The Wisdom of Youth (Networking)

Read a wonderful article on the Forbes site today (thanks Bruce Kneuer for pointing it out!) called Why You Should be Networking With People Half Your Age by Gina Amaro Rudan.

It certainly won’t come as a surprise that the germinating ideas for Dancing With Digital Natives came from people half my age. In fact, many of my first observations for this project arose from interactions with interns and new hires.

It is funny, really, that Rudan needs to point out how much one can learn from people of all ages. I mean, like, duh! However she’s got some really great insights about “reverse mentorships” and about how they go against the traditional hierachal structure that most of us in older generations have so deeply ingrained.

She encourages us all to seek out some “Fat Brains” :

“… whip smart, globally oriented, entrepreneurial-minded 20-somethings who challenge me to live in their fully wired, multi-dimensional world.

…The Fat Brains are Gen Yers anywhere between the ages of 20 and 35, also known as “Digital Natives,” born and raised in the digital age. It’s not just their proficiency in technology that distinguishes them, though; it’s also their crazy problem-solving skills, their McGuyver-like resourcefulness, and their 24/7 engagement in their own  cultural experience.”

Right on. Now who’s ready to flip mentorship on its head and find and friend some Fat Brains?

Read Why You Should be Networking With People Half Your Age.