It goes on and on
I've been procrastinating in writing this last of the generation series. Partly because I've been so busy that I haven't had time to sit down and write, but mostly because this particular generation puzzles me most. Not because they are really hard to understand - they are just continuing to evolve. The millenials span from 1982 until sometime now or in the future. There hasn't been an end date yet. That means that those who are 28 years old have the same core values as those born, well, today. That's how it is with generations - there's no absolute clear ending from one generation to the next until somebody smarter than me comes up with a new generation name and thing start anew for them. A new generation starts when there is a substantial change in the world's teachings or political stature or something that young children absorb during their formative years. The millenials formative years are in the late 80s, 90s and 00s.
Some say the change happened at 9/11/2001. Kids in their formative years - really young - 5-9 years old won't have a clear picture of what happened on that day, so their formative years will be vastly different than the post 9/11 kids. End of a generation, right? Then, Hurricane Katrina hit and many of the same values that 9/11 kids faced - philanthropy, fear, community, etc. were again prevalent in the world. Then, the Tsunami hit soon afterward - same values.
My humble opinion is that a new generation started on 9/11/2001. Some experts are calling them the first wave millenials - kind of like we had first and second wave boomers. Maybe. Nothing was the same after 2001. I think that is the split. For argument's sake, we'll keep them as first and second wave. I'm going to focus mostly on first wave because second wave are too young to predict.
The Millenials have some interesting characteristics. In contrast to their preceding generation, this group was the most supervised group of kids who ever walked the earth (read back to helicopter parents in my last post and you'll understand) As a result, these kids are the first ones who enjoy hanging out with their parents. Don't know about you, but I only hung out with my parents when I had to and when I was old enough to drink. Today's kids love going to the mall, the beach, whatever with mom and dad. Honor their parents and Millenials will honor you.
The Yes We CAN! (if you are a girl) Generation
Millenials are very optimistic and enthusiastic about their own futures. They've lived during the boom years of the 80s and 90s where money was flowing like a river. They trust authority - because their parents have been around them so much that they HAVE to trust authority. Their parents have told them for 20 years that they can do anything they want to and set their minds to doing - and they CAN! Girls are treated pretty equally to boys. In fact, girls are getting treated better than boys in school. Classrooms are much more geared toward compliant and well-behaved little girls than raucous little boys. Barbies became marine biologists and lawyers when these girls were growing up.
Boys will be boys - or not - if you're a Millenial
Boys in this generation have taken a bit of a hit. They are losing their masculinity at an alarming rate. Boys are being raised primarily by women. They are being stripped of their manhood because they are being taught that it's "OK TO CRY" - They help choose furniture and fabrics and notice a new shirt and shoes. They have no idea how to change their oil or how to handle a hammer or nails. Even electric power tools are being altered to fit the more petite hands of women. It's becoming a softer and gentler world...well, except for the war raging on the other side of the ocean. But even that is softer. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the patriotic sentiment in the U.S. was so high you could taste it. After 9/11 - the same feeling prevailed, but it soon dissipated. Now the patriotism in this country is very low and people want those soldiers back and safe whether we "win" the war or not. That's not a very masculine viewpoint, now is it? Budweiser tried to fix this problem and ran a series of commercials that were quite demeaning to women. The Man Show was a popular show with men swilling beer and ogling women. It is truly a tough time to be a man these days. These stupid ideas didn't last very long. Men want to be defined as men with valor - not idiots.
Stick with it boys. The good news is that girls like to be treated like girls again. No worries about holding a door for a woman or carrying heavy objects for them. We're not our Boomer mothers who would be offended by a man opening a door for us. We like to be princesses and we're not afraid to admit it. Advertising to men must address this. Make a man feel like a man without beating up their women. Edge Shaving Gel with the scantily clad, but tasteful women dancing around in their nose hairs is down right erotic for these guys. And the one with the razors that throws water in their faces instead of punches are pretty good.
Over paced. Over scheduled.
With a cell phone in one hand, a laptop in the other, a stereo blaring and a pile of paperwork in front of them - the Millenials are extremely over scheduled. This started when they were forming, remember? School, then soccer, then piano lessons, then basketball practice. McDonalds in the car, homework, kiss the parents goodnight, wake up at the crack of dawn and start all over again. That's what they grew up with. That's what they know.
Anyone who can offer a real solution - not another techy device - will win big. Don't get me wrong, Millenials LOVE techy devices. They are the first real technological generation. Give them another thing that bleeps and whirs and even if it was meant to save time, it will find a way to suck even more time out of their busy schedules.
Social networking is not only the wave of the future, it is their lifeline. They don't have time to actually meet with their friends, but if they can share everything they need to in a 160 word sound byte, that will work.
Philanthropic Cause of the Day
Every time a millenial turns around, there's another reason to help people. I believe it will be difficult though to have them become loyal to one cause. Today, it's an earthquake. Tomorrow, it's an oil spill. Mills with money share it. They love to help others. It's in their blood. Here's a comparison with the Xrs that will knock your socks off. In 1984, as the first Xrs were graduating from high school, 900,000 students participated in volunteer work. In 2003, 6,200,000 high school students volunteered. Wow. This is one group of motivated, enthusiastic humans!
But can they solve any problems?
That's an important question. Millenials love their parents, right? We've already established that. In fact, they have such a close bond with their parents that they've come to rely on them for everything. And those overactive parents are more than willing to help. They will bring forgotten homework to school, fight their battles for them, take care of those pesky bullies, monitor everything they do and make their lives much easier than when they themselves were kids. Millenials have absolutely no idea how to really solve their own problems. Their parents have always done it for them. In college, if they receive an unfair grade, their parents come to their aid. When it comes time for job hunting, parents will go on their interviews - the ones they set up for them - with them. They'll stick up for irresponsible kids and bail them out at every juncture. I wish I was exaggerating, but I'm afraid I'm not. A Millenial who can solve problems is an absolute jewel. Hire them! However, for a vast majority of your Millenials, you'll find that they know everything, (even though they don't) they don't need help (even though they do), they screw something up (even though they say they didn't) and they didn't do it (even though they did.) It's a blame shifting society because afterall, MY child wouldn't ever do that. At some point, they are certain that mom or dad will save the day (because they will.)
It's all still evolving
It's hard to classify a group of people in a generation. As I wrote the above words, the little voice inside my head said, "You know lots of Millenials who can solve problems and are real men and now they're all going to be pissed off at you." Then, that same voice says, "But you don't match all the characteristics of the Xrs either and you weren't offended by what you wrote about yourself, were you?" The point is that generations are defined by the group. Individuals within that group are still unique. The key is looking for those factors that are similar. They are team players (unlike the Xrs). They are active in their communities and with world-wide causes. One other thing that is very important to Millenials is that spirituality is becoming much more evident with this generation. I believe it's because as this generation evolves, there are a lot more things to pray about. When there is no way to look at a problem like 9/11, Katrina, the Tsunami, the Earthquake, whatever and figure out a solution, a realization dawns that a higher power must be invoked in order to stay sane. Thank God for our freedom of religion. Our Millenials thank you too, God.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Yeah, Right! Generation.
Say Hello to Generation X
Oh, the names we've been called. The disparaging comments we've had to endure. We're a lazy bunch of slackers who are just floating along on the coattails of the almighty boomers and we're not even ashamed of it! We have a lousy work ethic, don't put in more time than we absolutely HAVE to and just have no ambition.
Huh? Being a GenXr, you'll hear an awful lot of "we" in this post because, well, frankly, I know the most about this generation first-hand because I am one. And, I don't know ANYONE in my peer group who fits the above description. I also don't know of anyone in my generation who will get their knickers in a snit when they hear themselves described as such. Why? Because we've been through worse and could care less about what others think about us. In fact, we're not even sure if we're a real generation. Many think they are not part of this crazy group of people, but I've got a news flash for you - if you were born between 1965 and 1981, you too are true-blooded, all-American Gen Xr. Your formative years were the 70s, 80s and 90s and I'm sorry to say, we have a sad story to share. But don't worry, it all turns out ok in the end.
A Generation that Wasn't Wanted
As always, there are exceptions to the rule. I, for example, am a cusp kid who was born to GI Generation parents, so I was spared of much of the things the rest of my generation went through. However, the influences of society around me makes me just as much of an Xr as the next guy. I was wanted...well sort of. Six years after the last kid was born, when my mother was 41 yrs old, I'm SURE I was wanted. Even if the writing on the wall when we tore down the paneling listed all five of my siblings with a last note that said, "Kelly's one and all and LETS HOPE that's all." Then, came me. Ooops. The difference is though that I was still valued even if I was a surprise. Many of my peers and those born in the following 16 years were a true inconvience who put a damper on the lifestyles of the up and coming. We weren't cherished and appreciated by our moms and dads. We were a burden to be dealt with. Our parents (other than mine, of course) were usually Silent Generation, soon-to-be divorced - mom now in the workplace, or Boomers with a lot to prove in order to get ahead.
