Having read some books on generation gap issues, and having had a couple of classes on the 4 different generations, it seems that it is a lot like studying different cultures. Understanding another culture starts with understanding our own culture and values first, and then comparing it with the other culture and seeing the difference. Of course, the characteristics presented here are some general tendencies, and may not represent every person. Not all Baby Boomers, Generation X, or Millenials are cut from a cookie-cutter mold, but many similar values and perspectives exist within each generation that can be condensed and used as a starting point for understanding.Baby Boomers (age 43 - 61), of which I am a part, have been described as hard-working and tend to have a very high work ethic. They are competitive in all that they do. They work long, hard hours, and are basically a "live to work" generation. A prominent value is how successful they are in their career. Baby Boomers and those they work with make fairly good teams, having a common goal to get the job done. They'll sacrifice weekends and holidays, and usually do what it takes to get things done. Boomers will routinely take on other tasks outside their job description if that is what it takes to "git 'er done."Boomers tend to define themselves by what they do. Work is very important to them and to their sense of self worth and also their net worth. They define their lives, and define who they are, by what they do. Boomers value personal development. Authority figures can be loved or hated at the same time. Boomers yearn for visible rewards, such as certificates, awards, plaques and trophies. Trophies and other badges of honor demonstrate that they did a good job. They want to be rewarded with jobs of higher responsibility and want to get promotions. They need to be told that they did a good job, and want their supervisors to acknowledge the good job they did. They also need lots of material things, which are tangible rewards for their hard work, and they want lots of money. Money drives them. It is the reward for their labors and a measure of their success. They strive to build growing careers and professions, and tend to be workaholics. They will also quickly go into debt to achieve their vision of the American material Dream. Then they had kids.The spawn of the boomers are the Generation X (GenX) kids (ages 28 - 42) and Millennial kids (age