I took a few months off from blogging as I’ve been buried with some key deliverables related to launching Fund III and relaunching Greensbury.com
While I’ve been on my hiatus, I’ve very much enjoyed reading thoughts from industry experts like Fred Wilson and Brad Feld. They both have a tremendous amount of experience that translates into valuable lessons as market cycles – good and bad – repeat themselves.
For me today I wanted to have a quick conversation about hard work.
I have always worked hard.
I have always done my best.
And I normally do my best without any expectation of praise or acknowledgement.
It was simply the way I was raised.
So with that said, I’d love to hear people’s opinion on how millennials are doing within their organizations.
And are they working hard? Do they follow instructions? Are they attentive in meetings? How many times do they need to discuss what needs to happen before someone takes action? And do they stay late to get the job done or are they punching out right after 5pm?
One of my favorite pieces from last year is Derek Thompson A World Without Work where he contemplates a world where technological advances reduce they number of people who are fortunate enough to work. For example, Mr. Thompson cites the number one source of employment for males in the United States is driving and that job is going to be threatened by self-driving vehicles.
In a world where work may become a privilege, hard work and a proper work ethic become a critical component.
So I ask again, how are millennials doing in your organization?
Be Happy 
In my last 3 companies and now with my newest venture… I’ve hired and employed roughly 70 people and all but 6 have been millennials (I am also a millennial). As a generation I think we’re in somewhat of a dichotomous position; one that will produce a tremendous amount of game-changing talents and one that will also create a tremendous amount of lazy brats.
The generation before us (our parents), worked very hard to put us in a position to have more than they had… to a point where we have a sense of entitlement; which in my option, can be good and bad. I think that the entitlement can be a good thing, allowing us to dream bigger… but with one variable that is often overlooked – HARD WORK!
Time will tell how millennials shape the future, but if we combine our sense of entitlement with a willingness to work hard… we can change the game. If void of hard work, we’ll be useless.
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