Here’s the skinny, IMHO–be yourself. No matter if you’re 20something or 80something, you can always “step on unwalked paths.”

That is unless, of course, you’d prefer to keep your “Gen Y status”. MOOOO!

I found your post about Gen Y Generalizations was very interesting. Its just interesting to learn about people and what they are up to in their twenties… what their career goals are, what their family situation is like, and how that effects what they are able to do in life. Here’s what I am doing as a twenty something… a jumble of things! I just got married this past summer, so I am doing three jobs right now, which sounds like I would be going crazy, but it is actually working out to be a part-time schedule, which is great for this transitional period of getting to know my husband. I nanny in the mornings and work for a College Ministry, so I spend my afternoons usually with students on campus or doing things like laundry/cooking. I also have my teaching license so I occasionally substitute teach.

You touched on something that I totally agree with you on: We are a generation who does not want to be labeled, but be authentic and real. I think we are a generation that is really searching for what is true… and sometimes labels and generalizations are true… but twenty somethings works as an overall generalization… nice post! I enjoy reading your writing!!

Katie

Your comments in this post reminded me of a couple of articles I published on this a few years ago:

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=3970

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Opinion/The-yoofs-are-so-over-talking-about-themselves/2005/04/07/1112815671352.html

What you can generalize is about values, not specific things. For example, Gen Y follows the Just In Time model of learning. Instead of working in procurement for 10 years before knowing how to write a contract, we learn via the internet and talking with experts in the field. Instead of planning things way in advance, we coordinate in real time. Instead of synchronous communication, where everyone must be available at the exact same time (meetings, phone calls) we do much more asynchronous communication, where you can look at things when you want to, like text messaging, posting on forums, and twitter.

Looking for similarities in ourselves is very important. We need to know how to communicate to other Generations our needs and wants. It’s not a surprise that many Gen Ys are disillusioned in the workplace, and the only way to help ourselves is to start communicating our generational differences to “The Man”.

Bruce
http://www.20somethingsuccess.com

In my humble opinion: I feel as though the Gen Y generation can be generalized for not caring what others think, overcoming obstacles, and stepping on unwalked paths. I feel we all express ourselves in whatever way we feel, no matter what area we’re talking about. There are always the people with the “disease to please”but I feel as a whole we don’t care what the older or younger generations think of us.

One last thing: Obviously stereotypes exist for a reason; sad but true. Ah, so is life.:oP

Coincidentally, the box that marketers will put you in will be a box that you either want to be in, think you are in, or are in. Even if it is just “the cool kids” box.