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Why the stereotypes about millennials are holding us back. | Nick Molnar | TEDxYouth@Sydney


[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

when I sat down with my wife and told

when I sat down with my wife and told her that I was gonna do a TEDx talk she

her that I was gonna do a TEDx talk she

her that I was gonna do a TEDx talk she suggested that I come onstage with a

suggested that I come onstage with a

suggested that I come onstage with a loaf of gluten-free bread and an avocado

loaf of gluten-free bread and an avocado

loaf of gluten-free bread and an avocado and smash them together to make smashed

and smash them together to make smashed

and smash them together to make smashed avocado but we settled with me doing an

avocado but we settled with me doing an

avocado but we settled with me doing an Ellen DeGeneres selfie all right so on

Ellen DeGeneres selfie all right so on

Ellen DeGeneres selfie all right so on three I want everyone to say smashed

three I want everyone to say smashed

three I want everyone to say smashed avocado all right you ready turn this

avocado all right you ready turn this

avocado all right you ready turn this around one two three

around one two three

around one two three smash that photos gonna go viral for

smash that photos gonna go viral for

smash that photos gonna go viral for sure all right my name is Nick I’m a

sure all right my name is Nick I’m a

sure all right my name is Nick I’m a millennial at 75% of my customers are

millennial at 75% of my customers are

millennial at 75% of my customers are Millennials and I’m here to set the

Millennials and I’m here to set the

Millennials and I’m here to set the record straight about us so some

record straight about us so some

record straight about us so some background on me I’m a 27 year old

background on me I’m a 27 year old

background on me I’m a 27 year old serial entrepreneur I which basically

serial entrepreneur I which basically

serial entrepreneur I which basically means I’ve never had a secure paycheck I

means I’ve never had a secure paycheck I

means I’ve never had a secure paycheck I managed to sell the most jewelry on eBay

