Generational Diversity: The Inclusion of Andy Rooney

For years I have watched the news magazine program 60 minutes every Sunday, usually alongside my family. Something traditional we have always done as a sort of simple immediate family occurrence to end the weekend and start the fresh work/school week together. 

This past weekend the iconic Andy Rooney sang his swan song after spending time with us in our living rooms for over 40 years. He launched his writing career in 1942, reporting for the U.S. Army newspaper Stars and Stripes.


During this time, his personal history gained experiences such as being one of six correspondents who flew on the first American bombing raid over Germany during WWII, and being one of the very first journalists to visit a Nazi Concentration Camp – an experience that forever changed his mind-set on the validity of war. He began writing for CBS in 1964 and then joined the 60 minutes desk in 1978. This last Sunday he offered us his final tidbit of curmudgeonly wisdom one last time with his “Few minutes with Andy Rooney” segment.

Realizing that his sense of experience and awareness is his draw, Mr. Rooney struck an unexpected chord with me. Andy Rooney is a wonderful example of how diversity of thought and, more specifically, generational inclusion has incredible value not only historically and socially, but also creatively and economically. Even his colleagues, such as Morley Safer (who will see his 80^th birthday this coming November), exemplify the strength behind utilizing both the Boomer and Silent Generations.

 Mr. Rooney is retiring at the age of 92, although according to him, “writers never retire”. He also wants to be very clear that he never considered himself a television personality, but rather a writer that reads what he writes.

60 Minutes is the most successful broadcast in U.S. television history based strictly on ratings. The program secured classic TV ranks after being the top-rated program for five of its seasons, joining suite with equally historic hits All in the Family and The Cosby Show. This achievement has been surpassed only by the goliath that is American Idol. However, 60 Minutes was a top ten show for 23 seasons in a row (1977–2000), a title they still hold today.

Viewers are tuning in expressly for an experienced generational opinion – another example of how cross generational conglomeration provides exciting and out of the box experiences for an audience or clients.

As we live in a society of the “here and now”, we often classify people very quickly when it comes to age. The toxic stereotyping of “younger equals ‘naïve’, while older means ‘out of touch’” is harmful to the emotional work environment, as well as the organization as a whole.

Human beings are living longer, healthier lives. With the global economic dive that we are still recovering from, many people must continue working well past their anticipated retirement age. However, this naturally imposed work-life diversity should be recognized as the privilege it is. We must consistently embrace the gift of generational diversity. It is with the inclusion of any demographic and co-operative ideas that our organization’s potential can be continuously elevated. To reject any idea purely based on its origin is a disservice to yourself, your business, and quite frankly an emotional assault on the courageous thinker.

Andy Rooney is most certainly that: a courageous thinker. