A few years ago, in one of my mastermind groups, a Gen X woman admitted she was previously a prostitute. “Not that kind of prostitute”, she said, “I worked for a legitimate company, but I wasn’t engaged with their vision or purpose. I just did what was expected to bring back home money for my family.”
The story never left me. Not only does it paint a powerful metaphor for the importance of purposeful work, it begged the question, “In what way if any, am I for sale?”.
Like many Gen-Xers, I grew up as a latchkey kid. When my parents divorced I lived in a not so great area in Hollywood, Florida. My Mom and I shared a one-bedroom apartment with my Aunt Louise. I was scared to walk to school every day. I begged my mom for self-defense classes, but she couldn’t afford them. I had needs and my Mom couldn’t meet them. So, I carried a knife with me on my walk. I promised myself that when I got older I would make enough money to live in a safe neighborhood.
I graduated high school and left home at 17 years old when I got a job in customer service at American Express. One day we were given a training that seemed so far removed from how things were day-to-day. Although this wasn’t common practice at Amex, it was then that this Gen-Xer learned how some Baby Boomer Command and Control leaders could be so far removed from their front-line employees AND customers So, I know EXACTLY what it’s like, to follow the rules and the structure of an organization and to question if I am the only one who yearns to create something more valuable.
As time went on, I began to find older colleagues who became mentors to me. They listened for my values and core beliefs, and they helped me align my vision with the corporate vision. They taught me the importance of listening and asking powerful questions to build a collaborative environment.
I became committed to listening deeply to what was happening in the minds of senior leaders. So that I could co-create a shared vision with myself and my team. Eventually, I worked my way up to owning a business of my own.
The Baby Boomer leaders are retiring now, and guess what?
Their successors are Gen X Leaders, just like you and me.
If you’re a Gen-Xer in a large organization, it’s time to choose the support you need to get to the next level. We can’t keep waiting for command and control leaders to notice us and change.
OK, let’s agree to do a few things:
First, remember your core beliefs and EXACTLY what you are WORTH by connecting with your Leader Within. It is only when we are ALIGNED with this part of ourselves that we can inspire our teams to be engaged.
It’s time to stand up and say.
I matter.
Secondly, remember, we are the BRIDGE between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials. We can be the change we wish to see. Not everyone has to want to make things better for things to get better.
Lastly and most importantly, get involved with a good CREW…
A Crew are people who are 100% committed to your success. Because I’m certain that when…Jeff Bezos and Daymond John were each running their operations out of cramped dining rooms… And Elon Musk was bunking up at a friend’s place to invest all his money into his next big dream…
That they weren’t doing it alone.
Join my Virtual Coffee and expand your Crew! Meet other people who are being the change they wish to see.
AND if you can’t wait that long, reach out to me directly and we can schedule a quick chat.
“Never forget that a few caring people can change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” – Margaret Meade