managed to sell the most jewelry on eBay

managed to sell the most jewelry on eBay while I was at uni when I was 19 out of

while I was at uni when I was 19 out of

while I was at uni when I was 19 out of my bedroom which led me then to co-found

my bedroom which led me then to co-found

my bedroom which led me then to co-found a business called after pay what after

a business called after pay what after

a business called after pay what after pay does is essentially allow someone

pay does is essentially allow someone

pay does is essentially allow someone who’s buying a 200 old address to pay

who’s buying a 200 old address to pay

who’s buying a 200 old address to pay for payments of $50 so cost the customer

for payments of $50 so cost the customer

for payments of $50 so cost the customer nothing extra we pay the retailer’s

nothing extra we pay the retailer’s

nothing extra we pay the retailer’s straightaway and we take all the risk

straightaway and we take all the risk

straightaway and we take all the risk we’ve grown really quickly which has

we’ve grown really quickly which has

we’ve grown really quickly which has been largely driven by Millennials a bit

been largely driven by Millennials a bit

been largely driven by Millennials a bit over two years ago when we started we

over two years ago when we started we

over two years ago when we started we had less than ten retailers we’ve now

had less than ten retailers we’ve now

had less than ten retailers we’ve now got over 7,000 retailers we have a

got over 7,000 retailers we have a

got over 7,000 retailers we have a couple thousand customers we’ve now got

couple thousand customers we’ve now got

couple thousand customers we’ve now got over a million customers and we process

over a million customers and we process

over a million customers and we process annualized sales through our platform of

annualized sales through our platform of

annualized sales through our platform of over a billion dollars so we’ve grown

over a billion dollars so we’ve grown

over a billion dollars so we’ve grown really quickly when I was building my

really quickly when I was building my

really quickly when I was building my business I believed that if I could

business I believed that if I could

business I believed that if I could drive mass millennial adoption it would

drive mass millennial adoption it would

drive mass millennial adoption it would drive mainstream adoption and I’ve been

drive mainstream adoption and I’ve been

drive mainstream adoption and I’ve been really privileged to watch how

really privileged to watch how

really privileged to watch how Millennials are shifting society

Millennials are shifting society

Millennials are shifting society Millennials generally genuinely

Millennials generally genuinely

Millennials generally genuinely influence the older generation

influence the older generation

influence the older generation they educate them to engage in services

they educate them to engage in services

they educate them to engage in services that make life more enjoyable

that make life more enjoyable

that make life more enjoyable so being 27 I fit smack bang in the in

so being 27 I fit smack bang in the in

so being 27 I fit smack bang in the in the middle of the Millennial cohort and

the middle of the Millennial cohort and

the middle of the Millennial cohort and I fit the profile to a tee what concerns

I fit the profile to a tee what concerns

I fit the profile to a tee what concerns me or what is upsetting for me is the

me or what is upsetting for me is the

me or what is upsetting for me is the stereotypes that are thrown our way and

stereotypes that are thrown our way and

stereotypes that are thrown our way and they really cloud us from talking about

they really cloud us from talking about

they really cloud us from talking about the true legacy that millenials are

the true legacy that millenials are

the true legacy that millenials are leaving our instantaneous gratification

leaving our instantaneous gratification

leaving our instantaneous gratification gene does sometimes get in the way and

gene does sometimes get in the way and

gene does sometimes get in the way and distract us from taking the time to

distract us from taking the time to

distract us from taking the time to think about what certain scenario that

think about what certain scenario that

think about what certain scenario that I’m certain scenarios deserve so

I’m certain scenarios deserve so

I’m certain scenarios deserve so Millennials are shifting society we’re

Millennials are shifting society we’re

Millennials are shifting society we’re leaving a legacy but is that the legacy

leaving a legacy but is that the legacy

leaving a legacy but is that the legacy that we want to leave so I’d like to

that we want to leave so I’d like to

that we want to leave so I’d like to introduce the concept of Mille Emma’s

introduce the concept of Mille Emma’s

introduce the concept of Mille Emma’s these are the Millennial dilemmas their

these are the Millennial dilemmas their

these are the Millennial dilemmas their life’s big little problems so how I

life’s big little problems so how I

life’s big little problems so how I think of Mille Emma’s it’s the everyday

think of Mille Emma’s it’s the everyday

think of Mille Emma’s it’s the everyday hurdles of the older generation as

hurdles of the older generation as

hurdles of the older generation as they’re experienced by the millennial

they’re experienced by the millennial

they’re experienced by the millennial generation and Mille Emma’s are real you

generation and Mille Emma’s are real you

generation and Mille Emma’s are real you need to be in the Millennial Club to

need to be in the Millennial Club to

need to be in the Millennial Club to understand them and know that they’re

understand them and know that they’re

understand them and know that they’re real I saw something really funny on

real I saw something really funny on

real I saw something really funny on Instagram the other day it said there

Instagram the other day it said there

Instagram the other day it said there should be a millennial edition of

should be a millennial edition of

should be a millennial edition of Monopoly where everyone just walks

Monopoly where everyone just walks

Monopoly where everyone just walks around the board paying rent no one

around the board paying rent no one

around the board paying rent no one actually buys anything but that’s it

actually buys anything but that’s it

actually buys anything but that’s it that’s at room ulema right and sure

that’s at room ulema right and sure

that’s at room ulema right and sure Millennials are guilty of many things we

Millennials are guilty of many things we

Millennials are guilty of many things we have our generational quirks we have our

