We’re really excited.  Not only is July 4th coming up, which means a 4-day workweek, but we are also releasing the new and improved Employee Evolution site.

On Saturday and Sunday, we will be putting the new site out live, so bear with us.  We will be down for a short while, but we promise the new site will be much more exciting than the original.  We’ll be highlighting “millennial friendly” jobs, as well as providing new opportunities for an interactive experience.

So if you have problems reaching the site over the weekend, don’t fret.  We’ll be back soon with a new look.

Cheers!

-Ryan & Ryan

“The 2007 World of Work review finds that younger workers are the least likely to use communication tools in the workplace, including computers, faxes, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile and landline phones.”¹ 

Ranstad’s survey, which focuses on employee productivity, retention and morale, finds that the “power players,” using technology to enhance productivity, are more mature workers.  More than business youth, they value a challenge and the ability to have a more flexible work schedule.  Conversely, young workers could have more flexibility if they just applied their know-how to their careers.  And I’m officially confused… 

Millennials are notoriously known for their ability to infuse technology into their day-to-day routine to make life easier.  If given the chance, why wouldn’t we do the same at work? 

I think the answer comes down to exactly that – we’re not given the chance in most entry-level positions.  Sure, there’s a handful of millennial-friendly companies out there that give their workers the opportunity and the technology to work remotely, but the majority don’t present that level of trust right off the bat.  They throw you in a cube and that’s that. 

I think it’s absolutely possible, and probably, this survey failed to recognize that young workers lack freedom that comes with age and experience in a company.  Not to mention, how many companies provide their entry-levels with a Blackberry on day one?   

How can a survey make such a claim unless everyone is given the same treatment and the same “goodies” regardless of age and experience?  You can’t!  Unless the survey itself is flawed. 

I would love to see how the shift in productivity changes if you put everyone on the same page.  My prediction is that it would prove twentysomethings to be just as productive, if not more.  But what does everyone else think? 

This survey is popping up all over the Internet and I’m wondering how anyone can be taking it seriously.  Millennials are supposed to be technology gurus.  Is it possible that we’re just not applying it in the right way?  Or maybe my millennial ADD is just leading me towards MySpace when I should be focusing on the workplace.  Maybe I’m wrong, but it all sounds a little fishy to me. 

Enjoy the weekend.

As I’m writing this, my wife and I are about to celebrate our 9^th wedding anniversary and we both laugh whenever I mention the phrase “mission statement”. There we were, newly married and steeped in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People methodology and of course I wanted to create a family mission statement. The only problem was that I wrote it by myself and hadn’t a clue as to how one lives out a mission statement. Cary sort of tagged along, supporting my personal improvement kick. Now, a few years older and hopefully wiser, I can say that I have a better understanding of how to create and then follow through on a mission statement. What follow are my surefire ways for living out one’s mission statement:

Start with your gut. As you begin to draft a mission statement (or edit if you already have one) it’s important to listen to your gut. Where are you at right now in life? For example, if you’re at a low point, your mission might be written with a hint of recapturing balance or control. On the other hand, if you’re a top-flight performer, your mission might be more about getting to the next level or sustaining high levels of success. Start with your gut.

Write and then write again. No mission statement can take place solely through internal dialogue. Get it out of your head and onto paper. Be bold, putting down words and phrases that capture who you want to be. Write “me” in the middle of the page and then write down every blessed adjective that describes who you are and who you want to be. Now, draw lines from “me” to each adjective, forming a web of descriptors. Next, highlight or circle those words that really resonate with who you want to be. Let it flow as you continue in the discernment phase. I generally take about 5-10 pages of paper when I go through a major overhaul of my mission so grab a notebook and get right to it! Write and then write again.

Keep it simple. Can there be any better advice? It was Thoreau who said, in the 19^th century “Our life is frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify.” I believe that a good mission statement is simple to the core. It must be if it is to be clear and focused on results. While most organizational mission statements are complex and lengthy, we can learn from such success stories as Eddie Bauer who’ve managed to keep things rather brief, “To give you such outstanding quality, value, service, and guarantee that we may be worthy of your high esteem.” Your mission statement should reflect the way that you think and should sound the way that you speak. Keep it simple.

Make it universal. Great mission statements apply to both work and life. Let your mission be one of universal application- work, home, community, etc. Rather than having one mission for work and one for my role as a husband and dad, I’ve whittled it down to one seamless mission statement that works for me and you can easily do the same. Make it universal.

Memorize and recite daily. Of course you’ll want to memorize your mission and then recite it daily. You may want to order some free business cards from www.vistaprint.com and put one in your purse or breast pocket as you start the day. This will remind you of who you want to be and what you’re all about. Create a recitation ritual where you say your mission in the same place and at the same time. I generally recite my mission at the end of my morning quiet time and before the day gets crazy. Memorize and recite daily.

