you know were called the next greatest generation we were given this title
generation we were given this title
generation we were given this title before most of us could even walk this
before most of us could even walk this
before most of us could even walk this idea of high expectations is is kind of
idea of high expectations is is kind of
idea of high expectations is is kind of funny because if you set such high
funny because if you set such high
funny because if you set such high expectations if you’re honest with
expectations if you’re honest with
expectations if you’re honest with yourself you’re always setting yourself
yourself you’re always setting yourself
yourself you’re always setting yourself up for disappointment
up for disappointment
up for disappointment just think of pretty much any first date
just think of pretty much any first date
just think of pretty much any first date you’ve ever been on the real greatest
you’ve ever been on the real greatest
you’ve ever been on the real greatest generation earned the title they were
generation earned the title they were
generation earned the title they were raised during the Great Depression they
raised during the Great Depression they
raised during the Great Depression they inherited a world war they had an older
inherited a world war they had an older
inherited a world war they had an older generation who questioned whether or not
generation who questioned whether or not
generation who questioned whether or not they would ever amount to anything they
they would ever amount to anything they
they would ever amount to anything they won the war they rebuilt the economy and
won the war they rebuilt the economy and
won the war they rebuilt the economy and they gave us the likes of JFK Ronald
they gave us the likes of JFK Ronald
they gave us the likes of JFK Ronald Reagan and of course Betty White the
Reagan and of course Betty White the
Reagan and of course Betty White the greatest generation wasn’t great because
greatest generation wasn’t great because
greatest generation wasn’t great because they survived the greatest generation
they survived the greatest generation
they survived the greatest generation was great because they overcame the
was great because they overcame the
was great because they overcame the greatest generation was great because
greatest generation was great because
greatest generation was great because they had a shared purpose a common
they had a shared purpose a common
they had a shared purpose a common direction a shared passion you see we’ve
direction a shared passion you see we’ve
direction a shared passion you see we’ve been called the next greatest generation
been called the next greatest generation
been called the next greatest generation before we even had the chance to define
before we even had the chance to define
before we even had the chance to define what greatness meant for us and so
what greatness meant for us and so
what greatness meant for us and so because we don’t fulfill their idea of
because we don’t fulfill their idea of
because we don’t fulfill their idea of what greatness is our ambition is
what greatness is our ambition is
what greatness is our ambition is interpreted as entitlement and our
interpreted as entitlement and our
interpreted as entitlement and our creativity is seen as childishness and
creativity is seen as childishness and
creativity is seen as childishness and our passion and search for significance
our passion and search for significance
our passion and search for significance is mocked and considered disloyalty sure
is mocked and considered disloyalty sure
is mocked and considered disloyalty sure we were the generation that was given
we were the generation that was given
we were the generation that was given trophies for pretty much anything and so
trophies for pretty much anything and so
trophies for pretty much anything and so now we are going into the workforce and
now we are going into the workforce and
now we are going into the workforce and we expect a raise or a promotion every
we expect a raise or a promotion every
we expect a raise or a promotion every three months we’ve never been allowed to
three months we’ve never been allowed to
three months we’ve never been allowed to fall so now we’re afraid to fly we’ve
fall so now we’re afraid to fly we’ve
fall so now we’re afraid to fly we’ve been given help all the time so we’ve
been given help all the time so we’ve
been given help all the time so we’ve never discovered how to actually help
never discovered how to actually help
never discovered how to actually help ourselves
ourselves
ourselves we use technology to solve problems
we use technology to solve problems
we use technology to solve problems constantly and yet we also use it to
constantly and yet we also use it to
