{"id":5994,"date":"2021-08-11T22:53:53","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T22:53:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/genhq.com\/?p=5994"},"modified":"2022-09-19T21:05:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T21:05:37","slug":"millennials-unexpected-real-world-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/genhq.com\/millennials-unexpected-real-world-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"In BBC News Explaining Millennials\u2019 Unexpected Real-World Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Millennials<\/a><\/p>\n

Millennials are the most interconnected generation to fully emerge as adults. This generation was the first generation to grow up with the rise of personal computers, smartphones, the internet, and the constant streaming of global information from an early age. With the world seemingly at their fingertips (many times, literally), they had high expectations for themselves and their future as adults. So how did this highly ambitious, connected generation take a turn from being the \u201csure to make it big\u201d generation to often being labeled, especially outside the U.S., as an \u201cunlucky\u201d generation?<\/span><\/p>\n

It is no secret that Millennials have faced one global challenge after another, particularly as it relates to the economy\u2014and now the pandemic. Add in the rising cost of education in many parts of the world, employment challenges, and much more, and it is clear that there are many reasons why Millennials are struggling to find their place in the world and achieve the success they envisioned in their youth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With this growing disconnect between goals and reality\u2014whether that means moving back home with parents, feeling stuck in the gig economy or part-time jobs, or having big expectations that don\u2019t seem to align with current opportunities\u2014many Millennials feel like they have not reached the ambitious goals they set earlier in life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, Millennials have frequently come of age being criticized as lazy or entitled, which only adds weight and frustration to missed goals. However, we all know that generations don\u2019t grow up in a vacuum. There are many factors at play that shape them. Beyond the macro-economic factors and localized educational differences, there is parenting, access to healthcare, mobility, technology, and much more that shape each generation. Bringing context to generational-shaping factors, both similarities and differences, is one of the important ways we can begin to find empathy and understanding across generations\u2014as well as build bridges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the above reasons, and many more, CGK President Jason Dorsey was excited to share his perspective on the topic of Millennials with BBC Brazil, as the news outlet sought to shed light on the challenges Millennials have faced on their journey into adulthood and why it is important to be aware of them\u2014as well as for Millennials to work through them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe millennial generation became adults in the early days of smartphones and [internet] connectivity… they were in the right place at the right time to develop great ideas about their role in the world. Their parents told them they would be successful, they had broad access to education compared to previous generations, and there was a great sense of connection and making an impact.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But even with all of the connectivity, aspirations, and more, there was not a path to adequately prepare them for the economic headwinds they faced at pivotal times in their emergence as adults. Of course, every generation faces a variety of challenges, defining moments, and \u201cWhere were you when?\u201d events that influence their future. Understanding the specific challenges Millennials have faced helps us to understand the complexity of the generation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Below are a few points Jason shared in the BBC Brazil <\/span>interview<\/span><\/a> about the types of challenges Millennials have faced:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n