Outside the Cube: Blog #1

A younger generation is entering the workforce and setting a new standard of “professional-corporate norms.”

Generation Y is “shifting” into the corporate world in droves and bringing along a radically-new mindset about employee benefits and overall office culture. These fresh-out-of-college, goal-oriented “twenty-somethings” are outfitted with an inherent technological understanding, a desire to make an immediate impact and a need for flexibility in their work-life balance. But this is proving to be a tricky shift for conventional managers akin to the traditional ideals of this new generation’s predecessors.

The résumé “red flags” of previous generations (for example, having multiple employers within a few year span or taking time off to travel) are no longer an issue for these corporate newbies, and that’s why more than half of them head back home after graduating college for a support cushion of time to choose the job they truly desire.

“Millennials” want to make sure they don’t repeat the perceived “mistakes” of their parents by working long hours for a less-than-meaningful purpose at the expense of family, friends and personal pursuits. They overwhelmingly want to work for a cause, and are more apt to choose a job based on a company’s volunteer opportunities or community outreach efforts than ever before.

While the Millennials are coming in with new expectations, they also bring along the attributes that many employers not only desire, but ultimately need. Confidence, goals, positive attitudes and a higher rate of advanced education are the building blocks of incredible opportunities for both employer and employee, and that’s why this generation is becoming so sought after.

The obstacle most corporations will now face is how to shape their organizations to not only attract these new job hunters, but to retain them as well.

As one of the 70-plus million Millennials entering the workforce, I never really thought about the over-arching “new” job-oriented desires of my generation until recently. I thought it was just me who passed up the higher-compensating positions for a close-knit working environment, a certain location (New York City), and of course, Summer Fridays.

But what do you think? What are some of the perks of your job, or some of the perks you wish would be implemented? Or as an employer of Gen Y’ers, what types of programs/benefits do you have in place to attract and retain this new generation of workers?

Posted by Wally Koval

GUEST BLOG: ABM's Spring Meeting 2008

“How would you like to spend a few days in Palm Springs?,” my husband asked with a smile. “We could play tennis, bike, hike, swim...”

“Let me get a dog sitter and I’ll dig my summer clothes out of the cedar closet,” I replied. The capris and tank tops hadn’t been unearthed for 7 months! I was also suffering from a severe lack of sunshine and vitamin D. I’m sure other Midwestern ABM convention attendees may have had similar thoughts. It had been a long, cold Minnesota winter so I had an immediate appreciation for this new group of colleagues and their thoughtful planning.

As the wife of a business owner, I have had thirty years of experience networking with potential business partners across the country. In the past, I have often felt like an unnecessary ornament or an inconvenient fifth wheel.  This trip was different.

Designed to embrace spouses, every effort was made to help us feel welcomed, involved and necessary. Our presence and participation was encouraged. Whether it was a seminar, an organized sporting activity or a cocktail party, nothing was off limits.

This convention review is being written through the eyes of a newcomer and is less of a critique than a thank you.

Our introduction to the group began with a lovely al fresco reception. Butlered hors d’oeuvres and endless cocktails helped ease the newcomer jitters. Despite the strong breezes, we enjoyed mingling with board members, old timers, speakers and other inductees.

The elaborate dinner that followed allowed for more in-depth conversations with our table mates. Cards were exchanged and we lingered until the tables were folded.

The series of events that were carefully planned over the next few days bear highlighting. The second evening included a huge taco feed on the patio of the clubhouse. The atmosphere was festive with the jazzy sounds of an extremely talented musician who soundly created a one man show. Without a doubt, the stargazing was spectacular! The telescopes had an amazing 250x magnification that zeroed in on Saturn and its rings. It was such a breathtaking site; some of us had trouble believing it was real! It was a unique treat to see Saturn, Mars, the Northern Star and other celestial delights while singing the theme song from The Jetsons!

By the next day, we had firmly established new friendships (thank you Sue and Andy and Jim and Julie). We bonded at the pool and felt like old friends at dinner. This final evening was indeed a classy event. The Jumbo Tron screen flashed recent memories alongside the starry night rolling backdrop. Ah, once the music began, it was like prom 1973, “Color my World,” all over again!

                                     

I can’t wait for our next rendezvous! Where exactly is Amelia Island?

