April 09, 2014
As a Gen X’er, I was born in 1969 and as a youth my generation gave birth to the term “latch key” kids as more single parent households headed by Mom and dual-working families existed than any previous generation. Perhaps this explains the need for independence and the need for immediate self-gratification and constant change in all that us Gen X’ers do. Like many Gen X’ers I love my technology (I have iPhone, iPod, iPad, iMac, Wii, Roku, LED tvs, etc, etc.,.). I work to live, in simple sense, my work enables me to have the quality of life, I enjoy – having vacations that take me places as opposed to staycations – having a home I enjoy and look forward coming home to after a long day.
In just about three months (July 2014), I complete thirty, yes thirty years working for not only the same organization, but the same local association of this great national organization. Yes, you read correctly, thirty, the big 3-0 years in one organization, one association. This is an accomplishment by any person in any generation but for a Gen X’er this is rarely, if unheard of. My generation is the first generation to forgo the value of loyalty to an employer, to take on another position which offers better salary and benefits without a second thought.
That very last sentence of the previous paragraph, loyalty to an employer, is where the difference between me and other Gen X’ers begins. My loyalty to the YMCA has been ridiculed by my closest friends that I am still waiting to grow up and take on a real job to scoffed by fellow co-workers of not wanting to venture out of my comfort zone. Let’s add I remained local for college and graduate school and didn’t leave home – but that’s a whole another story.
My closest friends, have taken all their best shots at me over the years. I’ve heard it all:
- “how do you expect to ever make more money if you don’t leave”
- “if they treated you better – you’d be in a better position now”
- “this new administration doesn’t respect your tenure and knowledge”
- “don’t you want to try something else?”
- “aren’t you bored?”
To answer all my friends, the answer to those questions:
- “I guess more money would be nice, but I live comfortably.”
- “I’m not sure this stage in my life, I want a ‘better’ position.”
- “Sometimes you just swallow your pride, other times you soar like an eagle.”
- “My many positions have exposed me to more than you can ever imagine.”
- “In my many years, I’ve never had a moment that I called boring.”
Then co-workers, were just as anxious to get their best shots. After a while the questions get stale, as the leadership changes, the questions don’t.
- “What do you want to really do?”
- “Are you happy with what you’re doing?”
- “What was your favorite position?”
- “What is your passion? What excites you?”
- “What kept you here so long?”
It’s hard not to keep a stiff upper lip and not respond in a ravenous, sarcastic tone to anyone who asks these questions, but particularly held true to co-workers. I try to smile, knowing it is not their fault they’ve not had this great opportunity I was offered.
- “I am where I need to be now – making a difference here – now.”
- “I am content, sometimes it was just not content rather who my boss was.”
- “All my positions had more positives than negatives and cannot just pick one.”
- “My passion is to ignite the spark in all that I do, and excites me when it spreads.”
- “My life just got in the way, this was the reward of a curve ball thrown at me.”
As leaders give tours of our office, many are paraded around in a show and tell of our organization’s history and our future, there’s always seems to be a stop by my office (I often feel like the freak behind the curtain at the local carnival that you pay $1 to see) to certainly be asked,
- “how long have you been here”,
- “how old were you when you started”
- “what were the various positions have you’ve done over the years.”
Please, don’t assume this as I think of this as a negative experience; as the only thing negative is others don’t get to enjoy the same glorious recognition and the redundancy in answering questions, as its always fascinating to each group touring that someone has stood the test of time. I find it equally fascinating watching their reaction to when I answer the questions.
- “In July 2014 it will be been 30 years.”
- “14.”
- “In general, Programs, IT, Grants, Fundraising, Executive, Payroll, Benefits, etc.”
I, unofficially, have gained the title of C.U.P., I am the association Chief Utility Player. I manage to have been blessed with the ability to learn the mechanics in whatever I am thrown into quickly adapt to my environment and make the best of it. Or even had some great leaders who allowed me to define my own position in implementing much needed programs or services as seen necessary. As a Gen X’er the ability to have a diverse, flexible, challenging work environment has always allowed me to thrive in almost every situation I’ve held. The title, C.U.P. I pretty much gave myself, as I’ve only taken one position by choice as a promotion, the remaining have always been moved to new challenges by staff senior then myself. I believe it has become, “Let’s see if Robert can do it.”
The challenge was not how to keep me stimulated throughout my years but the ability to tap my wealth of knowledge, skills and abilities to benefit the organization as a whole. I wholeheartedly believe as each new administration comes in, they part their leadership, values and the path we take and once they move on, they, too have left their legacy for the next to do repeat the same. I’ve been through countless changes and realized the only thing changing is change. Over the years many faces, direction and leadership have come and go, however; it’s the steadfast and stable survivors left to inform our new leadership of our past. As a Gen X’er, I truly believe I’ve been blessed with a great diverse career that can put most high level executives to shame. I remain humble to my beginnings and take ownership of my career journey.
