I wrote about how I didn’t think I was the prototypical Generation Y blogger last May and I really meant it. As my traffic continues to grow, I am even more convinced that nobody comes to my blog to learn anything about generational issues. When I talked to the Recruiting Animal in September on his crazy show, he thought it was because my dad and many others in my family were blue collar. I don’t know if I buy that but it sounded good.
So count me pleased that a couple of my favorite bloggers (who also happen to be Gen Y) are thinking of abandoning a Gen Y focus. Monica O’Brien of Twenty Set and Jaclyn Schiff of The Schiff Report are going to take the plunge (I am taking a guess on the latter). They’ll be joining other great bloggers like Dan Schawbel, Chuck Westbrook, Milena Thomas, Chris Ferdinandi (who has a nice new site) and Jacob Share who all write about great things without having to pander to generational differences every post. I am sure I am missing some too.
Who gives a crap about milenials if the only thing they have to say of interest is about their generation? It is a dying breed of advice. Nobody is going to care about how to deal with the incoming generation when they are worrying about staying profitable and keeping their doors open. The only thing they’ll be concerned about is “We need people that can add value to our organization. Can you do that?” That’s why this entire genre of advice has been overblown.
Politics, technology, human resources, branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship transcend generational boundaries to address true niches and specializations (thus, adding real value) as opposed to this made up generational issue where by we aren’t connected by common values, skills or knowledge but by our date of birth. If we are truly a great generation, than shouldn’t our aim to be transcendant? And if it isn’t our aim, why bother?
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I think a lot of people are experiencing Gen Y fatigue (especially those of us in the blogosphere), but that the backlash on blogs with a Gen Y focus is not going to be a big deal. Gen Y is a subject, just like all the others you listed (politics, technology, human resources, etc.) and deserves to be part of the web that we write.
I don’t look at things as one topic or focus versus another, but instead look at the connections between those topics and try to write something interesting surrounding that revelation.
Of course, it’s very hard to write about one specific topic all the time. I branded myself as a Gen Y blogger in the beginning, but quickly expanded so I could write about other topics. Case in point, here you are writing about Gen Y on your HR blog. That doesn’t mean that Gen Y analysis or issues aren’t useful.
There are so many great things to write about, I’m not sure why so many people are all of sudden denouncing one of those topics as sub par. It just seems a little silly.
PS – Also, the people that you view as not having a Gen Y focus (like Dan Schawbel), others do (read Jaclyn’s latest post which talks about Dan’s personal branding success specifically in relation to being a Gen Yer). People find what they need from other people’s writing and discard the rest. And that’s okay.
I think a lot of blogs were branded “Gen-Y” whether they wanted to be or not. And considering most of the writers were Gen-Y, it grew from that. But over time, I would imagine that most will find their real niche as they join the workforce, become established in a career, and have other life events (i.e. marriage, kids, etc).
Lance, thanks for taking the time to write a whole post on this topic! I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.
Obviously, we’re kind of on the same page about this. One of the things that keeps me from abandoning the Gen. Y niche is my concern about who gets to speak out and define Gen. Y. I can’t deny that I’m a member of Gen.Y and so on some level, I do have a stake in how we’re defined and how other people see us. I think there’s value for being part of that conversation with other Gen. Yers. I guess I’m just not sure how much longer it might be my focus. We’ll see.
Lance, both Jenn Barnes and I think of you as a wise old man trapped in a Gen Y body. You could write about farming and I’d read it.
The old saying is true: write what you know. If it’s good — and it always is — we’ll be here.
A great post and a good question. I’m not ready to say that people aren’t visiting blogs to learn about generational issues and that a generational approach is unnecessary, although I do agree that “pandering” to generational issues is becoming more tiresome.
We have to move beyond the concept of Gen Y and get to the bigger picture, which intersects across audiences and issues, as Rebecca suggests.
This is a helpful evolution, because it has the potential to lend more credibility to Gen Y (we’re not just an appealing concept that has no application), improve our relationship to Gen X (I’ve had some one-on-one conversations recently that lead me to believe they feel left out of the generation equation), and advance intergenerational relationships in the long run (against issues that transcend age, as you point out).
Lance, great article!
I was sick of hearing about Gen Y from when the articles first started coming out. Gen-Y likes this and Millenials don’t like that and if you want to manage us you need to blah blah blah – shut the fuck up!
There’s as much difference among us (within our generation) as there is between us and other generations. The idea that you can stereotype any generation is a huge myth that lines the pockets of far too many people.
Here’s the deal: the only thing Generation Y truly has in common is the social events that occur during our formative years. In our case, that means an incredible level of exposure to new technology, the uber-connectiveness of the internet, and 9/11.
Not all Gen-Yers give a shit about transparency, or social issues, or Barack Obama (I do on all three counts, but that’s just me!). The notion that Gen-Y likes anything is ridiculous. We’re just a bunch of people who grew up at around the same time.
- Chris
@Rebecca – Belly-button lint is technically a topic too. It just isn’t that compelling and it doesn’t add much to anything. I think Gen Y’s perceived relevancy is dying (even though I thought it was dead already). Most people, even people in Gen Y, are interested in much more. And I would seriously argue that Dan’s blog isn’t Gen Y influenced like most people in the genre.
@Norcross – I can buy that. I just think that people got sucked into that and started focusing more on it (I know I did for a time).
@Jaclyn – Who speaks for boomers? Gen X? I just don’t think there is a pressing need. We speak for ourselves.
@Laurie – I could talk about how to make some killer bacon.
@Emily – I agree we have to get the bigger picture. I just don’t think that picture involves generational differences.
