Do Millennials Have a Work Ethic? Yes, They Can Do Hard Things

Yes – everyone has a work ethic.

But many employers claim that millennials (or Generation Y), those in their early 30s and below, have “no work ethic.”  They don’t want to show up on time, stay until closing, and do the things that need to be done unprompted and without direct supervision.

My high school son works at Five Guys restaurant with a young man in his early 30s who lives at home with mom and dad, can’t drive because he has lost his license, attended college, but is clearly underemployed.  Some would blame this on the government, some on the economy, and others on his lack of motivation.

Enter Do Hard Things, a book written by millennials to millennials urging them to rise above low expectations and accomplish what matters.  One friend told us that her college daughter had decided to minor in French because she was inspired to do the hard thing.  Her friends had urged her to take the easy path and not to tackle the language courses that might challenge her, but she persevered and spent part of this past summer in West Africa speaking French as she volunteered at a mission hospital.

So this Labor Day, let’s celebrate hard work, discipline, and the hope that no generation is beyond an exemplary work ethic when they are inspired to accomplish great things.  Here’s to helping our children Do Hard Things (click on the title to be taken to Amazon to read more about the book or to order it for your millennials).

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