Conversation between GenY and Boomer

"Would you be offended if I ask you a very personal question?" I asked a 21 year old young man I'd known fairly well throughout his life.

"No, not at all," he said smiling.

You see Caleb just finished Marine boot camp last week and he was home for leave following that experience. He was very smart in school, yet decided not to go to college, but to take over his parents' nursery business when his parents left our area.

I wondered why a young man, who had everything going for him would ever join the marines at this time in history. Prompted by the amazing conversation at Dave Olson's blog I decided to ask a deep question of this brilliant 21 year old member of the GenY generation. Here's how it continued...

"M-m-m...Why did you decide to become a Marine, especially at this time in history when troops are being escalated to Iraq," I quizzed, honestly wondering.

"From the time I was a kid, I dreamed of being a Navy Seal," he responded. "I didn't want to let go of that so I decided to do something about it...You know many people let go of their dreams and I kind of wanted to see if I could do it...There might not be another chance."

"I so agree that we need to follow our dreams or we live with regrets." I replied. I had a dream to earn a PhD, so I knew the power of making a dream a reality. At the same time, I realized that it's very easy to judge someone else's dream. May we, who are supposedly wiser refrain from offering our advice when it isn't asked....

"Can you be a Seal in the Marines? I thought Seals are part of the Navy."

"I'm hoping to get that training since it is offered through the Marines as well."

"Caleb, I'll be thinking of you and wish you well. I really hope you succeed in reaching your dream to become a Navy Seal." Caleb's girlfriend, nearby, had been listening and when she smiled at him our conversation ended.

As I reflect on this, I learned a few things. As a member of the Boomers it might be all to easy to pop in with advice based on a lifetime of experience. Since I never knew my own father because he had been killed in World War II, I personally would rather young people in the GenY generation build plans for peace. But, at the same time, I've also learned the wisdom of refraining from judgment based on my own views and also from offering any advice that is not solicited.

I'll soon be landing in Ireland and I hope to engage a few young folks there in conversation. I begin with two-footed questions - questions that draw upon the interest of the person and connects them personally to a topic. People love to talk about themselves and what's behind their decisions. Fact is, when a person talks about himself, serotonin secretes in the brain. Serotonin's a brain chemical that stirs well-being.

Why not begin a conversation yourself with a member of the GenY or Boomer generations and see what you learn. My sense is that our one-on-one conversations help us build respect...the kind that leads to synergy between us.

Here's some research on Boomer and GenY characteristics to give you background on each before you get underway... Let me know what you learn...