The Truth About Unemployment and The Digital Divide

In 1970 Alvin Toffler's book, Future Shock warned us about our not too distant future. Both Heidi and Alvin Toffler's research revealed a future where the human race would not be able to keep up, or stay sane. More scary than amazing the resulting emotional pathos was entitled future shock (much like culture shock. Except in this world, you could never return to your culture of origin). From the pages of his book, comes a startling revelation...

“The illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those that cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

In this new world of Future Shock the adults would be displaced by the youth for several reasons:
1) The younger generations would be more employable due to their relationship with technology and their ability to rapidly discard old methodologies and 2) the old methods would be dying so quickly, mom and dad would be unable to keep up. Does any of this sound familiar?

According to the Toffler's research, in this fantastic future we would be facing a world where everything would become disposable, traditional values would become nonexistent and seasonality (experience) would actually become a burden. The equivalent of horse & buggy workers being displaced by the automobile one hundred years ago. How did those employees of the past reinvent themselves for an auto factory assembly-line?

In order to stay relevant and employable these days, a person must do the opposite of what made them successful all these years...namely get rid of knowledge hoarding. To stay up to date in this new world, one must discard old knowledge and replace it with new...consistently. Something Baby Boomers have trouble doing because we have been trained to memorize and use that knowledge to get ahead.  Gen Y on the other hand has had a lifetime of software upgrades. They are built to live in a constantly upgraded world.

If you are upset by Unemployment Benefits being extended you might want to wake up to a simple fact: as we get under full swing in the 21st Century, many Baby Boomers are unaware that their traditional skills are no longer in demand. Now, not all jobs will be influenced by technology - we still need waitresses and postal workers - but the jobs that matter have been automated with technological improvements. Shockingly much of the technology in use right now is simply not on a Baby Boomers radar! If you are 46 years old or older, the idea of the corner office, years of experience, higher salaries and a solid work ethic are simply not in demand. But Generation X & Y have skills that are in demand - skills they are born with.

This has created a gap in skill sets. A gap that
will keep many unemployable...permanently.

This gap is called The Digital Divide. Eerily, Alvin and Heidi Toffler's future is happening right now before our eyes. Check out this video...it should make things clearer.

The Digital Divide is growing wider yet many Baby Boomers I speak with don't see it. From Gen X, Gen Y, Millennials and now Net Gen, we have one generation after another that wants action, activity, engagement and creativity in their learning AND working environments. Yet Boomer bosses want them to sit in a cubicle for 8 hours a day.

On many a college campus tenured professors have no idea that their students are texting, blogging, twittering and playing Multi-player Online Games. They are sharing ideas. Boomers see this as playing instead of working. The Net Generations are using digital tools to collaborate, work and play...the teachers are not. Why does it matter? Well we need to teach young people how to use their intellect in this world while embracing the high-tech tools as that: TOOLS. We need to show them how to reason and how to see the bigger picture.

But more importantly for this article is the big question: what will employment look like in the future when half the population is using technology to get their work done and the rest are waiting for "the jobs" to return? And by the way, the job market is so bad for entry level positions that the unemployment rate for college graduates under the age of 25 is over 9 percent. What is about to happen is nothing short of a train wreck:

College graduates will be interviewing for the same jobs
as Baby Boomers with 40 years of experience!

Yes we can blame the economy, modern economic theories and outsourcing on much of this, but please do not confuse Unemployment with Welfare. People who are on unemployment were fired. Some in the middle of a quarter century of employment at the same company not knowing that loyalty is dead. These were hard working people that were let go, laid off or simply phased out. Many were let go because computers have automated their jobs. Others, because their jobs were moved overseas.

And what is worse is Baby Boomers that are losing their jobs may NOT have the skills to successfully transition into new positions being created right now. As I point out in the pages of my book Liquid Leadership...

Millions of jobs have been phased out over the past ten years because they are no longer relevant. Key positions have become extinct, relics of the twentieth century, because the technology and methodologies they supported no longer exist. At the same time, there is a misalignment between those losing their jobs and the newly created jobs. This misalignment between jobs lost and jobs created exists because the skill sets don’t line up. This is leaving millions of unemployed workers wondering what to do next, unaware that all they need is training to fill key positions in high-growth sectors like Green jobs or robotic repair.

