Tonight, my colleague Shawn and I are heading up to Providence, Rhode Island, to speak at the JLC LIVE convention. It’s always an honor to meet and serve business owners face-to-face—especially in the trades. But no matter where we go, we keep hearing the same frustration:
“Nobody wants to work anymore.”
Sound familiar?
It’s a phrase that’s become almost cliché in recent years. Often, it’s spoken with an eye-roll, a sigh, and some light-hearted finger-pointing at Millennials or Gen Z. And sure, it can be easy to blame an entire generation when team members quit unexpectedly or when it feels impossible to hire the right people.
But here’s the truth: the problem is rarely the generation—it’s the environment.
A Wake-Up Call in an Inbox
Not long ago, I received an email from a business owner that read, “Jason quit. This sucks. I’m hating Millennials.”
We get it—losing a team member stings. But instead of blaming the younger workforce, what if we paused to ask a different question?
What if the real issue isn’t the people—it’s the workplace we’ve created?
The Power of Options
In the past—think the ’60s through the ’90s—people didn’t have as many career options. You worked a job, kept your head down, and hoped to climb the ladder. But today, the landscape is different. Technology has unlocked opportunities previous generations never had. People have options.
And when given the choice between a chaotic, disorganized workplace and a business with clarity, vision, and purpose… the decision is obvious.
It’s not that people don’t want to work. They just don’t want to work for you if the culture lacks direction.
Lead Well.
If you're looking for more resources to work ON your business, we have them.
Want a Loyal Crew? Start Here.
Imagine being able to attract the right people—and actually keep them. What if there was a simple, almost obvious tool that could transform your ability to retain top talent?
It’s not a gimmick. It’s not a bonus structure. It’s not free lunch Fridays.
It’s clarity.
We’re talking about building a culture rooted in transparency, purpose, and vulnerability. A business that communicates clearly and operates with intentional systems.
Clarity is the silver bullet—and most businesses are missing it.
Why People Want to Work With Us
We’re currently in the middle of a hiring process for a new role, and something surprising has happened: it’s getting harder—not because people are dropping out, but because they’re so eager to be part of our team.
Why?
Because they can see the vision.
They understand the mission.
They resonate with the values.
And most importantly—they believe us.
We don’t just say we value people—we back it up with how we operate.
People Don’t Quit Work—They Quit Chaos
The younger generations (and really, all generations) are looking for more than just a paycheck. They’re looking for meaning. They want to feel understood, appreciated, and connected to something greater than themselves.
You can offer that—if you’re willing to do the work.
Here are five essential tools that signal clarity and care to your team:
- Weekly, agenda-driven, leader-led team meetings
- Weekly departmental meetings with clear takeaways
- Consistent one-on-one check-ins
- Annual performance feedback sessions
- Executive-level “Big 5” feedback loops to maintain top-down clarity
A Simple Litmus Test
Still unsure if your business offers clarity? Try this:
Are your vision, mission, values, org chart, job roles, checklists, scorecards, and KPIs written down?
If they’re not written down, they don’t exist. It’s that simple.
And if those things don’t exist, your best people won’t stick around.
Ready to Build the Team You’ve Been Dreaming Of?
Before you blame the next generation, take a closer look at your business. Clarity is a magnet for top talent. When people know where they’re going and why it matters, they stick around.
If you’re ready to take that next step but not sure where to begin, we’d love to help.
Hop on a call with one of our coaches—no strings attached. Ask us anything.
Requirements:
You should be the primary business owner, with at least 3 team members, and generating $1 million+ in revenue.
Let’s talk about how to turn your business into the kind of workplace people don’t want to leave.
Scott Beebe is the founder of Business On Purpose (mybusinessonpurpose.com) and speaker for the AEC industry and author of the book Let Your Business Burn: Stop Putting Out Fires, Discover Purpose, and Build a Business That Matters. Business On Purpose works with business owners to articulate purpose, people, process, and profit to liberate owners from chaos and make time for what matters most.
