
Part of diversity is respecting whole people as individuals, not trying to force fit them into our mold. Properly managed I find these “new” generations to be bright, committed and enthusiastic. I find those characteristics pretty desirable in colleagues and employees.
The newer generation has shifted back to the 80’s mentality of “me” (the 1980’s are termed “The Me Generation”), but it is even worse. Many in this generation grew up with no-score sports, barraged with multi-media saying you can be anything just by attitude alone, have instant fame and accesibility on YouTube and dozens of social networking sites, coddeled by their parents as being more important, more special than anyone else, etc.
I’m not trying to be mean, but there is a definite lack of discipline and sense of responsibility, a sense of “deservedness” among the recent generation. I’m not talking about “You darn kids with you newfangled ways!” I’m talking about grown ups in their 20’s and early 30’s.
However, with that said, I do think there is a shift going on, brought on by recent financial events, but also a social and environmental awakening just starting to brew and spread. I don’t think it is too late for the last generation, the new one, or the one following, because they are still young and the speed of changes is quickening. So, to answer:
1) Yes, and it can be taken two was: either as selfish mutterings of frustration of not being able to fit in with adult life because people are tired of “me” or as positive reflections on the disillusionment of being “me without compromise” that they’ve grown up to think. I like to believe it is the latter.
2) The new generation is going to learn through hard knocks that despite how flexible business can be, there is only so much it will bend for an individual before it breaks. We’ve had several hires from the new generation that we were so appalled by their behavior after hire that we sent them packing before their 90-day review. Their interviews were exceptional. It comes down to learning about accountability for your actions and behavior.
3) Some will learn and some won’t. There will be those who step up and become successful and hopefully teach the lesson to their children. Others will feel betrayed, continue the downward spiral of “me”, remain unsuccessful, and take it out on their children or themselves.
Children’s personality is formed very early and reinforced before they are 10. I still think early development classes should be a requirement of parenthood.
Scott
I love the new generation!
The question is really about the need of the new generation to be authentic. Unless it’s something about how I wrote my question it’s funny ’cause some of the people who answered thought I was referring to selfish aspects of millennials. I think genuine and authentic is going to revolutionize how we do business and I think it has become a need– a simple daily need to go through life with happiness and personal integrity…
I personally see the entering of this new generation into the workplace as a platform that will require organizations to become more KindExcellence oriented, because less authentic organizations that are less oriented towards the grater good are going to be perceived as less desirable for top talent…
I believe the new generation is just not willing to sacrifice integrity for money as easily but I’m eager to hear your thoughts…
I like the song very much. The meanings are near and dear to me. Such principals are the only way to true success. Few young business people agree. They will loose for their shallow thinking.
In my opinion, it’s not that bad. There’s so much good human material coming forward, these days, we couldn’t have gotten it all that wrong –we, the “teachers” (some of our generation are precisely that, their instructors) must have tried to instill some sensitivities and perceptions that we’ve come to find lacking, back in the “mass marketing era”.
I think the “me, me, me” generation was predominantly the deadwood part of the preceding couple of batches, those who entered management in the 1980s and 90s (well…. our generation), and the reason we react negatively to them is that we recall them in our surroundings: they were our competition.
We may be a bit put off by newcomers that show this attitude, but I’m inclined to think they’re the exception and not the rule…
This generation is turning out OK, I think. They’re much more sensitive and “people oriented” than all of our yuppie type buddies ever were…
–And where are they today?
Dear Reut:
Every generation’s youth have always thought about doing things more authentically than the previous generation. Authenticity in being oneself is one of the hallmarks of the youth and the people that retain their idealism for making the world a better place. So, I think that this song is a representation of the youth of every generation.
Today these words seem more relevant because of the environment of recession that we find ourselves in, and the number of failing businesses that we see around us, but that does not necessarily mean that everyone has become a liar. They may have lost the ability to stand up and fight for causes because of the pressures that they themselves are faced with such as supporting a family, holding on to a job in tough times.
The approach to challenging the younger generation is to align those that are experienced with those that still retain their idealism. May be a little of each other will rub off on the other and create a powerful regeneration of faith.
What I expect will happen is that this younger generation entering work will remember the value of having to earn a job rather than feeling entitled to it and hence contribute better to the future growth of a business and future generations. I hope that this younger generation and the younger generations to come do not lose their idealism.
Regards
Raghu
1. Definately
2. Understanding that faking or short term unconventional or desrespecful procedures are burning your tomorrow’s day. I think this credit crisis should lead to a better understanding about some individuals procedures. Being just you is the key that lead to excellent results. Because you can answer why you did something. Everyone here has limitations. We are humans. Let’s face it. Changing behavors is indeed the most difficult job on earth, but it desearvs the effort.
3. I expect that professional and social environments will be more efficient, respectful and flexible, where everyone has a role to play, defined without miss judgements.
Thnaks for everything Reut
Ricardo Andorinho