Archive for February, 2006
The Next, Great Genneration
by Jared on February 27th, 2006
Since when did being young mean that you were somehow less capable?
In roughly 3 years of working full-time professionally and at least 2 years prior to that part-time, I’ve met resistance in just about as many forms as possible. I have been discounted because of my appearance, walled-off by indifference to change, and ostracized because of my ambitions. I play to win. I don’t, and can’t, hide that.
When someone hires me to do a job, I have one directive that’s my own – leave a place better than I found it. I will keep every other direction that you give me but frankly I am not content to wallow in my own mediocrity and neither should you as my co-worker, boss, or friend.
As the newest generation enters the workforce, I feel like there is a growing tension between the ages. Once content to withstand the yolk of entry-level doldrums, the workers that are now emerging are eager to stretch their legs and apply ever–evolving tactics to age-old problems.
We were the generation inspired by “Doogie Howser, MD” and the tech-savvy boom brought on by Generation-X. I can only imagine what it must feel like to be a manager of someone like this; cringing like Jerry Seinfeld hearing Newman is coming down the corridor at the prospect of keeping one of us under control.
In the same way, we are also the generation of spell-check, snood, and the 5-second attention span. Ritalin was just a drug before we came along. We made it a lifestyle. It’s no wonder that if you want something big, you call us. If you want something done right – ask someone still on a first cup of coffee.
I picked up a book last week (ok, so I didn’t go to the store…I got it on Amazon) on Millennialas, the proper name of this workplace terror. It describes the newest generation of workers as the “next, great generation.†This moniker is of course derived from the WWII generation. They gave their lives and their livelihoods to wipe a great evil off the face of the planet.
Do we really deserve to be the ones that follow in their footsteps? Are the feats we are going to achieve going to be that great?
Our predecessors can only make that determination. I can say one thing for certain, though; if it’s going to happen, it’s going to be because we embrace our reality more than simply our potential.
It’s not enough to be good at what you do. You have to be willing to embrace the faults as well as the strengths and figure out how to profit from both. I’ll leave the rest for fate but I will leave this thought off with one story:
In high school I worked for a small bagel shop. About 6 months in, the manager made me a shift manager. This was my first promotion ever and so I was very excited. I got the keys to the store, my own security pass code to the register system, and the responsibility of the weekend operations of the store.
Another 6 months passed and we got a new manager. This one was 180 degrees opposite from the old one. She promptly demoted me and handed the reigns of the weekend operation over the head baker who was about 15 years older than I was. After a few missed shifts and middle-of-the-night calls to her to open the shop in the baker’s absence, I asked her “Why won’t you trust me with this shift? You know I can do it and I am as reliable as any other staff member we have and at least twice as eager.â€
Her reply was something that still sticks with me today; “If you want to be a manager, you better well damn start acting like it.†This struck me just because as long as I had the keys and the skills, I didn’t think anything else was necessary.
As a generation, we have the skills – its time to earn the keys. If we want them, we better damn well start acting like it.
20SMF Episode #27 - The Hostile Takeover - or - Commemorating Black History Month
by Jared on February 22nd, 2006
Show Description:
In honor of black history month, Howard University business students take over the show to talk about black entrepreneurs, successes and making it in a big world. Jared participates, but has a “late arrival†– muh ha ha ha!
Show Notes:
I) What did you do to the host?
II) Entrepreneurs
III) The Spector of Real Life
Guest Host/Kidnappers:
Melanie Walker (junior, management, harrisburg, pa)
Arms Brown, Jr. (senior, marketing, baton rouge, la)
Shannan Fort (senior, international business, indianapolis, in)
Kristen Wilson (senior, marketing, detroit, mi)
Referenced Links:
Bri-Mel’s Custom Made Jewelry - Custom Made Jewelry From Melanie Walker
Melanie’s Blog - Custom Made Jewelry From Melanie Walker
Delta Sigma Pi @ Howard University - More Information About Delta Sigma Pi And Some Great Photos
Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show
Take The Ultimate Work-Life Survey
by Jared on February 21st, 2006
Age doesn’t matter in fact, we want EVERYONE to take this survey and tell us what its like in your neck of the working woods.
Help get us to 300 responses and by sending this link to your friends and co-workers: http://survey.20somethingmarketing.com
Once we’re done - keep your eyes peeled for the results!
Do ‘nice’ marketers really finish last?
by Jared on February 20th, 2006
Wrapping up this conference experience, one question permeates through all of the lessons and all of the workshops; do nice marketers, like nice guys, finish last?
Plenty of times, we weigh aggressive marketing tactics like cold calling and person to person selling with more passive tactics like advertising and mass media targeting. The more aggressive you are, the more you’re in your targets face, the more opportunities you are bound to uncover. On the other hand, you have the more passive and some would say polite approaches to marketing that tend to place emphasis on letting the product or idea sell itself because its that good.
