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editor’s note
The Truth About Millennials
Art Director Kristin Brenemen Managing Editor Amber Helsel Assistant Editor Micah Smith Editorial Assistant Adria Walker Copy Editor Ronni Mott Editorial Writers Tommy Burton // Dustin Cardon // Genevieve Legacy // R.L. Nave // Zachary Oren Smith // Kendra Wright Listings Editor // Latasha Willis Editorial Interns Joshua Clayton // John Creel Brian Gordon // Deja Harris // Guy King Maya Miller // Jordan K. Morrow // Miles Thomas Emerald Alexis Ware // Nia Wilson Photography Imani Khayyam // Brice Media Ad Design Zilpha Young Design Interns // Joshua Sheriff // Tabitha Yarber Business and Sales Advertising Director // ,JNCFSMZ (SJGÞO Account Executive // Brandi Stodard Marketing Coordinator // Natalie West Distribution Manager // Richard Laswell Bookkeeper // Melanie Collins Assistant to the CEO // Inga-Lill Sjostrom Operations Consultant // David Joseph President and Publisher Todd Stauffer CONTACT US Story ideas and pitches // editor@boomjackson.com Ad Sales // ads@boomjackson.com BOOM Jackson 125 S. Congress St., #1324, Jackson, MS 39201 p 601.362.6121 f 601.510.9019 Would you like copies of BOOM Jackson for recruiting, welcome packets or other corporate, institutional or educational uses? Call 601.362.6121 x16 or email natalie@jacksonfreepress.com. BOOM Jackson is a publication of Jackson Free Press Inc. BOOM Jackson, which publishes every other month, focuses on the urban experience in Jackson, Miss., emphasizing entrepreneurship, economic growth, culture, style and city life. © 2015 Jackson Free Press Inc.
Cover photo of Ebony Lumumba Brice Media, fashion info, p 57 8
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his morning I had a PR email called gaged team members who value collaboration over eye-rolling. I’m pinching myself at “12 Millennials Actually Doing Something.” I shook my head at what that how lucky we are with our current staff. My advice to millennials (and every“actually” implied about a group that one) is to slow down and learn to be present is often maligned; we usually have at least that many Gen Y-ers doing amazing work at any now so that voice in your head doesn’t tell you for the rest of your life that it’s always one time right here at BOOM Jackson. greener somewhere else. I I do get where it comes watch many young workers from, and every employer I not be able to sit still long know has funny millennial enough to hone their craft stories: the ones offended (thanks, tech), or who are at having to tell co-workers so impatient that they end where they are; ones who up in much browner grass. suddenly demand raises, Successful people have sabbaticals or permission a learning mindset through to work from home on the life. We never know everyvery day everyone else is thing, and we can learn from trying to make a huge deadothers of all generations. line; ones who think staying Donna Ladd, We must seek to be positive at a job a whole year is exCEO & Editor in Chief because a negative echo cruciating; ones who want chamber gets boring fast, to spend a third of the day regardless of your skills. on breaks; ones who think When I see someone work is a perpetual party with them at the center; ones whose parents of any age who seeks out rich experiences, regularly shifts the focus away from themcall to demand one of the above. I won’t lie: These things do happen a selves, enjoys engaging with people youngbit too often with some millennials. I blame er and older, and who eagerly wants to learn something every day, I know they will go parents in most instances; I’ve heard a stunning number of situations where parents are far and do big things (and it’s the recipe for being a good journalist). They are building telling their kids they shouldn’t have to “pay dues,” work hard or be questioned. One lasting, lifelong relationships that will help them climb steps to the top of their field. young woman who freelanced for me once For too many millennials, warped exput out her hand when I was explaining why pectations are leading to depression and deadlines and honoring story length (and anxiety. A good antidote to this scathing being nice to my editors) were important self-focus is to turn outward to helping the and said, “I don’t take criticism.” Well, then. world, which most millennials say they want The good news you don’t always hear amid the horror stories is that not all mil- to do, anyway. Learn from the 2015 Young Influentials in this issue—most of them lennials were raised this way (and there are older folks who do the same things, even if Generation Y—and go make a difference. Maybe that’s in your job, maybe it’s after not told to by their parents). work, or both. The best way to stop thinking The BOOM offices are literally filled with people under 40 who are positive, work about yourself is to get outside your head hard, want to learn from others, embrace and truly embrace other people, what they feedback, and are too busy to think about need and what they can help you learn. And themselves all the time or specialize in com- when you assist others, the universe returns the favor. Try it and see. plaining. They are building good products with an eye toward changing the world and working to build their craft over time. When I returned from a recent reporting trip in New York City, I was delighted when several staffers asked when we’re having our summer Saturday team retreat and even suggested locations. These are en-
July - August 2015 // The City’s Business and Lifestyle Magazine
TRIP BURNS
Editor-in-Chief and CEO Donna Ladd
// by Donna Ladd
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