BusinessWeek.com offers up a scathing discussion of Gen Y in Getting to Know Gen Why.  I’m no expert on Gen Y, but this article takes them out to the woodshed (had to throw in an old school saying).

What you hear is: “They don’t want to pay their dues, play by the rules, or give their best to any project unless they are sure it will get them a promotion, a raise, or some kind of recognition. And then if they aren’t totally happy, or if you look at them wrong, they’ll bolt for the next job!”

And this:

Today’s students memorize names, dates, and algebraic equations, but they graduate having no concept of the importance of showing up for work on time, dressing professionally, following instructions, bringing their best to work every day, etc.

To be fair, I truly agree with this one:

Many parents have coddled their kids, made excuses for their poor behavior and performance and focused far too much on their self-esteem. Today, every kid on a sports team gets a trophy for being on the team. They haven’t been taught how important real work is to success.

My son played soccer last year and the adults didn’t keep score (the kids did so in their heads).  No matter how lopsided the score, the adults would say it ended up tied.  I find this approach moronic.  This approach forfeits many life lessons that are much tougher to learn at an older age.  I would rather my kids learn some of these lessons during an insignificant soccer game instead of a later time – like their first job out of college.

Lastly, a good piece of advice concerning this young generation:

These kids are street smart and know they need lots of skills to impress their next employer and get to the next level, but they’re used to information being presented to them with high-speed graphics and an adrenaline rush. As you might imagine, training as it now stands must be completely reinvented.

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If you are truly looking for frustration inspiration today, check out this article from Forbes.com – How To Make A Million Before You Turn 20.  Yup, the article profiles of 5 different teenage millionaires.

I thought the second person was amazing:

Cameron Johnson truly took that perspective to heart, parlaying one hit into the next. Back in 1994, when he was just 9, Johnson launched his first business out of his home in Virginia, making invitations for his parents’ holiday party. By the seasoned age of 11, Johnson had saved up several thousand dollars selling greeting cards. He called his company Cheers and Tears.

But the little guy didn’t stop there. At age 12, Johnson offered his younger sister $100 for her collection of 30 Ty Beanie Babies, all the rage at that time. The young entrepreneur quickly earned 10 times that amount by selling the dolls on eBay. Smelling potential, he contacted Ty and began purchasing the dolls at wholesale with the aim of selling them on eBay and on his Cheers and Tears Web site.

He bought his little sister’s collection of Beanie Babies.  Now that is an entrepreneur!  There is far more to his story if you read the article, but this may sum it up best:

“I was 15 years old and receiving checks between $300,000 and $400,000 per month,” says Johnson. At 19, he sold the company name and software (but not the customer database) to an undisclosed buyer. Says Johnson, “Before my high school graduation, my combined assets were worth more than $1 million.”

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This reminder is from the daily JustSell.com email:

Harvard Business School Professor Emeritus Theodore Levitt once said, “People don’t want a quarter-inch drill, they want a quarter-inch hole.”

The sales point: your prospect doesn’t want a product; she wants a solution. You need to listen to uncover your prospect’s hidden needs, and then sell your product as a solution. It’s not about what you’re selling – it’s about how what you’re selling can help the customer. Be valuable.

And remember – a good salesperson walks away if he cannot truly help his prospect.

That last sentence is difficult for many salespeople.

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