Any sharp entrepreneur can see that there is a golden opportunity to build a training company to reposition the unemployed for the demands of a high tech job. This type of job training can’t be found in college. It’s just a matter of how the reeducation process gets actualized.

Being able to learn faster is the key to success in the twenty-first century. This means you must have not only the capacity to pick things up quickly but also the openness to let go of old methodologies while embracing new ones. Knowledge sharing works well when confronted with speed learning to learn, unlearn, and relearn in record time. Immersive learning has become the apprenticeship of the twenty-first century, and information driven entrepreneurs—infopreneurs—are making a killing teaching new methods of learning. Citizens of the Information Age must be dedicated to being lifelong learners."

- Liquid Leadership: From Woodstock to Wikipedia, page 58

Many who are still unemployed cannot find jobs because there aren't any in their chosen field or the same jobs were moved to emerging countries were a dozen workers can be had for the price of one American worker. To keep a paycheck coming in, many Boomers may have to downgrade their expectations and take an  entry level job. While at the same time, colleges are creating degrees in technologies that do not exist yet in anticipation of future needs. It may be time to upgrade those antiquated skills.

Like I said before, a smart entrepreneur could create a training service to help align skill sets. If only our current Presidential Administration were savvy enough to allocate money for retraining and college tuition instead of bank bailouts.

Currently our GDP is so low the rest of the world wonders if Americans actually work. Well as long as we manufacture nothing here in the US (except war machines and construction equipment for overseas companies), and we consistently overlook the need for retraining along with normalizing quantitative easing (inflating the money supply), foreign investors are staying clear of the United States for at least 5 more years.

In other worlds, there will be a larger unemployed population chasing fewer and fewer jobs. Many Boomers will have to start working at McDonald's to pay the bills as jobs will continue to be scarce. Additionally do not be surprised when local municipalities, State and Federal Pension plans cut back on that monthly check they promised to pay. Think that won't happen? Guess again.

Boomers and their higher salaries may not be in demand, but their experience is. It may be time to start that business you've always dreamed of, or go back to college or start consulting. And prepare yourself for the long haul. Self employed full-time independent consultants make on average 17% more than a salaried employee.


Thank you once again for reading....

Brad Szollose

If you are unemployed or facing the possibility that you'll be laid off soon, may I recommend a couple of great books?:

Ground of Your Own Choosing by Beverly Ryle

The idea of employment has changed dramatically yet most are still looking for jobs the old fashioned way - perfect resume, suit and tie, and answering a series of questions. How do you set yourself apart when you are competing against thousands of applicants from 24 - 48 years of age?  This book, if followed, will awaken you to the facts...we live in a different world. You need different tactics.

Free Agent Nation by Daniel Pink

Daniel Pink interviews "America's new independent workforce" and offers analysis of the "new economy" with advice on how to succeed in it. Pink examines facts and figures, explores the roots of increasing free agency, and considers the new work ethic, employment contract, and time clock it generates. He outlines the structure of free agent work and major disruptions (especially for involuntary free agents) and offers some predictions about how this new paradigm will affect institutional arrangements, including education, "e-tirement," real estate, finance, and politics.

Reverse Mentorship is a Great Idea...but NOT for the reasons you think

A few days ago I came across a great article on Reverse Mentorship by Erica Swallow at Mashable - an idea I point out in my new book Liquid Leadership - an idea whose time has come.

Why is Reverse Mentorship so important you may ask? 
This is type of mentoring is necessary in today's disruptive climate of change for many reasons. First, Reverse Mentorship is a great idea, but not so executives can learn how to use Twitter and Facebook, but because Generation Y is in touch with technology that just might put your company out of business.

Today, many a Baby Boomer (I am a Boomer myself) are out of touch with what is happening. Cynical business executives may not be aware of a simple phenomenon that is taking place right in front of them: their favorite brands are dying away. Brands like Fortunoff, The Sharper Image and K.B. Toys are shrinking or even disappearing. Much like Drive-In Movie Theaters became ghost towns, the local Mall is soon becoming one as well.

The reason many a Mall Brand is dying is they didn't realize that early on, The Internet was destroying their foot traffic. On top of that, many established brands assumed they had the same relationship with the real world consumer as they did with the Internet consumer. Au contraire! 

