By Chisom Winifred
The Twenty- and thirty-something’s have been dubbed the Millennial Generation. The term Millennial generally refers to the generation of people born between the early 1980s and 1990s.
A 2012 study by USA Today found Millennials to be “more civically and politically disengaged, more focused on materialistic values, and less concerned about helping the larger community.”
The trend is more of an emphasis on extrinsic values such as money, fame, and image, and less emphasis on intrinsic values such as self-acceptance, group affiliation and community.”
The study was based on an analysis of two large databases of 9 million high school seniors or entering college students.
However, it hasn’t been all bad; they have also been described in positive ways as being more open-minded, and more supportive of gay rights and equal rights for minorities. Other positives adjectives to describe them include; confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and receptive to new ideas and ways of living.
Does that sound like you just a little bit? Or someone you know? If yes, the six lessons below will do you good.
✓ Find gaps in the system and fill it.
We’re at a time where no one wants to work for anyone else. Everyone wants to be a ‘boss’ or a ‘CEO’. Entrepreneurship is the new cool. The idea of a 9 to 5 almost sounds like punishment. But to be an entrepreneur with success traits, your idea or platform or company has to be solving a problem or meeting a need.
This is the only way you’ll get paid. Are you solving a problem or you just want the title ‘entrepreneur’.
✓ It’s great to be argumentative and ask questions as a millennial but it’s also great to learn from older people. You can’t do without experience.
Millennials have the notion that their skill/talent/knowledge is enough. Assuming you’re in the fashion industry or you aspire to be as a young person, it would be of immense value to intern at an older fashion firm. Not just to learn but to understand how the business works. Most times, the best thing to do is sit down and learn.
✓ There’s a real world outside social media.
You can’t learn professionalism, community, work values, ethics, and customer service on social media.
Put down the phone once in a while, associate with the real world, real people, and real business owners. Nobody promised you life will be easy. Be professional and do things right.
✓ Millennials are changing the game.
We’re gradually leaving behind the age of surge of professional courses such as law, medicine and accountancy as sure roads to career success and financial stability.
These sectors have been saturated. Did you know, financial institutions are no longer looking for accountants? Nnamdi J. Okonkwo the chief executive officer/managing director Fidelity bank Nigeria revealed this during his closing speech at the 2018 Lagos Social Media Week.
He noted that financial institutions are starting to look for data scientists and analysts and no more accountants. ‘We are stepping into a fast evolving digital world and the finance industry is evolving too. We now want people with these new age skills to solve the new age problems.’
The world is going digital and experts in digital media, animators, cartoonists, illustrators, film effects developers, programmers, creative consultants, digital media specialists, systems analyst, technology journalists, visual arts consultants and a host of others are being sort after.
✓ Visibility is synonymous to value delivery
It almost doesn’t matter how awesome your service or product is, if the right people who are willing to pay for it don’t get to see or hear about it. The online space is huge, you may be visible but to the wrong people, who may never pay for your service or product.
To monetize your social media channels for your business or brand, START is the starter pack you need.
✓ Social media for young CEOs. START starter pack.
S-Strategy: What are my business goals, how can I achieve them through social media?
T-Target: Who are am I targeting? Where do I find them, what do they like, what sort of content adds value to them??
A-Acquisition: Get followers by running ADs or organic (sticky content)
R-Rules of engagement: Are my engaging my followers or I’m just bombarding them with ‘buy my product’ kind of content.
T-Track: Track progress/profit using track tools. Identify problems you solved and mistakes made. Once here, START over.