When it comes to stereotypes, Millennials got em in spades. Needless to say, most of them aren’t very flattering. In fact, a little more than a year ago, The Wall Street Journal updated it’s stylebook to address their writers use of the word “Millennial”, admitting that it was becoming some kind of “snide shorthand.” I think we should give them a participation trophy for remembering that we are both their current and future subscribers.
While putting labels on Millennials is as easy as slapping one on the back of a MacBook Pro, there is one that I believe is true. Our critics say we’re collaborators, and I can’t help but to agree that our desire to work with others is a big part of who we are. Our desire to collaborate has become embedded in us from the learning environments we’ve inhabited and technologies we’ve adopted.
We’re constantly connected and our need for fulfillment drives both our personal and professional lives. It explains why there is no shortage of articles, surveys and academic research suggesting that the workforce of the future thrives in the collaborative workplace. Our familiarity with technology means it’s natural for us to communicate and engage in ways that supersede the managerial norms and methods of previous generations.
Collaboration is powerful. It generates synergy, and synergy doesn’t care who’s a 3 or who’s an 8. It only cares that the whole is greater than the some of its parts.
Collaboration humbles. It reminds the inexperienced of where they are going and the experienced of how far they’ve come.
Collaboration is inclusive. It brings people together in unexpected ways to share past experiences and create new ones.
Perhaps this is why I am drawn to financial planning. After all, financial planning is a collaborative process. It’s how the collection and analysis of data turns into actionable advice. It’s how individuals are taken from the void of not knowing to gaining control of their financial lives. And it’s why there are dark days ahead for brokers and transactionary based services professionals who fail to join their clients in the trenches.
Financial planning is powerful. It generates context and context doesn’t care what you did or didn’t know. It only cares that you are now aware of your circumstances.
Financial planning humbles. It reminds you of what you’re working for and what you still need to do to get there.
Financial planning is inclusive. It brings people together to create unexpected solutions to complex problems.
One of the things I love most about what I do, other than help people fulfill their hopes and dreams, is to collaborate with my colleagues. Sometimes it’s for marketing and other times it’s just for fun. Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting one of my favorite writers, Morgan Housel, for some coffee. At the end of our discussion, I thought it would be fun for the two of us to collaborate on some writing. The project? A haiku about networking, coffee and the financial markets. Enjoy.
Collaborative fun
Poured at two hundred degrees
Our kind of drawdown
Join the conversation and collaborate with us!
When was your last collaboration? Who was it with? What did you create?
— Douglas A. Boneparth (@dougboneparth) February 16, 2019