Obviously, we know which works better in a message-saturated environment. Just like the featured speakers, the ones those are more aggressive usually get top billing. Very seldom do people want to sit and listen to a quiet, reserved soul for 45 minutes straight. Then again, it’s those same quite, reserved souls that we tend to move towards when we look for someone to trust. Often, we relish the chance to put our faith in those that can promote consensus simply because its not about the big wins for them, its about the steady hand and the cool head.
Which is better for marketing and can nice marketers really take lessons from the more brash ones in order to strike a balance?
For myself, I can tell you I have tried both and I don’t want to give up on the idea that you can strike that balance. The challenge is finding that right mix. Though I can tell you this is probably my toughest personal challenge here is what I do know for sure:
- You have to make it sincere so before you take the first step, you better believe in your product/idea.
- You have to start with what the target wants, that means being above all being flexible.
- Lastly, you have to be thorough. If you want to be polite you have to make sure you cover all of your opportunities because there is a tradeoff between the number of opportunities you will generate.
For all intensive purposes, I am going to call this Gentleman/Gentlewoman Marketing. I will try to elaborate on this further but here’s the gist: Gentleman/Gentlewoman Marketing will be defined as the assumption no one wants to have a marketer in their face 24/7 but you still want to be front and center in the target’s mind.
As we move into a society where on-demand technology is promoting the possibility of removing message saturation by eliminating ads, perhaps we need to take a look at being more polite to get our message across. Nice guys might finish last but at least you root for them to finish. I am willing to bet the same goes for ‘nice’ marketers.
Quick Update From Columbus, OH
by Jared on February 18th, 2006
So I am trying to catch some sort of small catnap before the evening social event here in Columbus. Yeah, right…like that’s going to happen.
I figure I have about 15 minutes before I have to put the computer away and get dressed so here are just a couple of musings on these types of conferences
1) Networking – Since I am pretty happy with my job, I am focusing on two objectives in terms of networking; selling the podcast to new listeners and getting people to come to an event that I am co-chairing.
The surprising thing is that you never know when your business card is going to wind up in the right pocket. So, forget seeming like a complete flake. Just start a conversation and if you have a connection don’t hesitate to pull out that thing and trade some numbers.
2) Speakers – I love the speakers here, mostly because they are down in the weeds of things and can offer some serious advice on “how-to†without sounding too theoretical.
There are the exceptions of course and as I mention frequently about my own advice, you have to take everything you hear with a grain of salt. What I am talking about is those keynote speakers that make you want to believe in what they are saying. In these situations I love to listen. Then again, don’t totally drink the kool-aid and liberally question what you hear.
The speaker here is very compelling and makes some great points. Though I am going to read some of his book suggestions before I deliver final judgment, he did deliver one piece of advice I think is worth mentioning. That advice is to figure out where you want to be 5 years out and then associate with those people who you think reflect those values.
That’s kind of the point here. To associate with those people who share your values. That’s hopefully why you read this blog and listen to the show. Think of it as a two way street, though. Question everything you hear and then tell me how it goes ;).
Now, off to the ball!
Best Marketing Quote Ever
by Jared on February 17th, 2006
“You’ve got to get up every day with a new idea, a new spin.”
—Jeff Immelt, CEO, General Electric
This is courtesy of FastCompany’s First Impression’s e-mail but I thought it hits the nail on the head when it comes to the kind of passion it takes to drive a project or even an organization.
One of the 20-Something Imperatives we must address is the mounting need to handle multiple projects at once without loosing focus. Based on this quote, for every project you have - before you re-start work on it every day - try to come up with a new idea or spin to keep yourself interested in it.
As for me, I have to travel to Columbus, OH this weekend for a conference so if I can get some video, I will be sure to post it when I get back - have a great weekend everyone!
20SMF Episode #26 - Best-Laid Sheep
by Jared on February 16th, 2006
Show Description:
Does planning make a difference if everything is going to fall to pieces anyway? Take a stroll down the path less traveled with “Count Your Sheep” creator Adrian Ramos and hit the game plan with some sound advice on tool-boxing and getting it right when things go wrong.
Show Notes:
I) Busier than hell and loving it
II) ASK JARED: Adrian Ramos, Cartoonist – Count Your Sheep (Mexico City, Mexico)
III) Game Plan: Tool-boxing and finding your “North Star†with metrics
Referenced Links:
Count Your Sheep - Visit, Bookmark, Laugh Your Head Off
Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show
20SMF Annoucement: Special Upcomming Episode
by Jared on February 15th, 2006
As you can see from this oh so wonderful camera-phone photo…I am up to my eyeballs in work but I do have news. First off, I will be posting a new show tomorrow (as promised)
Next week though is going to be a special episode with a special format and guest host(s). I will reveal more as we get closer.
Now….back to work! BONZAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS : yes, those are computer glasses - this is the only time you will see me with them on.