have our generational quirks we have our

have our generational quirks we have our superficial side but these stereotypes

superficial side but these stereotypes

superficial side but these stereotypes have really opened us up to outright

have really opened us up to outright

have really opened us up to outright character assassination at times and

character assassination at times and

character assassination at times and this frustrates me because more than any

this frustrates me because more than any

this frustrates me because more than any generation in history Millennials have

generation in history Millennials have

generation in history Millennials have the opportunity to leave a deep lasting

the opportunity to leave a deep lasting

the opportunity to leave a deep lasting and positive change so it’s time to stop

and positive change so it’s time to stop

and positive change so it’s time to stop being the generation that gets written

being the generation that gets written

being the generation that gets written off and become the generation that

off and become the generation that

off and become the generation that rewrites history so let’s dive a bit

rewrites history so let’s dive a bit

rewrites history so let’s dive a bit deeper into our everyday Mille Emmas

deeper into our everyday Mille Emmas

deeper into our everyday Mille Emmas Mille EMA number one we are absolutely

Mille EMA number one we are absolutely

Mille EMA number one we are absolutely guilty of instantaneous gratification we

guilty of instantaneous gratification we

guilty of instantaneous gratification we live in the moment we live for

live in the moment we live for

live in the moment we live for instantaneous gratification I’m not

instantaneous gratification I’m not

instantaneous gratification I’m not gonna lie I was in and over on the way

gonna lie I was in and over on the way

gonna lie I was in and over on the way home from work last week and I did order

home from work last week and I did order

home from work last week and I did order beats while I was in the uber and it was

