This is a continuation of my thoughts on the Global Generation given there was an excellent new study about the Millennial Generation (sometimes referred to as Gen Y) issued several weeks ago (and the fact I continue to argue that the Millennials cannot be the Global Generation). As the millennials emerge into adulthood their experience will lead to a transfer of some positive aspects (additional learning) to the Global Generation.

With that said. This Pew Research study is the most detailed to date of the Millennial generation (say about 15+ to about 29). If you can’t remember a time when the world was not wired, you are a member of the 33 million American in the Millennial Generation. You feel you are special. You feel you are different. The fate of the planet is on your shoulders (or at least you think you are per the research). Millennials will probably be the most educated in American history (but they are also saddled with unemployment and debt and other issues proving education alone doesn’t solve all issues).
Before Millennials, perhaps the largest, richest and most influential – although that last is debatable – generation in American history were Millennial parents, the Baby Boom Generation, the some 78 million Americans born to G.I. Dads and Lindy dancing Moms in the years after the end of World War II. Succeeding them, born between 1964 and 1977, was Generation X, clocking in much smaller, at 37 million. But with over 80 million Americans born after 1977, the Millennial generation is the new large and in charge generation (it includes Echo Boomers – loosely defined as the children of the Boomers born after 1977). Like their Boomer parents before them, the opposite ends of the Millennial generation are vastly different from each other. And Millennials, say experts Strauss and Howe, “are unlike any other youths in living memory: More numerous, more affluent, better educated and more ethnically diverse than those who came before.” (source: social scientists who coined the term “millennial” – LifeCourse Associates, March ’06).

So. Although there is no one-size-fits-all description of individuals within a generation, Pew says its findings show clear, distinctive traits for the Millennials group, particularly in certain areas. The following sections showcase excerpts from the study followed by my thoughts on the impact for the Global Generation:

Technology & Media

Perhaps the most outstanding detail that distinguishes this generation — from even those born just a couple of years earlier — is their level of media consumption, particularly online. Today, the average teenager spends more than 72 hours a week using electronic media — cell phones, internet, television, music and video games — according to a 2006 study. 41% (and growing) have no landline just a cellphone. Because of their upbringing, life events and the advent of the internet The Millennial generation is moving forward as a group with an intense focus on openness, sharing information, as both an ideal and a practical strategy to get things done.

What this means to the Global Generation idea:

While Millenials are on course to become the “open, information sharing enabling generation.” Unfortunately, due to existing “local” circumstances and a desire to strengthen community, they will be stuck focusing on community (or national if you want to call that a large community) issues. They are an emerging power in this subject of media and technology. Let’s call them the “ice breaker ship” generation. What the heck. With all the glaciers melting and breaking up it seems an appropriate nom de plume. The Millennials are at the forefront of the enlightenment mindset. As they proceed into adulthood and start dealing with the adult issues they have been avoiding (and if Strauss & Howe are correct they will be facing some crisis type event that will solidify their legacy) attitudinally they will pass the openness torch onto the next generation (the global generation) where it should flourish. Functionally (with the web and technology) this generation is fine tuning the early adopters of technology, standardizing practices and usage, so that the Global generation will be empowered to maximize the technology (and probably enhance it in their own way).

Attitude.

Millennials think that the world owes them something. These are the offspring of helicopter parents, t-ball, and soccer games that have no winner and no loser. They’ve gone through the educational system without the benefit of constructive criticism for their work and in the workplace, can’t grasp the concept that they actually must perform and do it well. There are exceptions but often “just showing up” becomes a personal standard of “I am doing well.”

However, Overall, Pew says, Millennials are confident, upbeat and open to change. They’re more ethnically and racially diverse than their elders and also less religious.

Interestingly the Millennials legacy, attitudinally, may end up being how their collective non-conflict “whatever” personality deals with a crisis and an increasingly conflict world (how do they resolve the desire for community sense and manage conflict slowing the spread of sense of community).

