hi everyone happy new year my year sort of ended and started with a bit of a
of ended and started with a bit of a
of ended and started with a bit of a bang I’m sure a lot of people here saw
bang I’m sure a lot of people here saw
bang I’m sure a lot of people here saw this an interview I did with inside
this an interview I did with inside
this an interview I did with inside quest and one of the questions he asked
quest and one of the questions he asked
quest and one of the questions he asked me about Millennials somebody had taken
me about Millennials somebody had taken
me about Millennials somebody had taken that answer I’d put it on YouTube and
that answer I’d put it on YouTube and
that answer I’d put it on YouTube and then somebody else put it on Facebook
then somebody else put it on Facebook
then somebody else put it on Facebook and it kind of went bonkers it broke the
and it kind of went bonkers it broke the
and it kind of went bonkers it broke the internet for a day there so so so
internet for a day there so so so
internet for a day there so so so totally surreal so I thought what I
totally surreal so I thought what I
totally surreal so I thought what I would do is lots of people been
would do is lots of people been
would do is lots of people been commenting and lots of questions and
commenting and lots of questions and
commenting and lots of questions and criticisms and it’s all good
criticisms and it’s all good
criticisms and it’s all good and I thought I would answer some of it
and I thought I would answer some of it
and I thought I would answer some of it and respond to some of it personally I
and respond to some of it personally I
and respond to some of it personally I wanted to share the background of where
wanted to share the background of where
wanted to share the background of where that answer came from as I travel around
that answer came from as I travel around
that answer came from as I travel around and have meetings and give talks close
and have meetings and give talks close
and have meetings and give talks close to it not a hundred percent of the
to it not a hundred percent of the
to it not a hundred percent of the meetings and talks that I give someone
meetings and talks that I give someone
meetings and talks that I give someone will invariably raise their hand and ask
will invariably raise their hand and ask
will invariably raise their hand and ask me the Millenial question people would
me the Millenial question people would
me the Millenial question people would say that they were struggling with their
say that they were struggling with their
say that they were struggling with their Millennials in their workforce and I
Millennials in their workforce and I
Millennials in their workforce and I would stand there on the stage and sort
would stand there on the stage and sort
would stand there on the stage and sort of like sort of like and so I needed an
of like sort of like and so I needed an
of like sort of like and so I needed an answer and so both with my own research
answer and so both with my own research
answer and so both with my own research one research sort of observation talking
one research sort of observation talking
one research sort of observation talking to people I had lots of conversations I
to people I had lots of conversations I
to people I had lots of conversations I talked to high school kids and college
talked to high school kids and college
talked to high school kids and college kids and recent college grads and I
kids and recent college grads and I
kids and recent college grads and I started listening to them and asking
started listening to them and asking
started listening to them and asking them questions in a different way so
them questions in a different way so
them questions in a different way so that I could better empathize and
that I could better empathize and
that I could better empathize and understand what they were going through
understand what they were going through
understand what they were going through I also talked to friends who are going
I also talked to friends who are going
I also talked to friends who are going through similar things and I fashioned
through similar things and I fashioned
through similar things and I fashioned an answer and when I started sharing
an answer and when I started sharing
an answer and when I started sharing this answer I got some amazing responses
this answer I got some amazing responses
this answer I got some amazing responses first of all the Millennials who were
first of all the Millennials who were
first of all the Millennials who were sitting in the audience would nod their
sitting in the audience would nod their
sitting in the audience would nod their heads and it was really kind of intense
heads and it was really kind of intense
heads and it was really kind of intense for me because they would come up to me
for me because they would come up to me
for me because they would come up to me afterwards and say thank you they no
afterwards and say thank you they no
afterwards and say thank you they no longer felt it was them they no longer
longer felt it was them they no longer
longer felt it was them they no longer felt alone and they thought that some of
felt alone and they thought that some of
felt alone and they thought that some of the issues that they were dealing with
the issues that they were dealing with
the issues that they were dealing with with struggling with relationships or
