Members of Generation-Y have a plethora of issues just thrown into our laps that both we and generations prior have created. We are a very smart and results-driven generation and we want to see the return on our work instantly, we love when things are quick and easy.
Unfortunately, many of us have graduated college and are still trying to figure out what we want to do with our lives. Although uncertainty at this point is still okay and will not necessarily hurt us, it is time we detail our wants and needs in order to prepare ourselves for the rest of our lives.
Our 20s are a pivotal point in our careers, as well as in the future direction our lives will take. Everything we do now will set up our futures. That is why it is important that we do not take this time for granted, the feeling of being ahead is way more enjoyable in the long run than the feeling of constantly having to keep up.
Let's live life to the fullest and remember that we can use these years to push forward and succeed. Here are the 10 things Generation-Y can do to make itself better:
Stop feeling so entitled
This generation has to be one of the most entitled generations ever to set foot in America. All we do is whine and cry when we can't get things our way, this is in part due to the fact that we are so used to being spoon fed by our parents and society. We need to break from this mindset if we want to make ourselves better. A quick way to start is to realize that this world doesn't owe us anything and that if we want something, we are going to have to work for it.
Stop seeking recognition for everything
We are an attention-driven generation and this can be seen in the way we seek recognition for every piece of work that we do. In elementary school, we were given stickers for doing well on our tests and our parents rewarded us for doing well in high school -- and now we graduated college and our parents reward us again.
This translates to the work force as well. We expect acknowledgment for doing what we are supposed to do. This mentality needs to change as your boss is not going to pat you on the back every time you do something right.
Realize that a 9 to 5 will get you nowhere
Society has embedded in us this idea that we must go to a good school, find a job, try to do the best we can to build our reputation, and stick with that company for the long run. This has proven to work for prior generations, but with such a volatile market and increased competition due to globalization, we have to change our approach.
The 9 to 5 job with benefits and 'retirement' is no longer going to cut it. If we stick to that plan, many of us may never make it to see our retirement and layoffs in the market are so common that it is almost impossible to stay at job for longer than 15 years. We have to start thinking out of the box and look for a future in entrepreneurship. Why not start your own company and be your own boss?
Respect our elders, but don't be afraid to tell them to 'Go F*ck Themselves'
People say that Gen-Y is a rebellious generation that at times has trouble showing respect to its elders. We may not take criticism well, which is due in part to older people constantly trying to tell us how to live our lives and what we should be doing. Realize that it's your life, you have your own idea of success and how you're going to achieve that success, so do it your way.
Don't let some old person try to influence you because they feel it should be done this way or that way. You are the only one that knows what environment is best for you; however, there is nothing wrong with taking advice from people who have the experience and knowledge, but the minute they start over-stepping their boundaries, it's safe to tell them to 'go f*ck themselves.'
Learn to appreciate life more
A problem we see with many successful people is that although they have made their money, many of them are lonely and miserable. Many times this is due to the fact that they took many things for granted and only worried about themselves and their own success. Although we are in a recession and competition with the global market is fierce, it's important that we learn to take a step back and enjoy the things around us.
Take a day off from work and just peacefully enjoy the day, do something that makes you happy once in a while. Instead of being in a constant rush, remember to slow down and appreciate the little things around you. This will make life more enjoyable and you will realize you have more going for you than just your job.
Stop procrastinating
This generation is one of the smartest generations to grace the earth with its presence; however, there is one big problem, we love to wait until the last minute to get our work done. This not only exponentially increases your stress levels, but it also limits your production. While you may be able to get your work done on time and fully complete on your boss' desk by Monday, is it really your best work?
Imagine how great our work would be if we actually had a time to properly prepare everything. Learn to manage your time and prioritize, yes it is fun to go out and have drinks, but it isn't worth it if you have a mound of work to get done. Show people you have your sh*t together and that you know how to prioritize.
Start setting up goals that you want to achieve and give yourself deadlines to accomplish them
There is no doubt that members of this generation need some help figuring out the direction that they want to go with their lives. Many of us are just working with no immediate goals in sight. Give yourself something to look forward to, know where you want to be in a few years and set goals for yourself.
This will make you feel as if you you are not just mindless working with nothing in sight. If you set goals and time frames that you want to achieve for these goals, it gives you an idea of where you want to be and an understanding of how to achieve these goals. Once you know what has to get done, the rest is history as it's then solely up to you to achieve the status of success that you want.
Realize that everyone has their own idea of what success means to them
In order to be successful, individually we must have a clear understanding of what success means to us. Everyone's idea of success is different from the next person's, therefore you must find what success means for you and then go set out to achieve it. We all want the fancy cars, the big houses and the luxury trips around the world, but if we take away the perks and all the money, would that mean that we were unsuccessful?
Success isn't solely based on the acquisition of material goods, but rather the actions we take and the manner in which we accomplish our goals. In order to further help define the meaning of success in your life, you can refer to this previously written article.
Expect obstacles on the road to success and look forward to solving them
A big problem with our generation is that we are so used to being spoon fed everything and this leads to us thinking that we can always gets what we want, when we want it. Well we are in for a rude awakening in the real world as nothing out there is going to come easy. There are millions of people competing for the same thing you are.
Although we all have a similar goal, each of the paths we take to achieve this goal is different. We will face many obstacles on our road to success. We must embrace these obstacles and look forward to the challenge of overcoming them. Just because there are a few bumps in the road doesn't mean that we should get flustered and give up.
Set high expectations and strive for excellence
There is nothing more disappointing than seeing people with talent just waste it on menial achievements. There is no stronger combination than talent and hard work. Don't be successful because someone told you so, do it because you want to make something of yourself. We all have been given a certain talent and it is our job to find out what that talent is and use it to make something of ourselves.
How are we supposed to become anything if we don't have expectations to meet? Strive to be the best in anything and set high expectations for yourself, even if you don't reach them, you will still be in a better place than where you started out.
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