Reflecting on those stories that impacted my work in 2011, I found the stories that either confirmed my opinions and beliefs, or challenged them to the core. Agree or disagree, for anyone that employs teens and young adults, these links are worth investigating.
Wishing you a bright and prosperous 2012, and a healthy flow of applications from engaged, dedicated young candidates who possess a healthy work ethic.
Eric
(Listed in chronological order)
Young People Prefer Praise to Sex and Money (Jan. 10, USA Today) My first thought after reading this headline was, “does that make the perfect job one that involves all three?” Sharon Jayson, the writer of this piece, has interviewed me several times. I enjoy her frequent articles on young people in the workplace.
10+ Ways to Minimize Generational Differences in the Workplace (Jan. 18, TechRepublic) “Can’t we all just get along?” I love how the author integrates famous quotations to make very relevant points.
Fed Up Pennsylvania teacher rants on students in her personal blog (Feb. 21, ABC News) A 30 year old teacher is censored for letting her feelings be known after posting comments like “”I hear the trash company is hiring,” and “There’s no other way to say this, I hate your kid.” Teachers have had feelings like this since ancient Greece, but telling your feelings to the entire world–which includes that parents of the students you have in class–is, apparently, frowned upon.
The New Allowance: Putting Your Kids To Work Creating jobs at home for kids to earn money is better than the old-fashioned allowance (April 1, Forbes) Shouldn’t have come out on April Fools Day as parents of entitled kids took this as a joke. It’s not. Teach your kid to work for what they want and you’ll prepare them for the real world.
How You Treat Workers Affects How They’ll Treat Customers (June 30, USA Today) – Duh. Seems so simple. Yet it is the most neglected principle in business. A great callback to Steven Covey’s 7 Habits.
Visible Tattoos and Other Corporate No-Nos (Oct. 25, Forbes) I am frequently asked what is acceptable in the modern workplace as far as tattoos and body piercings. This is the latest research and should be read by business leaders AND by millennials.
Half Of Young Professionals Value Facebook Access, Smartphone Options Over Salary (Nov. 2, Fast Company) Another question I am frequently asked, “what do they want from me?” This article may surprise you.
Whatever Happened to Discipline and Hard Work? (Nov. 12, NY Times) An economics professor does his best to explain the Occupy phenomena from a cultural economics point of view. Don’t know that I agree with him, but he got me thinking…
How College Prep is Killing High School (Nov. 20, Boston Globe) I’m big on career and technical education and detest the notion that we’ve got to focus all education on increasing test scores and making every student a scientist or mathematician. This provides compelling thought from a geographic region that is synonymous with “the Paper Chase.”
If 745 youngsters are out of work in my town, why can’t I find a recruit? (Nov. 27, London Mail Online) This was my favorite read of 2011. Let’s you know work ethic isn’t an American problem, and that boomers everywhere are struggling.
AND ONE MORE – Reviving Work Ethic in America (Forbes, Dec. 21) Can’t depart without highlighting the ink Forbes provided for me and my new book coming out next week. Thanks Dan Schwabel!
