I was meeting a few days ago with a few younger biz leaders, and out of the blue, someone asked me “Bea…what do you think the key to success is?”

The answer just flew out of my mouth “Just help people out.”

I cannot tell you how true this is. Throughout my life, I have been a “helper”. I just can’t “help it.” Okay…enough of the corny stuff. People call me generous, but I honestly learned this trait from my parents and grandparents. We all believed that when someone needed help, you did not wait for them to ask. You just went and helped them. Some people call this a character flaw in me, because I often give way too much. I call it a blessing.

I have found in life that the most important question you can ask a friend, colleague, customer, employee or boss is “How can I help you?” Then…go help them. If you just ask the question without any follow through, then your word cannot be trusted. If you ask and then act, the rewards you feel from giving can fuel your passion.

At some point along the way, we all have to strike that balance…between helping people who constantly take from us and knowing how to be in a mutually supportive relationship. You have to know when to be of support and when to then ask for help, and if someone refuses to help you out, well…just do your best to still be kind and be very selective about how much giving you do back to the person who is constantly taking from you (I call those people the blood suckers, and we all have them in our lives unless we choose to do something about it.)

Over the last two years, I have written two books and have contributed two chapters to two other books, and I have certainly learned who the true “helpers” are in my life. And, they did not turn out to be the people I thought it would be. I thought the people I have helped out numerous times over the last few years would be there by my side, but they weren’t and did not seem to really care. Hey…that’s certainly fine, but I have learned that the people you might least expect to be there will be there in a flash…if you just ask and continue helping them out along the way. I have learned through this process that I have had to surround myself with a brand new group of people who are respectful of the work I do, who enjoy spending time with me and who want the best for me, so it’s then delightful to be in a helping relationship with them.

So…go out today and help someone, and then turn around and ask someone in your life for help. Let me know how it turns out for you.

Scott Wilder and I will be on The Coaching Show tomorrow morning at 8:00 Pacific/11:00 Eastern on WSRadio.  We will be exploring the topic of leading, managing and coaching Gen Y in the workplace.

According to a survey by Peanut Labs, San Francisco, 51% of Gen Y social networking users (between the ages of 13 and 25 years old) said they either never click on banner ads or only do so once or twice a month.

Get the full story here on BrandWeek .com

This is interesting.  I am someone who honestly does not even notice a banner ad.  I am looking for information…not ads, so maybe this has something to do with it?   That Gen Y is looking for information…not an ad.  Also, Gen Y is going to buy based on what their friends tell them, not from a flashing banner ad. Keep it simple!

The Pew Internet & American Life Project reports that “two-thirds of internet users under the age of 30 have a social networking profile, and half of these use social networking sites to get or share information about politics or the campaigns.”

The Pew Internet & American Life Project reports that “two-thirds of internet users under the age of 30 have a social networking profile, and half of these use social networking sites to get or share information about politics or the campaigns.”

Great article today in USA Today.  Lots of great ideas on marketing to Gen Y.

Interesting post by Rusty Weston on Fast Company on the retention woes for Gen Y. This really caught my eye:

“Taleo teamed with Harris Interactive to conduct a survey of 2,045 adults ages 18 and older, a series of questions about their first jobs and first employers.

Three out of five respondents said that their first employer did not provide a clear path for advancement. Of course, the reality is that few employers provide a clear path to anything, much less to the corner office.

Other key findings:

• Describing how their first job made them feel, 13% said they couldn’t wait for Friday to arrive, 10% wanted to quit every day and 8% felt it was a waste of their time
• 19% of 18-34 year olds wanted to quit their first job every day, compared to 3% of those 55 years old and over”

My response:

In the work I do with Gen Yers and their bosses/leaders, the common complaint I hear is that Gen Y is bored. Because they have been so exposed to so much stimulation, the Millennials I have met say that they most want variety and meaningful work. Companies like Intuit are addressing this through top notch rotational development programs, which gives young workers tons of opportunities to do something different every day. Maybe it’s time to shift the way we all work…spice things up a bit, and keep it interesting.

Tom Heck sent me this video today. Great take on generations at work by Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Thanks Tom!

Millennial Leaders

Mari Moss has recently been voted one of the top twenty-somethings under the age of 40 for Stark County, Ohio. The YStark award honors young leaders who have exhibited leadership and dedication to community. Mari is featured in Chapter 24 of Millennial Leaders.

Get the full story here.

Following is a profile of one of the 20 Stark County professionals under age 40 being recognized by YSTARK! as among the best and brightest young leaders in our community:

She realizes it’s pie in the sky, but Mari Moss would love to create hundreds of jobs for young people in Stark County.

She envisions 21st century jobs that use creativity and technology. They would be jobs that connect to young people and help keep them in the area.

She won’t stop dreaming, but Moss will settle for the chance to make a positive impression in the lives of Stark County’s youth. She wants to help inspire kids, show them there are positive things in the world and that they can make positive decisions.

It’s a mission Moss has pursued since 2002 when she launched PEACE TV. She said she is trying to give something back to the community by working with young people.

She believes young people will be inclined to remain in the area and participate in the community if others listen to their ideas and put them to use.

“It will increase participation in the community,” Moss said. “When your ideas are received, you feel a part of the community.”

ABOUT MARI

Age: 29

Education: Timken High School graduate; bachelor’s degree in psychology, Hampton University, Hampton, Va.

In the community: In 2002, launched PEACE TV (Positive Events in Arts Culture and Education Television) as a way to inspire youth through artistic expression and sport-related programs and projects.

Accomplishments: Martin Luther King Jr. Community Builder Award in 2006; Ohio Martin Luther King Jr. Commission; Pathfinder Award this year; assistant talent coordinator, Inner City Theater Group’s “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” New York City.

Family: Single; fiancé, Christopher Yawn; daughter of the Revs. Walter and Darleen Moss.

Nominated by: Bob Bowers, Absolute Post Productions Inc., and Steve Katz, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Bowers says: “Mari is one of a kind. People, and especially young people, like her come along very rarely.”

Katz says: “Her efforts provide young people with positive alternatives to gang violence, drug abuse and other risky business.”

By day, Miriam Kagan works as a strategy director at a leading database marketing agency working with nonprofit clients. In her free time, she loves working on her blog trying to convince nonprofit marketers to pay attention to Gen Yers and figure out ways to get our their attention. And yes, she walks the walk-she tries to give to a different charitable cause every month. Which is probably why she ends up on so many direct mail fundraising lists and gets her mailbox flooded with mail. And she doesn’t respond to any of them-because she is Gen Y and proud of it. Maybe if you tried her on Facebook.

For more information, visit Miriam on her blog: Gen Y Give