The new trend to capture our attention away from Internet shopping is the Mega Mall - complete with a built-in amusement park, giant theater, super food courts and a big time entertainment complex.

But what they may not realize either is that many of the billion dollar companies we are all going gaga over, were started by 20 somethings!

So as a Boomer you can continue to ignore the trend, seeing the young Millennial as a "kid" and suffer the consequences, or you can start listening to that Web designer.

You see, companies that are staying relevant in the 21st Century are adapting to new technology...technology that digital natives can't live without. Take a look at Kodak, a survivor. They adapted by acquiring young companies that were developing new products. Today, 50% of their 10 billion dollar revenue comes from products that did NOT exist 5 years ago. Products that a Baby Boomer may not be aware of that Generation Y uses every single day!

If you are a Baby Boomer and want to stay on top of your game, you need to get rid of that generational cynicism and listen. Millennials have a skill set you do not, and the jobs of the future require those skills.

Want to learn the hard way, or learn the easy way? Erica's article is right on track, we need to get rid of the "us" versus "them" mentality. Try a Reverse Mentorship program today.

Thank you for you time and interest in my work,

Brad Szollose

PS: Happy Thanksgiving 2010!!!

All of this is covered in my new book Liquid Leadership: From Woodstock to Wikipedia. Available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Amazon, as well as your favorite ereaders.

http://tinyurl.com/2aphkgq

5 Leadership Keys I Have Learned From the Martial Arts

At 45, through some serious prompting from my wife's 17-year old nephew, Sebastian, I decided to do something that most people my age would find a little risky - I enrolled in Shaolin Kempo Karate. Imagine a middle-aged, white belt with a propensity to be on the husky side (my Mom's words, not mine) and a sense of adventure standing amongst serious athletes ranging in age from 16 all the way up to 35.

A little bit intimidating to say the least, but I have a lifelong appreciation for the Martial Arts dating back to my first Bruce Lee movie. In the early 70s I was able to see them in an actual theater, and never missed an episode of Kung Fu. My father and I didn't bond over baseball or football, we watched David Carradine wander through the Old American West. If you are my age, you are probably thinking, yes I remember Kung Fu. But why in the hell would you want to enroll in an MMA class at your age?

Either that or you are thinking I am like John Favreau when appearing on Friends announced to Courtney Cox (after buying her a "ring") that he wanted to be an Ultimate Fighter. Happy to say, I am not that delusional.

The answer is simple: to me life is an adventure - to be explored, to learn from and to experience. As Dylan Thomas said ... "do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." And no matter how many years I have on planet earth, I plan on always kicking it up a notch. Life is meant to be lived.

But surprisingly, entering a Dojo taught me so much more than learning how to pummel my opponent - it taught me some serious leadership lessons that I would like to share. It is about discipline and persistence. It is about giving 100% every time. So here goes...

1. Leadership Focuses On a Singular Vision
The big hot button these days is Change Management, yet Jim Collins in his ground breaking book Good to Great points out that Level 5 Leaders do not focus on change - they focus on the goals for the vision they've established.

In Karate we learn that no matter how impossible something may seem today, we are given glimpses from the Masters as to what is possible in each of us. There are no multiple directions or agendas, just one goal. They hold in their consciousness a very powerful singular vision for us...to become a Black Belt.

If you had told me a year ago that I would be able to flip a 250 pound man with ease I would have told you, you're dreaming. Yet over time, with enough technique and the guidance of those that have gone ahead of me, I too have learned that all things are possible.

As a leader, you just need to point the way and set up the training to get everyone believing they can get there as well. It's not magic it's a form of coaching. But a leader's vision must be believable to be achievable and most importantly, engaging to your people on an emotional level. With out vision there is no direction and without a direction, the next 4 Leadership Keys are a waste of time.

So when shaping a vision, ask yourself ...will this vision be as exciting to others as it is to me? Is it a worthwhile trip to make? Is this something that is long term or short term? Asking serious questions will bring about a very serious and exciting vision for your company. After all, people who are fired up about something are unstoppable.

