Millenials are no strangers to hearing statements such as…..
- You can’t keep changing jobs, you need to stay in one place
- Why are you always taking photos of everything
- Do you know your jeans have holes in them
- Maybe if you spent more time cooking and less time on your phone you would have a man
- By the time I was your age, I had my own house and two kids already
I once heard someone I worked with say ‘Never before have I seen a generation who has achieved so little, talk about it so much on social media’. Now I’m all about respecting someone’s freedom of speech, but I caught feelings when she said that….
First of all, millenials are agents of change. They lead and rally up against causes that matter. A few top of mind examples are; ‘Fees must fall, the ban against straws and plastic, women’s empowerment/me too/Men are trash, pink tax and normalizing breastfeeding’. Millenials aren’t afraid of scrutiny, they embrace it. They know that in order for things to change, they need to start conversations that matter.
Millenials take pictures of everything as they are highly aspirational, motivated and driven individuals. They work long hours and want to share their successes, inspire others and keep these memories as a time capsule to reflect back on. Millenials grew up in a digital error, where dual screens (watching TV and being on our cell phones at the same time) and social media were a norm for them. They use the internet and apps to give them the competitive advantage in the workplace and to keep abreast of the times.
Never before has a generation been so focused on social change, equality, quality of life, relationships, aspirations and balance as much as millenials are.
They are in my opinion, a quadruple threat; they take their health, environment, relationships and careers seriously. As a millennial, I’ll never be embarrassed about showing off my Sweat 1000 class, my gourmet coffee at a new trendy spot, or my bold red lippie on social media. No-one saw the self-doubt, anxiety or disappointments that I overcame to get to where I am today. If posting a pic of this golden latte (AKA Turmeric latte) makes me feel good, motivates me to get through the next few hours, and I’m not harming anyone. Let me be. I’m a highly visual person and I want to share my journey through life with my friends, family and complete strangers too.
The future is digital and the traits millenials possess are traits to be admired, not mocked. Millenials need to own their narrative. I don’t know about you, but I’m done apologizing for the way I do things; I’m getting the desired results, so let’s focus on the outcomes. If you’re not a millennial, embrace them. Ask them what a filter, ephemeral content, how IG TV works, even just how instagram works for that matter. They will help you with pleasure and being exposed to this information is likely to help your business. Let’s all work together to create a tomorrow that thrives with innovation, equality and award-winning ideas.
