Millennials. Not for me.

We are in an age where labeling people can be a dangerous act, it’s walking a thin HR line….
Although if you were born between 1980 and 1999 (Generation Y) you may be proudly labeling yourself, as a Millennial.
Millennial is a frequently used term now, if you have a LinkedIn account you’ll know that, it’s practically a job title!
So why have we jumped onto using this term, increasingly so, around social platforms? I’ve been called quite a few things since 1975 (have you got the answer yet ), but never a Generation X.
I do remember my parents being labelled as baby boomers though…looks like we X’ers missed out on a label. Phew!

I don’t think the baby boomers wore this label like a badge of honour, did they?  Call me old fashioned but I don’t get this latest label. Don’t get me wrong I’d love to call myself a Millennial, with these knees I can hardly get down the stairs in the morning, but I’m not buying the whole generalisation around it. I’m not buying that they are lazy, entitled narcissists. I don’t buy the apparent trends and habits. I’ve found out via this new-fangled interweb that Millennials cannot: –

• Identify the name of any tree or bird in the real world.
• Navigate using a printed map without using GPS.
• Securely tie a rope to anything at all.

Maybe I should have been a Millennial.

You’ve probably noticed Millennials checking their smart phone 50+ times a day. Their use of their phones and social media is addictive. Apparently increasing Dopamine. Following influencers online, going live, filtering themselves and swiping right for a date. Obsessed.

I’ve also witnessed my baby boomer Mother using Facetime and sticking out her rainbow filtered tongue whilst my Dad Skypes a guy 400 miles away about a racehorse. Neuron firing stuff.

Millennials apparently suffer from Nomophobia, the phobia of being out of contact with your cellular phone. We non-Millennials of course don’t get that, right?
Man, I panic if I don’t have my 5600mAh Portable Charger with me!

So, I don’t believe in using this label. Indeed, it is a very different world than when we were taping Hi-de-Hi (did you respond in your head?) but I don’t think we should be pigeon holing.
This transition has happened to us all.
I’m concerned that Millennials are clinging onto the label and these apparent traits, to differentiate themselves from other generations.
There’s a Millennial in us all. This is just the state of the internet now, for everybody

Yolo bae your swag is on fleek… (seriously, I have no idea).

 

Award winning Entrepreneur, Speaker and Business Coach Ian Farrar, is host of the chart topping Industry Angel Business Podcast.

Ian is also the founder of Sales & Marketing consultancy Far North Ltd.