I may be a Generation Y but I'm no "Yuppy"

So I read the following article from a link a friend posted on facebook:
Generation Y
feel free to peruse it.
It was really interesting, and actually, it's a topic that Code and I have discussed before at length.  First, I want to say that I liked most of the points that the article made and there are a lot of Generation Yers who do struggle with these issues.  I know the article isn't labeling ALL generation Yers as this type of "yuppy" as they were so called in the article, but there are also some points that these types of articles tend to leave out that kind of bug me.

First of all, I feel like these types of articles are written by the generation before ours, and I feel like it turns into a dumping party.  The economy sucks and unemployment is way high so let's blame the Generation below ours-those lazy, good-for-nothing kids! (said in a grumpy old man voice.)  I feel like every generation likes to put down the generation after it.  I'm sure the Baby Boomer generation's parents complained about how easy their kids had it cause they didn't have to fight in a major war/go through a depression etc.  Though I have no proof-I tried to look to see who wrote the article but couldn't find anything- I feel like it's always an older generation writing these things and that kind of bugs me.

Secondly, I find it ironic that most of the people writing these books/articles that point out all of Generation Y's flaws are the exact people who RAISED Generation Yers....can you say conflict of interest?  Bitter much? (jk) but really, you can't really point to an overwhelming social trend in a generation, and as a parent, claim 0 responsibility.  Our parents DID tell us that we could do anything, have anything, that we were special etc.  Now, is it good to fill your kids' heads with dreams?  Yes, as long as you also equally hit the importance of hard work and starting somewhere/working your way up etc.  My parents did.  While, yes I know I can do anything-I know it only works as long as I put in the necessary work.

Thirdly, I think it's very important to realize how much has changed in the economy/job market/career world from our parents' (baby boomer) generation to ours.  It's a COMPLETELY different world.  Frankly, in this job market, it is naive to think that you can have the same job for 50+ years.  It just doesn't happen like that anymore.  Now, if you can find a job that fulfills you and makes you better in your field for that long- kuddos, but not having the same job for 50 years is not necessarily a bad thing.

 Here's a story: My husband got a great job out of college.  He worked hard, he studied information systems (web development/technology etc.) and got a combined bachelors/master's degree in it.  We got offered a job with ExxonMobil right out of college.  We felt very blessed and were very grateful. We realized a lot of people have trouble finding work out of college and again, were very grateful.  (May I just say it helps having a husband who's a wizard in a very hot field now-technology).

 Now, you have to know my husband in order to understand the following story.  He has a lot of aspirations (typical, apparently, of generation Yers).  His ultimate dream is to start his own company(ies) in the tech world.  In college he made/sold some software with a friend and they made a legitimate business out of it with clients and everything.  He's a hard worker, creative, and a go-getter with good ideas.  He's good at what he does-a lot of people don't really realize how good he is because we all, being so immersed in technology these days, think we know what it's all about/how it works because we know a few terms like html, clicking, double-clicking etc.  I stress the word THINK here.  (it's actually a pet-peeve of his when he tells people what he does, simplifying it of course, and they respond with a, "oh my younger brother makes websites-cool"  as if they're even close to being on the same level.)

 Anywho, he gets a job in the IT department at ExxonMobil.  We move to Houston.  It's all great.  Within the first month he quickly realized that the environment/priorities/goals of his company were NOT conducive to helping realize his own career goals- in gaining the necessary skills/experience etc to get where he eventually wanted to be.  It makes sense looking back-it was a big corporate company.  Now, is there anything wrong with working for a big corporate company where you put on a suit and tie and go into work the same time every day, day after day?  Of course not! Millions earn good money that way.
 But it wasn't right for us.  You see, Code wanted to be on the cutting edge of technology where he could use his skills and gain new ones.  Exxon didn't care about his skills- at a company like Exxon they are not interested in the cutting edge-the IT part of their company is NOT their focus-they could care less about IT, they, naturally, care about the oil side and making money-which is fine.  It just wasn't a good fit.
Now, when we told certain people about our desires to find something else (after sticking with Exxon Mobil for over a year-a year of Code being miserable) we were surprised to find that we were being judged regularly.  It seemed that whoever we talked to about this (typically baby boomer generations) suggested that "oh, it's just the beginning-you can work your way up and find something that you like better-you just have to put in the grunt work now etc." As though Code was being lazy/didn't want to work/expected to be president on the first day-which wasn't the case, he's a hard worker.

 The problem was, Code went to regular meetings/conferences where he'd meet and talk/ask questions with the higher-ups on his side of the company- the VP of technology etc.  And after meeting and listening to these people and learning about the different departments that were available to him-nothing was interesting to him or what he wanted.  But again, we repeatedly would get the vibe that people thought us ungrateful and self-entitled just because we dared to want more for Code's career/ because the paycheck wasn't enough for us.
I know that in the previous generations millions of people went to work day in and day out and hated it/were miserable, but did it because they were men and they loved their families and wanted to provide for them, and that's great.  I just don't think that there is anything wrong with finding a job that provides for your family and makes you happy.  Think about it.  People who are out in the work force spend half of their lives, maybe more, working there....I don't think it's too much to ask to at least to somewhat enjoy your job/or having it be something that can make you a better person in your chosen field.  Now, if you personally don't care/have aspirations for your career and just want the paycheck that's fine-but don't judge those who want more.

 If cody had stayed at Exxon he would have been set for life, sure, but it would almost be like taking the easy way out-would we be financially set?  yes, but he would have been miserable, all of his technological skills would have atrophied and eventually would have become obsolete making it IMPOSSIBLE for him to work anywhere else-he would be indebted to Exxon and depend on them for his job, and he simply didn't want to allow that to happen.
We dared to find something that could feed our family AND help Code realize his career aspirations, and it worked.

We're in Utah now working for Vivint-a new up and coming company- and Code couldn't be happier.  Now, do we think we'll be with Vivint for the rest of our lives?  Probably not, just cause THAT IS THE NATURE OF THE TECH WORLD NOW.  If you go into an interview with one company on your resume, that's it, it would NOT be very impressive.  But if you go in and have decent length stints at multiple cutting edge companies with a diversification of projects/skills that you gained/used over the years you'll wow them.  The tech world moves to fast to stay in the same place for a super long time and there's nothing wrong with that.   It's different, but not worse/bad.

I know older generations struggle with change and so they see it as being lazy, self-entitled, how dare you want more than a paycheck!  Well....you said I could have more, so don't be surprised when that's my goal.

Now, of course, i'm not condoning 20-somethings who are STILL living at home, refusing to take any job because it's not good enough etc.  You have to work.  You have to grow up, but if you can manage to find something that you are passionate about-good for you,you go for it.  I don't think it's too much to ask to enjoy your job-life is meant to be LIVED and ENJOYED, and it's us crazy aspiring Generation Yers who are the entrepreneurs of tomorrow daring to take risks and make job opportunities so you baby boomers can relax and retire.  You're welcome.