Evaluate annually. The hard work is done and now all you have to do is evaluate on an annual basis. Why not take a day off to get away, by yourself and put down on paper the ways that you’ve found success (and maybe some failure too!) with your mission statement. Consider it a “missional retreat” where you can be alone with your thoughts. This can be done around New Year’s or at some other time of year that works for you. Your mission statement may last for five years or for only one but stepping back and evaluating keeps your perspective fresh and your mind clear. Evaluate annually.

Mission statements work as long as they are created with thoughtfulness and simplicity. Following through by daily recitation and evaluation then makes your statement concrete and gives it the space to guide you to higher levels of success. Go for it!

Want to know my mission? Send me an email or post a comment and I’ll be glad to share my statement with you. You can email me at mike@mikestpierre.com

My boss came into my department one day and was trying to get us to hurry an order that was to be picked up by the customer. The time frame from when the order was taken and the time they were picking it up was not even realistic. Nevertheless, we were working as fast as we could. But he just lost it and starting jumping up and down. He then laid on the floor on his back and started kicking his feet in the air like a bicycle and yelling, “just go, go, go, go.” His dad (the owner) was standing next to him and told him to get up off the floor and come outside for some conversation. He was about 34-years-old at the time.

Help! My Boss is Nuts, StanleyBing.com

Every once and awhile, the corporate world can make me a little nuts. I guess in certain respects, it goes with the territory. The other day I noticed one of my crazy quirks as I left the office.

It was Friday and I was leaving for the weekend. I drove up to the exit, flashed my I.D. for security and before I pulled away, I started laughing hysterically. I casually closed my car window, hit the gas and began my much-deserved weekend retreat.

I never realized it, but I do this every Friday afternoon when I leave. The sheer excitement of a weekend’s freedom makes me, for a brief moment, absolutely insane. I then began to realize…damn, that’s pretty good. Some people can’t even wait until the weekend. They’re like this 24-7!

When it comes to office interactions, there are some total nutjobs out there. Dealing with these people doesn’t make our day any better either. So what do you do if this person happens to be your boss? Turn to Bing for some much needed advice on how to deal.

“The Bully,” “the Paranoid,” “the Narcissist,” “the Wimp” and “the Disaster Hunter” – I couldn’t have summed them up better myself. Not only does this site provide the symptoms associate with TCBS (Totally Crazy Boss Syndrome), but it’ll show you how to make the situation work to your benefit. All it takes is a little Psychology 101 and you’ll have that crazy boss wrapped around your finger like a straightjacket.

If you don’t have a crazy boss, check out this site anyway. I promise it will be an extra dose of “Hump Day Humor” to help get you through your Wednes-daze. If your superior does fit one of these personas, please share. Help the rest of us realize that we really don’t have it that bad.

Happy Hump Day!

Enjoy.

The Swear Jar

I have read that my generation grew up with constant change and amazing new technologies like cell phones and the Internet which caused us to not appreciate patience and experience. 

I don’t buy that. 

Surely there are a variety of social and cultural factors influencing impatience, but as far as I’m concerned, the big reason for all this impatience is one thing: family.

My family is the most important part of my life.  My brother is my best friend.  My parents are wonderful, caring people who raised me right and spent lots of time with me. When I have my own family, I will spend my time on family outings, vacations, baseball practices, piano lessons and everything else that comes with being a responsible father.  These things will take a backseat to nothing, including work.

I also have a burning desire to be wildly successful in the business world.  Typically, to be a huge success you must put more than eighty hours a week into your job.  Balancing that with piano practice on Tuesday, a baseball game on Wednesday a dance recital on Friday, and family dinners nearly every night is just not practical. 

Luckily, I am 23 years old and most likely won’t have this family until at least my mid thirties.  If you do the math this leaves me with about a decade to become a successful business person.  Once the wife and kids come, the career must take a backseat.  This is why I’m so impatient!

Read the rest at the Brazen Careerist

According to a survey by The Conference Board, less than 23 percent of Americans are satisfied with their company’s bonus plans and promotion policies and less than 30 percent are satisfied with their non-monetary reward/recognition and performance review processes.  This comes as no surprise to me.   

Typical small percentage promotions are barely noticeable after taxes and as nice as a hefty one-time bonus can be, it still leaves you feeling empty.  Most non-monetary rewards are a sham as well.  It’s true that young people are becoming less concerned with money and materialistic goods, but we still want to live comfortably.  More importantly, we want to experience what the world has to offer. 

I want to travel.  And I’m not talking about a beach vacation to Florida.  I want to see what else is out there.  Right now, four of my close friends are experiencing the world first hand and making money in the process. Keith is teaching English to young students in rural Japan,  Scott just arrived in Korea for a year long journey, Mike has already been in Korea for close to two years teaching English and Dave just left last week to work for the Birthright Israel Program before he joins the Israeli Army for two to three years.   

