The Problem with “Millennials”

A friend of mine, Ryan Stephens, recently posted a list of his favourite Gen Y blogs, as well as others that come highly recommended, in the hopes of paring the 35 shortlisted ones down to a “Top 10″ of sorts. For some reason, I’m on that list. So are a few other blogs I read regularly (and really enjoy), like Hoehn’s Musings, I Will Teach You To Be Rich, and Ben Casnocha.

There are a lot of them on there that don’t deserve anything.

I haven’t read most of the blogs on the list, though some look fairly intriguing. My issue is with the standard “Gen Y blogger” stereotype… one that I see far too often.

Why do so many of my “ambitious” peers and contemporaries insist on writing about their “expertise,” while settling for standard (or, worse, boring) jobs? I’ve read far too many self-important Gen-Y-related posts, ones where the author is desperately inflating his or her ego by reciting generic, recycled tips about “how to ask your boss for a raise.” Where’s the value in that?

I’m guilty of this as much as anyone else on that list. I’ve written simple news posts before, or little tactical things that I know aren’t original but have still helped me in my projects. But there is a difference, I think, between what I (and others who I like) write, and what the typical Gen-Y-blogger does:

I (and others like me) try to offer value to you, or at least your project. We want you to do something, and we try to help you get it done (if we’re not doing it ourselves).

The others try to offer advice to you. They want you to succeed in the workplace.

Then again, neither of these approaches is “wrong.” I just side with the people who are getting things done, who are implementing change… or, at least, the ones who are trying to.