@Chris – I won’t even try to beat that. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for a great post Lance. One thing I would like to add is I don’t think this trend even has much to do with the recession. I think in general it’s hard to understand what people care about when you’re essentially writing “I’m special, so listen up. Here’s how I’m going to be better than you. Here’s how I’m going to change everything you couldn’t.” Etc.
To me, Gen Y posts have gotten whiny and entitled. Wait – That’s exactly what every other generation thought us to begin with. Let’s break the cycle already.
P.S. Amen, to the belly-button lint comment! Write about something that matters.
@LAnce, yes we speak for ourselves but only if we’re participating in the conversation….
@Monica – I don’t think it is a result of the recession, I just think the recession is helping to speed its demise sooner rather than later. The sooner we start examining real issues in our workplace, the sooner we get making real progress.
@Jaclyn – I agree. That’s why we’re all blogging, right?
I just think you can be representative of Gen Y and have a voice without having your blog bring up the generational issue.
Admittedly, I haven’t had the chance to read this entire conversation in the comments section, but I think you bring up an interesting point in your post and I want to address it, even if others already have (sorry).
I would never, nor have I ever pigeon-holed myself as a Gen Y writer, social media or any other niche. I think for many people it’s important to focus on a niche and some are very successful, but I want to write about what I’m passionate about, all of it.
I think the Gen Y audience is a powerful one and that you can write about issues that are relevant to them without writing about generational differences (i.e. the transition from college to work-life is an important one that should be covered).
I don’t doubt that I’m skimming the surface here, but I think you wrote a solid piece that deserved a contribution!
Best wishes.
Ryan
@Lance – Love the comments here. I’m going to go ahead and argue that the perceived relevance of Gen Y is partly receding because companies are making change and they get it because there has been so much chatter. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg and they’ll be many more rounds of companies that don’t. But Gen Y talk has gone mainstream so it’s not an edge topic anymore.
Also, I’m curious who you think the “Gen Y” bloggers are, because I don’t know anyone that writes purely on the topic of Gen Y and that’s it. It’s always been a mix because that’s the most useful and valuable.
Also, check out danschawbel.com – his first sentence reads, “Dan Schawbel is the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y.” He’s experienced much success outside of Gen Y, but he has built his brand and niche on the Gen Y image.
@Lance – how much of it do you think has to do with the blogging platform in general? After all, our generation grew up with having an individual voice, and a medium to put it out there. In part, I think many of the generic “Gen-Y” topics were the same when Gen-X or the Boomers wrote about them, but by the time they had an avenue to write about it, they had moved on.
“If you’re not a rebel at the age of 20, you’ve got no heart. If you haven’t turned establishment by 30, you’ve got no brains”.
Lance – let me ditto everyone’s comments that this is a terrific post. I think it’s time that we all use our voices to talk about value.
Let’s not move too quickly away from Belly Button lint. I’ve seen some great belly button lint, or at least I’ve seen some great belly buttons that must have great lint in them. Now that’s a topic that I can sink my teeth into and stay focused on.
I think the real thing that needs to be said is, congratulations Lance, you’ve just successfully blogged about Gen-Y and driven over a dozen people to respond! Just like every other Gen-Y blog! Go Gen-Y Bloggers and Go Belly Button Lint!
I think HR fan basically nailed it. Damn.
Great post but I think you missed the point. Because there are 81 million of you compared to 78 million Boomers and 54 million Gen Xers everybody is trying to figure out what you are thinking and buying BECAUSE they view you as the way to keep their doors open.
The “generational” view point is legitimate because your common experiences, uses of technol0gy, even your desire to be “transcendant” is part of who you are. Certainly not everyone in a generation thinks the same way but there are common trends in every group. Yours are different perspectives than Gen X, for example.
Hope you don’t give up on the topic — and don’t confuse novelty with authenticity, because that is what I think everyone is looking for.
I agree with Scott! I’m looking for novelty too, please don’t mix that up!
Lance Haun takes The Gen Y Quiz
http://is.gd/4zO3
Lance Haun takes The Gen Y Quiz
I took this leap about a year ago, and I haven’t regretted it. I do write about Gen Y on my new blog from time to time, but there’s just not that much to say anymore now that so many of us are out here blogging. To keep your niche relevant and fresh, you have to go where the new ideas are.
I think also, Gen Y has, through blogging, gone through the stage of self-discovery that conversation about these things necessitates. So we are ready to move on, as confident professionals, and establish ourselves as whatever it is we want to establish ourselves as.
I see the Gen Y blogging phenomenon as an important part of our generation’s self-discovery that is transitioning (gradually) into a professional and personal development emphasis that will serve us well.
But why sit around in this echo chamber when there’s so much more out there to say?
Excellent point, Lance!
It is true that “Politics, technology, human resources, branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship transcend generational boundaries…” and with or without the shift in economy, shouldn’t each generation be asking “how can I be of value?”
Differences, regardless of the kind, become magnified when people forget to focus on the vision/mission and their unique contribution.
I say forget focusing on the generation Yers (and all the rest of the generations) and let’s focus on common ground across generations.
Rock on!
Misti Burmeister
http://www.MistiB.com
So does it include people who write about how much generation X sucks?
Sorry I meant, “Does this include people who write about how much generation Y sucks,” sorry, I’m stupid when I’m pissed off. Maybe this just proves your point maybe it is time for both sides to stop writing about generation Y.
You know, for a few years in the middle of this decade all I heard was how much of an improvement over Gen X that Gen Y was supposed to be. In light of the tremendous social and economic meltdown of the last two years, I don’t hear that as much. And I’m noticing that most if not all of the Gen Y’s of my acquaintance–some degreed and all–are pretty much merging into the least savory aspects of Gen X: getting stoned, playing videogames, watching Adult Swim, and not giving much of a shite beyond that. Yeah…big improvement. So when does Generation Z start?