Traditional to Millennial

In my 36 years of life, I have worked for trade, knowledge and of course dinero for 28 of those years. Possibly even more if you count collecting empties from the vacant lot to cash in a couple bucks to buy some 5 cent candies at the convenience store. Through my experience I have walked many paths and met many peoples. I have worked for, under, alongside and independently with colleagues and employers through the multiple positions I have experienced. Which is indicative to everyone’s working journey.  

I have traveled a path of animal care, farm work and animal control. To working positions as a gym attendant, to a facility cleaner, to groundskeeper. Leading into landscaping and as I like to call it garden inspecting… Then transitioning into the welding industry. Where I have experienced skilled labor, research and development, shop supervision and maintenance. As well as, education individually and supportive to post-secondary facilities and educators. 

Through my experience I have encountered some of the folly that is present in the traditional practices of employment.

I have experienced situations of downright disrespect with offensive discriminatory language and level of projected vocal volume. So much so, I resigned. Due to an understanding that I will not be treated in such ways. Where the treatment actually had nothing to do with the employer whatsoever but with a customer of the employer. This experience I’m reminiscing on, I believe I was 12 or 13 years of age working for money at an equine facility. This was probably one of my first experiences with reverse ageism. This doesn’t represent the employer fully. However, it does when an employer allows customers to berate employees all in the name of profit. 

From there, let’s transition into mentioning experience working with animal control and care. Where, a rift between the shifts demonstrated favouritism to the offspring of the employer. Where blame for inactivity was placed on the drowning part-time support staff. Instead of the full-time positions being accountable. 

Moving along to working as a cleaner for an educational facility. Being looked at funny for having the ability to work as hard as my male counterparts. To being asked to walk ahead of the upper management so that his view could be improved…

To missing out on a few years of employment in the landscaping field due to comparison to someone else’s work ethic. To later breaking through and being considered one of the company’s valued employees. 

I have also been met with ultimatums regarding credentials.   

From there moving into a career as a welding technician and technologist. Where experiences of sexism and reverse agism has crept through occasionally. Where peers have mocked my knowledge and quest to learn. Where, customers have identified me as being inferior as a young female. Where colleagues have directly admonished millennials to me… 

With all this not even considering my work as a mother. As well as, the discrimination towards being a teen mother, to a “bastard” child that was ever so eloquently put to me once. 

All of the above topics that I never really analyzed but grew from. I just brushed them off as ignorance. That each experience is meant to help growth. Whether, it’s fully understood or not, but understanding that growth is there. 

Each moment on the path builds towards the present and potential future. 

That all experiences lead to a greater understanding of who you are, what your purpose is and where you are going in this world.  

With all of that I want to discuss the traditional employment model compared to a social marketing entrepreneur model. 

Have you been on social media lately? Have you seen or heard about  a ton of multi-level marketing entrepreneurs? Maybe some of them have reached out to you? 

To me it’s so beautiful to see everyone out there spreading light and love. Influencing, sharing, learning to walk their path. 

I have to say my first experience with social marketing was years ago. This is not new…

Many cookies and meals have been enjoyed because of
Pampered Chef… 
And I have to holler at my girl Mary Kay…
Hook me up with a shake Arbonne…
Safely clean it up with Norwex…
Have a tea and relax with Sipology…
Style and bling with Stella and Dot…
Throw back to the 90s… Door to door Vacuum guy that sold the best vacuum I’ve ever used in my life… I was a kid, I don’t remember any of the details other than live living room demos. It worked great to my recollection. 
And
Brighten up with Color Street…

These are only a few of MLMs that come to mind as they have directly influenced moments in time on my path. 

Moments that I recall, filled with community and positivity. Some of my experiences have been in person, some have been online. 

With that, I want to speak directly to the online experience. The feeds that I see pertaining to MLM companies are filled with some bosses. Hard working entrepreneurs living life and sharing something that they love. Free from the restrictions that the traditional systematic employment provides.

I’m so grateful to listen to the positivity and see what amazing vibrant people are doing. What they have to offer, not just products, substance. Whether they are part-time, sometimes or big time they are doing a great job motivating and inspiring other people.

It’s fantastic. 

I love seeing people grabbing opportunities and running with them.  I am even involved with it. For the longest time I never thought that it was for me. I was so busy with my family, schooling, career and more. Following the traditional path that is expected from our societal pressures of what is supposedly the right path. But when things slowed down and I could focus on how influential MLM’s have been in my life, all I can do is smile. 

I smile because, I love the products and how they better my life and the lives of my family and friends. 

I smile because, I love that my purchases directly affect the pocketbook of people I know. 

I smiled because many of the products are produced in North America, keeping things in house…

I smile because some use recycled materials.

I smile because of the community.

I smile because of the positivity.

I smile because of the potential. 

I smile because, we live in the land of opportunity and every single entrepreneur out there is striving to shine. Whether it’s an MLM or personalized enterprise the light is bright.

