Millennials are the generation everyone loves to talk about. It would appear everyone has an opinion on who they are, what they represent and where it has all gone wrong for them (we humans are a funny bunch - the fact is, generations bring change and this negative perception of the newbie generation is nothing new).
One thing that sticks out, though, is the idea that millennials are murderers. Yep, the media has accused them of killing off hundreds of industries with their need for instant gratification, rejection of tradition and short attention span.
That's a heck of an accusation, there! Let's take a deeper look at this wave of destruction, and see how it’s really going down:
That's right, it gets worse. Millennials are cereal killers.
A 2015 Mintel study found that cereal sales are in decline, with 40 percent of millennials deeming it ‘too inconvenient’. Are they really too lazy to eat breakfast cereal? Is all that pouring and shoveling too much to bear (not to mention having to clean up afterward)?
The actual figures are hard to ignore, though. It’s true that that cereal profits have dipped by over $3 billion US since 2000, but to blame it squarely on millennial laziness is a little far-fetched, especially since the shift can be attributed to factors that basically confirm the opposite: millennials exist in a tough job climate, where they put in longer hours and are even seen as ‘work martyrs’, showing worrying signs of workaholism. They simply don’t have time for a sit-down breakfast, even if it is something as simple as cereal. It should surprise no-one, then, to learn that the on-the-go breakfast market is set to grow 46 percent by 2026.
However, you can bet that if a product is no longer relevant for millennials, they will launch something that does work for them. Sneaker mogul Ronnie Fieg banked on the idea of a blast-from-the-past sugar rush being a hit with his fellow millennials, installing ultra-chic cereal bars in his apparel stores to great success. It’s just one of the ways that the millennial market is driving change, or indeed reinventing how products are consumed, from traditional industry expectations.
Millennials also had the audacity to ruin weddings while they were at it, with a YPulse study suggesting they spend less on nuptials than previous generations and 74% believing ceremonies to be too expensive in general.
The wedding industry is still worth $300 billion worldwide, but that doesn’t mean it caters to the market as effectively as it should in all areas. And, let’s face it, even being a guest or bridesmaid can get freaking expensive!
Rascal millennial Kelsey Doorey launched her startup, Vow to be Chic, in response to the financially costly honor of being chosen as a bridesmaid. As the first bridesmaid dress rental service, it helps to significantly cut costs while providing speedy, online-centric access to designer dresses. As Doorey notes in an interview with Forbes, “Most bridal companies did not keep up with millennial shopping habits… we’re disrupting an industry because we know what millennials want and the frustrations they face with the bridal industry status quo.”
If you want to sit back with a bucket of popcorn and enjoy the latest blockbuster, well, better get in while you can: the millennials are coming to destroy a theatre near you. And they’re also threatening live sports as we know them, according to this LEK digital engagement study.
You see, ticket sales for live sports and cinema are in decline, and again some people are pegging this squarely on one generation. Millennials are the ones not putting their butts on seats, because they’re too caught up with home streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, and their bone-idle ways are just stopping them from existing outside of an avocado-powered technology vacuum.
While it’s definitely a factor that streaming services are contributing to a change in sports and entertainment viewing, there’s also a few home truths that need to be addressed:
The famously millennial-led Facebook is sinking huge money - $1 billion USD in fact - into live sports streaming and original content on the platform, responding to the rejection by Gen Y of expensive cable and exorbitant ticket prices. It’s already paying significant dividends, with Facebook seemingly on a push to expand their licensing into a variety of sports codes and top-rated shows.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the supposed millennial death knell. But it seems pretty clear that there are elements of traditional industry that are resistant to change - and a failure to adapt to the market has always been a huge red flag in business survival.
Maybe we’re all just getting too damn old.
Our programs were designed by world-renowned coaches. Sessions only take 5-15 minutes. Get started for free with your personalized program now.
Our expert coaches have designed hyper-effective programs that will help
you change the world.
Coach Marlee (your amazing AI-powered personal coach) will analyse your unique traits and goals to let you know which program to start with (and if there are any you should skip)!