with struggling with relationships or
with struggling with relationships or depression they thought it was them and
depression they thought it was them and
depression they thought it was them and it allowed them to take a huge weight
it allowed them to take a huge weight
it allowed them to take a huge weight off their shoulders that they could
off their shoulders that they could
off their shoulders that they could actually ask for help which quite
actually ask for help which quite
actually ask for help which quite frankly was really really inspiring so
frankly was really really inspiring so
frankly was really really inspiring so the background of the whole answer to
the background of the whole answer to
the background of the whole answer to that question came from the fact that I
that question came from the fact that I
that question came from the fact that I needed an answer apparently it was
needed an answer apparently it was
needed an answer apparently it was bugging people and I think that’s one of
bugging people and I think that’s one of
bugging people and I think that’s one of the reasons it sort of went so
the reasons it sort of went so
the reasons it sort of went so viral as well and people asking this
viral as well and people asking this
viral as well and people asking this question now I have to say I’m really
question now I have to say I’m really
question now I have to say I’m really proud with the fact that it has touched
proud with the fact that it has touched
proud with the fact that it has touched a nerve I’ve been hearing from friends
a nerve I’ve been hearing from friends
a nerve I’ve been hearing from friends and from strangers that they’re putting
and from strangers that they’re putting
and from strangers that they’re putting their phones away more often when they
their phones away more often when they
their phones away more often when they go out with their families with their
go out with their families with their
go out with their families with their friends I’ve heard we’ve had some emails
friends I’ve heard we’ve had some emails
friends I’ve heard we’ve had some emails that people are now banning cell phones
that people are now banning cell phones
that people are now banning cell phones in conference rooms which is just
in conference rooms which is just
in conference rooms which is just wonderful in fact just this morning I
wonderful in fact just this morning I
wonderful in fact just this morning I heard from a dear friend who he now
heard from a dear friend who he now
heard from a dear friend who he now turns his phone off at seven o’clock at
turns his phone off at seven o’clock at
turns his phone off at seven o’clock at night which I love and if somebody wants
night which I love and if somebody wants
night which I love and if somebody wants to get hold of him they can call him
to get hold of him they can call him
to get hold of him they can call him which is wonderful call him at home in
which is wonderful call him at home in
which is wonderful call him at home in other words it’s having an impact and
other words it’s having an impact and
other words it’s having an impact and I’m really proud of that even amongst my
I’m really proud of that even amongst my
I’m really proud of that even amongst my own friends
own friends
own friends I find that we’re more sensitive to each
I find that we’re more sensitive to each
I find that we’re more sensitive to each other bringing phones to the dinner
other bringing phones to the dinner
other bringing phones to the dinner table or to a conference table now of
table or to a conference table now of
table or to a conference table now of course this is much bigger than cell
course this is much bigger than cell
course this is much bigger than cell phones this is about relationships and
phones this is about relationships and
phones this is about relationships and that goes the next point I think some
that goes the next point I think some
that goes the next point I think some people were very angry that or at least
people were very angry that or at least
people were very angry that or at least concerned that I left Millennials I took
concerned that I left Millennials I took
concerned that I left Millennials I took Millennials off the hook that I said to
Millennials off the hook that I said to
Millennials off the hook that I said to them that you know that that is not
them that you know that that is not
them that you know that that is not their fault and the fact of the matter
their fault and the fact of the matter
their fault and the fact of the matter is that’s true every single generation
is that’s true every single generation
is that’s true every single generation is subject to issues of their own
is subject to issues of their own
is subject to issues of their own upbringing for example can we really
upbringing for example can we really
upbringing for example can we really hold it against those who grow up in the
hold it against those who grow up in the
hold it against those who grow up in the great depression that they were a little
great depression that they were a little
great depression that they were a little more miserly than the rest of us a
more miserly than the rest of us a
more miserly than the rest of us a little more penny-pinching the rest of
little more penny-pinching the rest of
little more penny-pinching the rest of zone either grew up in the depression of
