What is a Cusper?
Here’s why being a Cusper is your generational advantage.
Today, I want to talk about Cuspers. This is a topic near and dear to my heart.
After my keynote speeches, I get asked a lot of questions (from Millennial sales strategy to Gen Z recruiting and parenting!).
The Q&A afterward is one of my favorite things about being a speaker.
Across all the different audiences where I speak, one question comes up more often than any others: “Jason, I was born on the edge of a generation. Where do I fit in? I feel like I’m a mix of two generations.”
And the answer is, you are a Cusper! But what does that mean? Watch the video for the answer:
What do you need to know if you’re a Cusper?
Here’s the deal. Cuspers are people born within three to five years of the beginning or end of a generation.
Examples of Cuspers are those born on the edges of Millennials and Gen X, Gen X to Baby Boomers, or even Millennials to Gen Z. Cuspers are essentially a mix of the generations on both sides of their birth year.
Being a Cusper is a big advantage because it makes you empathetic to the generation before and after. You have a better understanding of where they’re coming from than if you were born right in the heart of one generation or another.
And you may be wondering, what about Xennials?
There is no such thing as a Xennial or micro-generation. But it does make for great clickbait on social media! Xennials are not a thing because that transitional period from one generation to the next is exactly that: a transition. There is not enough consistency across the generation.
Additionally, whether you live in an urban area, are affluent, and even where you went to school, determines when you were introduced to technology, trends, and so much more that impact each generation.
So, transitional periods are Cuspers; they are not one distinct generation due to a lack of consistency and the short timeframe. For easy reference on when each generation begins and ends, here is a breakdown of each generation.
How can I help you solve a generational challenge with employees or consumers?
As you know, I’m passionate about separating generational myth from truth through data. Whether it’s launching a new car and rebranding a hotel chain or driving Gen Z employee recruitment and retention, I love sharing our discoveries and using our generational data to drive measurable gains for our clients.
Thank you for reading all the way to the end of this blog! I’m inspired by your interest in my mission and work. Please reach out to my friendly team if you’d like me to speak at an event for you or explore how we could lead custom research or consulting to solve a challenge. We look forward to hearing from you!!
Posted: November 15th, 2018
Categories: Generations | Keynote Speaking
Written by Jason Dorsey
Jason Dorsey is an acclaimed generations and behavioral researcher and speaker. He's received over 1,000 standing ovations for his unique keynote presentations. Jason has led over 120 research studies. Adweek calls him a "research guru." His mission is to deliver new insights and practical strategies that solve business challenges for leaders.
