Sniff the air…the “cheese” done moved again...

Hello friends! Big Mama’s Playbook has several NEW grants: Hearst Foundations, Larry Fitzgerald Foundation, and MANY more!  Please share all these grants with your nonprofits!  This week’s thoughts: A major generational shift is taking place right now. And I want to make this point, in the attention-grabbing tone to make you sit up; the precautionary words of Big Mama, “Baby, you need to listen, the cheese done moved again - and it won’t be the last time.”  That’s the truth many leaders and job seekers are facing in today’s workplace.  Question: did you know that Millennials have now overtaken Boomers as the largest adult generation in America? Well according to Pew Research, Millennials (born around 1981–1996) became the largest back in 2019.

Now thousands of the federal employees (and a likelihood that many are Millennials) who accepted buyouts from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) yet were paid through September 30^th are flooding the volatile job market, seeking new opportunities with thousands of others. These seasoned professionals along with Gen X and Boomer generations bring decades of knowledge – well they too are navigating a “new normal” traumatized by a maze of uncertainty, transition and learning how to reinvent themselves.  This means change.

In a post from last year, you met four characters that live in a maze, Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw from the book, Who Moved My Cheese?, representing how people react differently when metaphorically, the “cheese” shifts. Teaching us that change isn’t optional. Change is constant. So, this ‘Big Mama’ is cautioning us to pay attention - because that metaphor is alive and well and playing out in our workforce. We have four active generations in the workforce, all with a stake in the future – and all expecting leadership that sees them, values them, and adapts to their reality. Yes, this is a rare moment and a call to action.

Millennials now the majority. Millennials, by their numbers, mean they set the tone: and they want (for some, they require or demand) work that has purpose, flexibility, equity, and impact. Typically, like ‘Sniff’ and ‘Scurry’ – many are quick to notice shifts or “signs of change” and ready to move on but can’t. Instead, there’s this thing called a wave of ‘passive resistance’ as many are facing the financial realities and return-to-office mandates – with other challenges: economic uncertainty, uneven job growth, and significant layoffs in some larger sectors. To me, it’s a landscape similar to the “dot-com” boom in the late 90’s/early 2000. Outside of the tech sector back then, many Boomers and Silent generations (their parents and grandparents) in the workforce, faced similar upheavals and financial struggles. Back then for Millennials they were just kids – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Cabbage Patch Kids, Game Boys – sound familiar? 

Boomers facing bias. Data and research studies on human behaviors, and attitudes, continually remind us that Boomers (and now increasingly Gen X) are confronted with age discrimination in hiring, promotions, and respect. Many leaders like to play ‘Hem’ here - ignoring the value and wisdom that might be right in front of them or waiting for “normal” to return (CLUE: it’s not). DOGE buyouts, drastic cuts and elimination of Federal grants, have only added more seasoned professionals to the pool of job seekers – all these folks with wisdom, resilience, and expertise who deserve to be recognized - not sidelined or not paid their worth.

Gen X: The often-overlooked bridge. Gen X (1965–1980) is our smallest generation and many now “sandwiched” - holding down families, leading organizations, or if they’re in middle management, being led by leaders from different generations - sandwiched again). Many are independent, practical, resourceful - more like Haw. They may start off skeptical, but will adapt, “play along” to keep things steady – and now they’re getting tired of responsibility. Even as kids, carried responsibilities – as the “latch key” kids. They learned not to put their “eggs in one basket” - hence many have a lot of education, certifications and debt – being resourceful. And now finding themselves “overqualified”. But that was then…

Gen Z: The next wave.  Gen Z (1997–2012+) is described as fast, vocal, and values-driven. They’re not afraid to Scurry down new paths when something doesn’t align with their values. They bring energy and urgency yet need mentors/guidance to influence them now, not later.  Reflections from Big Mama.  

In “Who Moved My Cheese?” Sniff notices change, Scurry moves quickly, Hem stays stuck, and Haw learns (slowly but surely) to step out and find new opportunities. A story that’s a mirror for what is happening to many of us (including me) right now. Some thoughts: 

• Don’t be Hem. Don’t stay frozen, waiting for yesterday to come back, it’s already gone. 

• Be more Sniff. Watch for generational workplace shifts, societal trends, and cultural cues.   

• Be willing to Scurry. Overthinking? Suffering from ‘FOBO’ – fear of a better option?

• Learn like Haw. Change can sting at first, but it carries lessons and new opportunities.  

Everyone’s trying to find their cheese. From Boomers to Gen. Z, one of our jobs as leaders, is to notice, move, educate, and help guide others through the maze. This moment calls for it.

Please share this post and the grants in Big Mama’s Playbook! Contact me for a free 1-hour consult! I’m taking a break for a couple of weeks, but I will return in November! 

Thanks for your support!

Weekly wisdom, in their own words:

“You learn about equality in history and civics, but you find out life is not really like that.”