How old is Grandma?

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The Total View Newsletter

May 13, 2009

Edited and Written by Ira S. Wolfe

Published by Success Performance Solutions. Major Sponsor,

2008 Best Places to Work In Pennsylvania

What's Inside this issue of The TotalView:

1. How old is Grandma?

2. Perfect Labor Storm Warnings

3. Geeks and Geezers Find Friends on Facebook

4. The Managers Pocketbook

5. Quotes from the Hire Authorities

6. Video: Types of Assessments

7. Answer: Grandma's Age

1. How old is Grandma?

Generational "crowding" in the workplace is making for some major conflict and miscommunication in the workplace. That's because each generation has its own distinct set of values, shaped by their unique social conditions, political events, economic conditions, major crises and childhood experiences.

The story shared in this week's newsletter highlights how major misunderstandings can result between coworkers raised in different eras. It also highlights the opportunity that exists if knowledge and experience is shared.

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events. The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.

The Grandma replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born, before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. There was no radar, credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and man hadn't yet walked on the moon.

Your Grandfather and I got married first-and then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir'- and after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir.' We were before gay-rights, computer- dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.

Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.

Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums.

We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk. The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.

We had 5 & 10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards.

You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for under $1,000 but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 30 cents a gallon.

In my day, "grass" was mowed, "coke" was a cold drink, "pot" was something your mother cooked in, and "rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby. "Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office," chip" meant a piece of wood, "hardware" was found in a hardware store, and "software" wasn't even a word.

And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap.....and how old do you think I am?

I bet you have an old lady pictured in your mind...you are in for a shock! Scroll down the newsletter to find out how old grandma is!

2. Perfect Labor Storm Warnings

Subscribe to the Perfect Labor Storm 2.0 blog and receive skilled worker shortage updates like this:

For every 100 girls who graduate from high school, 96 boys do. But for every 100 girls who earn a Bachelor degree,

only 73 boys do.

Source:boysproject.net

Learn more about workforce trends. Purchase the NEW Perfect Labor Storm 2.0 books (soft and hard cover versions) at PerfectLaborStorm.com.

New Perfect Labor Storm videos added. Watch now!

3. Geeks and Geezers Find Friends on Facebook

Each week I'll release more results from the Geeks, Geezers, and Social Media survey conducted during April 2009.

Faebook users

This week I highlight the demographics of Facebook users.

The results have important implications for business: how and where they will recruit employees and sell to customers.

Download a free copy of the Geeks, Geezers, and Social Media summary report here.

We will continue to analyze the data and release additional reports about the use of YouTube, Twitter, and game technology over the next few weeks. For more information about the survey or to schedule media interviews, call us at 717-291-4640 or contact us here.

4. The Manager's Pocketbook

Read "The Manager's Pocketbook" and learn the POLCA, the five essential management skills.

'P' is for 'planning': the essentials of good planning and objective setting. 'O' is for 'organising': managing time and work, and decision-making. 'L' is for 'leading': teambuilding, leadership, motivation and communication. 'C' is for 'controlling': correcting errors, disciplining and appraising. And 'A' is for 'achieving': the action planning section, so get your pen ready! This enlightening Pocketbook is for team leaders, supervisors and people managers of all levels

Buy The Manager's Pocketbook today (only $12.50) or take a sneek peak at the 89 other Management Pocketbook topics.

5. Quotes from Hire Authorities

"Inside every CEO there's a human being trying to climb out. If you can create a condition in which you get business leaders away from the public role, away from all the things that they know they're expected to say, there is the possibility of real change."

Mark Goyder, Founder Director of Tomorrow's Company.

6. New Video: Types of Assessments

We've added 3 new educational video presentation to our website. This week's Total View issue features a 6-minute video about the different types of assessments: Attitude, Personality, Cognitive Abilities, and Skills.

7. Answer: Grandma's Age

This woman would be only 60 years old!

While grandma's memories have apparently distorted some history, her story accentuates the era that older Baby Boomers and their predecessors (the Veterans) recall when they reminisce about their youth. It contrasts sharply with the childhood that Gen X and Gen Y remember.

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Permission is granted to consultants, managers, business owners and HR professionals to reproduce content from this newsletter for your internal publications, or to distribute copies to your workforce, on the condition that you reproduce the credits and contact information as follows: "Reprinted with permission from Ira S Wolfe and Success Performance Solutions. Copyright 2008 Ira S Wolfe." We also hope you will forward the newsletter in its entirety and recommend to others that they subscribe.