Harkening back to previous posts - so that you don't have to scroll down, remember Silent women were in the workplace out of necessity and Boomer women and blacks were competing for the first time against the "Company's" fair-haired white males for juicy positions. Hard work and dedication were essential and the duties of taking care of children were a huge burden on women of the time. A woman lost her edge when competing for a job because it was her responsibility to take care of the kids. Snotty noses belonged to mom - not dad. Bosses didn't like that very much. Late hours were a requirement to show dedication. Gen X were the first latch-key kids. We were the first ones to come home from school to an empty house and the first to start the casserole cooking for dinner.
Of COURSE we were loved.
Yes, our parents still loved us. They just wish we would have come along when it was more convenient. But because Boomer parents in particular were so busy, they often showed their love by showering us with gifts and things. They couldn't make the softball game, so they bought us a Pong game or some Jordache jeans. Because Boomers usually had more disposable income, we Xrs became quite accustomed to a pampered lifestyle in many cases. All of our physical needs were met, even if our emotional ones were put aside. But it really was ok, we were survivors and that term alone is probably the one that best describes our generation. Although it competes heavily with the second term that defines us. We are the world's most cynical people. Here's why.
It all fell apart.
When all previous generations were growing up, there were some things they knew they could count on.
By the time the Xrs reached our formative years, all of those foundations started to crumble:
We heard every promise there could possibly be. We were disappointed a disproportionately large number of times and we lost our ability to trust anyone but ourselves. The result - a cynical generation. You say you have the solution? Yeah, right. Prove it. I've heard it all before.
The Gen X Island
With all of this chaos around, a solace of unprecedented proportions came along. Sesame Street. That's right - the beautiful magical world of Sesame Street became the loved and cherished babysitter for Xrs who could learn their numbers and letters from TV. We also were the first generation of kids to have personal listening devices - remember Sony Walkmans? Previously, several generations would gather around the radio or tv to enjoy a show (Think Ed Sullivan) together. No more. We Xrs had our own entertainment. And we were the first to have advertising directed only to us. We smell hype a mile away - be aware. We hate it.
Instead of relying on family, we relied on friends. Afterall, they were all in the same boat and they were there after school. We became isolated from our families in many ways while learning to take care of ourselves with little or no assistance. We didn't have any pipe dreams that we would be at least as successful as our parents. In fact, we weren't sure we would even be AROUND with all the fears of nuclear war. We didn't (and still don't) have delusions that we could save the world or save the whales. We were more interested in saving each other and local businesses or charities. We were not (and usually are not) in favor of spending precious resources overseas to help the hungry when we have hungry people right here in our towns. Gen X are less likely these days to donate to huge organizations or overseas efforts and more likely to help save a local church, school or animal shelter. We want to protect our communities because that's where we believe we'll actually make a difference.
So, what about the laziness.
HA! I say again, HA! Xrs are not lazy. We have a tremendous work-ethic. Know why? Because we were taught by the masters - the Boomers and the Silents. Our workplace changed and we had to deal with a much more scarce job market. High level corporate jobs were out of our reach and we started to notice that no matter how many hours we put in, we were just as likely to get canned because of the economy as the guy who put in his 8 hours and went home. Why bother?
We also became parents. And we were determined not to make the same mistakes our parents made. Instead of the extra hour at work, we made sure to be at every single soccer game. Yes, we would take off during the day to go to our daughter's classroom for a play. We can always get another job. We can't always get another daughter. Our priorities became much different than those priorities of our parents. We set our own work hours if we could. We preferred jobs with adequate vacation time. We value our time-off.
But we work very hard - albeit usually best all alone - not in groups. We're loners. We'll contribute to the goal, but don't make us work together as a team too much. We can get a lot more done by ourselves. Teamwork with Xrs works best if you give each team member a separate and distinct job to do and let them have at it. Don't make them work collaboratively with more than one person. It drives us crazy to have to depend on everyone else. We'd rather just do it ourselves. Xrs often feel like we're getting the job done while Boomers are having meetings about how to get the job done.
How we're ruining OUR kids.
Well, as much as I'd like to say that all this nurturing and "being there" has produced a wonderful generation to follow, I can't. We're a generation who takes responsibility for our own actions and we've taken that to an extreme. Having a child is our responsibility and sadly for many of us, our child's actions are completely and totally our responsibility. If they fail in school - our fault. If they break the rules - our fault. If they aren't perfect - our fault. And even though we like to claim responsibility, sometimes, we just can't justify that a child's inability to be perfect is our fault. Afterall, we've done everything right - so therefore, it must be the teacher's fault. Or the coaches fault. Or society's fault. We have become a nation of blame shifters and this is NOT doing our children any good.
In our desire to become a significant force in our children's lives, we've become HELICOPTER PARENTS. We hover over everything our children do. We go to every game, we go to every school function, we keep a watchful eye on our children when they are playing with their friends and intervene if someone says something mean. We monitor grades like they are the stock market and take swift action if there is a drop. We immediately make an appointment to help us understand why a teacher "gave" our child a bad grade or detention slip. Worse yet, we place a tremendous amount of pressure on our children to perform better - even if they are already doing their best. It doesn't matter if we got Bs and Cs in school. We didn't have parents who were around to help us. Our children MUST get A's and B's - preferrably just A's because we are always around for our kids. In fact, we'll do that project for them if they need us to.
This manic determination so many of us Xrs has is killing the next generation. They can't solve their own problems because their parents have solved them all for them. They often can't even go to a successful job interview because the parents come with them. I'm not kidding. They can't dispute an incorrectly graded test or incorrectly posted bill because their parents have done it for them all their lives. If we as a generation plan to ever allow our children to grow up, we have to pull back on the hovering and let kids be kids. A soccer game does not have to be organized, a child can be bullied and learn to take care of it him or herself, and a student can get a detention for not bringing in their homework. It's ok. They'll survive and learn. Raise your hand if your parents ever brought you your homework that they reminded you to take to school the next day. Seeing no hands raised, I can safely assume that you got a "0" on your homework grade or had to sit out at recess and you survived to learn to bring your homework the next day. Hmmm.
We are survivors - and we're getting ready to take the reigns
I can't end this on a bad note. Every generation can be criticized for our parenting skills. Afterall, there really is no such thing as a perfect parent. But like or not, Gen X is very close to coming into power. Boomers are retiring, so Xrs are finally moving into corporate positions and positions of leadership. We darn near got ourselves an Xr president. He's not very far off from our age group. Here are some things I predict will happen as Xrs take over in the next 10 - 20 years.
Oh, the names we've been called. The disparaging comments we've had to endure. We're a lazy bunch of slackers who are just floating along on the coattails of the almighty boomers and we're not even ashamed of it! We have a lousy work ethic, don't put in more time than we absolutely HAVE to and just have no ambition.
Huh? Being a GenXr, you'll hear an awful lot of "we" in this post because, well, frankly, I know the most about this generation first-hand because I am one. And, I don't know ANYONE in my peer group who fits the above description. I also don't know of anyone in my generation who will get their knickers in a snit when they hear themselves described as such. Why? Because we've been through worse and could care less about what others think about us. In fact, we're not even sure if we're a real generation. Many think they are not part of this crazy group of people, but I've got a news flash for you - if you were born between 1965 and 1981, you too are true-blooded, all-American Gen Xr. Your formative years were the 70s, 80s and 90s and I'm sorry to say, we have a sad story to share. But don't worry, it all turns out ok in the end.
A Generation that Wasn't Wanted
As always, there are exceptions to the rule. I, for example, am a cusp kid who was born to GI Generation parents, so I was spared of much of the things the rest of my generation went through. However, the influences of society around me makes me just as much of an Xr as the next guy. I was wanted...well sort of. Six years after the last kid was born, when my mother was 41 yrs old, I'm SURE I was wanted. Even if the writing on the wall when we tore down the paneling listed all five of my siblings with a last note that said, "Kelly's one and all and LETS HOPE that's all." Then, came me. Ooops. The difference is though that I was still valued even if I was a surprise. Many of my peers and those born in the following 16 years were a true inconvience who put a damper on the lifestyles of the up and coming. We weren't cherished and appreciated by our moms and dads. We were a burden to be dealt with. Our parents (other than mine, of course) were usually Silent Generation, soon-to-be divorced - mom now in the workplace, or Boomers with a lot to prove in order to get ahead.
Harkening back to previous posts - so that you don't have to scroll down, remember Silent women were in the workplace out of necessity and Boomer women and blacks were competing for the first time against the "Company's" fair-haired white males for juicy positions. Hard work and dedication were essential and the duties of taking care of children were a huge burden on women of the time. A woman lost her edge when competing for a job because it was her responsibility to take care of the kids. Snotty noses belonged to mom - not dad. Bosses didn't like that very much. Late hours were a requirement to show dedication. Gen X were the first latch-key kids. We were the first ones to come home from school to an empty house and the first to start the casserole cooking for dinner.
