In my work with direct reports to CEO’s and whole corporate teams, I’m seeing a number of really amazing and competent millennials beginning to step into positions of great responsibility. Some are just so talented you can’t hold them back. Others lucked into an opportunity because of their last name, or due to a tragedy that thrust them into the spotlight.

Gen X’rs have been complaining for several years about the lack of opportunity to promote. All the senior positions are filled with boomers who don’t have any plans to retire. And really, why should we? We feel good. We like our jobs, and we like the money. For many of us, our jobs have been the focus for our whole lives. Retirement=boredom or death. Yuck.

From a demographic standpoint, we should get out of the workforce. From a personal perspective, we are all scared to death of losing that focus and our sense of value. Yet, if we look around, there is so much we could be doing with our skills, drive and training. It doesn’t have to be about money anymore for many of us. When has there been a time in history where so many people lived long enough with sufficient financial security to change their focus from work to making a difference?

It may be time to look for a legacy project-something you would be proud to have described by your grandchildren or a future generation. If you can’t think of one, ask the millennials. They have a long list of complaints about how we are leaving the world. Maybe fixing one of them will resonate for you.

 

Illustration courtesy of zazzle.com