I love Gen Y.  I really do.  Their energy is infectious and I enjoy spending time with them.  I thought my secret was safe and I could spend time with them alone.  But now the secret is out and Harvard Business is talking about it. 

Yes, it's true I've made it a point to seek Gen Y out and pick their brains about how their generation's perspective on current events .  Remember, this is the most educated generation in history.  Never before has so many new hires entered the workforce with an MBA in hand.  So I thoroughly enjoyed reading Tamara Erickson's article about Gen Y recently.  In the article Tamara states:

"Y’s, when faced with a new challenge, tend to function like a heat-seeking missile – single-mindedly pursuing the person in the organization with the most relevant experience. In many cases, this person is a Boomer – often in some distant part of the organization, or several hierarchical levels removed. This approach reflects how Y’s like to learn – from an expert, just-in-time, and in response to the specific challenge they need to address. And it reflects their comfort in relating to Boomers on a peer basis, developed over an adolescence of friendly interaction with their parents and parents’ friends."

I have found this to be very true and got a kick out of the executive who shared his love of Gen Y like a guilty pleasure with Tamara.  He said he "found himself spending a high proportion of his time these days with the Y’s several levels down in his organization." 

There's more to Gen Y than meets the eye.  You can read the full article here http://discussionleader.hbsp.com/erickson/2008/04/the_boomery_love_fest.html  Some of the article comments are acutally fun as well.  No wonder Gen X feels so left out.   for them for boomers!  Maybe Gen 'X' could learn from this what I mentioned in my April 11th post.  Boomers and Gen Y are sharing the stage, Gen X just needs to change their attitude and they can take their place on stage too.

Madonna and Justin Timberlake are all over the media with their musical collaboration and video.  That is just another example of how Boomers and Gen Y can work well together successfully for their careers and their companies.  Hey, Wake up Gen 'X', and get with the program.

It's happening more frequently and is so inculcated into society that commercials are using the jargon.  The post Gen Y group of communicators aren't interested in nor adept at writing skills. You've seen the commercial where the mom tries and fails miserably at understanding her daughter's "IM of her BFF Jill" and grandma smiles while also speaking in this new shorthand language.  Yes, it's funny but is becoming less so.

A few weeks ago Eric Zorn, a writer for the Chicago Tribune, wrote an article titled "If kid is not answering e-mail, send txt msg, K?"  In the article, Mr. Zorn tells the story of about his 18 year old son Alex trying to contact the freshman son of a family friend via email, and consistently receiving no response.  When they finally sent a text message, they received a response immediately.  It turns out that Generation 'Z' finds email to be antiquated and Passé so they simply ignore it.

Fast forward to three days ago you will find the volume of articles regarding the lack of writing skills in term papers and resumes.  A recent article in the Tribune's Red Eye reports that a study co-sponsored by the National Commission on Writing at the College Board, the non-profit group that administers the SAT and other placement tests has found that:

• 50% of teens surveyed say they sometimes fail to use proper captialization and punctuation in assignments
• 38% have carried over IM or email shortcuts such as LOL
• 25% of teens have used :) and other emoticons
• 64% have used at least one of the informatil elements in school

An April 24th article on MSNBC titled "Teens use ,  LOL, in school writing" mentions that The Pew Internet and American Life Project, in a study released Thursday, also found that teens who keep blogs or use social-networking sites like Facebook, or News Corp.’s MySpace, have a greater tendency to slip nonstandard elements into assignments. The results may give parents, teachers and others a big :( — a frown to the rest of us — though the study’s authors see hope.

“It’s a teachable moment,” said Amanda Lenhart, senior research specialist at Pew. “If you find that in a child’s or student’s writing, that’s an opportunity to address the differences between formal and informal writing. They learn to make the distinction ... just as they learn not to use slang terms in formal writing.”

A recruiter recently voiced her frustration and concern with resumes that are poorly written, and the most painful read in her long career.  The spelling is atrocious and Gen 'Z is unable to even write full sentences.

What this means to you and your organization is the downgrade of communications to a level never before experienced in a professional environment.  So prepare yourself, add some professional writing courses to your corporate training programs.   

And, if you are the parent of a Gen Z, start teaching them at home not only the difference between formal and informal writing, but the impact poor writing skills will have on their careers.  Then check their assignment before they turn it in and have that 'teachable moment' at home.  You might even find yourself LOL while bonding with your children.

Read the MSNBC article here - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24294592/

Well it had to happen sooner or later.  The Generation War has officially begun! 