constantly and yet we also use it to avoid conflict we spend more time
avoid conflict we spend more time
avoid conflict we spend more time checking our so
checking our so
checking our so Media statuses and checking our bank
Media statuses and checking our bank
Media statuses and checking our bank accounts we avoid eye-contact and
accounts we avoid eye-contact and
accounts we avoid eye-contact and handshakes and in-person conversations
handshakes and in-person conversations
handshakes and in-person conversations we try and disrupt a system that we’ve
we try and disrupt a system that we’ve
we try and disrupt a system that we’ve never attempted to understand and we
never attempted to understand and we
never attempted to understand and we protest a government that we’ve never
protest a government that we’ve never
protest a government that we’ve never participated in we choose to be offended
participated in we choose to be offended
participated in we choose to be offended rather than seek to understand other
rather than seek to understand other
rather than seek to understand other people’s perspectives I’ve got to be
people’s perspectives I’ve got to be
people’s perspectives I’ve got to be honest with you guys it’s time for us to
honest with you guys it’s time for us to
honest with you guys it’s time for us to stop playing the victim
stop playing the victim
stop playing the victim I’m so tired of people saying that our
I’m so tired of people saying that our
I’m so tired of people saying that our generation inherited a bad economy what
generation inherited a bad economy what
generation inherited a bad economy what an excuse when I graduated college in
an excuse when I graduated college in
an excuse when I graduated college in 2009 sure it was difficult trying to
2009 sure it was difficult trying to
2009 sure it was difficult trying to find a job but I got one eventually and
find a job but I got one eventually and
find a job but I got one eventually and I even had my own office I mean
I even had my own office I mean
I even had my own office I mean technically the office was a converted
technically the office was a converted
technically the office was a converted cleaning closet however details it had a
cleaning closet however details it had a
cleaning closet however details it had a door it totally counts this bad economy
door it totally counts this bad economy
door it totally counts this bad economy business is their excuse for why we’re
business is their excuse for why we’re
business is their excuse for why we’re not great and if you want to know what
not great and if you want to know what
not great and if you want to know what our excuses well it’s not really an
our excuses well it’s not really an
our excuses well it’s not really an excuse actually it’s more like the truth
excuse actually it’s more like the truth
excuse actually it’s more like the truth the truth is that we don’t know what we
the truth is that we don’t know what we
the truth is that we don’t know what we want to do with our lives yet we don’t
want to do with our lives yet we don’t
want to do with our lives yet we don’t want to have jobs that don’t fulfill us
want to have jobs that don’t fulfill us
want to have jobs that don’t fulfill us that don’t matter while our parents are
that don’t matter while our parents are
that don’t matter while our parents are having their midlife crisis we’re over
having their midlife crisis we’re over
having their midlife crisis we’re over here having our quarter life crisis we
here having our quarter life crisis we
here having our quarter life crisis we are asking the big questions now because
are asking the big questions now because
are asking the big questions now because we don’t want to live an entire life
we don’t want to live an entire life
we don’t want to live an entire life wondering what if I was running a focus
wondering what if I was running a focus
wondering what if I was running a focus group to find out what Millennials
group to find out what Millennials
group to find out what Millennials actually want from one from work and one
actually want from one from work and one
actually want from one from work and one young woman explained it to me this way
young woman explained it to me this way
young woman explained it to me this way she said I don’t want to retire once I
she said I don’t want to retire once I
she said I don’t want to retire once I want to live my life with micro
want to live my life with micro
want to live my life with micro retirements you see she didn’t want to
retirements you see she didn’t want to
retirements you see she didn’t want to wait until she was old to start to
wait until she was old to start to
wait until she was old to start to appreciate life she wanted to go for two
appreciate life she wanted to go for two