I smile from the pride I feel in supporting my community, family and planet. 

I am proud of the companies I support and the amazing people my purchase directly affects.

I am proud we are reducing waste, removing toxic chemicals, saving money and time.  All things that are important to me and my family.

Many MLM companies are doing the same thing by creating quality products.  Moving away from harmful chemicals, finding more sustainable ways to live and enjoy this privileged life.

That’s not even mentioning the foundations and charities that are created and founded through many MLM companies… 

But like so many other things in this world there seems to be a stigma on social marketing. Which is beyond me, as many big brands have been feeding us a bunch of unhealthy unstudied bullshit for years. 

Oh sorry no, they fall within the law so they must be okay, right? 

Or they follow the newest fad…

This is a side effect of capitalism… Also, a portion of human nature and learning through cause and effect.

However, many don’t realize that just because an advertisement says it’s good, doesn’t actually mean it’s good. This can be simply seen through a child’s perspective. Whenever an advertisement comes up the kid thinks it’s the best thing since sliced bread… 

But when you get down to purchasing decisions, shouldn’t we know what we’re buying? 

Let’s talk about chemical cleaners. Are they the only way to clean??

Nope…

There are three cleaning methods out there, you probably know of them. I already mentioned chemical cleaning. What about cleaning with heat or thermal cleaning? Might have seen this with a steam cleaner. There’s a third cleaning method that I think we forget or aren’t even educated on. I wasn’t for the longest time. Mechanical cleaning, where you remove the problem. You don’t kill it or disinfect, you pick it up and dispose of it where you want it to go. Yes, that includes small things such as bacteria too… Before I was introduced to Norwex I never thought of what kind of harsh chemicals were in our laundry detergent… or household cleaning products. Harsh chemicals that can absorb through our skin within seconds. Did you know that 200 different chemicals have been found in the cord blood of newborns?[1]

How’s it getting there? We put it on ourselves. We slather it on our bodies, or ingest it through our food, breathe in our polluted air and so on. 

Do you really know what’s in all the self-care products you use?

I tell you one thing, I love that we have found a way to remove all soaps and body wash products. But still able to leave the shower cleaned from bacteria. (ask me how) If you work as an independent consultant with one of the companies or many other MLMs I mentioned above you probably do know what’s in your products. Or more importantly what’s not in your products. For centuries we have done some pretty crazy shit in the name of beauty and wealth… 

Somewhere things got twisted…

Perhaps through greed, and societals tiered status. All in the race to win? 

Win what? The stupidest or most dangerous fashion trend… 

But we have to remember that we do learn through experience. So, I’m grateful that our ancestors rubbed lead all over their faces.?! Someone had to do it, right? To learn that it wasn’t good…???

Still seems twisted to me…

Beauty is found all around us. 

So much so, we take it for granted. 

So much so, that people forget that Beauty has nothing to do with products. 

The colonialistic high society to the capitalistic has brainwashed generations. I too, fall into the category… I am not without fault. I have been and am ignorant to some agendas. But remember advertisements or shall we call it propaganda are created to entice you to buy. They are designed through studies of observation. All meant to get you to open up and share some of your hard-earned time or money.

So easily the system can consume…
Will that be our Doom…
Blinded by the insatiable swoon…
Capitalism, profits over the room…
Instead of celebrating each individual’s tone…
Yet, let’s look to the Moon…
Where our thoughts and ambitions can zoom…
Tearing down the proverbial walls with a boom…

I know what it’s like to work within the systematic live to work model. Through my experiences I have watched appreciation nurture growth. But also, a lack of appreciation diminishes relationships. This is where I believe MLM companies are prevailing over the traditional employment models. 

Appreciation and gratitude as well as a positive mindset is so apparent within the MLM industry. Yet, this is something that is being depleted within traditional industry. Rarely do you find a company that does employee appreciation. Or if it’s done, it’s weak sauce, but the facility can still claim to be appreciative. I suppose someone could dub me as an arrogant, egotistical, entitled millennial from that statement. However, just stating that these types of hollow gestures can rub people the wrong way…

Where, the younger generation perspective could throw the stereotype right back and specify the older generations as being stuck in the systemic definition of what an employee and workplace should be. Demonstrating an example of a fixed mindset. 

Where, I’ve heard the blame game that this came about because of a generation of people that have been stereotyped as lazy, entitled and lacking necessary soft skills. You all know who I’m talking about. I’m sure before I even put the term millennial on the page, it’s what popped into your mind…??? 

Interestingly I found a paper that discusses generational differences and perceptions. Within, it discusses that the generations before millennials, perceive millennials as not being able to take responsibility.(3) Which I find so hypocritical and funny because who raised the millennials…………………. They’re not enough periods for that statement…

Also, who’s shifting the blame on to millennials? I’m just going to put this out there and say who’s not able to take responsibility?! (3)

Now, I don’t want to paint everyone with the generational brush. We are all individuals. Just because a certain demographic might be different it doesn’t mean we should be placing judgment or understanding through stereotypes. 

