24. Effing Millennials

Published: Sept. 4, 2019, 6:23 p.m.


\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWelcome to Episode 24 of Navigating the Fustercluck\u2014a podcast full of snackable insights to help you navigate the topsy/turvy world of creativity.\xa0My name is Wegs, like eggs with a W, joining you from Deaf Mule Studios in Dallas, and no matter what your age or aspect of the creative world you may be in, we\u2019re here to talk about Millennials.Lazy, entitled, self-obsessed, entitled.Vilified and scorned in the press.\xa0The butt of countless jokes.Millennials. The scourge of American business and culture.At least that\u2019s how many see them.Others see them an entirely different way:Open-minded, liberal, upbeat, expressive and passionate about equality.Whatever you think of Millennials remember this:Many of those who criticize this generation raised it.And many leaders and managers created the work cultures that Millennials are challenging.We\u2019re not going to focus on what Millennials do or don\u2019t bring to the working world today, so forgive me for being a little one-sided, but agencies and firms should understand how they helped to create a lot of the behaviors that many of them don\u2019t care for.Oh, and if you\u2019re curious, I was born on December 20th, 1964. Technically making me a Boomer by 11 days, though I guess I\u2019m really more a product of Generation X. And I have no kids. So, I don\u2019t really have a personal stake in this. Except that I\u2019ve always tried to bring together and collaborate with people of all generations and backgrounds. Yet, so much focus is placed on this one group that it\u2019s not surprising to hear marketing professor and columnist, Mark Ritson, tell this joke:How many marketers does it take to change a light bulb?The answer? \u201cMillennials\u201d.Because the answer to every effing question in marketing is \u201cMillennials\u201d.This obsession with Millennials has at times has been pretty overwhelming. Sometimes nauseating. That said, it does make the clash of generational values pretty interesting.Now as someone who has a part of senior leadership for a while, I\u2019m asking those of us responsible for creating great cultures to consider this\u2026Why are we so surprised that Millennials are shaking things up?Think about it.Why is anyone surprised that they don\u2019t remain loyal?Agencies aren\u2019t known to be loyal to their people. Cuts are made coldly. Merit isn\u2019t always the measure. Politics triumph over people.Why is anyone surprised that they feel that they should be leading now?What have they seen that makes them feel that those in charge have the wherewithal, vison and courage to handle the changes our industry faces?Why do they feel entitled to more?Maybe because other businesses offer more. They\u2019re more open to sharing the wealth. I have a friend in video gaming who wonders why any young creative is interested in agency life anymore. As he sees it, gaming is not only cooler; it pays better, too. Some companies offering bonuses and even royalties to those who work on blockbuster games. Meanwhile, the creator of the Nike swoosh received a measly $10 grand for that iconic mark. Hmmmm\u2026.One question I hear a lot is\u2026Why won\u2019t Millennials work the type of hours we did in the past?Why should they?\xa0According to Peter Sheahan from his book Generation Y: Thriving and Surviving with Generation Y at Work\u2026They know the way things go down and are no longer na\xefve about the workings of the world and the intentions of businesses and other organizations.\xa0Millennials are more aware of how their long hours make their leaders\u2019 big salaries possible. They\u2019re not going to fall for one-sided loyalty. Especially if leadership won\u2019t fight for great work.Why do Millennials seem so bored?Maybe because they\u2019re not learning much. No one has the time to mentor, and It\u2019s been years since most agencies had training programs.