tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488879425900650696.post5863040053805029237..comments2023-08-09T04:33:01.170-05:00Comments on The Hourglass Blog: Lunch Conversation with a BoomerEric Lankehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955772930132857028noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488879425900650696.post-37197691291539610842010-06-24T04:30:53.324-05:002010-06-24T04:30:53.324-05:00I have a strong desire to lead and I am a Gen'...I have a strong desire to lead and I am a Gen'Xer. I don't think the leadership that led us down this path of horror should stay at the helm. Some Gen'X'ers like myself actually want to lead and work hard.....my child's future is dependent upon what Gen. X does to respond to the crisis. Hopefully our generation can bring accountability back to the business and social world.JPMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049204526162136969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488879425900650696.post-81485857041303164662009-03-13T06:04:00.000-05:002009-03-13T06:04:00.000-05:00Strauss and Howe also point out that typically mos...Strauss and Howe also point out that typically most generations have a distaste for the generation after them, but then take a liking to the one after that (I've seen some Boomer-Millennial love fests). This also means, by the way, that Gen X might not be so happy with Millennials over time (Maggie McGary's post?). Bottom line, though, I am not aware of research that really shows Gen X not learning from previous generations. And I have never heard of any generation not having courage or determination or leadership. They just do it differently.Jamie Notterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15576618655078397405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488879425900650696.post-85596384616739583542009-03-11T09:12:00.000-05:002009-03-11T09:12:00.000-05:00I'm going to have to rely on Strauss & How...I'm going to have to rely on Strauss & Howe again, but I think there is a certain degree of Gen-X cynicism/disregard for Boomers...because (insert 5-year-old voice) "they started it!" According to the Lifecourses research, Boomers have largely been unwilling to mentor Xers or provide or help us find opportunities to grow and learn and stretch ourselves. So we've had to figure out our own ways. *Now* Boomers are unhappy that we're not doing it their way? Too late, man.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488879425900650696.post-26351135588000445062009-03-10T21:28:00.000-05:002009-03-10T21:28:00.000-05:00Well, looks like I touched a nerve with this one. ...Well, looks like I touched a nerve with this one. Thanks, all, for the great and thoughtful comments.<BR/><BR/>In defense of my Boomer friend (who I hope is reading this and will decide to chime in himself), as an individual I have found him to be VERY open to the idea of learning—from Xers, from Boomers, from anyone. So I don't think his questions were meant to be dismissive.<BR/><BR/>But I also find it interesting the way some Xers act as if they have nothing to learn from older generations. There seems to be a lot of grumbling on both sides of the generational fence. In the end, I think I agree with the spirit of Helen's comment—such animosity is counterproductive and only leads to self-fulfilling prophecies.Eric Lankehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00449320263122144776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488879425900650696.post-61644000089361330002009-03-10T15:55:00.000-05:002009-03-10T15:55:00.000-05:00Okay, so I'm not an X'er, I'm a Y'er and my 2 cent...Okay, so I'm not an X'er, I'm a Y'er and my 2 cents are trending along the same lines as my fellow X'ers, except that I think the Y generation would like to lead even sooner. I can't remember a time when I've heard of so many 20-something CEOs, can you? But just like the X'ers, we aren't going to lead the way the boomers did. Life is too busy now and micro-volunteering will be the way to keep our interest. Minimal time commitment for maximum gains.Miss Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08640901704646338640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488879425900650696.post-35132610845974106112009-03-10T15:52:00.000-05:002009-03-10T15:52:00.000-05:00It's really difficult to not throw up a collective...It's really difficult to not throw up a collective yawn at Boomers' lack of faith in the generation behind them at this point. If you're reflecting that society has decreed us sub-par to led, why aren't we aggressively trying to change that instead of allowing that to shape how we see ourselves? Self-fulfilling prophesies be damned.<BR/><BR/>If Boomers would quit leveling the criticism at us that we don't trust their wisdom, we could spend less time bristling that they don't trust our instincts. I think that's the vicious cycle we're in that needs to stop.moshermamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06626593146392211985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488879425900650696.post-52961519965953928912009-03-10T14:55:00.000-05:002009-03-10T14:55:00.000-05:00Interesting. I would ask my fellow boomer two sets...Interesting. I would ask my fellow boomer two sets of questions in return:<BR/><BR/>1. Are Boomers willing to acknowledge that the way GenXers invest themselves in leading looks different than the way Boomers did it, but is no less valid? Is he willing to actually admit he might have something to learn from GenXers and to give up enough control to foster the meaningful participation of the next generation?<BR/><BR/>and<BR/><BR/>2. Are Boomers willing to admit that GenXer courage and hard work rest on the same fundamental values but can look quite different from Boomer behavior?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488879425900650696.post-30370357121017511952009-03-10T14:32:00.000-05:002009-03-10T14:32:00.000-05:00I was thinking along the same lines as Maddie. We...I was thinking along the same lines as Maddie. We are the most entrepreneurial generation in recent memory, and we're highly independent and not terribly receptive to authority and hierarchy (that's not me talking - that's Strauss & Howe again) - so yes, we're ready to lead. We're ALREADY leading. It just doesn't look like you expected it to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488879425900650696.post-21377856392715750242009-03-10T13:24:00.000-05:002009-03-10T13:24:00.000-05:00Sounds to me like he's asking if we're willing to ...Sounds to me like he's asking if we're willing to lead like they led. Which would be "No" - we'll lead like we already lead. By carving our own path and doing things how we want to do them and encouraging others to do things their own way and not necessarily our way.Maddie Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17736023561843714093noreply@blogger.com