Of COURSE we were loved.
Yes, our parents still loved us. They just wish we would have come along when it was more convenient. But because Boomer parents in particular were so busy, they often showed their love by showering us with gifts and things. They couldn't make the softball game, so they bought us a Pong game or some Jordache jeans. Because Boomers usually had more disposable income, we Xrs became quite accustomed to a pampered lifestyle in many cases. All of our physical needs were met, even if our emotional ones were put aside. But it really was ok, we were survivors and that term alone is probably the one that best describes our generation. Although it competes heavily with the second term that defines us. We are the world's most cynical people. Here's why.
It all fell apart.
When all previous generations were growing up, there were some things they knew they could count on.
- Married parents
- The Company would take care of Father's job
- Mother would always be at home to take care of them
- They'd always have a government they could believe in
By the time the Xrs reached our formative years, all of those foundations started to crumble:
- Divorce rates soared higher than ever before
- Father's job was being shipped overseas no matter how hard he worked and he had to compete with women and blacks who could take his job in an instant.
- Mother was out working to supplement income, survive, or pursue a career.
- We watched our president resign and our country lose a war. Presidential exploits were broadcast everywhere and the veil of privacy over their misdeeds was removed.
We heard every promise there could possibly be. We were disappointed a disproportionately large number of times and we lost our ability to trust anyone but ourselves. The result - a cynical generation. You say you have the solution? Yeah, right. Prove it. I've heard it all before.
The Gen X Island
With all of this chaos around, a solace of unprecedented proportions came along. Sesame Street. That's right - the beautiful magical world of Sesame Street became the loved and cherished babysitter for Xrs who could learn their numbers and letters from TV. We also were the first generation of kids to have personal listening devices - remember Sony Walkmans? Previously, several generations would gather around the radio or tv to enjoy a show (Think Ed Sullivan) together. No more. We Xrs had our own entertainment. And we were the first to have advertising directed only to us. We smell hype a mile away - be aware. We hate it.
Instead of relying on family, we relied on friends. Afterall, they were all in the same boat and they were there after school. We became isolated from our families in many ways while learning to take care of ourselves with little or no assistance. We didn't have any pipe dreams that we would be at least as successful as our parents. In fact, we weren't sure we would even be AROUND with all the fears of nuclear war. We didn't (and still don't) have delusions that we could save the world or save the whales. We were more interested in saving each other and local businesses or charities. We were not (and usually are not) in favor of spending precious resources overseas to help the hungry when we have hungry people right here in our towns. Gen X are less likely these days to donate to huge organizations or overseas efforts and more likely to help save a local church, school or animal shelter. We want to protect our communities because that's where we believe we'll actually make a difference.
So, what about the laziness.
HA! I say again, HA! Xrs are not lazy. We have a tremendous work-ethic. Know why? Because we were taught by the masters - the Boomers and the Silents. Our workplace changed and we had to deal with a much more scarce job market. High level corporate jobs were out of our reach and we started to notice that no matter how many hours we put in, we were just as likely to get canned because of the economy as the guy who put in his 8 hours and went home. Why bother?
We also became parents. And we were determined not to make the same mistakes our parents made. Instead of the extra hour at work, we made sure to be at every single soccer game. Yes, we would take off during the day to go to our daughter's classroom for a play. We can always get another job. We can't always get another daughter. Our priorities became much different than those priorities of our parents. We set our own work hours if we could. We preferred jobs with adequate vacation time. We value our time-off.
But we work very hard - albeit usually best all alone - not in groups. We're loners. We'll contribute to the goal, but don't make us work together as a team too much. We can get a lot more done by ourselves. Teamwork with Xrs works best if you give each team member a separate and distinct job to do and let them have at it. Don't make them work collaboratively with more than one person. It drives us crazy to have to depend on everyone else. We'd rather just do it ourselves. Xrs often feel like we're getting the job done while Boomers are having meetings about how to get the job done.
How we're ruining OUR kids.
Well, as much as I'd like to say that all this nurturing and "being there" has produced a wonderful generation to follow, I can't. We're a generation who takes responsibility for our own actions and we've taken that to an extreme. Having a child is our responsibility and sadly for many of us, our child's actions are completely and totally our responsibility. If they fail in school - our fault. If they break the rules - our fault. If they aren't perfect - our fault. And even though we like to claim responsibility, sometimes, we just can't justify that a child's inability to be perfect is our fault. Afterall, we've done everything right - so therefore, it must be the teacher's fault. Or the coaches fault. Or society's fault. We have become a nation of blame shifters and this is NOT doing our children any good.
In our desire to become a significant force in our children's lives, we've become HELICOPTER PARENTS. We hover over everything our children do. We go to every game, we go to every school function, we keep a watchful eye on our children when they are playing with their friends and intervene if someone says something mean. We monitor grades like they are the stock market and take swift action if there is a drop. We immediately make an appointment to help us understand why a teacher "gave" our child a bad grade or detention slip. Worse yet, we place a tremendous amount of pressure on our children to perform better - even if they are already doing their best. It doesn't matter if we got Bs and Cs in school. We didn't have parents who were around to help us. Our children MUST get A's and B's - preferrably just A's because we are always around for our kids. In fact, we'll do that project for them if they need us to.
This manic determination so many of us Xrs has is killing the next generation. They can't solve their own problems because their parents have solved them all for them. They often can't even go to a successful job interview because the parents come with them. I'm not kidding. They can't dispute an incorrectly graded test or incorrectly posted bill because their parents have done it for them all their lives. If we as a generation plan to ever allow our children to grow up, we have to pull back on the hovering and let kids be kids. A soccer game does not have to be organized, a child can be bullied and learn to take care of it him or herself, and a student can get a detention for not bringing in their homework. It's ok. They'll survive and learn. Raise your hand if your parents ever brought you your homework that they reminded you to take to school the next day. Seeing no hands raised, I can safely assume that you got a "0" on your homework grade or had to sit out at recess and you survived to learn to bring your homework the next day. Hmmm.
We are survivors - and we're getting ready to take the reigns
I can't end this on a bad note. Every generation can be criticized for our parenting skills. Afterall, there really is no such thing as a perfect parent. But like or not, Gen X is very close to coming into power. Boomers are retiring, so Xrs are finally moving into corporate positions and positions of leadership. We darn near got ourselves an Xr president. He's not very far off from our age group. Here are some things I predict will happen as Xrs take over in the next 10 - 20 years.
- War efforts will be on our own turf to protect our own citizens lives.
- Transparency will be tantamount. We've seen the effects of secrecy and will never allow Enron or the Catholic Church sex scandal to happen again on our watch.
- Local businesses and charities will grow stronger and enjoy tremendous financial stability.
- Out of the box thinking and actions will significantly change ideas, paradigms and formerly set-in-stone policies. Hopefully for the better.
- Workplaces and environments will change. More flexible hours. More commutes and work-at-home businessess.
- Fathers will continue to become a stronger force in the lives of their children. More equality in child-rearing.
There's always more to say about generations. More than can be included in a blog. If you'd like to add your comments, I'd love to hear what you have to say. Hope you enjoyed this LONG overdue blog post. Next generation is the millenials. Don't expect too much though. We don't know that much about them yet. But I'll share what I know. And it will be GREAT! Yeah, right.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Seniors and Sex - I don't mean high school seniors
Seniors, Sex and STDs a Growing Concern
One of my clients is an online blood testing organization that offers discreet and confidential blood testing for a variety of ailments. I had the momentary excitement of finding out that Dear Abby had chosen my letter (representing Edward Salko, D.O., founder of Personalabs.com and Justgettested.com)out of 3,000/week. What a high. Then, what goes up, must come down. The awesome placement of the article was signed by Dr. Salko, which was good, but not credited to personalabs.com or justgettested.com.
Well, DUH!
Yeah, I know - all you PR people are saying, "Well, duh, it's not a commercial!" I know, I know, but I was hoping they'd add it under his credentials to give him a little credibility. I was wrong. So, I'm taking this up in cyberspace. Seniors - and I don't mean high school seniors - senior citizens and baby boomers (since we know there is no such thing as a baby boomer senior citizen) are contracting and transmitting STDs and STIs at an alarming rate. The best way to stop it is to get tested. As long as there are male enhancement drugs, there will be STDs for generations to come.
Below is a blog I posted on justtest.me.blog and thought it was appropriate to add to my personal blog. JustGetTested.com and Personalabs.com gives seniors a private way of finding out without the embarrassment. If you think this is worth passing along, I would greatly appreciate it. Let's spread some education around instead of STDs, shall we?
