Editor’s Note
Millennials:
OLD & NEW
I have never thought of myself to be a Millennial. I don’t Snapchat, I don’t even Instagram (unheard of, I
know), and I’m over 30 by a handful of years. I mean, come on, I was around when MySpace was new.
According to the Census Bureau’s defi nition of a Millennial (born between 1982 and 2000), being born
in 1983, I am just two years shy of not being considered a Millennial. And if you go by Pew’s defi nition
(1981-1997) I am even more of a Millennial.
I was fl abbergasted when I realized this news.
And why? Well, in the business world, being
labelled a “Millennial” oft entimes has certain
connotations. Time magazine described this group
as technology-addled narcissists, the Justin Bieber
fans who “boomerang” back home instead of
growing up. And while I have been known to jam to
a Bieber song once or twice at the gym (don’t judge),
I do not consider myself a “Belieber” in the slightest.
To be honest, I was listening to one of those songs on
Pandora and didn’t realize who the heck it was until
the song was over and I was severely embarrassed
that I enjoyed it.
I have found out that, according to an article
on CNN that was published this May, I am
considered an “Old Millennial”, or someone
born before 1988, who still fi nds themselves
communicating primarily through Facebook and
texting but hasn’t gone as far as the other modes
like Snapchat and “Insta”.
In business, being named a Millennial can be
seen as a bad thing, but I think it’s just because the
Generation Xers and Baby Boomers are hesitant
to change the status quo in how work is done and
where it’s done. So, that junior associate sat at home
in her jammies or in a coff ee shop to fi nish that
report you asked for. Does it really matter how or
where the work was done, as long as it’s work that is
done well? As someone who works predominately
from a home offi ce, I can say those kinds of
perks are extremely enticing. And, if anything I
work, longer hours and make myself available
later because of it. I do miss the daily offi ce chit
chat I once had, but if anything, it was more of a
distraction being in the offi ce than working from
home. So, maybe that fl exible offi ce space isn’t
such a bad thing? I fi nd myself going into the offi ce
when things are slow so that I can take the time
to socialize, instead of going in because things are
busy. Very opposite from how work was done 10
years ago or so.
Lawrence Chou, CEO of MGX Copy, a print
company located in San Diego and now also in New
Jersey, is a successful Millennial in the print world.
Find out more about his company culture, his rise
to success in business and how he got into print, all
starting on page 14.
Find this article at
PrintingNews.com/12381440
By Jennifer Wilberschied
Editor
Jennifer Wilberschied is a
seasoned journalist who brings her
award-winning talent and fresh
perspective to the ever-changing
print and graphics industry,
exploring the issues, challenges,
and technology revolving around
the commercial, digital, sign, and
wide-and grand-format markets.
Very Much Alive
More than one pundit has declared “print is dead,” or more specifi cally
“offset print is dead.” But the reality is that despite all the talk about digital
technologies in recent years, offset is still just as vibrant—and profi table—
segment as ever before. Check out the latest updates in offset printing,
starting on page 10.
6 Printing News December 2017 PrintingNewscom
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