appreciate life she wanted to go for two months or three months and experience
months or three months and experience
months or three months and experience life and live life balanced this
life and live life balanced this
life and live life balanced this generation isn’t all that different from
generation isn’t all that different from
generation isn’t all that different from other generations but we do want things
other generations but we do want things
other generations but we do want things at at different times in the generations
at at different times in the generations
at at different times in the generations that have gone before us despite all of
that have gone before us despite all of
that have gone before us despite all of this this generation our generation has
this this generation our generation has
this this generation our generation has failed to embrace the one concept that
failed to embrace the one concept that
failed to embrace the one concept that saves companies saves countries and
saves companies saves countries and
saves companies saves countries and saves careers
saves careers
saves careers and it’s one word respect I was asked to
and it’s one word respect I was asked to
and it’s one word respect I was asked to speak before the Navy to help leaders
speak before the Navy to help leaders
speak before the Navy to help leaders understand what motivates our generation
understand what motivates our generation
understand what motivates our generation the organizers thought it’d be a good
the organizers thought it’d be a good
the organizers thought it’d be a good idea if they brought up one of the
idea if they brought up one of the
idea if they brought up one of the longest-serving members of the Navy his
longest-serving members of the Navy his
longest-serving members of the Navy his name was mr. Todd again and mr. Todd
name was mr. Todd again and mr. Todd
name was mr. Todd again and mr. Todd again started with the Navy when he was
again started with the Navy when he was
again started with the Navy when he was 17 years old and now over 73 years later
17 years old and now over 73 years later
17 years old and now over 73 years later he was still serving and was not
he was still serving and was not
he was still serving and was not planning on retiring any time soon after
planning on retiring any time soon after
planning on retiring any time soon after I got done speaking an opportunity to
I got done speaking an opportunity to
I got done speaking an opportunity to sit down with mr. Todd again and ask him
sit down with mr. Todd again and ask him
sit down with mr. Todd again and ask him a few questions he’s in his upper 80s
a few questions he’s in his upper 80s
a few questions he’s in his upper 80s now and he’s smart as a whip hilarious
now and he’s smart as a whip hilarious
now and he’s smart as a whip hilarious and a little bit of a flirt I asked him
and a little bit of a flirt I asked him
and a little bit of a flirt I asked him a question I said mr. Todd Egan you have
a question I said mr. Todd Egan you have
a question I said mr. Todd Egan you have seen administration’s change you’ve seen
seen administration’s change you’ve seen
seen administration’s change you’ve seen technology change you’ve seen the world
technology change you’ve seen the world
technology change you’ve seen the world around you change how do you handle
around you change how do you handle
around you change how do you handle working with people of so many different
working with people of so many different
working with people of so many different generations that’s when he said
generations that’s when he said
generations that’s when he said something that was truly profound he
something that was truly profound he
something that was truly profound he said I learned long ago that I can learn
said I learned long ago that I can learn
said I learned long ago that I can learn something from everyone you see mr. Todd
something from everyone you see mr. Todd
something from everyone you see mr. Todd akin is a part of the greatest
akin is a part of the greatest
akin is a part of the greatest generation he’s part of a generation
generation he’s part of a generation
generation he’s part of a generation that understood what respect meant his
that understood what respect meant his
that understood what respect meant his generation believed that you didn’t need
generation believed that you didn’t need
generation believed that you didn’t need to earn respect respect was given but
to earn respect respect was given but
to earn respect respect was given but you see our generation doesn’t think
you see our generation doesn’t think
you see our generation doesn’t think that the mr. tatak ins of the world
that the mr. tatak ins of the world
that the mr. tatak ins of the world actually care we think that the mr.
actually care we think that the mr.