There is no reason why young people need to make a decision between starting a career and seeing what the world has to offer.  Typical jobs put too many restrictions on what you can do and where you can go.  Corporate America cannot afford to lose top talent like Keith, Scott, Mike and Dave.  And young people cannot afford to lose out on the invaluable experience that comes from traveling the world.  There needs to be some type of compromise. 

Two weeks of vacation is a joke.  I wouldn’t even consider working for a company that gives me two weeks off.  You don’t own me or my time.  You own my output and the work I do for your company.  And that is all.  

That being said, a compromise is quite simple.  Companies can offer their usual amount of vacation days (hopefully it’s a minimum of four weeks) and throw in some additional incentives.  Every other year, the company will cover the cost of a flight plus $100 per day for a two-week trip to any foreign country.  Employees should be actively encouraged to spend a portion of this time volunteering in a less fortunate area.   

This is easy and relatively cheap for the company, and young employees will jump at the chance to travel and volunteer their time for a good cause.  If it is completely necessary, the company can provide the employees with all the tools necessary to work remotely while abroad.  Personally, I would have no problem sitting in a coffee shop in Rome for a few hours to take care of important business.   

In the current job market, it is completely feasible for someone to not bother wasting 10 of their 15 vacation days to travel the world.  It is actually much easier to simply quit, take an extended vacation and get back in the job search game when the time comes around.  I recently had conversations with two people who are planning to do this exact thing.   

Promotions are bogus, they ultimately end up leading to a lot more work for a little more pay.  Non-Monetary rewards are usually unsatisfying as well.  Life is important, traveling the world is important and volunteering is important.  The sooner companies adapt their policies to fulfill these desires, the sooner worker satisfaction and productivity will increase.

This was a piece I put together as part of a presentation to my company’s HR department as background for redesigning their recruiting materials. Although some of it seems pretty obvious to a twentysomething, some of the people that it was presented to were absolutely amazed. 

“I” statements that reflect what recent graduates are looking for: 

The most important things to me are my coworkers and the company’s culture. I want to work with people who are enthusiastic, stimulating, friendly, competent, and fun. I like to be able to form friendships with my coworkers and also want to have a good relationship with my boss. I think coworkers and management should be approachable, especially if I need help. 

A competitive salary is also important to me. With college loans looming, I’m very concerned about money. As it becomes the norm to have an undergrad degree I would like to maintain a competitive edge by pursuing a graduate degree. I am very interested in finding an employer who will help finance my MBA. 

I would like to be appreciated for my accomplishments. It’s important for me to receive actionable and detailed feedback, so that I can improve and exceed your expectations.  

I am aggressive and constantly seeking to improve myself. I want to be challenged. I am looking for a job that allows me to participate fully in the projects I am working on. I am comfortable working on teams, in a supportive or leadership role.  

I want the work I do to mean something. I would like to work with a product that correlates with my ideals and may be important to society.

Location is important as well. I’m thinking about: How far will I be from friends and family? How long will my commute be in the morning? What kind of activities in the area can I participate in?  

I think volunteering is important. I am concerned about politics, socio-economic impact, and the environment. I’m looking for opportunities to give back and the ways that your company will support me in these endeavors.  

I want to be able to make connections with those in and beyond my peer group. It’s in my nature to network. 

I may view this job as temporary, a stepping stone in my still-as-yet-undecided career path. Give me a reason to stay. Give me a reason to tell my friends why they should work here, too. 

I am constantly connected to the Internet , to my friends. My cellphone is on 24/7. I am on Facebook daily and might even have a Myspace, too, but don’t check it often.  

When I look for a job I check my college’s career search engine, the local paper’s classifieds online, craigslist.com, and maybe Monster.com. I will also try to find someone who worked for the company to get the inside scoop about the corporate culture.  

“Shift Happens…”

Employee Evolution is a web site dedicated to helping our peers deal with the difficult transition from college to the real world.  We also hope to shed some light on what young workers really look for in an entry level job.  Much has been said, little is accurate.  Young people want what everyone wants; freedom, trust and excitement to name a few. Some popular posts you should check out: 

Background                 

The Paradox of Choice, Gen-Y Style

Raunchy Old Photos Will be Part of the Revolution 

Blogging Is the New Graduate School

Best Buy Gets it – Stop Watching the Clock 

Paychecks Are Boring 

Recruiting/Retaining Young Workers

It’s Always Job Hunting Season

Leaderless Organizations Make Sense, Read the Starfish and the Spider 

Change Is A Dirty Word

Millennial Praise:  Less Confetti More Counseling

A Unique Generation 

Entrepreneurship 

Learning to Run a Business: Get a Blog Not a Job

Problems With Working at a Big Company 

Guest Posts 

What Not to Wear to Work

Can I Get Part Time Benefits? 

A Survival Guide for Millennials 

Feel free to subscribe to the site, drop us an email, add a comment or submit a guest post.   

Thanks for stopping by. 

Ryan & Ryan