This Is What Caused Millennials to Be so Different (2024)

It shaped Millennials and it's now shaping the behaviors of Generation Z and every other generation.

This Is What Caused Millennials to Be so Different (1)

Millennial turnover, disloyalty,disengagement, andjob-hoppingcan be explained in one word.

This word enabled me--a Millennial--to buildmy dream businesswhile holding down a full-time job.
This word has entrepreneurs and business owners reimagining what's possible.
This word is putting never-before-seen stressors on organizations.
This word allows individuals everywhere to learn anything.
This word is empowering every consumer and employee.
This word provides game-changing perspective.
This word has changed the world.

The word is...access.

As far back as they can remember, Millennials have had access to the world's information curated into a blank search box in the palm of their hand. Generation Z (the post-Millennial generation) now has access to this information (thank you, Alexa) at the tip of their tongue. The next generation after them will be able to access information at the tip of their brain.

Millennials were the first generation to feel the impact of access. Access caused Millennials to have different perspectives, expectations, and behaviors.Access changed how Millennials job search, learn, socialize, travel, communicate, build businesses, network, entertain themselves, sell, buy, and work.

These new behaviors and expectations caused every industry and employer to scramble to try to make sense of this new generation, when, in reality, Millennials were becoming a product of their environment.

Because the environment was different, the generation became different.

The environment was the most high-tech, complex, and innovative in human history. This hyper-connected and fully accessible environment is now every generation's reality.

We now have abundant access to...

  • Connectivity:Launch a business or brand with a webcam and Wi-fi.
  • Information:Search YouTube to learn how to start a podcast, follow a news outlet on Twitter to receive instant breaking news notifications, or listen to an audiobook while on an airplane.
  • Opportunities:Secure a job on Indeed or LinkedIn, sell on Etsy or Amazon, or freelance through Upwork or Lyft.
  • Capital:Leverage crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo or membership platforms like Patreon to turn a passion project or idea into sustainable income.
  • Travel:Seeing the world is easily within reach with Kayak, Google Maps, Google Translate, and Airbnb.
  • Audiences:Create community, test ideas, get discovered, and/or sell goods and services via social networks and online communities.
  • Entertainment:Play a puzzle, scroll through social feeds, or watch a movie, all from a phone.
  • Cultures:Play Fortnite with someone halfway around the world in real-time or stream a Netflix documentary series.
  • Tools:Square, Zoom, Slack, Asana, and so many more make it possible to be more efficient and productive personally or professionally.
  • Products:Front-door delivery of the world's best-reviewed, healthiest, and most cost-effective products and services.
  • Transportation:Exploring the world has never been more seamless withservices likeUber, Bird, and Google Earth.
  • People:Ninety-five percent of Americansown a cell phone and 75 percent can reach their phones without moving their feet 24 hours a day.

The world has been made accessible.

No longer are peopleconstrained to the knowledge stored in their community buildings, a perspective of a neighbor, the bias of one news outlet, or by the position of their family tree.

The only thing constraining people now is a limited imagination, pride, or lack of ambition.

Ignorance and stagnation are now a choice for both individuals and organizations.

For organizations, access is challenging...

Access is holding every company accountable to be better.

Access leads us away from average. If there are better employers, superior services, or improved products out there, they will be found.

Access has made it easy for disengaged employees to find a better company culture, move to a different location, and learn the new skill required to start a new job.

Access has made it easy for dissatisfied customers to search for an improved solution, watch testimonials, cost compare, and buy it at the lowest price.

Don't try to reform Millennials, Generation Z, or future workforces. Don't tell them to behave differently and expect them to comply. The world has changed, forever.

Instead, reform the environment.Build things (company cultures, leadership skills, products, etc.) that are worth flocking to.

As aMillennial and Generation Z keynote speaker and trainer, I help companies lead,engage, and sell to the emerging generations. If you'd like help solving tough generational challenges insideyour organization,click here.

As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics. In this article, the author discusses the impact of access on different generations, particularly Millennials and Generation Z. The author argues that access to information, opportunities, capital, travel, audiences, entertainment, cultures, tools, products, transportation, and people has shaped the behaviors and expectations of these generations. The author suggests that instead of trying to reform these generations, organizations should focus on reforming the environment by building things that are worth flocking to.

The concept of access is central to the article. Access refers to the ability to obtain or retrieve information, resources, or opportunities. It has been facilitated by advancements in technology, such as the internet and mobile devices. Millennials were the first generation to have access to the world's information through a search box on their smartphones. Generation Z, the post-Millennial generation, now has access to information through voice-activated devices like Alexa. The author suggests that future generations will have even greater access to information.

The impact of access on Millennials and Generation Z is discussed in various areas, including job searching, learning, socializing, traveling, communication, entrepreneurship, networking, entertainment, and consumer behavior. Access has changed how these generations approach these activities and has created new behaviors and expectations. For example, access has made it easier for disengaged employees to find better company cultures and for dissatisfied customers to search for improved solutions.

