Kamala's coconut tree metaphor ????

We all love a good meme. And some people tend to generate more of them than others.

Take Kamala Harris, the new Democratic nominee. She certainly provokes some interesting reactions all over the world-wide web. The Kamala Harris coconut tree connection has recently resurfaced, and is fast becoming a tongue-in-cheek metaphor used to support her campaign.

Also, to mock her penchant for allusions, but mostly, yes, to support.

So what was it that the veep said that made it go so viral?

Nothing earth-shattering, actually. She merely talked about (1) young people; and (2) their intrinsic connection to the community around them (despite the young people's tendency to ignore said connection).

Judge this for yourself: while discussing the importance of families, communities and environment to ensure success for young people, Kamala Harris pointed out that “none of us just live in a silo.”

“My mother used to — she would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say to us, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?'” the vice president recalled, with a giggle. “‘You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.'”

But this is true, right?! Kamala, you're the woman after my own heart. I agree, plain and simple.

How many of us resort to an impossibly energetic eye roll when we see that purposeful distancing of the young generation from those that came before them? I suppose that desire to do things your way is symptomatic of any optimistic exuberance of youth... but really, truly: Gen Z, you do exist in the context of all that came before you.

'How does it apply to your immediate subject of networking, Alisa?', I hear your ask, somewhat impatiently.

But it does. Whenever I am at events, I rarely see an enthusiastic Gen Zedder making a beeline for a Boomer (or a Gen Xer, or even a Millennial - they're all covered by the term Boomer all too often).

Connecting between generations is not a done thing, actually. And everyone loses as the result.

So, courtesy of Kamala Harris,????is becoming my go-to reference for doing business in the context of multigenerational environments.

Calls to action?

1 - Get those networking skills pitch-perfect;

2 - Respect generational differences; and

3 - Embrace the fun of connecting intergenerationally!