Photo courtesy of Mike Rohde
Each week, we’ll cull the interwebs for the most relevant articles, videos and commentary about Millennials and social change, and then present them right here in a weekly round-up. It’s not to say we won’t also provide our own fresh content and perspectives throughout the week, because we will—as will our provocative and savvy Social Citizen Ambassadors. But you can view this space as a central repository for all of the great stuff that’s filling our newsfeeds, twitter feeds, and Facebook streams.
We’ll do the curating for you, just come by and pay us a visit – and drop a comment every now and then to let us know how we’re doing and what we’re missing. And now for this week’s round-up…
If You Build It, They Will Come
Silicon Valley has long been the place where tech dreams are made. Often associated with industry giants such as Google and Facebook, this area is also home to many fledgling startups—and as it turns out, is a great place for Millennials. Young adults are just the latest “high-tech migrants” to flock to Silicon Valley according to Erica Goode of The New York Times. She reports that “in their 20s and fresh out of college, [they are] drawn by a surge in start-ups and investment money that in the last year and a half has created more jobs than companies can fill, and eager to help shape the technology that infuses their lives.”
This flood of next-geners combined with the current economic situation (of which Silicon Valley is currently somewhat insulated) has created an interesting dynamic: “Buoyed by the frenzy of entrepreneurship around them, many young newcomers exhibit an optimism and confidence no economist could dampen. To some who have watched successive generations land here, this latest crop seems brash and entitled, with short attention spans and a video-game approach to life. Others see in them a social conscience and maturity that set them apart from the high-tech gold diggers of the 1990s.”
What is so unique about this melting pot of Millennials and startups is that for many it also represents the marriage of professional goals and personal values. Morin Oluwole, 27, was interviewed by Goode and said, “What I’ve done is to turn my personal interests into what I do for a living.” That seems like a pretty good way to live if you ask me.
What do you think of the combination of Millennials and startups? Do you agree with the sentiments in the article about the “latest crop” being “brash and entitled,” or rather that they have a “social conscience and maturity?” Does the characterization matter?
Desperately Seeking “Betterness”
Lisa Curtis of Forbes asks readers, “What does “success” mean in the 21st century and how do we achieve it?” A quick look at the current state of marriage, the economy, education, business (you name it) is leaving many Millennials sick to their stomachs when faced with decisions about their future. Curtis highlights just a few examples in her article, including: education loans—total outstanding loans will exceed $1 trillion for the first time this year; and unemployment rates—14 percent of young workers (20-24) are unemployed. She also makes reference to the housing market, social security… the list goes on.
Curtis reflects on the traditional ladder of success, the one that past generations sought to climb, and her conclusion is that it is nothing short of broken and splintered for the younger generation. Instead of climbing a never-ending ladder, Curtis is focused on a new metric for success—betterness. “Success for my generation will be a shift from business as usual to something Umair Haque calls ‘Betterness.’ A transition from climbing the ladder of unfulfilling societal expectations and consumerism to blazing a trail with a life guided by a holistic focus on well-being, community, and sustainability.”
Do you think there is a “betterness” quotient we can follow as a generation? Will this be a defining factor for Millennials in both the for- and non-profit worlds?
Vital Mobile Apps for Entrepreneurs
Mashable posted the top 11 mobile apps for entrepreneurs this week and we want to know which ones are your favorites!
Scott Gerber of the Young Entrepreneur Council says “With the glut of mobile apps out there, it’s important to get solid recommendations so you don’t waste your time or money on crappy, time-draining apps.” Gerber asked a group of young entrepreneurs about their favorite mobile apps and the top ones made this list.
If you’ve tried any of them please let us know what you thought about them!