* A Catalyst nugget from Tim Elmore

—

This is the first generation that doesn’t need adults to get information. What they need us for is interpretation.

Research on college students has shown that with each benchmark, narcissism goes up.

8 paradoxes that define Gen iY

Paradox = two or more realities that seem contradictory.

P#1 sheltered, yet pressured. We want them safe, but place high expectations on them. Developing phobias because they’ve been sheltered from failure

P#2 self-absorbed, but generous.

P#3 social, but isolated. Ave. adolescent texts 300 times a month. Ave. college student is in touch with mom and dad 11 times a day. As tech use goes up, empathy goes down.

P#4 adventuresome, but sheltered. Well traveled, but never punched a time clock.

P#5 team-oriented, but diverse.

P#6 visionary, but vacillating. Want to change the world, but have 19 different visions for how to do it.

P#7 high achieving, but high maintenance

P#8 growing up too fast and too slow at the same time. Entering adolescence much earlier, yet staying in at much longer — we’ll into their 20s

High arrogance, but low self-esteem — psychologists using this to describe many of the young people they’re counseling.

8 Characteristics of the World of Gen iY

1. Parental control
2. Technology central
3. Affirmation constant
4. Expectations Lofty
5. Schedule structured
6. Feedback immediate
7. Upload available – give them more say and they’ll take more ownership
8. Stress rising

Outcomes of the iY SCENE

S – Speed, slow is bad
C – Convenience, hard is bad
E – Entertaining, boring is bad
N – Nurtured, risk is bad
E – Entitled, labor is bad

These “bad” things are the things that help us to grow up — learning to wait, working through hard things, getting creative in the face of boredom, taking risk in an overly protective culture, learning to value of hard work.

We need to be intentional about “exercising” our kids that build these timeless virtues.

7 Myths – things we don’t think kids are capable of, but are actually within them

#1 Kids are unable to make commitments.
#2 Kids shouldn’t have to work while they’re in high school
#3 Kids can’t be expected to have adult conversations
#4 Kids should have whatever they want
#5 Kids shouldn’t take any unsafe risks – fail, fall, struggle, and
#6 Kids can’t wait
#7 Kids can’t be expected to produce anything.

These things are NOT true. Our students have these things within them — we/they always have.

—

SO much to process here.

What’s your biggest takeaway?