Attention Baby Boomers: Have They Sussed Us Out?

While on a company event this weekend (which was awesome by the way), we were shown the differences between generations and the general trends of each one.

Todays post concentrates on the Baby Boomer Generation, mostly. Even if you aren’t one yourself, the information is valid if you are prospecting people for your business or wanting to gain more customers.

Generally, Baby Boomers (1946-1964) are said to have the following characteristics:-

Idealistic
Workaholics
Dominant Generation
Starting to retire
Their aspiration is financial freedom
Message that motivates them – “ You are valued, you are needed”
Type of Travel: Soft adventures and cultural experiences.
Decision Making – Calculated
Change – Resists it
Communication – loves meetings, in person

What do you think of the above?

I am particularly interested if you are a fellow baby boomer and if you are not, you must know some…… your parents for instance.

From a personal perspective I agree with some of it, not all of it.

For instance, I have always been a workaholic.

I do love meetings, but I also love communication online as well as in person. If you are someone like me, you have embraced technology and communicate more that way than you might have in the past.

You might be someone who likes wild adventures and not necessarily soft ones. This summer alone I was zip wiring and para sailing and I am over 60 years old, lol. While my health and physical stamina allows it, I like to “have a go”

With regard to change I disagree with that one. I embrace change and always have. Having said that, maybe you might agree with it.

Have The Researchers Got It Right?

In general, I believe they probably have. There will always be exceptions to the rule, however, in general I think it pretty much sums up the Baby Boomer Generation.

What they don’t mention is the vibrance that we gained from the 60’s, the music we loved, the trends we set, the fashions and how we were trend setters for a lot of what goes on today, positive and negative. I mean, we introduced free love didn’t we?

The point is, we have been around a while and probably “wore the t-shirt” for a lot of things that the younger generation can’t believe when they see us as “oldies”

I believe we think and act younger much more than our parents did. I distinctly remember when my Father hit 60, he seemed a lot older than I do now at the same age.

We all know, or should know that age can be mind over matter. Of course we can’t halt ageing, no one can and getting older is inevitable. However, we don’t have to act “old” do we? One of the biggest reasons I call myself the Reawakened Entrepreneur is because I feel reawakened and prefer the term any day to “senior”. “the grey pound” “old age pensioner etc etc etc. In my head, I am as young as I have ever been.

The other day when talking to a team member I mentioned I was old enough to be his Mother. He was shocked and said he didn’t think of me as that age at all. That made my day and it was a huge compliment, even if he didn’t realise it.

Why Is Understanding Generations Important In Business?

If you are someone who is marketing to people, or prospecting them to join your business, understanding what makes people tick is really helpful. For instance, you would chat with someone in their 20’s very differently to how you would with someone in their 50’s. Each age group has its own issues. Someone in their 20’s starting out on their career path will have a completely different outlook than someone who has already been in their career for years and is approaching retirement.

The following traits listed below are for Millenials (1981-2000)

Raised By Baby Boomers

Not used to negative feedback

23 billion globally

Live for “now” – not tomorrow

Multi taskers, digital natives

Want lifestyle balance

Best reward: meaningful work

Type of travel: Authentic experiences

Enjoy change

If you compare the two generations it demonstrates the need to approach each one in a different manner and to take some time to fully understand where each is coming from in their lives.

The generation in between these two of course is what is known as Generation X (1965-1980) – the smaller group of the two.

You can read more about the definitions on generations by CLICKING HERE if you are interested in learning a lot more about how each one is defined and seen.

Summary

What ever generation you are from, the most important thing is this —– we are all human beings coming from different backgrounds and cultures. We are various ages and have a variety of values and emotions depending who we are. Understanding us humans is not the easiest of things to do but if you are working with people then it is really helpful to understand this info.

From a personal perspective, I am a wife, grandmother, mother, so called retired (reawakened), enjoying this new phase in my life. I love nothing better than working with all age groups but I am particularly interested in fellow baby boomers and the things many of us have in common, which includes our fears and expectations.

Working online has enabled me to meet all age groups and given me a new lease of life and I know there must be many more baby boomers who want the same. Something to bear in mind if you are younger and looking to have people join you in business. Whatever you do, don’t rule out the boomers – we still have a massive amount to offer to our society and more than that, we want to.

In answer to the title Attention Baby Boomers: Have They Sussed Us Out? in general I think the researches certainly got most of it right. I may be out of sink with some of it but I was never on the “normal” list, ha ha.

I hope you enjoyed todays article and got some value. I would love to hear from you and get your thoughts so feel free to leave me a comment below.