We Are Spoiled: Generation Y Handles Crisis

This evening I watched an interesting Dutch documentary showing how generation Y is handling the crisis. Youngsters born and raised in the ’80’s questioning what this crisis is all about. Their boundaries are completely different than ours, generation X, spoiled by the internet bubble. It was pretty interesting to see and hear how they live their lifes, more balanced, more conscious with a real can-do mentality. We struggle with all new developments. We try to adopt it, adjust our behavior and think that we understand. Ok, lets talk about myself and not we. I embrace social media, I embrace transparency and sharing but realize I am still stuck in structure I grew up with. A structure of companies and employers with rigid tasks and responsibilities. Specialized, having a specific profession. Today we talk about sole traders, sole entrepreneurs. People who start for themselves, either forced or by own initiative. We used to look for jobs and derived a certain status and authority from having a job. The higher the better, the more money the more status. So these sole entrepreneurs we look to them with an oblique view. Not taking them serious, probably forced and not having a real job.

Sharing is the new owning

Generation Y doesn’t know about the internet bubble. They read about it but never experienced. Their parents, we carry our frustrations. Not being able to make that final IPO, not being able to have loads of shares or stock options that would have give us independence in terms of money. The way they approach our so-called crisis is much more balanced adopting the new economy in a completely different way. They practice the weconomy. The way they approach our so-called crisis is much more balanced adopting the new economy in a completely different way. They practice the weconomy. Doing things together, first share to multiply or replicate in a later stage. Knowledge and expertise is not solely for the individual, it’s there to share. Not having the pressure of owning things, just lease them, rent them, share them whether these are cars, houses, boats or even clothes. It intrigues me to see how those youngsters are handling what we call social media, big data and mobility. They don’t care or bother, they just practice.  They don’t wanna have a job, they form connections in an organic way on a temporary basis to create and develop. Status is derived by your ability to show off, to share.

Unemployed many times a day

One of people interviewed mentioned he is unemployed many times a day, but also has the ability to find work many times a day. Difficult to conceive but interesting to see. After seeing this documentary I have to admit and accept that we are spoiled. I am spoiled by the fact I got my first jobs in the ’90’s. Making money, having president clubs in Hawaii while my friends were still studying. I try hard to understand and practice the way generation Y does. I must say I slightly understand, doing my social thing and getting much value out of it. But still look to those youngster, a bit jealous on how they embrace the weconomy and succeed in their own natural and authentic way.