Discussion on the problems facing the millennial generation.

Nick recently started an email conversation with Don about struggling with millennial in the workforce. Mr. Don Polley and his company specialize in Generational Diversity Consulting for workplaces that want to improve their recruitment and engagement of millennial.

They offer creative solutions to build a bridge of engagement and understanding across the generational divide.

Part 1 of the Conversation

Don, I recently read your review of the Tim Ferriss book “Tribe of Mentors”. I was surprised to find out that you weren’t familiar with his writing. His best seller “The 4 hour work week” seems to have struck a cord with many people and might have planted the seed in younger impressionable minds that they don’t have to work as hard but rather just be smarter about it.

The whole concept of “The 4 hour work week” is really nothing new.

Tom Sawyer was portrayed as someone who saw a task that needed to be done and cleverly persuades his friends to trade him small treasures for the privilege of doing his work. Tim Ferriss is a modern day Tom Sawyer. He found that by delegating his menial tasks and focusing on the things that ‘really matter’, he was able to reduce the amount of time that he actually had to work. Enough about Tim Ferriss.

It’s hard to imagine a more robust time for people to explore their options and capitalize on the resources that are so readily available to them.

It never fails to amaze me the number of younger (millennial) people who want to become independent business people, but lack the drive needed to accomplish it. They all understand how social media works, but they fail to engage with customers on a more personal level and cannot make a sale.

There’s a whole generation that believes “if you build it, they will come” as their misguided key to success.

I appreciate your book reviews and blog. Look forward to reading more.

Part 2 of the Conversation

Thank you for your response Nick! Part of the reason I review the books for the JBJ (Jackson Business Journal) is so that I can expand my knowledge, as I read books and am not a big fan of podcasts.

I have a friend and associate that is a big fan of Gary Vee and he told me about Tim Ferriss, and I was very impressed that he was able to get feedback from such a diverse group of people.

I also enjoyed the ‘Power of Habit‘ as well, so perhaps you may check it out as well. Best wishes on your business, it can be done, but you have to work at it to make it happen. Thank you again for your feedback as I will probably review four more for 4th quarter edition.

Appreciatively, Don – Millennial Advocate | Generational Consultant

Part 3 of the Conversation

It can be done, but you have to work at it!

I think that is the most important statement in this whole article. We have two very independent and hard-working millennial children of our own. They are struggling daily to make ends meet. They live in their own apartments (in different states) and pay rent, buy food, have insurance, etc. They both work ‘regular 9-5 jobs’. Sadly they have little left over, or to show for it, at the end of the month.

We’ve given you some food for thought. Now it’s your turn…

Have you read any of the books mentioned in this article? Are you a struggling millennial? Do you work with or for a millennial?

Please share your own experiences! Leave us a comment below. We would love to hear what you think.