With the support and blessings of my awesome parents, my adopted mothers (those wonderful women in my life who look out for me), great mentors (those great men who still stand tall when I look up) and cherished friends all egged me on to begin to document my life at the YMCA. In one way or another, this blog and my MacBook Air (back to my love of technology), resulted in the birth of YMEJOURNEY. It is my hope, to many of the questions above will be answered in future posts and share my ride of a lifetime in the roller coaster of my career.
In just about three months (July 2014), I complete thirty, yes thirty years working for not only the same organization, but the same local association of this great national organization. Yes, you read correctly, thirty, the big 3-0 years in one organization, one association. This is an accomplishment by any person in any generation but for a Gen X’er this is rarely, if unheard of. My generation is the first generation to forgo the value of loyalty to an employer, to take on another position which offers better salary and benefits without a second thought.
That very last sentence of the previous paragraph, loyalty to an employer, is where the difference between me and other Gen X’ers begins. My loyalty to the YMCA has been ridiculed by my closest friends that I am still waiting to grow up and take on a real job to scoffed by fellow co-workers of not wanting to venture out of my comfort zone. Let’s add I remained local for college and graduate school and didn’t leave home – but that’s a whole another story.
My closest friends, have taken all their best shots at me over the years. I’ve heard it all:
- “how do you expect to ever make more money if you don’t leave”
- “if they treated you better – you’d be in a better position now”
- “this new administration doesn’t respect your tenure and knowledge”
- “don’t you want to try something else?”
- “aren’t you bored?”
To answer all my friends, the answer to those questions:
- “I guess more money would be nice, but I live comfortably.”
- “I’m not sure this stage in my life, I want a ‘better’ position.”
- “Sometimes you just swallow your pride, other times you soar like an eagle.”
- “My many positions have exposed me to more than you can ever imagine.”
- “In my many years, I’ve never had a moment that I called boring.”
Then co-workers, were just as anxious to get their best shots. After a while the questions get stale, as the leadership changes, the questions don’t.
- “What do you want to really do?”
- “Are you happy with what you’re doing?”
- “What was your favorite position?”
- “What is your passion? What excites you?”
- “What kept you here so long?”
It’s hard not to keep a stiff upper lip and not respond in a ravenous, sarcastic tone to anyone who asks these questions, but particularly held true to co-workers. I try to smile, knowing it is not their fault they’ve not had this great opportunity I was offered.
- “I am where I need to be now – making a difference here – now.”
- “I am content, sometimes it was just not content rather who my boss was.”
- “All my positions had more positives than negatives and cannot just pick one.”
- “My passion is to ignite the spark in all that I do, and excites me when it spreads.”
- “My life just got in the way, this was the reward of a curve ball thrown at me.”
As leaders give tours of our office, many are paraded around in a show and tell of our organization’s history and our future, there’s always seems to be a stop by my office (I often feel like the freak behind the curtain at the local carnival that you pay $1 to see) to certainly be asked,
- “how long have you been here”,
- “how old were you when you started”
- “what were the various positions have you’ve done over the years.”
Please, don’t assume this as I think of this as a negative experience; as the only thing negative is others don’t get to enjoy the same glorious recognition and the redundancy in answering questions, as its always fascinating to each group touring that someone has stood the test of time. I find it equally fascinating watching their reaction to when I answer the questions.
- “In July 2014 it will be been 30 years.”
- “14.”
- “In general, Programs, IT, Grants, Fundraising, Executive, Payroll, Benefits, etc.”
I, unofficially, have gained the title of C.U.P., I am the association Chief Utility Player. I manage to have been blessed with the ability to learn the mechanics in whatever I am thrown into quickly adapt to my environment and make the best of it. Or even had some great leaders who allowed me to define my own position in implementing much needed programs or services as seen necessary. As a Gen X’er the ability to have a diverse, flexible, challenging work environment has always allowed me to thrive in almost every situation I’ve held. The title, C.U.P. I pretty much gave myself, as I’ve only taken one position by choice as a promotion, the remaining have always been moved to new challenges by staff senior then myself. I believe it has become, “Let’s see if Robert can do it.”
The challenge was not how to keep me stimulated throughout my years but the ability to tap my wealth of knowledge, skills and abilities to benefit the organization as a whole. I wholeheartedly believe as each new administration comes in, they part their leadership, values and the path we take and once they move on, they, too have left their legacy for the next to do repeat the same. I’ve been through countless changes and realized the only thing changing is change. Over the years many faces, direction and leadership have come and go, however; it’s the steadfast and stable survivors left to inform our new leadership of our past. As a Gen X’er, I truly believe I’ve been blessed with a great diverse career that can put most high level executives to shame. I remain humble to my beginnings and take ownership of my career journey.
With the support and blessings of my awesome parents, my adopted mothers (those wonderful women in my life who look out for me), great mentors (those great men who still stand tall when I look up) and cherished friends all egged me on to begin to document my life at the YMCA. In one way or another, this blog and my MacBook Air (back to my love of technology), resulted in the birth of YMEJOURNEY. It is my hope, to many of the questions above will be answered in future posts and share my ride of a lifetime in the roller coaster of my career.
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