The author emphasizes that organizations need to adapt to the changing environment shaped by access. They need to consider how access affects their infrastructure, recruitment strategies, employee training, incentives, talent retention, customer engagement, and the tools available to employees. Access holds companies accountable to be better and encourages competition. If there are better employers, superior services, or improved products available, they will be found through access.

In conclusion, the article highlights the transformative power of access on Millennials, Generation Z, and future generations. It emphasizes the need for organizations to reform their environments by building things that are worth attracting these generations. By understanding and leveraging the opportunities provided by access, organizations can lead, engage, and sell to these emerging generations.

Please note that the information provided above is a summary of the article and does not reflect my personal opinions or beliefs.

This Is What Caused Millennials to Be so Different (2024)

FAQs

Why are millennials so different? ›

Millennials were the first generation to feel the impact of access. Access caused Millennials to have different perspectives, expectations, and behaviors. Access changed how Millennials job search, learn, socialize, travel, communicate, build businesses, network, entertain themselves, sell, buy, and work.

Why are millennials called the Lost Generation? ›

We all went through pandemic, but for them: wage stagnation, Great Recession, unprecedented levels of college student loans to pay back, delays in buying a home. Am I missing anything? Chris Farrell: No, those are the main reasons why millennials, they've been called the unluckiest generation and the lost generation.

What made millennials the way they are? ›

Millennials were born into a technological world and came of age in a new millennium. They also were old enough to experience and comprehend 9/11. This generation has witnessed technological growth and development. As a result, they are considered more progressive, creative and far-thinking than earlier generations.

Why did they change Gen Y to millennials? ›

Terminology and etymology. Members of this demographic cohort are known as Millennials because the oldest became adults around the turn of the millennium. Authors William Strauss and Neil Howe, known for creating the Strauss–Howe generational theory, are widely credited with naming the Millennials.

What is the smartest generation? ›

Gen Z is also the smartest and best educated generation. Having an unlimited wealth of information at our disposal has not gone to waste. In America, 57 percent of Gen Z is reported to have enrolled in a two-year or four-year college, compared to 52 percent of Millenials and 43 percent of Gen X.

Are there 2 types of millennials? ›

Like Boomers, Millennials are a huge generation that we sometimes split into two subgroups: Early Millennials (born 1980-1987) and Recessionists (born 1988-1995). The fairly obvious element that divides these two groups is life stage.

Why are Millennials struggling so hard? ›

Although that gap has narrowed significantly — the Fed later updated its research with data through 2019, finding Millennials were just 11% below wealth expectations — older Millennials also had the highest debt burden of any demographic group, making them particularly vulnerable to economic shocks. Like a pandemic.

Are Millennials underpaid? ›

Despite being the largest generation in the workforce today, average millennial salaries are disproportionately low compared to the national average—and are 20 percent lower than baby boomers' salaries when they were the same age.

How much wealth do boomers have compared to Millennials? ›

Baby boomers have the largest net worth

Baby boomers own 52.8% of all wealth in the U.S., compared to 5.7% of millennials, according to the Federal Reserve.

What is the mentality of millennials? ›

These values translate into lifestyle choices and aspirations. Millennials are motivated by living an exciting life, receiving recognition from their peers, and finding romantic love. They describe themselves as indulgent, living life to the fullest, and without boundaries.

What is a typical millennial behavior? ›

Millennials are flexible

Millennials value flexible working arrangements and freedom over the stable 9-to-5. They want to work from remote locations with non-traditional hours. They are also likely to pursue flexible career paths as they prioritize work-life balance higher than their previous generations.

Do millennials have it harder? ›

Mostly everyone else agrees; two-thirds of those surveyed thought young adults are facing hardships that other generations didn't have to tackle. If the American Dream was ever a reality for some, it's certainly not one that millennials and Gen Z feels they've experienced.

What is the nickname for millennials? ›

Millennials or Generation Y

While they were initially described as 'Generation Y', the term 'millennials' is what this generation is popularly known as. These are individuals born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s. Some also consider the late 1990s and the early 2000s to be part of the millennial generation.

Why do Gen Z look older than millennials? ›

Many of the theories online veer into the conspiratorial: One woman suggested that Gen Z looks older because the quality of food is getting worse, which results in faster wrinkles; another claimed that it's because food is getting better, and because millennials ate food with more preservatives in it than Gen Z, ...

Why are millennials so different from Gen Z? ›

Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996 while members of the Gen Z years Gen Z years were born between 1997 and 2012. Millennials expect faster customer service. Gen Z tends to be better at accepting delayed gratification than millennials. Millennial customer service expectations are higher than Gen Z customers.

Which generation had it the easiest? ›

The supposition is that boomers had it easier: Homes could be had for a dime and a handshake, a single paycheck supported three kids with two cars and a white picket fence to boot, and you could work your way through college without going into debt.

Which generation is considered the best? ›

The Greatest generation, those born 1901 to 1927, are known to have been born and come of age in the “American Century” of economic growth, technological progress, and mostly military triumph.

What's the #1 way Gen Z is different from millennials? ›

As digital pioneers, Millennials explored (and in some cases exploited) social media and made public their thoughts, opinions, and every noteworthy or menial life update. With safety and security top of mind, Generation Z will be much more calculated and/or selective with the information they share online.

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