It all comes down to opposites. 

If there’s good, there’s bad.

If there’s right, there’s wrong.

If there’s old, there’s young.

If there’s new, there’s used.

If there’s hard workers, there’s not so hard workers.

If there’s amazing bosses, there are some not so amazing bosses.

And so on and so forth. It has nothing to do with age, sex, race or any other title we put on people. 

Furthermore, the article also discusses that millennials are scrutinized with more negative connotations through reverse ageism compared to the older generation and ageism. We’re reading some of the comments from the older generations compared to the millennials. It really shows the difference in the positive perspectives that just bleed from millennials and the negative perspective that was founded through the old school methods. (3)

These generational differences definitely have to do with what happened during the times. I can totally understand why Gen x and the baby boomers could have a more negative outlook. They experienced war, they dealt with so much loss and struggle that would leave an air of negativity on anyone. 

Where, comparatively the generations before the millennials worked hard to instill in millennials a better life. A more positive life, away from the fear and negativity that was so present in those previous generations.

Oh the irony of the creators frustration… Millennials were raised to be free thinkers, innovators, adapters. Put out to find careers that they love, not careers out of necessity to provide. Millennials were taught to work to live, not live to work… 

And what is wrong with that?!?!

Absolutely nothing… 

A person who is valued and appreciated for their knowledge and contribution towards the goal will often stay, enjoy and thrive regardless of age. Where the traditional employment models are losing that appreciation where the MLM’s are picking it up and running with it.

My point of view, accountability is built into the MLM’s model because each representative is an entrepreneur representing themselves, not the company, not the product, themselves. Creating ownership and pride of work. As well as, a community of like-minded people who are striving through positivity and gratitude. MLM’s are the gateway to people recognizing their potential on to full entrepreneurship with their own companies. 

With this I want to try to break some of the stigma. Pull the mindset away from traditional models. 

Allowing individuality to be celebrated. 

Allowing creativity to be celebrated.

Allowing innovation to thrive. 

Celebrating community through positivity and gratitude to all contributors. 

Moving away from the fixed mindsets into growth is where we will thrive to move forward. All helping to move away from these generational issues and every other systemic issue that presents itself within our society. 

With all of the above I hope to bring some light and appreciation to all the growth mindseters out there… 

To the ones who are striving for more.
To the ones who do not just follow. 
The ones who respect their worth. 
To the ones making the most of all their situations. 

“I see you…” Keep trailblazing and shining your light of resilience and beauty. 

And 

For anyone that is feeling a little lost, I’ll leave you with a statement that helped me start working towards and understanding purpose. 

What is your legacy? 

JEMI
Edit-WDI

P.S. If you’re interested in learning more of how we’re reducing harmful chemicals and using mechanical cleaning methods shoot me a message or check out my @jemsbiz on Instagram. A place where I’m sharing our journey on being more conscious and looking for more sustainable options. 

P.P.S. or check out my a brand new @jemisnailsnmore IG page showing off a new venture that I’m walking down. An adventure that is allowing me to remember to love myself a little bit more. As a millennial myself I often struggle between the turmoil’s of the old and the new. Often clashing with the steadfastness of the old system and the dream of the potential growth that will be. 

P.P.P.S. If you feel like maybe you fall into the fixed mindset I highly recommend you checking out the link below. Actually, I recommend that everybody check out the link below. I haven’t finished Marc’s book yet, but from just the synopsis on his blog you can really resonate with what he’s saying. Or at least I can…

https://marcpetitpas.com/blog/f/the-50-year—old-millennial-has-been-released-my-first-book

Sources 

[1] https://www.epa.gov/, [Online]. Available: https://theresource.norwex.com/wp-content/assets/pdfs/Party_Cards.pdf.

[2] M. Petitpas, “The 50 year – old Millennial has been Released. my first book.,” Marc Petitpas Business Coaching. [Online]. Available: https://marcpetitpas.com/blog/f/the-50-year—old-millennial-has-been-released-my-first-book. [Accessed: 08-Aug-2021].

[3] M. Raymer, M. Reed, M. Spiegel, and R. K. Purvanova, “Mgr-Mgr0000057 – The Psychologist-Manager Journal 2017 VOL 20 no 3 148 \u2013175 \u00a9 2017 American Psychological ASSOCIATION 1088-7156\/17\/$12.00: Course Hero,” mgr-mgr0000057 – The Psychologist-Manager Journal 2017 Vol 20 No 3 148 \u2013175 \u00a9 2017 American Psychological Association 1088-7156\/17\/$12.00 | Course Hero. [Online]. Available: https://www.coursehero.com/file/50007776/mgr-mgr0000057pdf/. [Accessed: 08-Aug-2021].

Google ➡️ The Psychologist-Manager Journal © 2017 American Psychological Association 2017, Vol. 20, No. 3, 148 –175 for a PDF of the article.