They Go by Many Names

The generation just entering the work force has many names  -- Generation Y, the Entrepreneurial Generation.

In her book RenGen: The Rise of the Cultural Consumer and What It Means to Your Business Patricia Martin labels them the Renaissance Generation, or "RenGen" for short.

She makes some fascinating observations about this generation. 

From a recent interview with the New York Times:

First of all, I predict that what we will see out of the younger RenGen is the largest class of entrepreneurs the United States has seen in a long time. Not only are they driven to do original work, but they are going to want to live that out in originally designed careers.

In order to do that, they'll work hard to create their own enterprises because that is where they can realize their dreams. Boomers are noted workaholics and appreciate the pluck of the young RenGen. But Gen X, often characterized as Dilbert-style middle managers, will struggle to lead these spirited young workers.

This is right on target with my observations of this generation.  They are eager to chart their own courses in life and see an entrepreneurial career as the best path to pursue their dreams.

She calls them the Renaissance Generation because she believes they will be a truly transformation generation. Again from the New York Times interview:

Two things are going on simultaneously, and they live in creative tension. One is that we are ending one civilization and we are creating a new one. Witness what is happening on Wall Street. The second is the outpouring of creativity facilitated by the Internet. There is a generation that will lead us into what will literally be a second renaissance.

I certainly see them as leading the transformation of our economy.   This is already underway.  That is why it is so important to break out of our 1900s paradigms.

We can only do this with less regulation and taxes, not more.  We are witnessing this week what happens when politicians muddle in markets.

It is time to turn the entrepreneurial spirit loose around the globe. 

(Thanks to Jennie Bowman for passing this along).