Businesses and marketers take note. There's no way to ignore the
Net Generation; they're 81 million strong. (That's bigger than the
Boomer generation!) It's time we get to know them, intimately. Don
Tapscott's Grown Up Digital gives you the opportunity to see how
Net Geners think, act, learn, purchase, and relate. The book is
packed with information yet written in a casual, first person voice
making it easy to read and enjoy. All around us we're seeing the
impact of this intelligent, savvy, self-confident generation.
They're in our workplace, in our homes (if you're a Boomer), and on
the Web critiquing and customizing our products and services. Say
what you will...they're coddled by parents who hover and never miss
a soccer game...but understand we are learning the ways of the
social Web from them. And they are pushing the envelope of what is
possible. They fully democratize information and access to it; they
collaborate across geographical boundaries, and they are highly
mobile and always connected.
While reading Grown Up Digital, I realized I have been a bit set in
my traditional Boomer generation thinking (rather linear). Today's
30-year-old doesn't think twice about your age or ethnicity or your
years of experience. They simply reach out and instinctively look
for ways to collaborate (rather non-linear). If you have Net Geners
in your workplace, learn from this book how to manage and incent
them. If you have them in your home, revel in their technical and
social networking expertise. And if you market to them, deeply
understand their motivations, desires, and demands for the products
and services they purchase.
I've been reading Don's books for over 10 years. He wrote the
foreword to my book, The Age of Engage [full disclosure]. I like
the way Don thinks, and the thorough research, thoughtfulness and
creativity he puts in his books!