My generation has f***ing lost it.
Over the last decade, we Boomers have confused yelling for leadership. We've replaced productive discourse with terminal disrespect. We've mistaken standing-on-our-soap-box constipation... for inspiration.
While holding on to what we hold dear, we've misinterpreted compromise for surrender. While blaming others for everything wrong, we've forgotten to take responsibility for finding a solution.
We've decided that rhetoric from talking heads and politicians is an acceptable form of communication... while never holding the orators accountable. We have decided that being photogenic, charming and displaying a quick wit are acceptable facsimiles for leadership, resolve and results.
We've confused supporting one political party over another as patriotism... yet only truly come together as a nation when brutally attacked (think 9-11) from outside our borders.
We Boomers (and perhaps Gen X who follows us) have chosen our divisive, unproductive path. At this point, perhaps we can only hope Gen Y (and the generations that follow them) learns from our dreadful demonstration... and lives up to their potential to positively change the world.
Of course, there are obvious dangers with stereotyping millions into a one-person compilation; thousands of shades of gray exist in every black-and-white generational myth; no one person walks on water, let alone an entire generation.
That includes us Boomers. We got off to a great start; watching men step foot on the moon made us believe anything was possible. The same year we had Woodstock and subsequently ushered in values of personal freedom, independent thought, equality and tolerance. We even had a Coke commercial motivating us to change the world.
At one point, we were just determined enough to think that we could do anything. Just ask Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Richard Branson or Tim Berners-Lee (often credited for inventing the world wide web -- perhaps Boomer's greatest contribution to society).
At a time when the world needs us most, however, we're accomplishing nothing. We're leading no one.
So why is our next-best hope found in the youngest generation of adults... our children, or grandchildren?
Of course, we in the senior generations can't just stick our heads in the sand, waiting for Gen Y to fly in Superman-style to save the day. If asked, most of us would loudly agree that Gen Y is not yet ready to lead the free world. So... we must keep trying to fix the problems we, in large part, created.
At the same time, we must realize that our generation has seemingly lost all desire to collaborate, reason and create. It's time for us to acknowledge that we've failed as stewards of our era... that we haven't lived up to the expectations, and trust, of those who follow. Gen Y is constantly accused of being "entitled", yet it is we Boomers seemingly so spoiled by previous success... that we're unable to cope with current reality.
Based on our performance as leaders over the last decade, if the world were to reduce Boomers down to a one-person composition... we would be the most unremarkable, uninspiring role model on the planet.
We've lost it.
It's time to invite Gen Y - years before they were supposed to be ready - to help save the world.
Follow Mark Babbitt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/YouTernMark
Maybe I'm jaded.
For example, I worked in the building industry and ran into contractors regularly who told me "I've been doing X for 30 yrs!" The problem? They'd not been doing it the best way, or worse yet, incorrectly. While I don't discount experience, I really value expertise.
After working 10 years, some people have 10 yrs experience; others have 1 yr experience 10 times. Which would you rather hire?
Often, I think we're labeled as an entitled generation ... which I won't deny. We are. But for every entitled Gen Y, there exists an entitled Boomer and Gen X. It's quite evident when you hop onto these message boards. Just look for the first critic to deny the truth and point the finger elsewhere. All generations are guilty. In my experiences, I've met far more people in Gen X and Boomer to say, "Hey! Bide your time." Enough with this "biding time" nonsense. It's time we rise together, collaborate, and get something done. Boomers, Gen X: use your experience to help us...not to push us down. No matter what you want to think, Gen Y is the future...but so is Gen X and so are the generations to come after Gen Y. Nobody is exempt from taking responsibility.
Expect Gen X to be the ones to finally kick everyone else out of the way and get things working again. We've gotten used to doing things no one else wants to fool with, we can put aside our differences to work together, and we really don't care too much what anyone thinks of us as long as we do our jobs well. Oh, and we're used to be underestimated and ignored by the Boomers. That's part of what motivates us to do a better job of running things than they ever did.
While I'm eager to see Gen X step up as well...it should have happened by now. Some of them are darn near 50.
let's stop focusing on stereotypes and start focusing on solving what lies ahead.
I really hope that people finally get that it is not about generations, nations or cultures to change something, but it is just every individual. Of course cooperation is important, but we should not wait for others (leaders, mentors, movements) to start, it is our own responsibility and that is why I am so dissapointed by the boomers. Especially here in Germany, they wanted to be very different, but all they managed was to create more "stuff" that we have to maintain and take care of in the future. But we have to do it anyways, so lets do it!