How Are We Doing? Dare You Ask?

It happened towards the end of a business lunch at a popular lunch spot. There it sat, hidden from view between a glass of Diet Pepsi and a bowl of salsa, a small printed note on a card in a plastic stand. A simple question, "How are we doing?" Every one at the table immediately assumed that it read "How Did We Do?" but that was not the case. The card asked, "How are we doing?" and went on to provide instruction regarding texting the restaurant's manager. We immediately transmitted a text stating, "All is fine except the manager didn't stop by and say hello." Within 60 seconds the manager made an appearance and received an enthusiastic round of applause from those at the table who immediately began to consider the ramifications of this development for the real estate industry.

Two days later, the local newspaper carried an interesting front page story about a major community event that included a midway with various rides and amusements. The story reported that local teenagers had created and populated a rating system that covered various midway activities. The rides had been rated on the basis of ride time, intensity, "nausea" scale and fun. The "take your chance" amusements had been rated on the basis of required skill, integrity, honesty and hustle.

These two events clearly demonstrate a major dynamic that is impacting today's business world and consumer experience. Boomer generation adults, focused on their day-to-day lives, are not assimilating the vast level of transition that is occurring around them. When they do, they see it as an annoyance rather than a social adaptation.