Australian Gen Z under 30 entrepreneurs slam 'boomers' calling millennials lazy and entitled
Baby boomers have sparked fury describing Generation Z as ‘lazy, weak babies’ – but three successful young Australians have hit back with the ultimate response: ‘Look at us now’.
A female miner, a former surf coach and a real estate co-founder solely focused on helping fellow young people enter the property market are among a host of entrepreneurs aged under 30 to show off their extraordinary success to Daily Mail Australia.
A generational feud recently erupted on social media after a business guru claimed ‘old-style boomer managers’ are causing younger staff to quit in the wake of a post-Covid jobs crisis phenomenon dubbed the ‘Great Resignation’.
The furore prompted boomers to hit back at ‘lazy’ Gen Z’s – a sociological term to describe the generation born between 1997 and 2012 – complaining about their working conditions.
Some ‘boomers’, those born between 1946 and 1964 during the economic and population ‘boom’ years, have claimed younger workers are ‘weak’ with no clue about the real world and often produce ‘substandard’ work.
But research from GoDaddy/Antenna revealed an entrepreneurial spirit when young Australians aged 18-24 were surveyed.
The survey found Generation Z are prepared to work for themselves and take a pay cut if it means they can have more freedom to pursue what they love.
‘They are the most technologically supplied, formally educated, globally connected, and socially aware generation in history,’ demographer and social researcher Mark McCrindle said.
Daily Mail Australia speaks to three entrepreneurs who made sacrifices for their hard work pay off and are proving the so-called ‘boomers’ wrong.
Young entrepreneur Abby Wilson (pictured) still works full-time in the mines after founding her own apparel and accessories company
Bruno Pedruco Novo (right) and Joanne Marie Speckleton (middle) have inaugural The Apprentice Australia winner Andrew Morello (left) as their mentor
Established by millennials to open the door of home ownership for Gen Z
Bruno Pedruco Novo, 28, went into real estate straight from university and quickly rose through the ranks as a senior investment consultant.
He noticed a gap which didn’t address the needs of the future of the property market and in early 2019, co-founded One Central Property with fellow millennials Joanne Marie Speckleton and Jordan Zapata.
Millennials are those born between 1981 and 1996.
The Sydney-based real estate investment firm grew to a six-figure business within two years and is on track to hit $1million revenue for the first time in 2023.
‘We noticed that the property industry was not adequately serving the needs of Gen Z and millennial clients as many first-time buyers were feeling discouraged and lacked access to a supportive team throughout their property journey,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘As baby boomers downsize and sell their assets in preparation for retirement, younger generations will become the primary buyers and property owners.
‘We wanted to bridge the gap between baby boomer agents/consultants who haven’t been in the same position that millennials have faced when entering the property market.’
His clients have seen an average $70,000 increase in capital growth within the first 12 months.
One Central Property co-founders Bruno Pedruco Novo and Joanne Marie Speckleton hope to hit seven figures in revenue this year
The young trio faced many challenges while developing the company on restricted capital during the Covid-19 pandemic, but working remotely eliminated office space costs.
As Mr Novo focused solely on establishing and reinvesting into the business, his co-founders took on second jobs.
‘During the first year of our business, we worked every weekday and weekend and missed social events with friends and family, only attending them for very special occasions,’ he said.
‘In order to save money, we rarely went out, shopped, or ate out so that whatever money we made, was put back into the business so we could grow each month.’
The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns also presented a significant challenge but turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
‘We were really able to accelerate during this period, we had lower overheads, plus more leads than ever so we really began our business success during this period as people welcomed the idea of purchasing property this way and we were able to build that trust with our clients, even without meeting them in person, or even visiting the property site or seeing inside,’ Mr Novo added.
Mr Novo focused solely on establishing and reinvesting into the business, while his co-founders took on second jobs
Mr Novo believe the misconception about young people is partly due to the younger generation preferring to communicate digitally rather than face-to-face.
He urged everyone, both young and old to not base their entire mindset of particular generations on previous encounters.
‘I think many of the older generations think that younger people only work when they feel like it and are therefore not as successful because they haven’t sacrificed as much as the older generations did,’ Mr Novo said.
