1 year of experience repeated 30 times

Millennials have learned that 30 years of working in 1 place, doing 1 job is really only 1 year of experience repeated 30 times.

In this model there is no evolution. No growth. No resistance. No change. No opportunity to create something new.

Those who are leaving are not really worried about passing the torch. They are jealous. Remember this: Those before us have passed opportunities because they were scared. It has resulted in regret, boredom and jealousy. You don’t have to be this way.

Learn from your mistakes. Better yet, learn from the mistakes of those who have come before you.

Contributions that matter

Start small.

Begin by knocking on doors in your community and talking with people on a weekly basis.

At first they may be hesitant to say much. They may even find it inconvenient or a chore to come to the door to speak with you.

Be diligent. Eventually as people open up and begin to share what is actually happening in their life; you will begin to notice similarities in these conversations on what the people in your community actually need.

You don’t need to ask them anymore how you can help. Now you can actually start helping people by bring something of substance.

You are now contributing something that actually matters.

The elevator connection

How can you connect with someone in the length of an elevator ride?

Be trustworthy and capture their attention.

Two examples:

I was in a rougher part of the neighborhood dressed in a button shirt and tie trying to get into an apartment building. A man let me in. We exchanged a few words. He began to tell me a story of how he had just finished a trip down south for the funeral of his brother. I offered my condolences and what must as seemed as an empty gesture asked if there was anything I can do for him.

I knocked on a door to speak with someone and a stranger opened the door. The person I was looking for wasn’t home. Talking to this stranger I asked how this person was related to the family. He replied he wasn’t. He went on to say that he was a struggling alcoholic and that he was just here for the weekend. Seeing the shock on my face he attempted to cover up his statement as a joke.

How can anyone of them know I was trustworthy? I am a stranger. The shirt and tie seemed to have given me an appearance that I was trustworthy. It certainly captured their attention since most where not dressed this way in this part of town.

People desire a connection. By being trustworthy and giving people attention it is amazing what people will share to get a connection. Even if it is with a total stranger and it is only the length of an elevator ride.