actually care we think that the mr. tatak ins of the world are are out of
tatak ins of the world are are out of
tatak ins of the world are are out of touch and out of place and not relevant
touch and out of place and not relevant
touch and out of place and not relevant to who we are today
to who we are today
to who we are today but the mr. Tatem zuv the world know the
but the mr. Tatem zuv the world know the
but the mr. Tatem zuv the world know the one thing that our generation won’t even
one thing that our generation won’t even
one thing that our generation won’t even admit to ourselves we don’t know what
admit to ourselves we don’t know what
admit to ourselves we don’t know what we’re doing we’re not the next Greatest
we’re doing we’re not the next Greatest
we’re doing we’re not the next Greatest Generation but we sure could be
Generation but we sure could be
Generation but we sure could be Millennials are the largest generation
Millennials are the largest generation
Millennials are the largest generation on the planet every single day 10,000
on the planet every single day 10,000
on the planet every single day 10,000 Millennials turn 21 we’re the largest
Millennials turn 21 we’re the largest
Millennials turn 21 we’re the largest part of the workforce over 70% of us
part of the workforce over 70% of us
part of the workforce over 70% of us actually want to start our own companies
actually want to start our own companies
actually want to start our own companies one day we’re the most optimistic
one day we’re the most optimistic
one day we’re the most optimistic generation there is we believe the best
generation there is we believe the best
generation there is we believe the best days of our generation in our nation
days of our generation in our nation
days of our generation in our nation are ahead of us we’re set to live the
are ahead of us we’re set to live the
are ahead of us we’re set to live the longest travel the most and be the most
longest travel the most and be the most
longest travel the most and be the most educated generation in history we have
educated generation in history we have
educated generation in history we have the DNA of greatness we are a generation
the DNA of greatness we are a generation
the DNA of greatness we are a generation of dreamers of doers of developers who
of dreamers of doers of developers who
of dreamers of doers of developers who defend the least of these and defy all
defend the least of these and defy all
defend the least of these and defy all odds you see every generation has a
odds you see every generation has a
odds you see every generation has a destiny something that they’re uniquely
destiny something that they’re uniquely
destiny something that they’re uniquely supposed to do and it’s something so big
supposed to do and it’s something so big
supposed to do and it’s something so big that no one person and no one group can
that no one person and no one group can
that no one person and no one group can achieve it together a generations
achieve it together a generations
achieve it together a generations destiny is to be discovered and achieved
destiny is to be discovered and achieved
destiny is to be discovered and achieved as a group a generation becomes great
as a group a generation becomes great
as a group a generation becomes great when they discover that destiny and
when they discover that destiny and
when they discover that destiny and throw themselves fully at it greatness
throw themselves fully at it greatness
throw themselves fully at it greatness cannot come from nothing greatness must
cannot come from nothing greatness must
cannot come from nothing greatness must come from greatness greatness cannot
come from greatness greatness cannot
come from greatness greatness cannot come from good enough
come from good enough
come from good enough you see we fold ourselves into making
you see we fold ourselves into making
you see we fold ourselves into making good enough feel great we’ve let our
good enough feel great we’ve let our
good enough feel great we’ve let our parents acceptance become our ceiling
parents acceptance become our ceiling
parents acceptance become our ceiling we’ve let the security blankets and the
we’ve let the security blankets and the
we’ve let the security blankets and the safety nets of this world protect us
safety nets of this world protect us
safety nets of this world protect us from the discomfort of growing up of
from the discomfort of growing up of
from the discomfort of growing up of embarrassing ourselves a falling flat on
embarrassing ourselves a falling flat on
embarrassing ourselves a falling flat on our face of letting ourselves and
our face of letting ourselves and
our face of letting ourselves and letting our parents down so what does it
letting our parents down so what does it
letting our parents down so what does it mean to be the next Greatest Generation
mean to be the next Greatest Generation
mean to be the next Greatest Generation how do we become it it’s simple we
how do we become it it’s simple we
how do we become it it’s simple we become a great generation when we do
become a great generation when we do
become a great generation when we do more than is expected of us when we
more than is expected of us when we
more than is expected of us when we listen before we ask questions when we
listen before we ask questions when we
listen before we ask questions when we find mentors and we mentor others we
find mentors and we mentor others we
find mentors and we mentor others we become a great generation when we take
become a great generation when we take
become a great generation when we take responsibility for our actions for our
