Are we a Society of Over-Achievers?

Tying in to my last posting on motivators… assuming we are all motivated and acting to our full potential, are we truly a society of over-achievers? If so, how does that apply to the generational categories in recruiting? According to all the studies I have read lately… the Baby Boomers were all instilled with a strong work ethic and think nothing of putting in 60 -70 hours per week. The GenXers are “all about me” and what will this job do for my career and my retirement. The GenYers are more about work/life balance and really have to enjoy what they do for a living… otherwise they will quit and never look back. The Millennials are just beginning to surface in the workplace and it appears that they are gravitating towards even more flexibility in their workplace. What do you think… can these diverse sectors all be over-achievers?

What are your Motivators?

I had lunch with Dennis Smith today from WirelessJobs.com to discuss his presentation for the IEEE CVT Chapter in April on LinkedIn, Blogging, and Social Networks. Besides the great company and an awesome Thai meal, an unanticipated result for me was the desire to come back to the office and blog. Dennis is a great speaker and motivator… you can’t help but catch his enthusiasm and excitement for the industry and his presentation should be very entertaining.

This also prompts me to ask… what inspires and motivates you? Either in your private or professional life… is it recognition, image, being able to add value to something, money, toys (tools/technology), being around good people, being your own boss, working independently, or helping others?

What can we do as recruiters to help get you out of bed in the morning?