zone either grew up in the depression of
zone either grew up in the depression of rampant sakes
rampant sakes
rampant sakes or the boomer generation who are very
or the boomer generation who are very
or the boomer generation who are very cynical of leadership positions well
cynical of leadership positions well
cynical of leadership positions well they grew up during the Vietnam War and
they grew up during the Vietnam War and
they grew up during the Vietnam War and during Richard Nixon every generation is
during Richard Nixon every generation is
during Richard Nixon every generation is affected by the environments in which
affected by the environments in which
affected by the environments in which they grow up and the question was about
they grow up and the question was about
they grow up and the question was about Millennials and the the point is that we
Millennials and the the point is that we
Millennials and the the point is that we have to have empathy not just for
have to have empathy not just for
have to have empathy not just for Millennials for anybody people are who
Millennials for anybody people are who
Millennials for anybody people are who they are because of the environments
they are because of the environments
they are because of the environments which they grow up with that doesn’t
which they grow up with that doesn’t
which they grow up with that doesn’t excuse them but it allows us to have
excuse them but it allows us to have
excuse them but it allows us to have empathy for the situation in which they
empathy for the situation in which they
empathy for the situation in which they grew up in the same goes here of course
grew up in the same goes here of course
grew up in the same goes here of course Millennials have a lot of work to do
Millennials have a lot of work to do
Millennials have a lot of work to do only they can take responsibility for
only they can take responsibility for
only they can take responsibility for their own behavior but what we’re saying
their own behavior but what we’re saying
their own behavior but what we’re saying is the way we treat them or the way we
is the way we treat them or the way we
is the way we treat them or the way we think about them and maybe the way we
think about them and maybe the way we
think about them and maybe the way we label them let’s have a little more
label them let’s have a little more
label them let’s have a little more empathy for the environment which they
empathy for the environment which they
empathy for the environment which they grew up that for people
grew up that for people
grew up that for people like me were older didn’t grow up that
like me were older didn’t grow up that
like me were older didn’t grow up that way I have a memory of a time before
way I have a memory of a time before
way I have a memory of a time before cell phones before email I went to
cell phones before email I went to
cell phones before email I went to college and email was just beginning so
college and email was just beginning so
college and email was just beginning so the point is I didn’t grow up the same
the point is I didn’t grow up the same
the point is I didn’t grow up the same way and I cannot relate to how they’re
way and I cannot relate to how they’re
way and I cannot relate to how they’re growing up it’s just about empathy
growing up it’s just about empathy
growing up it’s just about empathy that’s all it is and I think it’s a good
that’s all it is and I think it’s a good
that’s all it is and I think it’s a good practice for everyone to have a little
practice for everyone to have a little
practice for everyone to have a little more empathy for everyone else but of
more empathy for everyone else but of
more empathy for everyone else but of course Millennials have a lot of
course Millennials have a lot of
course Millennials have a lot of responsibility for their own behavior
responsibility for their own behavior
responsibility for their own behavior and they have to take action and do the
and they have to take action and do the
and they have to take action and do the heavy lifting
heavy lifting
heavy lifting hard work learn the patience to learn
hard work learn the patience to learn
hard work learn the patience to learn how to build the relationships and
how to build the relationships and
how to build the relationships and overcome some of the challenges they
overcome some of the challenges they
overcome some of the challenges they feel so then it gets to corporate
feel so then it gets to corporate
feel so then it gets to corporate responsibility I made the point that
responsibility I made the point that
responsibility I made the point that companies bear a lot of the
companies bear a lot of the
companies bear a lot of the responsibility here to build
responsibility here to build
responsibility here to build environments in which Millennials can
environments in which Millennials can
environments in which Millennials can thrive and that’s still the case I mean
thrive and that’s still the case I mean
thrive and that’s still the case I mean the fact of the matter is as I learned
the fact of the matter is as I learned
the fact of the matter is as I learned when I did all the research from leaders
when I did all the research from leaders
when I did all the research from leaders eat last is that one of the primary
eat last is that one of the primary
eat last is that one of the primary responsibilities of leaders is to build
