What Advice...

[garnetsilver]

In fairness, the woman gave a lot of good information as to the hows and whys different generations looked at the world around them as a function of their life experiences. Where most of us took issue with her was telling us "different" meant "wrong" and we needed to change to be correct.

That's the part that I found idiotic. But the newer generations always think that they are smarter than the older ones.

 

[Debi]

Being on time was always a huge thing in our home and a value I carried into work. BECAUSE, as we were told so often, it shows that you value the other person's time and it's a matter of respect.

Had a military (Marine) lifer uncle who, when we went to visit him in D.C., we quickly learned meant be ready 15 minutes early and be IN the car at the time mandated....not just walking towards the car, or getting ready to open the door...nope! Be IN THE CAR or you will be left standing on the driveway alone.

 

[Lynne]

Late in my career I had to take a course for senior staff called "The Multi-Generational Workforce." The instructor, a mid thirty-ish woman, spent a great deal of time harping on how older workers/baby boomers placed entirely too much emphasis on being on time. She explained those younger than us didn't have that time hang up, technology had done away with worrying about the clock. They had lived their entire lives with 24 hour gas stations/convenience stores, DVRs, shopping on line, electronic banking, etc., and weren't programmed/constrained to see time as an issue.

In the class was a USAF colonel who sat straight faced during her spiel, then politely raised his hand. When called upon, he asked her if she'd every served in the military. She seemed bemused by the question, and replied with a smirky, smart ass, "Nope." He simply said, "I didn't think so. I don't have time to waste listening to this horseshit." With that he walked out.

Best answer ever.