Posted by Jodi Laliberte

GUEST BLOG: New Paths to Success - A New Member's View

Internet Production, Inc. joined American Business Media in January. I attended its Digital Velocity conference and found it to be a great source of ideas and contacts. So when I learned about the ABM Spring Meeting and saw that it was in Palm Desert, I asked my wife Jodi if she would like to go. We live in Minnesota and had a normally cold winter. We had not seen a 90-degree day in 9 months. It took her about 10 seconds to agree. We were not disappointed. The La Quinta resort was simply amazing. 

                                    

The conference began with a reception and dinner. I really appreciated the new member dinner. We were warmly welcomed. I sat next to David G. Nichols, who is a lawyer active with ABM. I am very interested in helping the Association protect a publisher’s right to deliver editorial publications through e-mail. David was very helpful and pointed me in the right direction. I met several other members and I was provided an escort by ABM to make sure I was properly cared for.

                                       

The sessions on Monday were great. I appreciate how ABM brings in speakers that represent our customers. I live in the digital world. Often the focus is on new technology and new ideas. The session featuring Edward Abrams, VP of Marketing at IBM was priceless. Listening to his needs for an integrated approach to Internet publishing will influence our product roadmap. It was even more meaningful because I met him at the cocktail reception the night before. He is a nice guy and lives near my sister in New York.

The lunch speaker was Dr. Joseph Kasputys, a world famous economist. I have not seen Joe since 1984 at McGraw-Hill. He ran DRI/McGraw-Hill and we shared a data center. His take on the economy is that Q3 will improve and Q4 will be weak. His main concern was the Chinese economy and if it could sustain its rapid growth.

Monday evening featured a wonderful dinner at the golf club. I had a chance to catch up with my good friend Alec Dann, who runs the Internet publishing for Hanley Wood magazines online. Alec taught me a great deal when we worked together at PostNewsweek Tech Media. He has a solid understanding of Internet publishing and a good track record of consistent sales growth. Monday evening was topped off by stargazing. The view of Saturn was so good that for a moment I thought they had inserted a picture into the telescope.

Tuesday featured more great sessions and the lunch featured some heavy hitters from Google and Ogilvy who provided good insights on the evolution of interactive marketing. I must confess that on Tuesday afternoon, I attended the poolside session that featured much-needed sun and a long overdue swim.

The evening dinner and dancing was wonderful. Jodi loves to dance and we kicked it up until my feet hurt. We are looking forward to Amelia Island next year. Here is a nifty planning guide to learn about the resort: http://www.golfvacationinsider.com/issues/golfvacationinsider/Florida_golf_vaca.

Posted by Steve Laliberte
Internet Production, Inc.

Is Digital News Making Us More Ignorant?

I recently came across the term “news fatigue” while perusing the daily headlines during my morning commute. This was the only story I chose to read in full that morning, and its content coincidentally confirmed I’m not alone in my tendency to let just headlines and article snippets define my news knowledge more often than not.

Last year, the Associated Press commissioned the Context-Based Research Group to conduct a study analyzing the news consumption patterns of an ethnically-diverse group of 18 men and women between the ages of 18 and 34 in six major cities around the globe.

Long story short: Young adults say they’re experiencing “news fatigue,” feeling inundated by facts, constant updates and snippets of news, but finding it difficult to access quality or in-depth stories. The study’s prologue states that “newspapers, scheduled broadcasts and even Web sites are giving way to a chaotic system of self-aggregation that is producing disappointing results” for both news producers and consumers.

The study (full version here) also found that participants were unable to devote full attention to the news because of the tendency to multi-task and engage oneself in other activities simultaneously. For example, the predominant use of Web-based e-mail services like Yahoo, MSN and AOL has likely ingrained a habit for checking e-mail alongside the news. “However, the small doses of news in e-mail formats mostly failed to deliver the deeper content that might have produced a richer and more rewarding experience.” Gone it seems are the days of sitting down to watch the evening news or read the morning paper. And I for one am a guilty party.

Ultimately, the findings helped AP design a new model for news delivery to meet the needs of young adults today. This new model includes “1-2-3 filing,” which starts with a breaking news alert headline, followed by a short present-tense story for Web or broadcasting use, and then the addition of details and formatting most appropriate for various news platforms. Editors are optimistic this new model will boost readership and result in a more holistic understanding of the content.

How/when do you consume your news?

Posted by Kate Patton