So I’m at my hotel this week and as usual picked up my copy of USA Today and there it was in black and white.  The headline said “”X” marks its spot in the cultural limelight”  and the subtitle of the article is “Author kicks boomers aside.”

I’ve watched for years as corporate America pushed the boomers aside and hired the younger generation because ‘they’re energetic’ and knew that the time would come when these youngsters would speak out about their feelings.  Truth be told, some seminar attendees have told me from time to time that their younger colleagues have even actually said “why don’t you retire already and get out of my way?’  So I saw it coming.  Did you?

In the article, Jeff Gordinier author of “X Saves the World:  How Generation X Got the Shaft But Can Still Keep Everything from Sucking” claims he wants to make it perfectly clear that he is not whining.  “I’m just weary of hearing about them. Let’s move on.  Who Cares?  Stop!”  He claims “we’ve accomplished more than we get credit for” and cites everything from “green” architects to Pulp Fiction, to YouTube, Google and The Colbert Report.  Well good for you.  If that’s all you have to take credit for then YOU step aside buddy.  While those are fun its not enough to keep the economy or society going.

Gordinier, editor at large at Details magazine says “the boomers have hogged the limelight for so long it’s hard to even get on the stage.”    Speak for yourself buddy.  Lots of Gen “X” and Gen “Y” people are on the stage doing their thing right next to the boomers.  He claims that Gen Xers have been ignored in society’s’ eyes.  I disagree.  We’ve been paying attention from the moment you entered the corporate world declaring that you “wouldn’t choke yourself with a tie” and bringing business casual into the workplace. 

It’s your presentation that needs help.  All Mr. Gordinier has to do to understand what’s going on is to inspect the name of his book.  “Sucking?”  Pathetic.  And he calls himself an editor.  Stop whining, grow up, demonstrate leadership and you will find the credibility and success you seek.

Background checks for new employees is a key component in the hiring process.  It protects employers from poor employee choices and employees from negative forces entering their ranks.  It is critical that this is done and I heartily agree with this aspect of the hiring process.

There is a new twist in the marketplace, however, that you need to be aware of.  According to today's Chicago Tribune, in addition to drug screening some employers are taking the process one step further by requiring genetic testing of new employees.  These tests detect an employee's predisposition to possibly acquiring certain diseases during their lifetime!   Naturally, this has sparked huge legal and ethical debates.   What does this mean?  Do employers now intend to say "your genetic coding reveals a propensity for diabetes or cancer and so we cannot hire you?"  

The law firm Pepper Hamilton recommends that employers stay up to date on federal and state discrimination laws and request written permission from the employee before engaging in such practices.  I recommend that you arm yourself and your loved ones by also staying on top of this controversial new practice and be prepared to protect yourself from this practice.   Remember that it will be on file with the employer into perpetuity.

The potential exists for gross misuse of this type of background check.  What do you think of this new practice?  email me at yvonne@jadcommunication.com and share your thoughts.

Just two days ago I added a blog post "Whos' minding the store and where's my 401K funds" about monies lost by rogue traders.  At the time I ended my post by stating that "it sems the banks have learned nothing since 1995" and posed the question Have YOU?

Today, just 45 minutes ago in fact, the Associated Press Posted the following article: 

NEW YORK - A rogue trader at MF Global Ltd. rang up $141.5 million in losses on the broker's account this week, the company said Thursday, a black eye that cost the company almost a fifth of its market value.

The Bermuda-based broker said on Wednesday morning it discovered Evan Dooley, a trader at the company's Memphis, Tenn., branch, trading wheat contracts in amounts that exceeded how much he was allowed to trade.

MF Global fired Dooley and liquidated the wheat contracts, which led to a $141.5 million loss. An entry-order system that should have blocked the trades failed, the company said.  The story continues that "MF Global brokers options and futures contracts for 130,000 clients at 70 exchanges like the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade and the New York Mercantile Exchange. The company said the trading loss does not threaten the $19.5 billion clients have in their accounts."

The SEC needs to step in DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.  If the trading companies are held accountable responsible and have to PAY BACK the monies that their rogue traders "lose" perhaps that will make them more vigilant during the ackground checks for employees.  I would also make them execute the checks and balances on their traders on a more timely basis. 

So far this year alone, we have the trader at Societe Generale who rang up more than $7 billion in losses on his company's account by placing unauthorized bets on European stock indexes and now this trader at MF Global Ltd. rang up $141.5 million in losses.  When is it going to stop? 