responsibility for our actions for our
responsibility for our actions for our finances and for our influence we become
finances and for our influence we become
finances and for our influence we become a great generation when we are defined
a great generation when we are defined
a great generation when we are defined by our action and not defined by our
by our action and not defined by our
by our action and not defined by our apathy when we learn from the past and
apathy when we learn from the past and
apathy when we learn from the past and plan for the future you see I wanted to
plan for the future you see I wanted to
plan for the future you see I wanted to know what the future of America looked
know what the future of America looked
know what the future of America looked like when Millennials were in charge so
like when Millennials were in charge so
like when Millennials were in charge so I spent about two years surveying
I spent about two years surveying
I spent about two years surveying hundreds of Millennials across this
hundreds of Millennials across this
hundreds of Millennials across this country to figure out what is it going
country to figure out what is it going
country to figure out what is it going to look like
to look like
to look like when we are leading the world this is
when we are leading the world this is
when we are leading the world this is what I found
what I found
what I found Millennials don’t need permission but we
Millennials don’t need permission but we
Millennials don’t need permission but we are looking for a platform the three
are looking for a platform the three
are looking for a platform the three things that you should never tell a
things that you should never tell a
things that you should never tell a millennial or this you should never say
millennial or this you should never say
millennial or this you should never say wait your turn you should never say pay
wait your turn you should never say pay
wait your turn you should never say pay your dues and you should never say and
your dues and you should never say and
your dues and you should never say and or explain to us that’s just how things
or explain to us that’s just how things
or explain to us that’s just how things have been done around here you see we’re
have been done around here you see we’re
have been done around here you see we’re a generation of disruptors we are built
a generation of disruptors we are built
a generation of disruptors we are built to change things we want to get our
to change things we want to get our
to change things we want to get our hands on things and make things better
hands on things and make things better
hands on things and make things better and faster and sexier we want to build
and faster and sexier we want to build
and faster and sexier we want to build things but you see our need to disrupt
things but you see our need to disrupt
things but you see our need to disrupt is so oftentimes interpreted as
is so oftentimes interpreted as
is so oftentimes interpreted as disrespect our generation loves
disrespect our generation loves
disrespect our generation loves influence I’ve never seen a group of
influence I’ve never seen a group of
influence I’ve never seen a group of people who understand so innately this
people who understand so innately this
people who understand so innately this idea of personal brand we recognize that
idea of personal brand we recognize that
idea of personal brand we recognize that if we love something we can create an
if we love something we can create an
if we love something we can create an entire industry suggesting our favorite
entire industry suggesting our favorite
entire industry suggesting our favorite brands to the people who follow us and
brands to the people who follow us and
brands to the people who follow us and our friends you see we understand that
our friends you see we understand that
our friends you see we understand that what we purchase is not only a
what we purchase is not only a
what we purchase is not only a reflection of ourselves it’s a
reflection of ourselves it’s a
reflection of ourselves it’s a reflection of our personalities our
reflection of our personalities our
reflection of our personalities our priorities and our principles
priorities and our principles
priorities and our principles Millennials are a generation that is
Millennials are a generation that is
Millennials are a generation that is desperate for direction but oftentimes
desperate for direction but oftentimes
desperate for direction but oftentimes too embarrassed to ask for help
too embarrassed to ask for help
too embarrassed to ask for help you see we’re the Google generation we
you see we’re the Google generation we
you see we’re the Google generation we feel like we should know all the answers
feel like we should know all the answers
feel like we should know all the answers and what I found is that this generation
and what I found is that this generation
and what I found is that this generation would rather look on the internet for an
would rather look on the internet for an
would rather look on the internet for an answer than raise their hand but I will
answer than raise their hand but I will
answer than raise their hand but I will tell you what I tell teachers and CEOs
tell you what I tell teachers and CEOs
tell you what I tell teachers and CEOs and parents and it’s this our generation
and parents and it’s this our generation
and parents and it’s this our generation doesn’t need you for information we have
doesn’t need you for information we have
doesn’t need you for information we have the internet for that what we need you
