Nine years ago, at exactly this time of year, the eleventh edition of this newsletter cited reasons to be thankful for Generation X. In summary, back in 1996, we were thankful because...

• Xers didn't expect job security or pension security.
  
• Xers didn't need to adjust to the information tidal wave or merge onto the information super-highway.
  
• Xers loved thinking outside the box (creative problem solving).
  
• Xers were not caught up in expectations from the workplace of the past.
  
• Xers had high expectations for workplace diversity.
  
• Xers aggressively sought to learn from exciting new experiences.
  
• Xers were responsible for bringing dress-down to the workplace.

Xers are no longer the young people in the workplace---now 28 to 40 years of age. All grown up, today, Xers are the prime age population for nest-building and child-rearing at home; maturity and leadership at work. Yet Xers are still aware that job-security and pension-security were a short-lived myth, while the new economy is very real. Xers know they were not the real children of the information revolution (they grew up as television went from 7 channels to 57), but they also realize nowadays it is less important what you know and more important how quickly you learn new things and put them into action. Xers still don't care for “the way we do things around here,” and continue to push their innovative spirit and entrepreneurial ideas. Xers may not approve of flip-flops in the workplace, but at least they get the appeal and understand that their disapproval is hypocritical and idiosyncratic.

As Generation X becomes the first generation to reach mature adulthood in the real new economy, we are having the peculiar experience of watching our youthful indiscretions proved correct and become mainstream. Sadly it was not the idealistic belief in magical business models and foosball tables in the teaming space that proved precocious. But rather, it was our cynical mistrust of institutions and resolve to fend for ourselves that was so prescient. So this year we are thankful because...

• Xers still expect little from established institutions, but now we know how to squeeze out learning opportunities, relationship opportunities, creative challenges, financial rewards, and work-life balance by selling our time, energy, and creativity.
  
• Xers remain great entrepreneurs; Xers will start businesses like wildfire in the next ten years.
  
• Xers, still self-building, have moved on to family-building and nest-building and Xers will lead the way when it comes to taking care of our selves and our own.
  
• Xers are the perfect lateral recruiting pool for employers seeking mid-career job switchers seeking increased status, authority, prestige, and rewards.
  
• Xers make up a lot of untapped bench strength for mid-level and senior-level leadership talent in organizations if you know how to scout and develop Xers.
  
• Xers may be frustrated by the new upstarts, Generation Y, but we are now the older workers who become wistful when thinking about OUR youthful rebellion.