YP Gut Check
May 14th, 2009 by Adrienne OlsonGut check.
New N.D. Census numbers are out. The number of young adults in the state is up 13 percent. I couldn’t help myself; I craned my neck to see the television screen. ‘Young adults’ is defined by the U.S. Census as people aged 18 to 24. It’s not me by a long shot. Uff da.
Members ask me all the time what the age limit is to join the Chamber’s Young Professionals Network. The Chamber answer is that we don’t card at the door. The target audience was originally set at 21 to 35, but new marketing materials assure that young isn’t defined by age.
Attend a YPN event and you’ll see that there is no range of ‘number of years’ alive that will describe this group. There are plenty of ways to describe them¦
Investment in Self
A YP does not resist change. They’ve embraced it as part of life as technology continuously alters the way they do their jobs, connect with friends and family and spend their free time. This sets them up for a lifetime of learning and sharing. It’s what drives an entrepreneur to share his/her gifts with the world, what leads to the innovations that will help us live more sustainable lives and what helps us make the world a better place for our kids. As Henry Ford said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.”
Investment in Community
A YP knows he/she can move. Because they are continually investing in themselves, they are among the more sought after job candidates. That equates to choice and mobility. Those who have chosen to call Fargo Moorhead home dedicate time, talent and treasure to making it the best place possible to follow a career path, create a network and root a family. When our river rose out of its banks this spring, the YPN mobilized virtually through social networking tools and hit the sandbag lines en masse.
Energy and Passion
You don’t meet many jaded YPs. Whether it’s because they haven’t been in the professional world long enough to lose optimism or they simply have faith that they can make a difference, YPs have enthusiasm about their careers, their networks (more simply known as friends), and their piece of the American dream. They invest in themselves in countless ways, not the least of which is active engagement in the Chamber.
So at 33, you bet I’m a YP. How about you? What characteristics mark you as a Young Professional? Send your comments!
Connect with the YP mindset!
Get the lowdown on people are using social networking to promote their businesses and themselves. The Chamber’s Young Professionals Network will host “Getting the Most Out of Social Networking” on Thursday, May 28 at the NDSCS Skills & Technology Training Center. Join us at noon for lunch and learning. Register online.
1 Comment »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL
The name YP is a standard term used across the country for the (varied) demographic that falls into these networks. Unfortunately it can make people think a YP needs to be defined in this little box. You do not need to be in your 20’s nor be a so-called “professional” profession.
As a active member of our local YPN, I know that many of us make a conscience effort to make people feel comfortable when they join. So, if you have an interest in the YPN but are unsure if you belong, the fact that you are showing an interest more than likely means you do belong. I urge you to get in touch with Nicole at the Chamber who can also get you connected with other YPNers. Attend something like our monthly Happy Hours (no registration, no cost, no membership required) to test it out and meet many YPs.
I never answered Adrienne’s question. My YP characteristics include getting energy from meeting & talking to fellow YPs, doing my part to make Fargo-Moorhead a better place, and helping connect people whether it is for new friends, a new job, or new business contacts. Being involved in the YPN has done wonders for me personally & professionally, and I can’t promote it enough. By the way, I am definitely not in my 20’s.
Comment by John Machacek — May 15, 2009 @ 10:18 am