You’re Never Too Old for an STD
The world we live in is drastically different than the one in which our current over 60 population grew up. Think back to the 1940s, 50s and 60s for a minute. Nice girls didn’t do it. It was NOT talked about except among the boys and the worst thing that could happen was getting your girl pregnant. Back then, pregnancy was tantamount to syphilis and gonorrhea because it couldn’t be cured. Although syphilis and gonorrhea have been around forever, the advent of penicillin made them easy to hide. So the only outward sign of a nice girl (or a not so nice girl) having sex was pregnancy. Fast boys on the other hand never had to ‘fess up – except around their buddies.
Fast forward to 2010. Every other commercial on television seems to promote a male enhancement drug. Divorces that waited until the children were out of the house are on the rise and the first Baby Boomers are reaching retirement age. Baby Boomers were at a prime age when the sexual revolution was in full swing. But that was in the 1960s and 1970s. In essence, there are a bunch of people today having sex who grew up in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s and have never been educated about STDs and STIs. HIV was not discovered yet. Neither were Chlamydia, genital herpes, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and many other sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections (STD/STI).
Somewhere between the soda shop and online dating sites, something very insidious happened to sex. It started to carry a price tag far greater than pregnancy. Today’s youth are much more informed about sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections or illnesses than their older counterparts were. Young people for the most part use protection if they choose to have sex. Their grandparents don’t.
If the only thing you’re worried about is pregnancy, today’s older generation is basically in the clear. After menopause, you can’t get pregnant. Why use a condom if you can’t make a baby? Well, because you’re never too old to get an STD or STI. The scary part is that if you have symptoms, you’re lucky. Most of the STDs and STIs don’t carry any symptoms. So someone who has picked up an STD or STI can pass it around without ever knowing it.
Another problem facing today’s 60+ generation is the conversation with their doctor or lack thereof. Imagine a 30 something physician looking at an 80 something patient and asking if he’s using protection when having sex. Or, imagine that same 80-year-old talking to the equivalent of his or her grandchild about having safe sex. It’s uncomfortable all around. It’s not a conversation anyone wants to have, but it is critically important.
Finally, there could be an “I don’t really care if I have an STD” mentality in the older set. They think that because they are in their 70s, 80s and beyond something else will kill them before an STD or STI. They may be right. What they aren’t realizing though is that they may be passing those diseases and infections on to much younger partners without even realizing it. I don’t think they would want to do that if they thought about it.
So, to update the older generation on STDs and STIs, here is a handy checklist to consider:
1) Getting tested is the only way to know for certain if you have an STD or STI.
2) HIV is transferred among men and women now. Women represent the fastest growing number of new cases.
3) You are at risk of contracting an STD or STI if you have unprotected sex with anyone who has had unprotected sex with another partner.
4) Many STDs and STIs are curable.
5) Most STDs and STIs do not show outward symptoms.
6) Some STDs and STIs can cause acute liver damage and liver cancer.
7) Some STDs and STIs can be transmitted even if you wear a condom.
So for all of you out there enjoying your second (or third) go ‘round, please be aware that you are at risk for sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Safe sex is considered that which is enjoyed in a long-term monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and determined to be without infection. But if you can’t be sure, make sure to use a condom every time. Then get tested. Until June 1, anyone over the age of 50 can receive a 10% discount. Just enter coupon code OVER50.
One of my clients is an online blood testing organization that offers discreet and confidential blood testing for a variety of ailments. I had the momentary excitement of finding out that Dear Abby had chosen my letter (representing Edward Salko, D.O., founder of Personalabs.com and Justgettested.com)out of 3,000/week. What a high. Then, what goes up, must come down. The awesome placement of the article was signed by Dr. Salko, which was good, but not credited to personalabs.com or justgettested.com.
Well, DUH!
Yeah, I know - all you PR people are saying, "Well, duh, it's not a commercial!" I know, I know, but I was hoping they'd add it under his credentials to give him a little credibility. I was wrong. So, I'm taking this up in cyberspace. Seniors - and I don't mean high school seniors - senior citizens and baby boomers (since we know there is no such thing as a baby boomer senior citizen) are contracting and transmitting STDs and STIs at an alarming rate. The best way to stop it is to get tested. As long as there are male enhancement drugs, there will be STDs for generations to come.
Below is a blog I posted on justtest.me.blog and thought it was appropriate to add to my personal blog. JustGetTested.com and Personalabs.com gives seniors a private way of finding out without the embarrassment. If you think this is worth passing along, I would greatly appreciate it. Let's spread some education around instead of STDs, shall we?
You’re Never Too Old for an STD
The world we live in is drastically different than the one in which our current over 60 population grew up. Think back to the 1940s, 50s and 60s for a minute. Nice girls didn’t do it. It was NOT talked about except among the boys and the worst thing that could happen was getting your girl pregnant. Back then, pregnancy was tantamount to syphilis and gonorrhea because it couldn’t be cured. Although syphilis and gonorrhea have been around forever, the advent of penicillin made them easy to hide. So the only outward sign of a nice girl (or a not so nice girl) having sex was pregnancy. Fast boys on the other hand never had to ‘fess up – except around their buddies.
Fast forward to 2010. Every other commercial on television seems to promote a male enhancement drug. Divorces that waited until the children were out of the house are on the rise and the first Baby Boomers are reaching retirement age. Baby Boomers were at a prime age when the sexual revolution was in full swing. But that was in the 1960s and 1970s. In essence, there are a bunch of people today having sex who grew up in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s and have never been educated about STDs and STIs. HIV was not discovered yet. Neither were Chlamydia, genital herpes, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and many other sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections (STD/STI).
Somewhere between the soda shop and online dating sites, something very insidious happened to sex. It started to carry a price tag far greater than pregnancy. Today’s youth are much more informed about sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections or illnesses than their older counterparts were. Young people for the most part use protection if they choose to have sex. Their grandparents don’t.
If the only thing you’re worried about is pregnancy, today’s older generation is basically in the clear. After menopause, you can’t get pregnant. Why use a condom if you can’t make a baby? Well, because you’re never too old to get an STD or STI. The scary part is that if you have symptoms, you’re lucky. Most of the STDs and STIs don’t carry any symptoms. So someone who has picked up an STD or STI can pass it around without ever knowing it.
Another problem facing today’s 60+ generation is the conversation with their doctor or lack thereof. Imagine a 30 something physician looking at an 80 something patient and asking if he’s using protection when having sex. Or, imagine that same 80-year-old talking to the equivalent of his or her grandchild about having safe sex. It’s uncomfortable all around. It’s not a conversation anyone wants to have, but it is critically important.
Finally, there could be an “I don’t really care if I have an STD” mentality in the older set. They think that because they are in their 70s, 80s and beyond something else will kill them before an STD or STI. They may be right. What they aren’t realizing though is that they may be passing those diseases and infections on to much younger partners without even realizing it. I don’t think they would want to do that if they thought about it.
So, to update the older generation on STDs and STIs, here is a handy checklist to consider:
1) Getting tested is the only way to know for certain if you have an STD or STI.
2) HIV is transferred among men and women now. Women represent the fastest growing number of new cases.
3) You are at risk of contracting an STD or STI if you have unprotected sex with anyone who has had unprotected sex with another partner.
4) Many STDs and STIs are curable.
5) Most STDs and STIs do not show outward symptoms.
6) Some STDs and STIs can cause acute liver damage and liver cancer.
7) Some STDs and STIs can be transmitted even if you wear a condom.
So for all of you out there enjoying your second (or third) go ‘round, please be aware that you are at risk for sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Safe sex is considered that which is enjoyed in a long-term monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and determined to be without infection. But if you can’t be sure, make sure to use a condom every time. Then get tested. Until June 1, anyone over the age of 50 can receive a 10% discount. Just enter coupon code OVER50.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Goodbye to an almost famous Silent
I know, I'm cheating. This is a personal blog infringing on a business blog, but hey, sometimes, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Last week, my family lost one of the great Silents - Peg Reynolds - my mother-in-law and my friend. She wasn't like most Silent era women. In fact, to hear her tell it, she wasn't like anyone else. She was unique. Although she fit the mold of the divorced silent who after many years of marriage was thrust into the workforce when she never thought she would be, she always felt like she was destined for something else. She told me often that she was born before her time. She was unique at a time when individuality was frowned upon. She often told stories of how she would get in trouble from the nuns when she would ask a question. She had a knack for asking questions that no one else had ever thought of. And she never rested until she found an answer - even if it was "I don't know." She lived in her own little world that I dubbed "Ninga's World" (her grandchildren called her Ninga - not ninja - Ninga) Life was different in Ninga's World. Although she went through periods of extreme bitterness,she always brought it around in the end to be ok.
