Stop blaming millennials, well, at least not 100%

1. mil·len·nial
2. 1.

   a person reaching young adulthood around the year 2000; a Generation

Alright, I'm sure you have seen the multiple videos, commentaries, articles, blogs, posts in regards to Millennials doing a little self-degradation. And while these are hilarious and seemingly true, nothing proves you're a Millennial more than being the Uncle Tom of your generation. Millennials are a broad swath of people, do they have their ups and downs, of course. Do they seem to be more moronic than those of the past, perhaps, but only because they're in your face 24/7/365 through technology. I'd offer that if we had the same technology in the 1960's you'd have even more proof that that group was entirely worthless. 

Millennials as a 'group' seem to suck and act entitled, but they are hardly to blame. You want to know who has somehow gotten out of the "millennials are the bane of humanity" rhetoric, their parents! Yes the group of supposed adults that raised them. This crew, now generally either in their late 40-late 50s, they let America down. Those are the ones, the early Gen-X crew, that became parents and did a horrific job. Instead of being parents, they were friends, instead of being leaders, they were followers. They didn't demand much of their children, outside of them being popular, athletic or whatever the hell else they couldn't accomplish when they were the same age in the 70/80s. 

For whatever reason, we've given these parents a collective pass. It's true, Millennials thus far (those in their early 20-early30's) haven't done a whole lot. There are sectors and cliques that are quite amazing, intelligent, productive, liberated almost, but there is a 'voice' that seems to represent them. This is the voice that is the backbone of social media (by the way, the vast number of social media tools were built by Gen-Y -- those in their mid30's to mid 40s who were getting out of high school in the 1990s). In fact most of the things Millennials idolize are all a product of Gen-Y, so perhaps the baby-boomers as parents (not young adults) weren't as shitty as we may have made out - at least not in mass (cough, hippies). 

I know quite a few in the Millennial crew who are truly gifted people, a credit to their generation - the problem is they don't demand or look for nearly enough credit. They have great ideas, and aspirations, but they seem to talk about them more than acting on them. The thing that this group really lacks seems to be inspiration to lead. Again, thank you parents. While you did a great job of raising a well-spirited intellect, you didn't provide enough opportunity to lead. Of course, I am painting with an absurdly broad brush, and I'm totally bias as I'm Gen-Y (but, I can admit it). You see, I think Millennials - just because of their sheer size - need to pull their collective game together. And that starts by having an understanding of your weakness, but not lambasting yourself in it. It isn't an excuse for your lack of leadership. So to all you would be motivated Millennials out there, the ones looking around thinking 'I don't suck that bad', time for you to step to the plate. Start that company to rival Google, create a new perception of Social Media, change the way the world communicates, embrace not simply technology - but what will replace it, help write the history book don't just hashtag it. Be what your generation apparently embodies, narcissistic..but to the extent that it pushes you to succeed. Try to not be a peddler of other peoples information, or a peon of acceptance. Don't look to 'create your brand', aspire to be more than a 'brand', write a life that is worth reading about - not one drenched it the phobia of non-acceptance. Value yourself by what you are truly worth, not by what you wish people thought you were worth. Go out and create. Go out and build. Go out and Lead. Stop following, stop liking, stop re-tweeting. Demand more from yourself. Oh, and while you're up, ask your parents why the hell they didn't demand more out of you!