beats while I was in the uber and it was

beats while I was in the uber and it was kind of a race

kind of a race

kind of a race if who was gonna get there first we live

if who was gonna get there first we live

if who was gonna get there first we live for our five-star Eber ratings we live

for our five-star Eber ratings we live

for our five-star Eber ratings we live for our 50 Instagram likes but that’s

for our 50 Instagram likes but that’s

for our 50 Instagram likes but that’s understandable because we have grown up

understandable because we have grown up

understandable because we have grown up in being at the forefront of this

in being at the forefront of this

in being at the forefront of this technology revolution where the early

technology revolution where the early

technology revolution where the early adopter in all the main technologies

adopter in all the main technologies

adopter in all the main technologies that are coming through so looking at it

that are coming through so looking at it

that are coming through so looking at it from a positive life I believe it means

from a positive life I believe it means

from a positive life I believe it means we’re very decisive we’re insured if we

we’re very decisive we’re insured if we

we’re very decisive we’re insured if we trust our gut and we put stuff out into

trust our gut and we put stuff out into

trust our gut and we put stuff out into the world and then the world gives us

the world and then the world gives us

the world and then the world gives us real-time positive feedback on whether

real-time positive feedback on whether

real-time positive feedback on whether it was the right or wrong thing we fail

it was the right or wrong thing we fail

it was the right or wrong thing we fail fast and we’re always learning the lemon

fast and we’re always learning the lemon

fast and we’re always learning the lemon number two irresponsible this is an

number two irresponsible this is an

number two irresponsible this is an outright myth my business has been

outright myth my business has been

outright myth my business has been driven off the growth of debit cards two

driven off the growth of debit cards two

driven off the growth of debit cards two out of every three transactions in

out of every three transactions in

out of every three transactions in Australia are processed on a debit card

Australia are processed on a debit card

Australia are processed on a debit card not a credit card and 90% of my

not a credit card and 90% of my

not a credit card and 90% of my afterplay auditors use a debit card what

afterplay auditors use a debit card what

afterplay auditors use a debit card what happened or what god why the trends

happened or what god why the trends

happened or what god why the trends being driven through is that Millennials

being driven through is that Millennials

being driven through is that Millennials feel responsible by using their debit

feel responsible by using their debit

feel responsible by using their debit card links into their bank balance so

card links into their bank balance so

card links into their bank balance so when the global financial crisis hit the

when the global financial crisis hit the

when the global financial crisis hit the middle millennial being myself we just

middle millennial being myself we just

middle millennial being myself we just turned 18 and it sent this shock through

turned 18 and it sent this shock through

turned 18 and it sent this shock through society to say you should spend money

society to say you should spend money

society to say you should spend money that you have spend money and be

that you have spend money and be

that you have spend money and be responsible

responsible

responsible Millennials are really really

Millennials are really really

Millennials are really really responsible and it’s an absolute

responsible and it’s an absolute

responsible and it’s an absolute misconception the lament of the three

misconception the lament of the three

misconception the lament of the three entitled and disloyal this is this is my

entitled and disloyal this is this is my

entitled and disloyal this is this is my favorite misconception

favorite misconception

favorite misconception everyone says that Millennials are

everyone says that Millennials are

everyone says that Millennials are disloyal but actually Millennials are

disloyal but actually Millennials are

disloyal but actually Millennials are very loyal in fact they’re vocally loyal

very loyal in fact they’re vocally loyal

very loyal in fact they’re vocally loyal to brands which deserve their support

to brands which deserve their support

to brands which deserve their support the bar to loyalty is really high but

the bar to loyalty is really high but

the bar to loyalty is really high but when Millennials believe in the brand

when Millennials believe in the brand

when Millennials believe in the brand and they’ve had a true connection in the

and they’ve had a true connection in the

and they’ve had a true connection in the brand cos it’s made them feel special

brand cos it’s made them feel special

brand cos it’s made them feel special it’s built a proper relationship

it’s built a proper relationship

it’s built a proper relationship Millennials are vocally loyal I I swear

Millennials are vocally loyal I I swear

Millennials are vocally loyal I I swear I had absolutely nothing to do with this

I had absolutely nothing to do with this

I had absolutely nothing to do with this but my customers they made a group on

but my customers they made a group on

but my customers they made a group on Facebook called we love after pay and it

Facebook called we love after pay and it

Facebook called we love after pay and it has over a hundred thousand members so

has over a hundred thousand members so

has over a hundred thousand members so millennium Millennials are really

millennium Millennials are really

millennium Millennials are really vocally loyal to brands that deserve

vocally loyal to brands that deserve

vocally loyal to brands that deserve their loyalty oh let’s look at entitled

their loyalty oh let’s look at entitled

their loyalty oh let’s look at entitled Millennials in the workforce you know

Millennials in the workforce you know

Millennials in the workforce you know you want to have a long and rewarding

you want to have a long and rewarding

you want to have a long and rewarding career but you haven’t been given enough

career but you haven’t been given enough

career but you haven’t been given enough responsibility you’re not challenged you