responsibilities of leaders is to build
responsibilities of leaders is to build other leaders to take care of people
other leaders to take care of people
other leaders to take care of people this has nothing to do with Millennials
this has nothing to do with Millennials
this has nothing to do with Millennials this this has to do with good leadership
this this has to do with good leadership
this this has to do with good leadership good leaders teach other people how to
good leaders teach other people how to
good leaders teach other people how to become leaders and I find that the best
become leaders and I find that the best
become leaders and I find that the best companies have robust and remarkable
companies have robust and remarkable
companies have robust and remarkable leadership programs and I don’t mean
leadership programs and I don’t mean
leadership programs and I don’t mean teaching skills I mean teaching things
teaching skills I mean teaching things
teaching skills I mean teaching things like work skills hard skills I mean
like work skills hard skills I mean
like work skills hard skills I mean teaching things like human skills like
teaching things like human skills like
teaching things like human skills like listening or communication or conflict
listening or communication or conflict
listening or communication or conflict resolution things like that that’s what
resolution things like that that’s what
resolution things like that that’s what the best companies do in other words we
the best companies do in other words we
the best companies do in other words we are asking companies to please just do
are asking companies to please just do
are asking companies to please just do what they’re supposed to be doing this
what they’re supposed to be doing this
what they’re supposed to be doing this is not about companies picking up the
is not about companies picking up the
is not about companies picking up the slack for Millennials this is about
slack for Millennials this is about
slack for Millennials this is about companies doing what they’re supposed to
companies doing what they’re supposed to
companies doing what they’re supposed to be doing for all their employees it will
be doing for all their employees it will
be doing for all their employees it will probably have an even more powerful
probably have an even more powerful
probably have an even more powerful impact on the Millennial Generation
impact on the Millennial Generation
impact on the Millennial Generation however given the environment in which
however given the environment in which
however given the environment in which they grew up so yes companies still have
they grew up so yes companies still have
they grew up so yes companies still have a responsibility to develop systems
a responsibility to develop systems
a responsibility to develop systems programs trainings peer reviews new
programs trainings peer reviews new
programs trainings peer reviews new kinds of incentive programs that are
kinds of incentive programs that are
kinds of incentive programs that are different from all of the things that
different from all of the things that
different from all of the things that came with us from the 80s and 90s that
came with us from the 80s and 90s that
came with us from the 80s and 90s that are for all employees not just
are for all employees not just
are for all employees not just Millennials but Millennials will benefit
Millennials but Millennials will benefit
Millennials but Millennials will benefit a lot so finally I have to say and I
a lot so finally I have to say and I
a lot so finally I have to say and I think some people probably heard me say
think some people probably heard me say
think some people probably heard me say this before you know I joke that the the
this before you know I joke that the the
this before you know I joke that the the book shop has an entire section called
book shop has an entire section called
book shop has an entire section called self-help and it has no section called
self-help and it has no section called
self-help and it has no section called help others and I think one of the
help others and I think one of the
help others and I think one of the things that this the popularity of this
things that this the popularity of this
things that this the popularity of this this question to this the answer to this
this question to this the answer to this
this question to this the answer to this millennial question has done is it’s
millennial question has done is it’s
millennial question has done is it’s proven to me that we need a new industry
proven to me that we need a new industry
proven to me that we need a new industry we need we need an industry call to help
we need we need an industry call to help
we need we need an industry call to help others industry where we practice
others industry where we practice
others industry where we practice empathy on a regular regular basis that
empathy on a regular regular basis that
empathy on a regular regular basis that we share ideas we write books we write
we share ideas we write books we write
we share ideas we write books we write articles all about how we can empathize
articles all about how we can empathize
articles all about how we can empathize and help others go through life and by
and help others go through life and by
and help others go through life and by the way if everybody’s reading those
the way if everybody’s reading those