2. Leadership is About Alignment
When first entering a Dojo beginners like myself, are shown the basics, then paired up with an opponent. Usually this is someone who isn't too much more advanced and this is done for 2 reasons: First the slightly more advanced student is encouraged to teach what they know so far, to pass on their knowledge base, while at the same time getting a challenging workout from a newbie. Eventually, the class rotates and a new comer gets to work with higher ranks including Black Belts.

I've been a part of this same type of training in the pharmaceutical industry for over 25 years. An experienced sales rep sits in training sessions with newer less seasoned reps to pass on their knowledge and seasoned sales experience. Teaching what you know will make the subject an innate part of your subconscious mind while immersing your students into the nuances of the business. Q&A is encouraged. This type of mentorship training assures that every individual in an organization is aligned with the same vision, purpose and abilities while opening up the lines of communication for individual improvement. It is the dynamics of a 1:1 mentorship and training program that will help your organization achieve alignment.

But remember, this type of training is not about training from the top of an organization down - it's about training from the bottom up - a plus factor in today's competitive market. Total alignment to a company's mission needs to be on everyone's mind from the mail room to the board room.

I have a theory that Management is The Last To Know® because they are in the habit of commanding rather than listening. Listening and respecting the fact that people on the front lines of your company just might know the business better than the top executives is scary to most - especially after years of business schooling. But don't let hubris stand in the way...your sales reps on the front lines everyday in the center of the action may understand the forces changing your industry. They see what, when and why changes take place sometimes years before the board of directors can see it.

Remember your history - the greatest generals listened to their soldiers on the front lines with candor and emotional intelligence. Your job as a leader is to not react to the information you are getting from the front lines of your business but to create a strategy that will win the day and get everyone on board. Aligning everybody in an organization in the same direction is like looking down the shaft of an arrow. It is focused and in line with the target. Simple huh?

3. Leadership Sets Simple, Achievable Goals
It can be intimidating to see a Black Belt jump up in the air and kick over someone's head, but most of us understand that with enough time, dedication and training, you too can be doing these amazing feats of agility. As we say in the martial arts, "A Black Belt is a White Belt who never gave up."

Fear and intimidation melt away replaced with knowledge and technique. By setting small achievable goals for teams as well as individuals, an organization will become a place where talent is encouraged and developed. Since your vision is emotionally engaging from Leadership Key #1, everything your organization does will stem from the singular goal. By developing and encouraging people you are nurturing a productive environment.

When employees find their workplace challenging they don't want to leave. Goal setting is a start at retaining talent and by setting small achievable goals, many will not notice but over time, those small goals add up to very large achievements. A journey of a thousand steps begins with the first step.

4. Leadership is About Picking and Nurturing Talent
In any organization eventually someone will stand out for their natural abilities. A leader's job is to keep watch for the best and the brightest and pave the way for their future. In Karate the Sensei looks to see your strength and weaknesses. One may be strong in kicking abilities because of their long legs, while someone with shorter legs is better suited for strikes and grappling. This is an individual thing.

Same within an organization. A friend of mine who is a small business owner, realized that one of his top employees, although hired to give presentations, wasn't very good at people skills. He could talk all that tech talk, but he couldn't feel out the direction a meeting was taking and therefore missed a lot of cues to finish up or make his presentation more exciting. Yet he was an integral part of the team.

What my friend began to see was this young man was an incredible writer and decided to re-purpose him for proposals. He didn't eliminate him from pitch meetings he just nurtured his innate abilities - which coincidentally enabled the company to land larger projects.

Spotting and nurturing talent is essential to your organizations health. But don't get bogged down at what you "think" of an individual - look at the skills they bring to the table...skills they may not realize they have. Try to re-purpose people according to their natural abilities.

Bad leaders are threatened by talented individuals. Over time, unbeknownst to themselves, they make the road harder for their employees. Many in the workforce may quit, only to have amazing careers somewhere else, while the dysfunctional leader can't understand why they did so well at another company.

On the other hand, evolved leaders don't make the way easier, but provide the knowledge, the training and point out the stepping stones along the way. These types of leaders are secure in their positions and welcome new talent with open arms, knowing that with enough time, training and experience, this individual deserves to stand in the same winners circle. They respect each and every individual's contribution to their organization.