responsibility you’re not challenged you

responsibility you’re not challenged you haven’t been promoted in months many

haven’t been promoted in months many

haven’t been promoted in months many employers look at this as a sense of

employers look at this as a sense of

employers look at this as a sense of impatience or entitlement don’t get me

impatience or entitlement don’t get me

impatience or entitlement don’t get me wrong it has to be managed but these

wrong it has to be managed but these

wrong it has to be managed but these traits and this entrepreneurial spirit

traits and this entrepreneurial spirit

traits and this entrepreneurial spirit is incredible with its harnessed in the

is incredible with its harnessed in the

is incredible with its harnessed in the right way when you think about the

right way when you think about the

right way when you think about the economic environment that we have grown

economic environment that we have grown

economic environment that we have grown up

up

up it’s been almost perfect we haven’t had

it’s been almost perfect we haven’t had

it’s been almost perfect we haven’t had an economic downturn we haven’t had high

an economic downturn we haven’t had high

an economic downturn we haven’t had high unemployment and actually the opposites

unemployment and actually the opposites

unemployment and actually the opposites been true because we were at the

been true because we were at the

been true because we were at the forefront of this technology revolution

forefront of this technology revolution

forefront of this technology revolution we were the early adopters we were

we were the early adopters we were

we were the early adopters we were really highly demanded resource so we’ve

really highly demanded resource so we’ve

really highly demanded resource so we’ve never had a problem getting work so our

never had a problem getting work so our

never had a problem getting work so our upbringing economic environment has

upbringing economic environment has

upbringing economic environment has perfectly fostered a confident

perfectly fostered a confident

perfectly fostered a confident entrepreneurial spirit that just wants

entrepreneurial spirit that just wants

entrepreneurial spirit that just wants to write if they believe in a purpose

to write if they believe in a purpose

to write if they believe in a purpose they’ll do everything they can to get

they’ll do everything they can to get

they’ll do everything they can to get things done and a number of social

things done and a number of social

things done and a number of social commentators have been very vocal about

commentators have been very vocal about

commentators have been very vocal about Millennials in the workforce

Millennials in the workforce

Millennials in the workforce saying we are driven by free food and

saying we are driven by free food and

saying we are driven by free food and bean bags and that we’re social-media

bean bags and that we’re social-media

bean bags and that we’re social-media addicts who are hopelessly entitled

addicts who are hopelessly entitled

addicts who are hopelessly entitled because our parents have inadvertently

because our parents have inadvertently

because our parents have inadvertently destroyed us I know it’s true but when I

destroyed us I know it’s true but when I

destroyed us I know it’s true but when I look at it

look at it

look at it my parents they encouraged me to

my parents they encouraged me to

my parents they encouraged me to negotiate they encouraged me to find

negotiate they encouraged me to find

negotiate they encouraged me to find angles they rewarded me for challenging

angles they rewarded me for challenging

angles they rewarded me for challenging the status quo and for speaking my mind

the status quo and for speaking my mind

the status quo and for speaking my mind so here’s what I think I think

so here’s what I think I think

so here’s what I think I think Millennials have grit call it entitled

Millennials have grit call it entitled

Millennials have grit call it entitled or disloyal if you want to but

or disloyal if you want to but

or disloyal if you want to but Millennials have perseverance we have a

Millennials have perseverance we have a

Millennials have perseverance we have a mindset that cannot be taught or trained

mindset that cannot be taught or trained

mindset that cannot be taught or trained it’s come through the coming together of

it’s come through the coming together of

it’s come through the coming together of a perfect economic environment and being

a perfect economic environment and being

a perfect economic environment and being at the forefront of this technology

at the forefront of this technology

at the forefront of this technology revolution we will run through walls to

revolution we will run through walls to

revolution we will run through walls to get something done if it’s for a purpose

get something done if it’s for a purpose

get something done if it’s for a purpose we truly believe in when you think about

we truly believe in when you think about

we truly believe in when you think about all the businesses which have shifted

all the businesses which have shifted

all the businesses which have shifted society in recent times they’ve all been

society in recent times they’ve all been

society in recent times they’ve all been driven by Millennials whether it’s the

driven by Millennials whether it’s the

driven by Millennials whether it’s the social media revolution

social media revolution

social media revolution the shared economy revolution the music

the shared economy revolution the music

the shared economy revolution the music streaming or video streaming revolution

streaming or video streaming revolution

streaming or video streaming revolution they’re all driven by Millennials

they’re all driven by Millennials

they’re all driven by Millennials Millennials are the early adopters and

Millennials are the early adopters and

Millennials are the early adopters and they educate and influence the older

they educate and influence the older

they educate and influence the older generation and the mass-market to engage

generation and the mass-market to engage

generation and the mass-market to engage in services that make life more

in services that make life more

in services that make life more enjoyable Millennials are coming into

enjoyable Millennials are coming into

enjoyable Millennials are coming into their perfect point of power we are not

their perfect point of power we are not

their perfect point of power we are not the new kids on the block anymore we are

the new kids on the block anymore we are

the new kids on the block anymore we are not the people that the older generation

not the people that the older generation

not the people that the older generation are complaining about

are complaining about

are complaining about and the older bosses are complaining

and the older bosses are complaining

and the older bosses are complaining about we now are the bosses did you know

about we now are the bosses did you know

about we now are the bosses did you know that Millennials are australia’s largest