What this means to the Global Generation idea:

The Millennials openness to a diversity of thinking, beliefs and attitudes will provide the platform for the Global Generation to enable that attitude. Millennials acquired this attitude “on their own” without the assistance of parents while the Global generation will gets ‘hands-on’ encouragement for enabling diverse attitudes. The Global Generation will further benefit as Millennials mature and recognize life is about winners and losers and their grayish attitudes on life begin to start taking on clearer colors (not always black & white). Attitudinally the Global Generation will doubly benefit as GenXers fully mature from the “Me” attitude to a fuller understanding of “we” and will encourage this combination of me/we attitude to younger generations.

Social.

Because the recession has someway shattered the world Millennials thought they knew they talk more about having autonomy and freedom, and in so doing, not being as enslaved to material goals that they perceived their parents being caught up in. They do talk about life happiness not based on economic success or achievement as much. Millennials are reordering their values and attitudes. They volunteer at higher rates than previous generations. “Civic trends have always risen with age. This generation is now emerging as being much more involved at a much younger age,” says Pew.

What this means to the Global Generation idea:

This Millennial sense of community, and civic duty, on a local level will start clashing with the Global Generations’ experiences via the internet on what is happening in “other local areas” globally. It sets the stage for individual empowerment to make a difference in communities worldwide (not just local community). The Global Generation will become the communicator of this “power of the community to
make a difference” globally helping begin the creation of a global community made up of distinct local communities. Having shed the burden of solely seeking material goals (encouraged by Millennials) global communication becomes easier as conversations evolve to values and aspirational alignment versus “haves and have nots” materially. This, combined with individuality (driven by the next topic – family), will create the social foundation for the Global Generation.

Family.

From the way they were raised to their views on marriage, Pew found, Millennials are a world apart from their elders. For example, only 61% grew up in a two parent household, a smaller percentage than the three previous generations. And just 21% are married (half the percentage of their parents’ generation at the same ages) and 34% are parents.

What this means to the Global Generation idea:

The Millennial experience simply strengthens the Global Generation’s social capabilities (understanding the value of an extended family). Family will always be valued but the Global Generation will have firsthand knowledge of the fragility of the belief and the strength of extended family ties. In addition, the Global Generation will be impacted by their parents, the first “divorce driven” generations the GenXers/Boomers, as well as the family value but materialistic generation of maturing Boomers. As with many other things this convergence of conflicting experiences will create a strong sense of Individual Empowerment (or the belief that the only thing you can count on is ‘yourself’). The recession’s impact on families will assist in strengthening the Global Generation’s resolve with hard work and the value of simple camaraderie (rather than cutthroat competitiveness).

Mindset.

From what I have seen, the Millennial generation is institutionally-minded, has a “we can fix it” attitude despite a libertarian bent, is community-focused, materialistic, upbeat, and usually is respectful and cheerful. Millennials are socially liberal (and so were the GIs by the standards of their days). But. Keep in mind this is not really a radical type thought for a generation (as noted by Winston Churchill):

“Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.”

What this means to the Global Generation idea:

Boomers as they reach senior leader status are going to be stretched to learn to stop judging generations according to 1950s era education preferences, when knowing what nation & ideology last mattered. Borders may be less important because of internet yet I also see a new stronger stance on the importance of country (an extension of community) with the Global Generation. This in part will be formed by the extent of whatever Crisis the Millennials will have to deal with. Regardless the Global generation, seeking some construct in their lives and living through the internet the aspects of communities globally, will recognize the importance (and distinctness) of country. So while the borders may be less important the national attitude will become stronger. Because of many of the factors listed above (recession, family, technology, information access, etc.) I believe the Global Generation will also acquire parts of the preceding attitudes and be an “optimistic realist” generation. Gathering up the upbeat community of Millennials, GenXer ‘me cynicism’ and Boomer optimistic no boundaries the pieces will converge within the Global Generation creating a unique understanding of Individual and Community and Optimism and Realism.

