Comments on: Top 10 Things I Learned from the Under 30’s http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:33:08 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Sarah Davies http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-31409 Sarah Davies Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:28:14 +0000 http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391#comment-31409 Thanks for this. You are right on target. I'm 28, and I've worked in the nonprofit sector for four years. Everything you've said is correct. But, since you asked... I do have something to add. It's been really frustrating to me to see entrenched upper management making more than twice as much as their gen-y lower management counterparts while knowing literally nothing about the internet. When they don't ask the opinion of lower management, they are not only hurting morale and encouraging young people to leave, they are quite literally killing their organizations through expensive direct mailings, newspaper ads (yes, really!) and phone calls when email and twitter would do the job better and cheaper. I'm fortunate to be in an organization that listens, but I can't tell you how many of my friends aren't so lucky. Thanks for this. You are right on target. I’m 28, and I’ve worked in the nonprofit sector for four years. Everything you’ve said is correct.

But, since you asked… I do have something to add.

It’s been really frustrating to me to see entrenched upper management making more than twice as much as their gen-y lower management counterparts while knowing literally nothing about the internet. When they don’t ask the opinion of lower management, they are not only hurting morale and encouraging young people to leave, they are quite literally killing their organizations through expensive direct mailings, newspaper ads (yes, really!) and phone calls when email and twitter would do the job better and cheaper. I’m fortunate to be in an organization that listens, but I can’t tell you how many of my friends aren’t so lucky.

]]> By: Robert Egger´s Piece of Mind » Blog Archive » On the Road in 2009 http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-30937 Robert Egger´s Piece of Mind » Blog Archive » On the Road in 2009 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:35:58 +0000 http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391#comment-30937 [...] media” is was when I penned this blog about what I learned when I had a meeting with the “under 20’s” at DCCK. The Chronicle of Philanthropy picked it up and it swept across the country faster than [...] [...] media” is was when I penned this blog about what I learned when I had a meeting with the “under 20’s” at DCCK. The Chronicle of Philanthropy picked it up and it swept across the country faster than [...]

]]> By: Gen Y; Problems & Promise « Worknow_Aotearoa_NZ http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-24834 Gen Y; Problems & Promise « Worknow_Aotearoa_NZ Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:25:08 +0000 http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391#comment-24834 [...] to me, I’m finding it refreshing to see a growing number of authors now taking a step back to listen and learn from, rather than deriding our [...] [...] to me, I’m finding it refreshing to see a growing number of authors now taking a step back to listen and learn from, rather than deriding our [...]

]]> By: bufare http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-21019 bufare Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:15:29 +0000 http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391#comment-21019 That was a nice read. That was a nice read.

]]> By: New Models for (Philanthropy Research & Dialogue « Philosopher 2.0) http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-20728 New Models for (Philanthropy Research & Dialogue « Philosopher 2.0) Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:01:54 +0000 http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391#comment-20728 [...] on these sites would really add value if part of a larger conversation. I’m also reminded of one of my favorite posts by Robert Egger’s where he shared his epiphany that for people under 30, “Just being asked what they think is [...] [...] on these sites would really add value if part of a larger conversation. I’m also reminded of one of my favorite posts by Robert Egger’s where he shared his epiphany that for people under 30, “Just being asked what they think is [...]

]]> By: Janet http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-20183 Janet Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:06:29 +0000 http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391#comment-20183 You're right, it was inflammatory and I apologize. It wasn't even what I really meant, I was just...incensed. I have worked with entry-level professionals for a long time, and I have often seen a pattern. Frequently, he/she comes in with energy and enthusiasm, often brimming with the knowledge they learned in college or (heaven forbid) grad school. And then they want to create strategic plans and bring them straight up to the Managing Director. "I have ideas!" they say. Great, I respond. But first, you need to spend some time learning the mechanics of the job. Learn to write a grant. Learn to write a really good letter, or brochure (my particular bugaboo, since I end up having to correct a lot of simple mistakes). Learn to use the copy machine, and the postal machine and the typewriter (yes, we still use it from time to time). I am not here to do the grunt work for you. I too have a degree, and I have ideas, and I have wisdom that comes from experience. Don't discount them because I am forty. We can learn from each other, but we both need to be willing to listen. You’re right, it was inflammatory and I apologize. It wasn’t even what I really meant, I was just…incensed. I have worked with entry-level professionals for a long time, and I have often seen a pattern. Frequently, he/she comes in with energy and enthusiasm, often brimming with the knowledge they learned in college or (heaven forbid) grad school. And then they want to create strategic plans and bring them straight up to the Managing Director. “I have ideas!” they say. Great, I respond. But first, you need to spend some time learning the mechanics of the job. Learn to write a grant. Learn to write a really good letter, or brochure (my particular bugaboo, since I end up having to correct a lot of simple mistakes). Learn to use the copy machine, and the postal machine and the typewriter (yes, we still use it from time to time). I am not here to do the grunt work for you. I too have a degree, and I have ideas, and I have wisdom that comes from experience. Don’t discount them because I am forty. We can learn from each other, but we both need to be willing to listen.

]]> By: RobinKD http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-19922 RobinKD Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:09:47 +0000 http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391#comment-19922 Janet says "get in line," which is simply inflammatory. Her point, that people of all ages deserve this type of respect, is valid, but the way it was made sums up (to me) the reasons that people have trouble getting along. We all need to get over certain attitudes, prejudices, and entitlements. Value a person for what they bring to the job and for diligence, output, compassion, etc. These tips are good, but I always caution people to simply take each individual as such. Just because I'm in my 20s, for example, doesn't mean I don't get why process and outputs are critical. In fact, I'm the person in my agency who convinces others why certain "random numbers" make a difference. (grants, anyone?) Requesting and appropriately using input is surely the most important thing. After all, if you don't value an employee's input, why do you pay him/her? Janet says “get in line,” which is simply inflammatory. Her point, that people of all ages deserve this type of respect, is valid, but the way it was made sums up (to me) the reasons that people have trouble getting along. We all need to get over certain attitudes, prejudices, and entitlements. Value a person for what they bring to the job and for diligence, output, compassion, etc. These tips are good, but I always caution people to simply take each individual as such. Just because I’m in my 20s, for example, doesn’t mean I don’t get why process and outputs are critical. In fact, I’m the person in my agency who convinces others why certain “random numbers” make a difference. (grants, anyone?)

Requesting and appropriately using input is surely the most important thing. After all, if you don’t value an employee’s input, why do you pay him/her?

]]> By: Robert Egger http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-19271 Robert Egger Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:58:25 +0000 http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391#comment-19271 Thanks Andrea...great info!!! Thanks Andrea…great info!!!

]]> By: Andrea Snyder http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-19270 Andrea Snyder Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:43:42 +0000 http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391#comment-19270 JMW - there is a Public Service student loan forgiveness program. http://www.finaid.org/loans/publicservice.phtml JMW – there is a Public Service student loan forgiveness program.
http://www.finaid.org/loans/publicservice.phtml

]]> By: Robert Egger http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-19232 Robert Egger Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:53:19 +0000 http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=391#comment-19232 One of our over the top, under 30's just pointed me in the direction of the amazing Jan Masaoka, at Blue Avacado, and a recent blog she did on wage/nonprofits---another interesting dialogue on this topic. http://www.blueavocado.org/node/376 One of our over the top, under 30’s just pointed me in the direction of the amazing Jan Masaoka, at Blue Avacado, and a recent blog she did on wage/nonprofits—another interesting dialogue on this topic.

http://www.blueavocado.org/node/376

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