that Millennials are australia’s largest

that Millennials are australia’s largest population cohort and in just over ten

population cohort and in just over ten

population cohort and in just over ten years we will earn two out of every

years we will earn two out of every

years we will earn two out of every three dollars of income in Australia

three dollars of income in Australia

three dollars of income in Australia it’s pretty incredible it’s a little bit

it’s pretty incredible it’s a little bit

it’s pretty incredible it’s a little bit scary but it’s incredible we’re coming

scary but it’s incredible we’re coming

scary but it’s incredible we’re coming into our perfect point of power and the

into our perfect point of power and the

into our perfect point of power and the world is trusting us with their future

world is trusting us with their future

world is trusting us with their future but this instantaneous gratification

but this instantaneous gratification

but this instantaneous gratification gene that we’re guilty of is sometimes

gene that we’re guilty of is sometimes

gene that we’re guilty of is sometimes getting in the way of us taking the time

getting in the way of us taking the time

getting in the way of us taking the time certain scenarios deserve we’re leaving

certain scenarios deserve we’re leaving

certain scenarios deserve we’re leaving a legacy but is it really the legacy

a legacy but is it really the legacy

a legacy but is it really the legacy that we want to leave so without a doubt

that we want to leave so without a doubt

that we want to leave so without a doubt the biggest Malema

the biggest Malema

the biggest Malema is the Millennial legacy we are running

is the Millennial legacy we are running

is the Millennial legacy we are running at a million miles an hour but what we

at a million miles an hour but what we

at a million miles an hour but what we need to do is take a break take a breath

need to do is take a break take a breath

need to do is take a break take a breath think about what legacy we are leaving

think about what legacy we are leaving

think about what legacy we are leaving on this world I sure know it’s a mark

on this world I sure know it’s a mark

on this world I sure know it’s a mark that I want to be proud of and then

that I want to be proud of and then

that I want to be proud of and then decisions over the next five years are

decisions over the next five years are

decisions over the next five years are going to determine how generations for

going to determine how generations for

going to determine how generations for centuries to come remember the

centuries to come remember the

centuries to come remember the Millennial Generation when I avoided a

Millennial Generation when I avoided a

Millennial Generation when I avoided a corporate job and created my own destiny

corporate job and created my own destiny

corporate job and created my own destiny it was driven by the legacy that I

it was driven by the legacy that I

it was driven by the legacy that I wanted to leave I wanted to build things

wanted to leave I wanted to build things

wanted to leave I wanted to build things that make life so enjoyable and improve

that make life so enjoyable and improve

that make life so enjoyable and improve people’s life so much they think how did

people’s life so much they think how did

people’s life so much they think how did I actually live without this but beyond

I actually live without this but beyond

I actually live without this but beyond that I would love to be part of helping

that I would love to be part of helping

that I would love to be part of helping the Millennials shake off all these

the Millennials shake off all these

the Millennials shake off all these stereotypes that we don’t deserve I love

stereotypes that we don’t deserve I love

stereotypes that we don’t deserve I love my legacy to be helping melenik

my legacy to be helping melenik

my legacy to be helping melenik Millennials leave the legacy they

Millennials leave the legacy they

Millennials leave the legacy they deserve to leave let’s be known for grit

deserve to leave let’s be known for grit

deserve to leave let’s be known for grit for perseverance for applying our skills

for perseverance for applying our skills

for perseverance for applying our skills to make a real difference over the next

to make a real difference over the next

to make a real difference over the next five

five

five five years the world is going to be

five years the world is going to be

five years the world is going to be faced with incredibly important

faced with incredibly important

faced with incredibly important decisions decisions such as climate

decisions decisions such as climate

decisions decisions such as climate change inequality and aging population

change inequality and aging population

change inequality and aging population guess who’s going to have to make all

guess who’s going to have to make all

guess who’s going to have to make all these decisions we are the Millennials

these decisions we are the Millennials

these decisions we are the Millennials so let’s turn our Mille emma’s into

so let’s turn our Mille emma’s into

so let’s turn our Mille emma’s into opportunities and make sure we leave a

opportunities and make sure we leave a

opportunities and make sure we leave a legacy that makes us proud so if I can

legacy that makes us proud so if I can

legacy that makes us proud so if I can finish by asking you one thing please

finish by asking you one thing please

finish by asking you one thing please take a moment to breathe please think

take a moment to breathe please think

take a moment to breathe please think hard about what legacy you want to leave

hard about what legacy you want to leave

hard about what legacy you want to leave on this world your time is now thank you

on this world your time is now thank you

on this world your time is now thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

”

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