On 6 November 2019, the phrase “Ok, Boomer” went viral due to a “Twitter War” between William Shatner (aka Captain Kirk, the “Priceline Guy,” and Denny Crane) and various opponents from, let’s say, ‘younger’ generations.
Soon after, “Ok Boomer” and “Ok Millennial” tee shirts could be found online, in gear stores, and gift shops across the land.
Clearly dismissive, whether intended as fun ‘banter’, blatant disrespect, or somewhere in-between, such phrases intend to call-out a member of a different generation for being out-of-touch or closed-minded.
While defined in [approximately] 20-year increments, generational mindsets develop as a product of world events.
World events occurring during our “growing up” years influence our worldview. Our worldview biases the way we THINK, which impacts how we FEEL, and therefore the way we DO.
Different worldviews are REAL. And while they should be thoughtfully considered, they should also be questioned- others’ as well as our own.
‘Getting this’ is key toward being a better leader, a better influencer, a better father, mother, son, daughter, friend, and/or partner.
To help, we’ve put together a really cool App- an App that reveals how your current thinking aligns with the different generations (Boomer, Xer, Millennial, Gen Z).
My recommendation is that you stop reading, listening, or watching NOW and go complete the App.
You can access the Generational Mindset App here: https://www.research.net/r/CS5M8GG
(or by using the link elsewhere on this page).
Once you better understand your current generational mindset, your next step is to recognize there are closed-minded and out-of-touch members among ALL generations- from those stuck in the past to those [quite] light on actual experience who think they have all the answers.
If you’re truly looking to make things better, yet are frustrated (aka ‘pissed off’) by “those people” having generational mindsets different than yours, start by considering this piece of wisdom from Carl Jung-
“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”
Yes- if you find obstinate opinionated individuals overly irritating, you just might be one of them.
Take a look in the mirror. Get over yourself. Develop a healthy questioning attitude about…EVERYTHING.
AND, If you haven’t yet done so, access the App to learn a bit about yourself and generational mindsets.
Until next time,
-Tim Autrey
CEO / Founder- PPI
Comments