Never Let a Phone Do a Laptop’s Job
If you've followed my content for any period of time, you probably know I'm obsessed with behavioral science. It's been a passion of mine for the last decade, and it plays a vital role in my coaching work. One of my favorite dynamics of behavioral science is the differences between generations. Even before I get to know someone, I have a baseline understanding of some of their behavioral wirings just based on their age. Here are some examples (these are generalizations, not absolutes):
Baby Boomers are very secretive about money, while GenZ and younger Millennials tend to be extremely transparent (almost shockingly so).
Most Millennials weren't taught about money as kids.
Boomers and GenX are more likely to value possessions, while Millenials and GenZ are more likely to lean into experiences.
GenZ is far less likely to let finances drive their decision-making (especially job selection).
Boomers and GenX prefer to purchase products from people, whereas Millenials and GenZ prefer to buy directly (without the relational aspect).
Some of these differences are profound, while others may seem trivial. However, there's no denying that the era we grew up in has left an indelible mark on how we perceive the world today. Despite sharing the same world, we all interact with it in our unique ways.
That brings us to today's topic. There's one fun little nuance that I've watched play out for years. Then, as I was scrolling through some news articles last night, I finally saw it discussed. You can read about it here. In short, there's a silent generational divide about how transactions should be made. Let's do a little quiz. Answer "yes" or "no" to each.
Would you buy the following item on your phone?
Laundry Detergent?
Movie Tickets?
Kitchen Gadgets?
Hotel Room?
Fridge?
Airline Flight?
Signing an Apartment Lease?
Buying a Car?
Signing Documents to Buy a House?
Some of you started sweating as you moved down the list. Where the anxiety kicks in is probably an indication of your age. The cultural phenomenon at hand is how the younger generation will literally make the most significant transactions in their life on their little cell phone screen. I gotta be honest. As an old Millennial, I start getting anxious after the hotel room bullet point. That's my cutoff. Anything further down merits busting the computer out. No quesitons, no excuses. To me, that's just being prudent. To someone younger, it's a paranoid waste of time.
I once had a young client purchase a car using only his cell phone. I about had a heart attack. I buy hotel rooms monthly on my phone, but the idea of buying flights on my phone sounds terrifying. And don't even get me started about legal documents. Give me the biggest screen I can find!
What's the point? It’s NOT to make sweeping criticisms of any generation. Rather, it's to highlight how differently each of us experiences and interacts with the world. Explore those differences. Celebrate those differences. Laugh about those differences. Learn from those differences. We have so much to learn.....from both those older AND those younger.