How it all fits together (with this whole Global generation idea I have)

This study continues to confirm not only my hypothesis but also furthers Strauss & Howe’s 4^th Turning construct. A snapshot of 4^th Turning ‘turnings’ as they lead into the Global Generation:

From the Arthurian Generation through today’s Millennial Generation children, there have been 24 generations in the Anglo-American lineage.  The first six were purely English.  The next four were colonial, yet still heavily influenced by English society and politics.  The eleventh (Awakeners, born 1701-1723) became the first distinctively American generation—the first whose name, birth years, and persona diverge significantly from peers in the United Kingdom.  The Awakeners were also the first generation to be comprised mostly of native-born Americans and—late in life—the first to know the U.S. nation and flag.  So although today’s Millennial children are the 24th in our full lineage of post-medieval generations, they are 14th in the American line. The Global Generation will be the 15^th.

Where we are today (and tomorrow):

-          The Hero archetype is born in an Unraveling, enters young adulthood in a Crisis, midlife in a High, and elder hood in an Awakening. (this is the Millennial Generation)

-          The Artist archetype is born in a Crisis, enters young adulthood in a High, midlife in an Awakening, and elderhood in an Unraveling. (this is what I call The Global Generation)

In 4^th Turning terms we are currently living at the tail end of what they call an “Unraveling” (and if you read my site at all it is easy to believe it is so).

Associated with Unravelings in the past are the same generational (people) divisiveness and spiritual wanderings we see today. In addition this also means we are at the cusp of a Crisis (yet to be determined) that will inevitably realign us on a variety of issues.

A brief overview of the entire lifecycle so you can possibly go back and reassess some words and thoughts):

-          As ARTISTS replace Heroes in childhood during a Crisis, they are overprotected at a time of political convulsion and adult self-sacrifice.

-          As conformist ARTISTS replace Heroes in young adulthood during a High, they become sensitive helpmates, lending their expertise and cooperation to an era of growing social calm.

-          As indecisive ARTISTS replace Heroes in midlife during an Awakening, they apply expertise and process to improve society while calming the passions of the young.

-          As empathic ARTISTS replace Heroes in elderhood during an Unraveling, they quicken the pace of social change, shunning the old order in favor of complexity and sensitivity

Conclusion:

While the Millennial Generation is highly educated they, of all generations in recent (possibly anytime) history, are unprepared for the crisis or catastrophe they will be faced with (that doesn’t mean they won’t figure it out just that it will be challenging). Strauss & Howe suggest they will be the next Hero generation. All signs are that they have all the characteristics, if not capabilities, to assist us in dealing with the inevitable crisis we will have to deal with (Straus & Howe suggest that ‘crisis’ will occur sometime within the next 5 to 10 years).

“Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.”

H. G. Wells

This crisis will further define many things for our future. Yet. As with historical cycles there are certain aspects that will inevitably evolve. The Global Generation will be in one of the most unique situations of any prior generation (I may do another post to identify similar generations and how they responded).

My biggest concern, or fear, is not the Crisis but rather remains with the “enabler” <the web>. The generation of people is happening and evolving attitudinally. It is a convergence of everything necessary to create the global generation. A generation which will combine a community attitude diverse and open to attitudes as well as individual empowerment (the strength of individuals to make an impact). But the enabler, the internet, remains the wild card. I do not believe there is any doubt the internet will become available worldwide (I believe cellphones will take it to the next level to access developing countries to become a true global platform – there is a brilliant study on cell phone technology printed in The Economist late last year).

The main issue with the internet it is the accuracy of the information and the even handedness of the information that needs to be resolved. The web continues to be a megaphone for divisiveness and biased opinions. At some point someone needs to offer an altruistic open factual information platform. Google certainly has the opportunity but other organizations or an unbiased philanthropic group could step up.

Part 3 will be specifically about the Global Generation and thoughts on how they to impact them and how they will impact the Globe (and America).