‘There is also the perception that younger people don’t take feedback from older people well and tend to ignore their recommendations.
‘Regardless of their generation, everyone has their own unique experiences and challenges that shape their life journey toward their attitudes and behaviors. Ultimately, we are all trying to achieve happiness and success in life but the journey is to get there different.’
He’s also grateful for the advice from business coaching company The Entourage.
Established by Jack Delosa, Australia’s largest business coaching and training provider which has transformed more than 3,500 businesses in over 150 industries.
Andrew Morello, the inaugural winner of The Apprentice Australia has been a mentor for the trio.
Time off from work injury brings miner’s designs to life
A passion for fashion and design was the inspiration behind Dust & Bullets Western.
Miner Abby Wilson, 24, from Dungog in the NSW Hunter region, founded the apparel and accessories company for everyday hardworking Aussies like herself while she had extended time off work due to injury two years ago.
The business made $70,000 revenue in its first 12 months and is tipped to hit double that figure in its second year.
‘It’s always been a dream to be my own boss and when I was off work injured, I was so bored that I used the time to design and do what I love,’ Ms Wilson said.
‘I never in my wildest dreams thought the business would take off on social media the way it has.’
Ms Wilson still juggles the business with full-time work in the mines.
‘Apart from pouring all of my savings into the business, the other main sacrifice is deciding how to use my spare time outside work of whether to go out and party with friends or spend that time on the business,’ she said.
‘It’s an easy choice.’
It’s always been miner Abby Wilson’s dream to be her own boss – and she makes a lot of sacrifices to do so
Dust & Bullets Western made $70,000 revenue in its first 12 months and is tipped to hit double that figure in its second year
She added she wouldn’t have gotten as far as she has without her mentor at The Entourage.
‘There’s so much to owning a business and my mentor gave the confidence and help I needed,’ she said.
Ms Wilson believes older generations are entitled to their opinion and says the work ethic of those her age comes down to how they’ve been raised.
‘My parents instilled the ethic of hard work in me, I’ve always wanted to be busy,’ she said.
‘I’ve been doing the business solo.’
Ms Wilson hopes to leave mining this year to focus solely on Dust & Bullets Western. as plans to expand the product range take off.
Abby Wilson (pictured) believes older generations are entitled to their opinion
Watching TikTok and YouTube videos in lockdown turns into a Mighty idea
Duke Kelleher, 23, admits some of his mates think he’s crazy to spend his days washing driveways and homes while they’re studying at uni and hitting the beach.
‘They think I’m an idiot,’ he laughed.
Nor is he fazed by what older generations think.
‘Makes my life easier not worrying about them,’ he said.
The former surf coach and his friend Jaime Vives co-founded pressure washing business Mighty Mates after losing jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic last year.
The pair from Sydney’s northern beaches spent lockdown watching YouTube and TikTok videos to learn the skills of soft power washing.
Mates Duke Kelleher and Jaime Vives learned the skills of power soft washing though TikTok videos and co-founded Mighty Mates
Jaime Vives (left) and Duke Kelleher (right) co-found Mighty Mates during the 2021 lockdown
They found a market of home owners looking for an alternative solution to the impact high pressure washing had on their homes, roofs, driveways and tennis courts.
They then bought second hand equipment and collected furniture off the street.
A year later, they make in excess of $15,000 per month and are booked out several weeks in advance.
‘The job varies each week. We might earn $3,000 doing a few driveways or we might get $10,000 doing five homes,’ Mr Kelleher said.
‘Every client is new. Because if there won’t be any reoccurring customers until three years down the track
Mr Kelleher’s co-founder Mr Vives recently left the business to start up his own digital marketing business, making the business a one-man band.
‘The goal in the next year is to get another truck and three more employees,’ he said.
Mr Kelleher had this advice for bussing entrepreneurs.
‘Get up, start knocking on doors and keep it simple.’
Young entrepreneur Duke Kelleher makes in excess of $15,000 per month
from London News Station https://ift.tt/dCeUOMV
Comments
Post a Comment