As she got older, she softened a little. I can truly say though that if there was ever something that could go wrong, it would happen to Ninga. I was going to change the title of Murphy's law to Peggy's Law. It was certain that if luggage was going to be lost, it would be hers. If medication was going to run out, it would be the one she needed just one more of, if a meal was going to be served cold, it would the one put in front of her. In the beginning of our marriage, I cringed every time we had to go out into public. Not because she would always make a scene when soemthing went wrong (she did) but because every time we would go out, something would go wrong. But to her defense, my daughter got huge discounts on the special dress that Ninga bought her because something was missing from the dress. The pharmacist at Walgreens gave her free medication after telling her that the pills she needed would cost her three times as much than what she would pay at home. The meals were free after the food didn't look like the picture. The point is, she knew how to fight for what she wanted. While many of us would be embarrassed or too shy to demand better - she made it an art form. I just learned to let her do her thing - even if it meant that I'd wait in the car. I don't have that kind of courage.
In her death, she finally found the easy way. It was sudden and completely unexpected, but she died without suffering. I am so glad she found the easy way at the last minute. It's not easy for her family, but hey, she's been taking the brunt of the hard stuff all her life. She deserved to die in peace. I will miss her terribly, but am honored to have called her my mother-in-law. I hope she finds peace and the easy way and in heaven, her uniqueness will be rewarded forever. RIP Peggy.
As she got older, she softened a little. I can truly say though that if there was ever something that could go wrong, it would happen to Ninga. I was going to change the title of Murphy's law to Peggy's Law. It was certain that if luggage was going to be lost, it would be hers. If medication was going to run out, it would be the one she needed just one more of, if a meal was going to be served cold, it would the one put in front of her. In the beginning of our marriage, I cringed every time we had to go out into public. Not because she would always make a scene when soemthing went wrong (she did) but because every time we would go out, something would go wrong. But to her defense, my daughter got huge discounts on the special dress that Ninga bought her because something was missing from the dress. The pharmacist at Walgreens gave her free medication after telling her that the pills she needed would cost her three times as much than what she would pay at home. The meals were free after the food didn't look like the picture. The point is, she knew how to fight for what she wanted. While many of us would be embarrassed or too shy to demand better - she made it an art form. I just learned to let her do her thing - even if it meant that I'd wait in the car. I don't have that kind of courage.
In her death, she finally found the easy way. It was sudden and completely unexpected, but she died without suffering. I am so glad she found the easy way at the last minute. It's not easy for her family, but hey, she's been taking the brunt of the hard stuff all her life. She deserved to die in peace. I will miss her terribly, but am honored to have called her my mother-in-law. I hope she finds peace and the easy way and in heaven, her uniqueness will be rewarded forever. RIP Peggy.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Ka BOOMERS! The generation that exploded!
Since my last blog I've had the pleasure of presenting generational information to the Public Relations Society of America's Gulfcoast Chapter. Other than that, I've been flat out too busy to update this blog. Sorry. I'll try to do better.
This blog is dedicated to the Baby Boomers. Wow! What a group! They are huge! (Notice the line of exclamation points. They deserve all three of them.) Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. Their formative years were in the 50s, 60s and 70s. There is a very wide range among those decades and lots of 50s baby boomers don't really think that they identify very much with the 70s ones, but they are all connected. There are two very distinct waves though that are recognized.
Common factors:
All boomers grew up when there were still only three television stations that the whole family watched together. They all enjoyed rock and roll music - even though the definition of that genre changed a bit over time. They felt pretty secure in their families and lives. One of the biggest bonds the entire boomer clan share though is credited to Dr. Benjamin Spock. Dr. Spock came out with a statement never before considered. He said, "Children should be raised to be idealistic." Huh??
Silent mothers had no idea what this meant. They were raised to do as they were told, be seen and not heard, work hard and follow the rules. Now, here comes along this doctor who must be really smart because, well, he's a doctor and shakes EVERYTHING up. The boomers were the first group of kids who believed they could accomplish ANYTHING - regardless of race or gender. That's when things started to get a little sticky. Boomers had what they needed and then some. They also were idealistic in believing that everybody should be in the same boat. Therefore, women and blacks should have an equal place at the table. Those ideas changed the world.
Look back first.
Keep in mind that the generation before - the Silents - were always aware of where they stood. Women at home taking care of kids. Men at work. If they worked hard, did what they were told and remained loyal to the company, they would get rewarded. One thing these white males didn't have was competition. Until...
The 80 hour work week begins
For the first time, rewards were no longer guaranteed for hard work. First wave boomers started to see their fathers losing their jobs or promotions to women and blacks who were just beginning to enter the work place. This had a profound effect on young boomers. While they believed in equality, many were still somewhat racist and felt that this intrusion into their lives was a matter of disrespect. Second wave boomers saw it as a catalyst to keep the momentum going. As famous Silents like Gloria Steinem and Martin Luther King whipped second wave boomers into a frenzy, first wave boomers who were just entering the workplace found that hard work may not be enough. This conflicted with the idealism engendered in this group. They knew they could do it - they would just have to do it differently than their fathers did.
So let's look at this generation: White males had to work harder to compete with blacks and women in the workplace. Blacks and women had to work harder because they had to prove themselves to be better than the white males.This started the era of the 80 hour work week. Workaholics became the eventual Yuppies. Individual ideas and innovation became the standards by which workers were judged. Standing out was how you were noticed. There were some amazing innovations that emerged from this and some devastating results on family life. This was also the time when African Americans first made their way into the vernacular. Boomers who may have resented the competition did not ever want to look like they were racist, so they made it politically incorrect to call blacks black. The dawn of African Americans took shape. For any person of color who reads this blog, please don't ever be offended by my use of the word black to describe someone of African decent. I'm a Gen Xr and will explain it at a different time. Suffice it to say that none of my black friends are offended by being called black, so I am ok with it too. That's how Gen Xrs are, but more on that later.
The other really big thing
Ironically, some generational experts say that a really tiny thing was really the other big thing that formed the baby boomer generation. The birth control pill. When the pill became commonly used, it opened the door for some major changes. Women no longer had to worry about getting pregnant if they had sex outside of marriage. This started the sexual revolution. Add to it the drug culture that became prevalent and you can begin to understand the ramifications. One of the other "silent" side effects of the pill was the increase of extramarital affairs with young boomer women and older silent men. These infidelities led to an increase in the divorce rate, which threw many silent women into the work place who never wanted to be there in the first place.
Boomers by any other name are...the Peter Pan Generation.
I don't think we will ever see an old baby boomer. That's because they absolutely refuse to grow up. They are forever young and truly believe that they will remain that way. The forever young attitude will keep plastic surgeons, health food stores, fitness clubs and fashion designers fat and happy for a long time. Roger Daltry (a silent, by the way - but on the cusp) stated it very clearly - "I hope I die before I get old" Those words are the anthem for boomers. Notice, it doesn't say, I want to die young. It says, I want to die before I become like one of them. Boomers will stay active as long as humanly possible. Communicators would be wise to avoid any mention of aging - no matter how nicely you put it. Golden years, mature, senior, elder, aging, are all words that mean death to a brand if marketing to boomers. The proof is in Cadillac's commercials. They tried showing boomers that they had arrived. They created commercials showing the Country Club and the Trophy Wife. Sales tanked. They changed their concept and showed a really cool Caddy zipping through the smoke with the Led Zeppelin song "Break on through" telling the whole story. Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Any car is cool with Led Zepp endorsing it. Ironically, PT Cruisers were also extremely popular among boomers. They reminded them of the old "woodies" they grew up with - but Cruisers had more style.
There is a lot to say about boomers. To wrap it up nicely, they are very intelligent, idealistic, hard working, dedicated to excellence, demanding, rebellious, go-getters, workaholics, open minded, socially conscious and I hate to say it, but they're starting to get _ L D _ R. Sorry, I can't commit the political suicide it would be to say they are getting older out loud. But that's a fact. One other little thing to think about...
It's still about the sex.
Did you know that boomers and some silents represent the fastest growing group of people newly diagnosed (or not yet diagnosed) with sexually transmitted diseases and infections? Why? There are lots of reasons. Such as:
1) When they were first experimenting with lots of sex, there were only two STDs. Now, there are a bunch more.
2) Back then, sex education was non-existent, therefore safe sex meant you were on the pill.
3) Erectile dysfunction medication makes it easier for formerly impotent men to continue with an active sex life.
4) Mid-life divorces are leading many to try online dating sites which often lead to one-night or even several nights with someone they don't really know.
5) Since many have already gone through menopause, they don't need to use condoms, because they can't get pregnant anymore.
Time for the shameless but very real client plug. Baby boomers (and even a few silents!) need to get tested for STDs and STIs if they are not in a long-term monogomous relationship and have had sex with anyone else. Luckily, they can do it discreety and confidentially at www.personalabs.com or justgettested.com.
Education is first.
Action is second. (Get tested)
Medication is third.
