Many of the industry meetings I attend that address workforce issues include discussions about the struggles between the various generational groups -- the Boomers, Gen Y's, Gen X's and so forth. This essay at BusinessWeek.com lists 10 reasons people in Generation X don't like corporate life; Tammy Erickson's thoughts are worth discussing. At least two thoughts come to my mind.
First, Erickson says that many Xers are planning to leave their corporate jobs "to start entrepreneurial ventures or work for small companies." She writes that as if it is a problem. It's not! Corporate employment is good for many people, but no one should assume it is a fit for everyone. In fact, I believe most people would do far better in smaller company environments or entrepreneurial settings. Although some large companies in America foster creativity, most of the really creative thinking today is happening in small shops. It is easier for very large companies simply to buy out small companies than it is for many of them to come up with innovations on their own.
I have worked for two very large corporations over the course of a 25-year career. At both companies I had a very narrow job description which tapped only a small portion of my potential. I didn't last in either job for very long. In a small company, I have been required to do a little bit of everything. I am not saying that I have been good at everything, but I stretched myself in ways that I never would have been allowed at a large company. Plus, at a small company, if things go well, it is easy to take the credit, and if things go bad, I know I have no one to blame but myself. At the big company, often when things went well, someone else seemed to snag the credit but when problems arose somehow everyone always seemed to know to blame me.
My point here is not to rip on large companies because they offer great employment opportunities for many people. My point is that it is rediculous to think that large companies offer employment opportunities that are right for everyone. They don't, and no one should feel bad if they find themselves more comfortable, more productive and more creative in a small company environment.
My second observation about Erickson's article is that too much emphasis is placed on the importance of age. In most of the places where I have worked, there have been very accomplished younger folks and under-achieving older folks. Success in the workplace -- and the world at large -- is not so much about age as it is about drive, risk tolerance, perseverance, personal networking, competence, and creativity. Experience certainly counts for something, and experience frequently is a function of age. But it really doesn't do much good to pin the success of your career on your age and the age of your colleagues because that is completely out of your control. If you decide that your situation in life is entirely the result of things you can't control, then, of course, you will be miserable. Much better to focus on the things you can control.
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