Generation Y – The Next Wave of Network Marketing – Be Prepared For a Tsunami

Here they come, walking down the street, they get the funniest looks from everyone they meet.

Being born smack dab in the middle of the baby boom generation, I certainly recognize the words to that song. However, the I-Pods of the Millennials are playing quite a different tune these days. Some would not even recognize those words as being the theme song from The Monkeys.

The truth is, the Echo Boom generation has much more in common with the heart-throb bands of the fifties and the sixties than they may even realize.

They’re smart and they’re savvy. They know what they want, and, much more importantly, they know what they don’t want. By the age of 25, most have already begun saving for retirement, and their “financial intelligence” far outweighs their older counterparts.

As the lion’s share of the Millenials reach adulthood, they’re comfortably taking their seats in corporate America oftentimes having a member of their predecessor generations reporting directly to them.

In an ever-increasing multi-generational workplace, this force of over 70 million strong whose leading edge has reached the age of 30, is very different than the generations that came before. The Millennials were busy growing up. Parental expectations were high. Although over half of the parents of this generation are divorced, they are still viewed as the nucleus of the family.

They have been told both at home and through the media that they can have it all. They have a strong sense of entitlement and aren’t afraid to go after the lifestyle they want and feel they deserve.

Not wanting to tolerate the old school ways of management, they are not likely to respond to the “shut up and do it” attitudes of the past. They question everything and have a thirst for knowledge. They want to know why and aren’t afraid to ask.

The Millennials want good relationships with their co-workers. They don’t want to be told how to dress, how to act or when to punch the time clock. They want to be able to show off their skills and be challenged. The opportunity for growth and higher pay is a must. Also, of utmost importance to this generation is free time and a social life.

For the most part, they were raised by hands-on parents. Even the dads are taking a role in child-rearing, which is very different from days gone by where dad brought home the bacon and mom basically raised the kids.

Their world is high-tech and filled with instant gratification. They’ve learned that sometimes all it takes is a smile to get what they want. They want to be the best and they want the opportunity to get to the top, and get there fast.

They’re well connected, not only physically to friends from school and their childhood, but also to many, many new friend on the online community. Instead of hanging out at the local canteen, they’re easily found on My Space or Facebook, and in their spare time they are Twittering instead of talking on the phone.

So, what does all this mean for your network marketing organization? Generation Y can bring a whole new attitude to your organization. Their “baggage” includes a fresh outlook, a willingness to learn and experiment and a longing to grow and be the best in their field.

Being their own boss is very important to this group. Not having to answer to anyone, setting their own hours and having unlimited income would be their ideal position.

Unfortunately, starting your own business is costly. With the average cost of a franchise being somewhere in the neighborhood of $50,000, most of them are packing their bags and searching for a new block to build their fortune on.

[Drum Roll Please]…..

** Enter Network Marketing **

Where else can one start a business, many for under a hundred bucks, be their own boss, climb the ladder quickly, if they so choose, with no glass ceiling? Network marketing training in most companies has evolved to an art. Starting from square one, they are eagerly ready to learn a new skill.

The obvious question is where do I find them and when I do, how do I market to them.

Finding them is easy. Pull up your chair, fire up your Mac (or your PC) and hang out online.  My Space, Facebook, Twitter and Linked In  just to name a few, are the virtual neighborhoods where this amazing generation have taken up residence.

Give them a business in a box and a simple plan and they will run with it. Don’t bog them down with a lot of emails and meetings. Also, don’t be surprised if they don’t need you much. They know how to talk to their own generation, and the standard scripts of MLM past probably won’t be rolling of their tongues very easily.

So go on, dive into the online communities and show this generation what you have. They’re out there just waiting for an opportunity to shine, and shine they will.

With their financial smarts, their technology savvy lifestyles and their general all around great personalities and people skills, Generation Y  is most definitely a force that is going to change the face of Inter-Network Marketing forever.