Next blog will be about my favorite generation - Generation X. Why? Because I am one. BUT I too am just about on the cusp so I really do understand much of what baby boomers go through and I can totally understand that even though I'm on the cusp, I'm a full-blooded Gen Xr. You'll just have to wait till next time to find out what all that means.
This blog is dedicated to the Baby Boomers. Wow! What a group! They are huge! (Notice the line of exclamation points. They deserve all three of them.) Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. Their formative years were in the 50s, 60s and 70s. There is a very wide range among those decades and lots of 50s baby boomers don't really think that they identify very much with the 70s ones, but they are all connected. There are two very distinct waves though that are recognized.
Common factors:
All boomers grew up when there were still only three television stations that the whole family watched together. They all enjoyed rock and roll music - even though the definition of that genre changed a bit over time. They felt pretty secure in their families and lives. One of the biggest bonds the entire boomer clan share though is credited to Dr. Benjamin Spock. Dr. Spock came out with a statement never before considered. He said, "Children should be raised to be idealistic." Huh??
Silent mothers had no idea what this meant. They were raised to do as they were told, be seen and not heard, work hard and follow the rules. Now, here comes along this doctor who must be really smart because, well, he's a doctor and shakes EVERYTHING up. The boomers were the first group of kids who believed they could accomplish ANYTHING - regardless of race or gender. That's when things started to get a little sticky. Boomers had what they needed and then some. They also were idealistic in believing that everybody should be in the same boat. Therefore, women and blacks should have an equal place at the table. Those ideas changed the world.
Look back first.
Keep in mind that the generation before - the Silents - were always aware of where they stood. Women at home taking care of kids. Men at work. If they worked hard, did what they were told and remained loyal to the company, they would get rewarded. One thing these white males didn't have was competition. Until...
The 80 hour work week begins
For the first time, rewards were no longer guaranteed for hard work. First wave boomers started to see their fathers losing their jobs or promotions to women and blacks who were just beginning to enter the work place. This had a profound effect on young boomers. While they believed in equality, many were still somewhat racist and felt that this intrusion into their lives was a matter of disrespect. Second wave boomers saw it as a catalyst to keep the momentum going. As famous Silents like Gloria Steinem and Martin Luther King whipped second wave boomers into a frenzy, first wave boomers who were just entering the workplace found that hard work may not be enough. This conflicted with the idealism engendered in this group. They knew they could do it - they would just have to do it differently than their fathers did.
So let's look at this generation: White males had to work harder to compete with blacks and women in the workplace. Blacks and women had to work harder because they had to prove themselves to be better than the white males.This started the era of the 80 hour work week. Workaholics became the eventual Yuppies. Individual ideas and innovation became the standards by which workers were judged. Standing out was how you were noticed. There were some amazing innovations that emerged from this and some devastating results on family life. This was also the time when African Americans first made their way into the vernacular. Boomers who may have resented the competition did not ever want to look like they were racist, so they made it politically incorrect to call blacks black. The dawn of African Americans took shape. For any person of color who reads this blog, please don't ever be offended by my use of the word black to describe someone of African decent. I'm a Gen Xr and will explain it at a different time. Suffice it to say that none of my black friends are offended by being called black, so I am ok with it too. That's how Gen Xrs are, but more on that later.
The other really big thing
Ironically, some generational experts say that a really tiny thing was really the other big thing that formed the baby boomer generation. The birth control pill. When the pill became commonly used, it opened the door for some major changes. Women no longer had to worry about getting pregnant if they had sex outside of marriage. This started the sexual revolution. Add to it the drug culture that became prevalent and you can begin to understand the ramifications. One of the other "silent" side effects of the pill was the increase of extramarital affairs with young boomer women and older silent men. These infidelities led to an increase in the divorce rate, which threw many silent women into the work place who never wanted to be there in the first place.
Boomers by any other name are...the Peter Pan Generation.
I don't think we will ever see an old baby boomer. That's because they absolutely refuse to grow up. They are forever young and truly believe that they will remain that way. The forever young attitude will keep plastic surgeons, health food stores, fitness clubs and fashion designers fat and happy for a long time. Roger Daltry (a silent, by the way - but on the cusp) stated it very clearly - "I hope I die before I get old" Those words are the anthem for boomers. Notice, it doesn't say, I want to die young. It says, I want to die before I become like one of them. Boomers will stay active as long as humanly possible. Communicators would be wise to avoid any mention of aging - no matter how nicely you put it. Golden years, mature, senior, elder, aging, are all words that mean death to a brand if marketing to boomers. The proof is in Cadillac's commercials. They tried showing boomers that they had arrived. They created commercials showing the Country Club and the Trophy Wife. Sales tanked. They changed their concept and showed a really cool Caddy zipping through the smoke with the Led Zeppelin song "Break on through" telling the whole story. Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Any car is cool with Led Zepp endorsing it. Ironically, PT Cruisers were also extremely popular among boomers. They reminded them of the old "woodies" they grew up with - but Cruisers had more style.
There is a lot to say about boomers. To wrap it up nicely, they are very intelligent, idealistic, hard working, dedicated to excellence, demanding, rebellious, go-getters, workaholics, open minded, socially conscious and I hate to say it, but they're starting to get _ L D _ R. Sorry, I can't commit the political suicide it would be to say they are getting older out loud. But that's a fact. One other little thing to think about...
It's still about the sex.
Did you know that boomers and some silents represent the fastest growing group of people newly diagnosed (or not yet diagnosed) with sexually transmitted diseases and infections? Why? There are lots of reasons. Such as:
1) When they were first experimenting with lots of sex, there were only two STDs. Now, there are a bunch more.
2) Back then, sex education was non-existent, therefore safe sex meant you were on the pill.
3) Erectile dysfunction medication makes it easier for formerly impotent men to continue with an active sex life.
4) Mid-life divorces are leading many to try online dating sites which often lead to one-night or even several nights with someone they don't really know.
5) Since many have already gone through menopause, they don't need to use condoms, because they can't get pregnant anymore.
Time for the shameless but very real client plug. Baby boomers (and even a few silents!) need to get tested for STDs and STIs if they are not in a long-term monogomous relationship and have had sex with anyone else. Luckily, they can do it discreety and confidentially at www.personalabs.com or justgettested.com.
Education is first.
Action is second. (Get tested)
Medication is third.
Next blog will be about my favorite generation - Generation X. Why? Because I am one. BUT I too am just about on the cusp so I really do understand much of what baby boomers go through and I can totally understand that even though I'm on the cusp, I'm a full-blooded Gen Xr. You'll just have to wait till next time to find out what all that means.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Talkin' Bout My Generation
It's been quite a while since my last blog. That's due to an unusually busy December during which I helped launch a highly successful business in Fort Myers. The business is a long-term off-airport parking alternative to the current more expensive on-airport parking. After frantically applying as many marketing and budget conscious advertising strategies I could muster, coupled with some marketing and sales techniques employed by the company, I can happily say, the efforts resulted in a huge success. The goal was to have 1,000 cars parked in the new lot by Christmas day. The biggest challenge? The lot was not slated to open until Dec. 18 and even THAT was an iffy proposition. We enacted a very intensive radio campaign, Val-Pak coupons, publicity plan, street signage, facebook fan page, and emailed coupon campaign. The end result was 1,075 cars in the lot on Christmas day. Woo Hoo!
One of the interesting aspects of this campaign was applying one of my favorite strategies: Generational Marketing. In the next few blogs, I'm going to focus on different generations as I've studied them. My interest started when I heard Chuck Underwood speak at a conference. His book, "The Generational Imperative" is a must-read for anyone interested in this discipline. I've recently gotten several generational books and my husband used the theories presented for a research paper on cross-cultural communication.
The premise of generational marketing and communication is understanding that we are all similar in our attitudes and beliefs based on the state of the environment in which we experienced our formative years - basically our school-aged years. If you were raised for instance in the 30's, your attitudes are very similar to most others who lived during that time, but drastically different than those raised in the 70s. That seems like a no-brainer, but the interesting part is that you don't have to have had the exact same experiences to have the same attitudes. For example, I am a Generation Xer. Although, the cut-off from Baby Boomer to Xer is only two years prior, my attitudes and beliefs are firmly planted in my generation and not the former. Our generation was the first group to have latch-key kids. We were the first to have television directed strictly to us. We were the first to have a president resign in humiliation and our country defeated in Vietnam. As a generation, we are considered to be extremely cynical and survivors. We rely on our friends more than family and will come up with a solution that serves our purposes and those of our friends. We're not global thinkers as much. We're more worried about what happens at home, then what happens abroad. This is just a quick synopsis of Gen X. There is plenty more and I'll go into that in future blogs. The point is - I was NOT a latch key kid. I was NOT raised by Baby Boomers (unlike many of my peers). These two things were very important in forming the attitudes of my generation. I have the attitudes, but I didn't have the direct experience. It really is facinating to talk about this to a room full of differing generations. You can see each generation nod their heads as it is described - even if the factors that lead to that definition don't fit their lives. It's all about what you grew up with in society.
