If you haven’t noticed recently, there seem to be some issues in the business world and our culture with trust. It can surface in a lot of places, including communities, corporations, politics, and government. It can also play out in the day-to-day of our own workplaces with supervisors, peers, and friends.

Regardless of how you stack it up, trust is critically important to the foundation, growth and success of any group or organization. When we see corrupt, unethical practices take place and trust is broken (think Wells-Fargo) the damage is costly to revenues, brand respect, and public perceptions.

YOU ARE A BRAND!

For the last five years, I’ve taught an undergraduate course at the university near where I live. The course is called Fundamentals of Fundraising, and is offered in the School of Business, as a part of the Business/Non-Profit Management track.

I think most of the students would tell you (after taking the class), that it wasn’t what they expected. Yes, they learn about the process of writing grants, researching foundations, developing annual fund programs, planning donor/constituent events, relationship building, etc. There is, however, a message I give them on Night 1 of the class that they don’t usually expect. I look at the room full of 20-somethings, pause and say “You…Are…A…Brand”.

A while back, I was heading into an important speaking engagement that offered a lot of opportunity. For me, it was a big deal, and was definitely the most daunting event I had spoken at, for a number of reasons. At the same time, it was exciting to have an opportunity to speak to a group of high-level professionals who I felt could benefit from what I had to share with them.

In my last post, I stated “I LOVE MILLENIALS” (I really do) and offered some different perspectives to perhaps pivot the conversation to the positives, and away from the overused stereotypes and negative commentaries. Every generation has unique needs, experiences, and events that shape them, and my friends in the Millenial category are no different. Each generation of young men and women inherit the culture, technology, and values that we instill in them. That’s as true now as it was in the 40’s after World War II ended.

I LOVE MILLENIALS!!!…..there… I said it.

Seriously, I love them. I love their energy, creative minds, fresh perspectives, and a willingness to engage their communities and critical issues that are important to them. I work pretty much every day of my life with lots and lots of millennials. Because of that, and the good I see in them, please pardon my fatigue with some pretty harsh stereotypes and statements in my news feeds, about my twenty-something and early 30’s friends and colleagues.

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