Your recommended programs include:
Our expert coaches have designed hyper-effective programs that will help you improve your mental health, wellbeing, productivity, leadership and more.
Coach Marlee (your amazing AI-powered personal coach) will analyse your unique traits and goals to let you know which program to start with (and if there are any you should skip)!
Your recommended programs include:
Take your teaming to the next level in this high impact 9-week team coaching program with Coach Marlee. Discover and optimize complementary strengths and unique talents with your team, reach decisions together quickly, enjoy team cohesion, high energy and motivation as a bonded team.
Impress yourself and others with your attention to detail! Develop a genuine appreciation, energy and stamina for detailed thinking to execute your vision, measure performance in yourself and others while also accelerating your ability to learn and change.
In this high impact eight week program Coach Marlee will help you increase your comfort and confidence to be in positions of influence and leadership, navigate organizational politics and also help you develop greater confidence to compete and influence at the top of your industry or field.
Multiply your impact by embracing the experience and genius within others. During this eight week program Coach Marlee will help you to develop a genuine appreciation for experimentation and data and a willingness to empower the opinions, feedback and insights within your team and others in your life.
Explore, strengthen and stand by what you believe in at work and in life. Trust in your ‘gut feel’ and point of view is especially helpful for influencing, starting your own business, having your personal needs met and for living an authentic and meaningful life.
Inspire yourself and others to see the bigger picture! Increase your comfort and use of abstract and strategic thinking to gain a broader perspective in work and life. Big picture thinking is key in communication, leadership, businesses, selling, marketing, and situations where you need to get the gist of things quickly.
Develop ‘step back’ mastery for increased self-awareness and developing mindsets and tools for constant improvement. Reflection and patience is core to consolidating learning, development, strategic thinking, recharging and living an authentic and meaningful life.
Close the gap between your great ideas and starting them. Energy and drive for starting is key for inventing new things, starting businesses, selling, marketing, socializing or in situations where you need to think on your feet.
Explore, develop or strengthen your emotional intelligence (EQ). Awareness of your and others’ emotions is at the heart of influencing, ‘reading people’, impactful communication, deep relating and authentic connection at work and in life.
Inspire yourself and others to see and achieve grand visions and goals. A focus on goals is especially helpful for inspirational leaders, starting your own business, impactful communication, or for achieving awesome outcomes at work and in life.
“I learned how to chunk up and see the bigger picture before turning to the details”
“Awesome and effective coaching program of helping to increase motivation for goal challenged people. Fallen in love with goals and looking forward to more BHAGs. Highly recommend the coaching for GoalCatcher!”
“This was a good reflection and trigger to make the decision that I was pondering!”
“Awesome and effective coaching program of helping to increase motivation for goal challenged people. Fallen in love with goals and looking forward to more BHAGs. Highly recommend the coaching for GoalCatcher!”
“Trust Your Gut coaching program helped me build deeper levels of self-esteem and how I valued myself vis-a-vis the greater world. It also taught me courage to believe in my beliefs, and that it is not about success or failure, but that we give it a go, a try”
"The resources are awesome, I have referred back to them multiple times"
“What an awesome way to get better at collaborating with my teammates! Thumbs up Marlee!“
“The Team Building coaching program has helped me gain a deeper understanding of my team and how to best lead, communicate and work with them. As a result, collaboration has become so much easier and we can better utilize our creative differences in our decision making - improving our happiness and performance!“
Our tools are trusted by teams like Canva to help improve:
Subscribe to our newsletter for free access to the latest research and expert tips on Mental Health, Wellbeing, Leadership, Career Skills, Team Building & more!
Get started for free with personal (or team) coaching.
Programs are designed by world-renowned coaches & delivered by our incredible (AI-powered) Coach Marlee.
Sessions take just a few minutes and are 100% personalized to fit your unique traits and goals.
Name Surname
Position, Company name
Name Surname
Position, Company name
Name Surname
Position, Company name
Name Surname
Position, Company name
Name Surname
Position, Company name
Name Surname
Position, Company name