The Silent Generation
The first generation I'm going to focus on is the Silent Generation. Born 1927 to 1945, this generation experienced some very dynamic societal effects. As they were going through school, they watched war heroes (the GI Generation) return to the United States. These GI's were strong and valiant. They were confident in their abilities and looked up to by an entire generation of worshippers. Silents, relatively small in comparison to the GI generation, wanted to be just like the GIs. They lived in post-war prosperity and held strictly traditional values. They were in the era of the S&H greenstamps and valued bonuses with purchases (coke glasses with purchase of a gallon of gas) Women were valued as mothers and wives who kept a clean and tidy home, had a nice cake baking in the oven for after-school snacks and made sure the children were presentable when father came home. A well-run home was the Silent Generation woman's heart's desire. She went to college strictly to find a good husband or to become a teacher or nurse - the only two acceptable careers for women. Silent Generation males were all about conformity. They wore their gray flannel suits and put the needs of "The Company" before everything else. They were not rewarded for ingenuity, but for being a good and loyal worker. The needs of the company were far more important than the needs of the individual. If you worked hard and remained loyal, you would not only have job security (most Silents remained at the same jobs all their lives) but you would be promoted and paid based on your loyalty. Sometimes, that included remaining silent if you saw corruption and blindly following the GI leaders who must know better. They trusted authority and viewed the news media as a reasonable source for valid information. They read newspapers and watch television news extensively.
The Silents call themselves the Greatest Generation and indeed, in many ways they were. They embraced the joy in life and thrilled to the sounds of Doo Wop. They loved to dance and revelled in the stability and warmth of a loving family.
Where's the Beef?
That's the background, now for the marketing meat. How do you reach Silents? Go for the grandchild card. They have an uncommon attachment to their grandchildren. Prior to the Clara Peller days, Wendy's successfully launched a campaign depicting grandmother and granddaughter sharing some love over a Wendy's burger. Brilliant!
Silents believe that they've worked hard all their lives and deserve to be rewarded. They want to be young and vibrant - spending the children's inheritance is a cool thing for them. They deserve their vacations, big fancy cars and trips to the moon if possible. They want to serve as a role model for their grandchildren because they don't like how their Baby Boomer children have assumed that role. If you can tap into ways they can connect with their grandchildren, you'll have a home run.
Another little trick are coupons and special offers. Even the wealthiest of Silents appreciates a good value. Although they grew up in prosperity, they were still influenced by the frugality of the GI Generation who grew up during the Depression. A millionaire Silent is as likely to clip a coupon to save a couple of bucks as a struggling senior on a fixed income.
That's just a taste of learning about the Silent Generation. Next blog - Baby Boomers. My New Years resolution is to incorporate generational strategies in every aspect of my marketing plans for the coming year. Sometimes we get sidetracked by "good ideas" that don't meet the right generational criteria. Clever and sexy are not usually effective with Silents. Valuable, practical and deserved are all a big plus.
Generational Marketing in Practice
For Executive Valet Airport Parking, the Silent Generation was reached primarily by coupons and news media. When they received their Val Pak coupons for $1.00/day off the advertised price, they made sure to bring in that coupon. They responded strongly to the news coverage of the opening. One very wealthy Silent Generation man told us that he was happy to pay $5.99/day for parking, but if we raised it to $6.99/day, he'd stop using the service. Keep in mind, the alternative is paying $11/day at the airport. I think he'll be a prime target for money saving coupons in the future, don't you? Many of the customers from this generation cited the television as their source for learning about the discount parking.
I hope you enjoy this generational series. Any comments about how generational marketing has been beneficial to you or your company, I'd love to hear them. I wish everyone a safe, healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!
One of the interesting aspects of this campaign was applying one of my favorite strategies: Generational Marketing. In the next few blogs, I'm going to focus on different generations as I've studied them. My interest started when I heard Chuck Underwood speak at a conference. His book, "The Generational Imperative" is a must-read for anyone interested in this discipline. I've recently gotten several generational books and my husband used the theories presented for a research paper on cross-cultural communication.
The premise of generational marketing and communication is understanding that we are all similar in our attitudes and beliefs based on the state of the environment in which we experienced our formative years - basically our school-aged years. If you were raised for instance in the 30's, your attitudes are very similar to most others who lived during that time, but drastically different than those raised in the 70s. That seems like a no-brainer, but the interesting part is that you don't have to have had the exact same experiences to have the same attitudes. For example, I am a Generation Xer. Although, the cut-off from Baby Boomer to Xer is only two years prior, my attitudes and beliefs are firmly planted in my generation and not the former. Our generation was the first group to have latch-key kids. We were the first to have television directed strictly to us. We were the first to have a president resign in humiliation and our country defeated in Vietnam. As a generation, we are considered to be extremely cynical and survivors. We rely on our friends more than family and will come up with a solution that serves our purposes and those of our friends. We're not global thinkers as much. We're more worried about what happens at home, then what happens abroad. This is just a quick synopsis of Gen X. There is plenty more and I'll go into that in future blogs. The point is - I was NOT a latch key kid. I was NOT raised by Baby Boomers (unlike many of my peers). These two things were very important in forming the attitudes of my generation. I have the attitudes, but I didn't have the direct experience. It really is facinating to talk about this to a room full of differing generations. You can see each generation nod their heads as it is described - even if the factors that lead to that definition don't fit their lives. It's all about what you grew up with in society.
The Silent Generation
The first generation I'm going to focus on is the Silent Generation. Born 1927 to 1945, this generation experienced some very dynamic societal effects. As they were going through school, they watched war heroes (the GI Generation) return to the United States. These GI's were strong and valiant. They were confident in their abilities and looked up to by an entire generation of worshippers. Silents, relatively small in comparison to the GI generation, wanted to be just like the GIs. They lived in post-war prosperity and held strictly traditional values. They were in the era of the S&H greenstamps and valued bonuses with purchases (coke glasses with purchase of a gallon of gas) Women were valued as mothers and wives who kept a clean and tidy home, had a nice cake baking in the oven for after-school snacks and made sure the children were presentable when father came home. A well-run home was the Silent Generation woman's heart's desire. She went to college strictly to find a good husband or to become a teacher or nurse - the only two acceptable careers for women. Silent Generation males were all about conformity. They wore their gray flannel suits and put the needs of "The Company" before everything else. They were not rewarded for ingenuity, but for being a good and loyal worker. The needs of the company were far more important than the needs of the individual. If you worked hard and remained loyal, you would not only have job security (most Silents remained at the same jobs all their lives) but you would be promoted and paid based on your loyalty. Sometimes, that included remaining silent if you saw corruption and blindly following the GI leaders who must know better. They trusted authority and viewed the news media as a reasonable source for valid information. They read newspapers and watch television news extensively.
The Silents call themselves the Greatest Generation and indeed, in many ways they were. They embraced the joy in life and thrilled to the sounds of Doo Wop. They loved to dance and revelled in the stability and warmth of a loving family.
Where's the Beef?
That's the background, now for the marketing meat. How do you reach Silents? Go for the grandchild card. They have an uncommon attachment to their grandchildren. Prior to the Clara Peller days, Wendy's successfully launched a campaign depicting grandmother and granddaughter sharing some love over a Wendy's burger. Brilliant!
Silents believe that they've worked hard all their lives and deserve to be rewarded. They want to be young and vibrant - spending the children's inheritance is a cool thing for them. They deserve their vacations, big fancy cars and trips to the moon if possible. They want to serve as a role model for their grandchildren because they don't like how their Baby Boomer children have assumed that role. If you can tap into ways they can connect with their grandchildren, you'll have a home run.
Another little trick are coupons and special offers. Even the wealthiest of Silents appreciates a good value. Although they grew up in prosperity, they were still influenced by the frugality of the GI Generation who grew up during the Depression. A millionaire Silent is as likely to clip a coupon to save a couple of bucks as a struggling senior on a fixed income.
That's just a taste of learning about the Silent Generation. Next blog - Baby Boomers. My New Years resolution is to incorporate generational strategies in every aspect of my marketing plans for the coming year. Sometimes we get sidetracked by "good ideas" that don't meet the right generational criteria. Clever and sexy are not usually effective with Silents. Valuable, practical and deserved are all a big plus.
Generational Marketing in Practice
For Executive Valet Airport Parking, the Silent Generation was reached primarily by coupons and news media. When they received their Val Pak coupons for $1.00/day off the advertised price, they made sure to bring in that coupon. They responded strongly to the news coverage of the opening. One very wealthy Silent Generation man told us that he was happy to pay $5.99/day for parking, but if we raised it to $6.99/day, he'd stop using the service. Keep in mind, the alternative is paying $11/day at the airport. I think he'll be a prime target for money saving coupons in the future, don't you? Many of the customers from this generation cited the television as their source for learning about the discount parking.