I'd like to point out something else that I've learned from the Martial Arts - women are treated as equals in the Dojo, just as capable of achieving the same ranks as men. There is nothing that will get that across easier than the first time you face a female Black Belt. I remember lying on the ground looking up wondering what just happened. The training is the same, and the expectations are the same.

To some, this may be intimidating. To the women at my Dojo, it has made them strong and confident. Business could learn a thing or two about equality from the martial arts.

People don't leave bad companies; they leave companies with bad management. Be an evolved leader, it saves a lot of time and energy, and helps retain your best talent.

5. Leadership Rewards Those That Earn It
I recently passed a belt test. It was grueling as usually - 2 hours of intense cardio, testing on skills and knowledge of combinations, grappling, sparring and take downs. It is designed to break you mentally and physically. But when you pass, you are rewarded with your next rank. But I also began to realize that if a Sensei is watching closely over time, and monitors your progress properly, then no one is picked for a belt test unless they are ready for the next rung of responsibility.

In other words, before someone takes the physical test, the Sensei notices that they are operating at that level already. No one receives something they haven't earned in the Martial Arts. If you hand out trophies for every little thing, then those awards become meaningless. When someone achieves a promotion the hard way (by earning it), there is no doubt or favoritism.

Recently I read an article where most employees don't care about making a million dollars...they just want recognition for their contributions. By rewarding those that earn their way and reach their goals, a leader creates a sense of healthy competition that can kick your organization up to another level. It doesn't have to be fancy - a monetary award, or a plaque for best problem solver or more responsibility and a raise. Rewarding those that earn their way is part of nurturing talent.

None of these 5 Leadership Keys are even possible without one last secret: and that is an environment where it is safe to tell the truth. Not bickering or back-biting but an environment where someone can stand up in the middle of the room and tell it like it is... "It isn't the recession that hurt us, it is that fact that we don't make exciting, innovative products anymore" or "we haven't listened and responded to what our customers are telling us they want." 

We aren't managing in a vacuum, and as the global economy gets bumpy, it becomes tempting to return to the old ways of management - but keeping the lines of communication open and nurturing an environment of truth is far more important than hierarchy and micro-management. It is easy to run a company during an era of prosperity, but the real business warriors can manage in any environment.

Two years ago I attended my nephew Sebastian's pre-Black Belt exam over. There were 10 people who were being considered...yet at the end of the evening it was apparent that one young man was not ready, and he was pulled aside to face the truth. It wasn't personal, it wasn't because he didn't know his stuff. It was the truth...he wasn't operating at the level of a Black Belt. He knew what he was doing it's just that his movements were labored as if he was trying to remember each combination for the first time.

The unusual part is the 3 Masters and 4 Sensei's present didn't discount him from the exam. Instead they laid out a course of action. The test wasn't for another 2 months, so if he worked hard, the goal might be in his grasp.

2 months later there he stood alongside my nephew, a Black Belt around his waste and tears in his eyes. He did it because he had a vision, spent 5 years aligning himself to that vision, with the right teachers to nurture him and small achievable goals, he was rewarded with the rank of Black Belt.

But now the real work begins as first through fifth degrees of Black Belt status means one must train with a different energy and discipline. He is now a leader...a teacher...a role model. Just like in business. Masters are the Board of Directors and Black Belts are like the executives in an organization...looking for those that want to stand in the winners circle.

Ironically the Martial Arts aren't so much about fighting as they are about discipline and balance of mind, body and spirit. The same within your organization. If the body of your company is out of balance, in other words, you are not retaining talent, then your company is going nowhere fast. If the spirit is off, as in morale, then your company isn't going to move forward as well. If the mind is not functioning, or the knowledge isn't being shared, then a company has no direction.

There are some experiences I cannot put into words, but if you follow my 5 Keys I believe you too can achieve a Black Belt in leadership.

Join a Dojo near you and see what I am talking about.

Thank you for reading,

Brad Szollose

Brad Szollose is the author of Liquid Leadership: From Woodstock to Wikipedia – Multigenerational Management Ideas That Are Changing The Way We Run Things 

For more info, or coaching, go to http://bradszollose.com

Former Dot Com IPO Boomer Brad Szollose, is an award winning leadership strategist, author and professional speaker who shows executives and entrepreneurs how to operate in the Information Age.
Come see the gang from my Dojo on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=56268037916&ref=ts

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