the internet for that what we need you
the internet for that what we need you for is interpretation and application so
for is interpretation and application so
for is interpretation and application so what does the future look like it looks
what does the future look like it looks
what does the future look like it looks like it’s collaborative
like it’s collaborative
like it’s collaborative it looks like it’s creative it looks
it looks like it’s creative it looks
it looks like it’s creative it looks like it’s cause oriented I’ve studied
like it’s cause oriented I’ve studied
like it’s cause oriented I’ve studied Millennials for about 11 years now which
Millennials for about 11 years now which
Millennials for about 11 years now which when I say that out loud it makes me
when I say that out loud it makes me
when I say that out loud it makes me feel really old as a millennial myself
feel really old as a millennial myself
feel really old as a millennial myself but what I found is whether it was
but what I found is whether it was
but what I found is whether it was looking at who Millennials vote for or
looking at who Millennials vote for or
looking at who Millennials vote for or what we buy or where we work there’s one
what we buy or where we work there’s one
what we buy or where we work there’s one common theme and it’s this Millennials
common theme and it’s this Millennials
common theme and it’s this Millennials are a justice generation no one had too
are a justice generation no one had too
are a justice generation no one had too less that human trafficking was wrong no
less that human trafficking was wrong no
less that human trafficking was wrong no one had to tell us that taking care of
one had to tell us that taking care of
one had to tell us that taking care of the environment was right no one had to
the environment was right no one had to
the environment was right no one had to say we should develop things sustainably
say we should develop things sustainably
say we should develop things sustainably we just knew that we should you see
we just knew that we should you see
we just knew that we should you see justice is a part of our common unifier
justice is a part of our common unifier
justice is a part of our common unifier it’s our core cause and it is our shared
it’s our core cause and it is our shared
it’s our core cause and it is our shared purpose we’re creating entire industries
purpose we’re creating entire industries
purpose we’re creating entire industries around doing well by doing good we keep
around doing well by doing good we keep
around doing well by doing good we keep corporations accountable because we know
corporations accountable because we know
corporations accountable because we know it’s the right thing to do but you see
it’s the right thing to do but you see
it’s the right thing to do but you see the thing is that no calling no
the thing is that no calling no
the thing is that no calling no generational destiny can be completed on
generational destiny can be completed on
generational destiny can be completed on our own it’s too big for that how well
our own it’s too big for that how well
our own it’s too big for that how well we achieve our destiny completely
we achieve our destiny completely
we achieve our destiny completely depends on how well we engage our
depends on how well we engage our
depends on how well we engage our predecessors you see we’re part of the
predecessors you see we’re part of the
predecessors you see we’re part of the largest generational power handoff in
largest generational power handoff in
largest generational power handoff in history in the next five years six out
history in the next five years six out
history in the next five years six out of every ten US executives is set to
of every ten US executives is set to
of every ten US executives is set to retire in less than ten years many of us
retire in less than ten years many of us
retire in less than ten years many of us will be thrust into positions of
will be thrust into positions of
will be thrust into positions of leadership that we may not be prepared
leadership that we may not be prepared
leadership that we may not be prepared for you see how it normally works as one
for you see how it normally works as one
for you see how it normally works as one generation retires and hands off the
generation retires and hands off the
generation retires and hands off the power to the next generation but that’s
power to the next generation but that’s
power to the next generation but that’s not happening Generation X is a third
not happening Generation X is a third
not happening Generation X is a third the size of the Millennial and the
the size of the Millennial and the
the size of the Millennial and the retiring baby boomers in other words
retiring baby boomers in other words
retiring baby boomers in other words there just aren’t enough 40 and 50 year
there just aren’t enough 40 and 50 year
there just aren’t enough 40 and 50 year olds to be able to fill those leadership
olds to be able to fill those leadership
olds to be able to fill those leadership positions we may not deserve leadership
positions we may not deserve leadership
positions we may not deserve leadership but we will be ready for it
but we will be ready for it
but we will be ready for it with great expectations comes great
with great expectations comes great
with great expectations comes great responsibility
responsibility
responsibility they still think we’re the next Greatest
they still think we’re the next Greatest
they still think we’re the next Greatest Generation let’s not let them down
”
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