Here's the thing, when you lose while betting at the casino in Las Vegas, the casino has the money.   In this instance, someone has the money as well.   So I ask you again, do you know where your 401K and retirement funds are?  Do you know where the fund managers are investing those monies?  You'd better check right now.

You can read the rest of today's Associated Press story at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23388778/ - I also recommend you read my blog post from February 27th below to get a full story regarding gambling traders.

Don't know if you heard the latest but... There's a new way to get your boarding pass and airport information.  American Airlines has made it easy to get the information you need for your travels regardless of where you are.  Those of you who talk on the phone in the bathroom know what I mean. 

Some of the features that got me excited are:

• Check in for your flight
• View your travel Itinerary
• Confirm your departure gate
• Flight Status and Schedules
• Delayed Baggage Status
• Destination Information: includes weather and airport information
• Admirals Club® Lounges: find locations, purchase one day passes and memberships
• Change your flights
• Book your car

All you have to do is simply type www.aa.com into your cell phone or other Web-enabled mobile device and get connected. I hear they will even scan the flight check-in barcode directly from your mobile phone!  Now how cool is that?  I love technology!

To learn more about this visit http://www.aa.com/index_us.jhtml

Well it happened again and personally I don’t know how a company can lose $7.2 Billion dollars through one employee.  Especially after what we all learned from the Bearings Bank debacle.  I guess of you live long enough you will see companies do really stupid things and not learn from mistakes.

Bearings, a 100 year old British bank, was brought down by rogue trader Nick Leeson.  In 1995 trader Nick made $1.38 billion in unauthorized trades that brought Bearings Bank to its knees.  The bank was ultimately purchased by a Dutch bank for $1.   

This latest $7.2 billion loss by French bank Société Généralé who today find themselves with rogue junior trader Jérôme Kerviel at the helm of a string of bets that at one time had $50 billion of their funds on the table is troubling.  When the dust settled their final loss was $7.2 billion.  I can almost hear their sighs of relief that the loss was smaller than originally thought.  

My question is, where were the internal checks and balances that should have prevented a trader with a gambling habit from running wild?  How does it get so far out of hand?  It is especially of concern to me since I recently watched the movie “Rogue Trader” starring Ewan McGregor.  When Nick Leeson brought down Bearings bank I was a bank officer at what is now J.P. Morgan Chase bank.  As a member of the banking establishment I listened and watched as my bank made decisions and added controls so that it wouldn’t happen to us.

Interestingly, trader Jérôme Kerviel scoffs at the bank for missing the elementary sign that something is wrong.  He only took four days off last year.  “It is one of the first rules of internal controls:  a trader who does not take vacations is a trader who doesn’t want his books to be seen by others” he said.  It seems he considers them responsible for not executing the checks and balances created to prevent just this behavior.

Leeson wrote the best selling book “Rogue Trader: How I brought Down Bearing Bank and Shook the Financial World.”   His life was made into the above mentioned movie, he did his few years in prison and today he is a highly paid public speaker.  He’s now written another book titled “Back From the Brink: Coping with Stress.”  Bringing others to financial ruin apparently has its rewards.

The way I see it, this is a wake up call for us when we decide where to put our 401K or savings.  These people are using our funds to do the trades.  They are responsible and have a fiduciary duty to ensure our life savings are protected and that our pot of gold grows.  We should be ever vigilant about the trustees we put our money with.  

I recommend that you watch the movie “Rogue Trader” then contact your 401K people and make sure your savings are safe.  Banks only create money by using our money.  How well are they watching over yours?  Is someone minding the store are are the checks and balances crumbling as I write this?

It seems the banks have learned nothing since 1995.  Have you?

Hermene's N'Digo magazine cover article extolls the virtues of Alexis Levi-Scott, the world’s first Black woman owner, CEO and general manager of a professional male basketball team –– the Las Vegas Stars of the International Basketball League (IBL) Expansion Teams. “As a child, I’ve always known that I was going to be someone special. I was blessed with the gift of envisioning the future, so I knew something would happen,” recalls Alexis.

Don’t place her on the list of famous immortals yet, because just like many single Black mothers today, Alexis is a hard worker. A registered nurse for 14 years, this dedicated and devoted parent inspired her sons to play basketball and in return they inspired her to become more involved with their activities, which catapulted her greatest achievement thus far. 

Read the story about this incredible woman's journey to achievement of her destiny at  http://www.ndigo.com/coverstory.asp - Be sure to sign up for the N'Digo newsletter while you're there.  Tell them I sent you!