Paying it Forward: Hero is a trait
Hero isn’t in any job title. Hero is a trait. Many of us are unknown heroes to others. Walk tall, someone's is watching. You make an impact, unseen and silent.
Hero isn’t in any job title. Hero is a trait. Remember how you’ll be remembered.
One way is often stories left behind. Some are well known, experienced wide and far by others who crossed the hero’s path. Some heroes’ names are on buildings or included in an organization’s name as recognition of their impact.
But what of family? My brother saw my dad as a hero who, ‘stood on the tracks facing threats for his family.’
Our father, an engineering manager, declined a job offer received while his three sons were middle and high school students. As a widower, we wood have all needed to relocate to St. Louis at once.
Dad moved several times as his father, a college professor, relocated. He chose for his three sons to finish in one public school system. The company’s business weakened as war in Vietnam ended. Dad downsized his team of fifty aerospace engineers to a few; then was downsized.
When workers were plentiful as during my father’s and my careers, employers had the power. Job seekers relocated as required.
Today’s workforce has different options. Work from home, while frequently not an employer’s first choice, is a requirement for many job seekers.
But as job openings drop, employers regain some bargaining power. But employer power over hiring will be short lived in the face of a retiring, aging workforce.
In fact, 16% are over 60 as summarized below from US Census Bureau Population Survey. Note most US employees retire about 61. Millennials are planning their futures.
Generation Birth years # Millions % Workforce
Millennials born 1981-2000 59.81 36%
Gen X born 1965-1980 51.39 31%
Gen Z born 2001-2020 29.24 18%
Boomers born 1945-1964 25.1 15%
Silent Gen born 1928-1947 1.16 1%
2023 Workforce 166.70
Is this good news or bad news? Read the detailed report from Lightcast: https://www.datocms-assets.com/62658/1726526804-the_rising_storm_lightcast_final.pdf
If you are an employer, then keep tuning your message towards Millennials, Gen X, Gen Y as well as Gen Z, born 1997-2012, and Gen Alpha, born 2012-2025. Focus on generalities in job advertising. After hiring, train new hires well and count on dealing with weak life-skills, ghosting and turnover.
If you are a non-profit, can you connect with retires? They are highly skilled volunteers who could make a difference and are hard workers.
What’s your message?
Steve Jobs, one of my heroes, said to John Sculley, CEO of Pepsi, ‘Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or come with me and change the world?’
Share your heroes with others. Until my brother shared last month, I’d not heard my dad’s heroism!
Published in Trends section, Wichita Falls Times Record News, Sunday Nov 10th
Jack Browne
is a community volunteer and former technology sales and marketing executive who worked 40 years at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies. How are the children doing?