Daily Reading - Allen James' Daily Guide to Success series - "A Graduate's Daily Guide to Success"

For May 8th we read from "A Graduate's Daily Guide to Success", "Respect the younger generation".

There is so much to learn from each other in this world. Sadly competition exists in places where it has no place. Generational divisions create nothing but negativity. There is much to gain by respecting those younger and those older than we.

Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z, Boomerang Kids....as much as we preach about the dangers of labeling and stereotyping in our society you'd think we'd attempt to get away from sociological labeling, but it appears there's a need to do so for the text books. But is there a need for every decade of individuals to have a title? Doesn't this just create a possible false identity? "Can't we all just get along?"



Having worked with high school and college students for over 25 years and studying them, let along having spent countless hours with them I've acquired a pretty good understanding of where they come from. Respecting them and what they value can make for a more congruent future of connection between the generations. When the generations relate to each other we build positivity and work together to enhance personal success.

We can show respect for the younger generation by supporting what it is they value as needing from us, their elders. Below are the top 10 needs of young people from the people who influence them.

1. Communicate your heart. Being “real” and “transparent” are one of the greatest values of young people. This requires sharing your thoughts and feelings and allowing room for others to share theirs. It means being open with your fears, hopes and motives which earns the respect and trust of others in a social media saturated culture.

2. Cast vision often. When you paint a picture of the end result it aligns affections to the mission. When someone wants to do something, the quality of work that results is recognizably different than someone who is doing it because they have to.

3. Have an honest view of your abilities and your limitations. Overconfidence repels, and humility attracts.

4. Show Respect. Affection for and a desire to follow grows when you treat people as though they have God-given value and significance. Young people loose respect for people who talk down to others.

5. Go Big. Don’t be afraid to take risks. When you take risks it shows you care about something enough to put your faith in it.

6. Give Ownership. Let them contribute and have freedom to fail. Give them opportunities to use their unique gifts and abilities toward the end goal.

7. Persevere. Push through adversity, press into conflict and communicate. With over half of this young generation coming from broken homes, their examples of people who stick things out when it gets tough are few. Therefore, they not only have a real need but also a felt need of seeing people model pushing through in the face of adversity.

8. Be generous. Generosity ignites generosity. When you are generous with your resources, praise, patience and support for a young person’s benefit they take notice.

9. Honor others.

10. Admit when you’re wrong. It’s ok to not always know the answer. Admitting when you’re wrong or asking for someone’s opinion communicates humility and respect which are some of the deepest desires of a young person’s heart (Krokos, Laura. 2013)

Work with each other. Remember the African mantra, "It takes a village".

Keep looking up. : ) AJ