the way if everybody’s reading those articles those books watching those
articles those books watching those
articles those books watching those videos that means that they’re going to
videos that means that they’re going to
videos that means that they’re going to help us to I mean wouldn’t you want to
help us to I mean wouldn’t you want to
help us to I mean wouldn’t you want to go to work in a place where everybody in
go to work in a place where everybody in
go to work in a place where everybody in that company is preoccupied with helping
that company is preoccupied with helping
that company is preoccupied with helping each other succeed rather than just
each other succeed rather than just
each other succeed rather than just stabbing each other in the back to help
stabbing each other in the back to help
stabbing each other in the back to help themselves succeed and quite frankly I
themselves succeed and quite frankly I
themselves succeed and quite frankly I think this is wonderful so here’s what
think this is wonderful so here’s what
think this is wonderful so here’s what I’m committing to do I want to keep
I’m committing to do I want to keep
I’m committing to do I want to keep learning about the subject I don’t
learning about the subject I don’t
learning about the subject I don’t consider myself an expert on any of
consider myself an expert on any of
consider myself an expert on any of these subjects I consider myself a
these subjects I consider myself a
these subjects I consider myself a student on these subjects and when
student on these subjects and when
student on these subjects and when something sparks my mind I become
something sparks my mind I become
something sparks my mind I become curious and I start asking people and
curious and I start asking people and
curious and I start asking people and investigating and researching and that’s
investigating and researching and that’s
investigating and researching and that’s what I’m going to keep doing so as I
what I’m going to keep doing so as I
what I’m going to keep doing so as I have more ideas as I have more to share
have more ideas as I have more to share
have more ideas as I have more to share as I learn more I’ll pop up on one of
as I learn more I’ll pop up on one of
as I learn more I’ll pop up on one of these every now and then or write or
these every now and then or write or
these every now and then or write or blog or something and I’ll share
blog or something and I’ll share
blog or something and I’ll share whatever I know for the benefit of all
whatever I know for the benefit of all
whatever I know for the benefit of all of us and please please please keep
of us and please please please keep
of us and please please please keep writing in email us or post on Facebook
writing in email us or post on Facebook
writing in email us or post on Facebook tell us what you’re learning tell us
tell us what you’re learning tell us
tell us what you’re learning tell us some of the experiences if you have a
some of the experiences if you have a
some of the experiences if you have a criticism absolutely give it to us but
criticism absolutely give it to us but
criticism absolutely give it to us but make it constructive please help us what
make it constructive please help us what
make it constructive please help us what we can learn this is all about all of us
we can learn this is all about all of us
we can learn this is all about all of us trying to make our world our companies
trying to make our world our companies
trying to make our world our companies our populations better that’s what it’s
our populations better that’s what it’s
our populations better that’s what it’s about this is about all of us we can all
about this is about all of us we can all
about this is about all of us we can all take responsibilities for our cells and
take responsibilities for our cells and
take responsibilities for our cells and we can all help others take
we can all help others take
we can all help others take responsibility for themselves also so
responsibility for themselves also so
responsibility for themselves also so let us work together let’s be the
let us work together let’s be the
let us work together let’s be the catalyst for building the help others
catalyst for building the help others
catalyst for building the help others industry what a wonderful way to start
industry what a wonderful way to start
industry what a wonderful way to start the year we’re going to build an
the year we’re going to build an
the year we’re going to build an industry together thank you very much
industry together thank you very much
industry together thank you very much and I will probably do one of these
and I will probably do one of these
and I will probably do one of these again soon as I
again soon as I
again soon as I keep learning so yeah thanks very much
keep learning so yeah thanks very much
keep learning so yeah thanks very much and thanks for helping me spread the
and thanks for helping me spread the
and thanks for helping me spread the message I can’t tell you how powerful
message I can’t tell you how powerful
message I can’t tell you how powerful it’s been the past few days and it’s
it’s been the past few days and it’s
it’s been the past few days and it’s going to be an amazing year happy new
going to be an amazing year happy new
going to be an amazing year happy new year everyone
”
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