I hope you enjoy this generational series. Any comments about how generational marketing has been beneficial to you or your company, I'd love to hear them. I wish everyone a safe, healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Smart People Aren't PR People
Now, how many ways could that headline be misinterpreted? Probably alot. I'm going to add to this statement to make it sound even worse. Smart people aren't marketing people either. So, being a marketing and pr person, does that mean, I'm not smart? No. The statement doesn't say PR people or marketing people aren't smart. Let me explain.
In my line of business, I work with many many smart people. Some are office managers, some are front line staffers, and some are the ones that get the big bucks. The doctors and lawyers, the engineers and accountants. I don't know about you, but in general when I think of those people, I think of them as, well, smart. They've probably had more schooling than I have. They're probably much better at numbers than I am. Therefore, they are smarter than me right? Maybe.
Here's the rub. Many smart people believe that because they are smart, they understand the nuances of public relations and marketing better than someone who has spent their life honing the skill. This can be very frustrating for a person who has chosen this profession. I promise not to question your court proceedings or consult on your surgeries if you promise to stop telling me that the only thing we need to do for marking is... (add some no cost, ineffective statement here like, "put up yard signs") I can hear lots of my colleagues nodding their heads.
Now, don't get me wrong. I will be the very first to listen when someone has a valid point. I want to improve my skills and look for ways to do so every day. But days like today, I'm reminded why I ended up in PR instead of say, law. It's a well-known fact that lawyers and PR people generally do not get along well. Lawyers want to say "no comment" all the time and PR people just don't. I'm not categorizing ALL lawyers - in fact, one of my favorite people who works for one of my favorite clients is a lawyer and we have a mutual respect for each other's profession. That's the part that is often missing. The other part is called, tact.
The dropping of the bomb
Yesterday, I was informed that a lawyer, who I never met, ripped apart a press release I had written. That's ok. I have thick skin. He then went on to say that for the money they were paying me, my writing was lousy and the press release earned about a "D" in his book. OUCH. That hurts. I never even got a "D" in my english classes at school. How could I possibly have missed the mark so badly? He then sent a revised version of the release with tracked changes that completely obliterated the document.
My initial reaction was, "Oh my gosh. I am totally in the wrong profession. If I can't get a simple press release right, I better turn in my badge."
Then, as I looked much further into the document, I saw that although I didn't agree with all of his changes, some definitely improved the document. But I realized that he stripped the release of all emotion. It no longer had a hook. Instead, it was a sterile, lifeless document that would probably get no more than a brief. That was when I was able to stand up, dust myself off, check the bruises and dive in for a compromise. I realized that he was writing for his intended target market - a well-educated business person. I was writing for a totally different target - a reporter. I know, because I've worked in this profession for so long that these are two different targets. If I can't catch the eye of a reporter with an intriguing headline and strong lead paragraph, I'm finished. That was when my confidence was renewed. I am not a lousy writer. I just don't write like he does. That's ok with me.
The bottom line, after licking my wounds, I have to say that I'm thankful for this experience. Every once in a while, you need to have someone totally rock your world in order to see where you can improve. If my clients are always happy, that's great, but it can lead to complacency. He was right about some things - although he didn't label them right. He stated that there were punctuation, spelling and grammar errors. That's not accurate. There was one typo and some writing that could have been tighter. That made me step back and say, "How well did I proofread this?"
When we are writing, we become involved in the process. It's a good practice, if there is time to step away from the document for a day if possible. When we return, it's easier to see in a new light. I guess my lesson learned from this is to slow down and rethink. Afterall, these people are really smart. Sometimes they have some good ideas and input. Sometimes they don't. It's our job as PR and marketing people to determine which make sense. Then, because we are communications experts, we'll avoid using the word lousy and say instead, "Perhaps this might be a better way."
Lesson I learned from my 9-year-old
I'll wrap up this story with a short analogy. Earlier this week, my son's U-10 soccer team went confidently into the play-offs undefeated. First play-off game was against the lowest rank team in the league. The slam-dunk game ended up to be 4-2 in favor of the other team. My son's first reaction was to blame the ref, blame the kid that kept slide tackling, then, blame his team for not working together. After recovering from this devastating loss, he realized that it may have been his team's fault that they lost.
Now, they have to really fight for the championship. The next game, they won with a resounding 8-3 victory and are revved up for the last game on Saturday. They were beaten, they re-evaluated their strengths and weaknesses and came back on top. That's what we as adults have to do sometimes too. It's easy to blame the referee (lawyer) when you don't do your best. But it's not until you look in the mirror that you find that the solution to the problem is looking right back at you.
In my line of business, I work with many many smart people. Some are office managers, some are front line staffers, and some are the ones that get the big bucks. The doctors and lawyers, the engineers and accountants. I don't know about you, but in general when I think of those people, I think of them as, well, smart. They've probably had more schooling than I have. They're probably much better at numbers than I am. Therefore, they are smarter than me right? Maybe.
Here's the rub. Many smart people believe that because they are smart, they understand the nuances of public relations and marketing better than someone who has spent their life honing the skill. This can be very frustrating for a person who has chosen this profession. I promise not to question your court proceedings or consult on your surgeries if you promise to stop telling me that the only thing we need to do for marking is... (add some no cost, ineffective statement here like, "put up yard signs") I can hear lots of my colleagues nodding their heads.
Now, don't get me wrong. I will be the very first to listen when someone has a valid point. I want to improve my skills and look for ways to do so every day. But days like today, I'm reminded why I ended up in PR instead of say, law. It's a well-known fact that lawyers and PR people generally do not get along well. Lawyers want to say "no comment" all the time and PR people just don't. I'm not categorizing ALL lawyers - in fact, one of my favorite people who works for one of my favorite clients is a lawyer and we have a mutual respect for each other's profession. That's the part that is often missing. The other part is called, tact.
The dropping of the bomb
Yesterday, I was informed that a lawyer, who I never met, ripped apart a press release I had written. That's ok. I have thick skin. He then went on to say that for the money they were paying me, my writing was lousy and the press release earned about a "D" in his book. OUCH. That hurts. I never even got a "D" in my english classes at school. How could I possibly have missed the mark so badly? He then sent a revised version of the release with tracked changes that completely obliterated the document.
My initial reaction was, "Oh my gosh. I am totally in the wrong profession. If I can't get a simple press release right, I better turn in my badge."
Then, as I looked much further into the document, I saw that although I didn't agree with all of his changes, some definitely improved the document. But I realized that he stripped the release of all emotion. It no longer had a hook. Instead, it was a sterile, lifeless document that would probably get no more than a brief. That was when I was able to stand up, dust myself off, check the bruises and dive in for a compromise. I realized that he was writing for his intended target market - a well-educated business person. I was writing for a totally different target - a reporter. I know, because I've worked in this profession for so long that these are two different targets. If I can't catch the eye of a reporter with an intriguing headline and strong lead paragraph, I'm finished. That was when my confidence was renewed. I am not a lousy writer. I just don't write like he does. That's ok with me.
The bottom line, after licking my wounds, I have to say that I'm thankful for this experience. Every once in a while, you need to have someone totally rock your world in order to see where you can improve. If my clients are always happy, that's great, but it can lead to complacency. He was right about some things - although he didn't label them right. He stated that there were punctuation, spelling and grammar errors. That's not accurate. There was one typo and some writing that could have been tighter. That made me step back and say, "How well did I proofread this?"
When we are writing, we become involved in the process. It's a good practice, if there is time to step away from the document for a day if possible. When we return, it's easier to see in a new light. I guess my lesson learned from this is to slow down and rethink. Afterall, these people are really smart. Sometimes they have some good ideas and input. Sometimes they don't. It's our job as PR and marketing people to determine which make sense. Then, because we are communications experts, we'll avoid using the word lousy and say instead, "Perhaps this might be a better way."
Lesson I learned from my 9-year-old
I'll wrap up this story with a short analogy. Earlier this week, my son's U-10 soccer team went confidently into the play-offs undefeated. First play-off game was against the lowest rank team in the league. The slam-dunk game ended up to be 4-2 in favor of the other team. My son's first reaction was to blame the ref, blame the kid that kept slide tackling, then, blame his team for not working together. After recovering from this devastating loss, he realized that it may have been his team's fault that they lost.
Now, they have to really fight for the championship. The next game, they won with a resounding 8-3 victory and are revved up for the last game on Saturday. They were beaten, they re-evaluated their strengths and weaknesses and came back on top. That's what we as adults have to do sometimes too. It's easy to blame the referee (lawyer) when you don't do your best. But it's not until you look in the mirror that you find that the solution to the problem is looking right back at you.
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