Monday, September 16, 2013

Happiness = Reality - Expectations

I have been amazed how difficult it is to hire and train the current generation of new college graduates.  Just saw this blog post and it is worth a read.  The whole idea is right on target.  I'm thinking it applies to other people then, Generation Y Yuppies.  People who work for the state, who can't be fired maybe?

I love this quote -
For those hiring members of Gen Y, Harvey suggests asking the interview question, "Do you feel you are generally superior to your coworkers/classmates/etc., and if so, why?" He says that "if the candidate answers yes to the first part but struggles with the 'why,' there may be an entitlement issue. This is because entitlement perceptions are often based on an unfounded sense of superiority and deservingness. They've been led to believe, perhaps through overzealous self-esteem building exercises in their youth, that they are somehow special but often lack any real justification for this belief."
 You mean a very cool tattoo doesn't make you special?  Custom ear rings, what allow people to see light through your ears doesn't make you special?  I have always felt that outworking everyone made me special, that has mostly worked.

How about you, are you special?  Did you earn that, or are you just entitled?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I respect your point of view, but merely to be an advocate of defense to my generation, how much of a catalyst has the previous generations played for us to arrive at this point? There are men & women who are in positions that surpass their work ethic and whose career progression can be more acclimated to the personal relationships more than their productivity. How can America's up and coming workforce not assimilate themselves with similar concepts that are motioned before them that symbolize success, they just emulate them in ways that resemble the fashion of today's culture, in short the game is the same it’s just different faces sitting at the table. There is no doubt there is an overwhelming sense of entitlement that is going on in today's youth but it is because it is well perceived "if I look & act a certain way, I can be a part of the good ole boys club." That way of thinking forces one to create an image rather than an action. There are so many people before them who were handed positions, the question arises in their mind why be a leader when I can blend in, do less, and gain more? Thus the deficient in leadership, that in addition to the fear of the burden leaders must carry...oh & in addition to the weight of failure in which we were taught to avoid by any means, and when we didn't we were still given a golden star for effort. So who’s to blame, the teachers for the lessons or the students for paying attention? I can only speak as an individual, because it will take the gathering of the individually minded to come together to create the innovation for tomorrows invention that will conquer group think and all its associated perils. I have been fortunate enough to look up to leaders for their values and their heart, not by what they have or their level of fame, if my peers were lucky enough to break the systematic way of thinking we were taught they may have had the guts to venture and do the same. There is warning disclaimer before that journey and it is no easy task to walk alone, the road is unforgiving, most are frozen by doubt or blindly race into the abyss...but as I said I am fortunate to invest my stock in leaders who have provided a light unto the treasure few men seek, the accomplishment of a dream started by faith, dilligence, passion, & determination...definitely not an image...but a vision, im motion.