Millennials, also known as Gen Y, born approximately 1977 to 1995 in North America, are the largest generation of employees and consumers in existence. Unfortunately, they are also the most negatively portrayed in the media. They are thought of as the laziest generation — and the most financially behind all the others. And while many are still in debt and dealing with the fallout of the recession, there are many who are doing just fine with money. It’s this financially stable subset that has stirred the pot, causing the generation of Millennials to split in two.
I identify these two different groups as Me-llennials and Mega-llenials. It’s not a division by age. But rather it’s a division by the life stage in which they find themselves. Me-llennials are financially and professionally behind, most likely feeling lost and uncertain of their path. But Mega-llennials are the opposite. They are ahead of the game, and they don’t identify with the stereotypical definition of what a Millennial is. As I shared in my recent Business Insider story: “They’ve been working and doing normal work-related stuff, but often are not getting attention for it.”
All Millennials started off in a similar place, being born in a certain timespan and living through the same world events. But as they got older, the group started to splinter off in different directions. One subset seemed to move forward with their careers, while the other seemed to be stagnant and not seeing the progress they had expected to see in their lives. Millennials are often described in a way that emphasizes the negative aspects of that latter group’s circumstances. But the Mega-llennials don’t feel that they match those attributes. In the article, I share that they don’t “fit the typical Millennial meme.”
Millennials, as a group, are often given a bad rap, but they’ve simply had a tough start in life. And it’s through no fault of their own. The recession, rising living costs, and outrageously high student debt has introduced them into the working world at a disadvantage. Many have been slow to build wealth and don’t feel in control of their finances. Because of a combination of these factors (among others), Millennials are thought of as difficult and spoiled. And their positive traits like optimism and enthusiasm often don’t get acknowledged. Mega-llennials have worked so hard to get ahead — already owning homes and booming in their careers — and they just feel buried underneath the standard Millennial definition.
While Millennials are definitely not a “one-size-fits-all” generation, we need to work on drawing attention to the traits that make them uniquely valuable. They can be extremely hard-working, dependable, and confident. And they are definitely capable of making significant contributions to their organizations, according to our extensive research at CGK.
How are you encouraging and supporting your Millennials to defy the negative stereotype and be the most outstanding people they can be? Contact my friendly team here if you’d like to bring my message to your next event! I deliver custom keynote speeches, research, and consulting that solves generational workforce challenges.
Have you heard about the trend of Gen Z quitting their jobs—or being let go—, filming the experience on their cell phones, and then sharing it on TikTok?!?! Why is this happening? What do leaders (and parents) need to know?
Consulting Gen Z Generations Leadership Millennials Millennials (Gen Y) Trends Zconomy Zillennials
Every year, I have the honor of working closely with a select group of leaders, and it’s truly a journey filled with collaboration, learning, and inspiration. This past year I had this tremendous experience with the fantastic HR leaders at companies across Atlas Holdings.
Consulting Gen Z Generations Leadership Millennials Millennials (Gen Y) Trends Zconomy Zillennials
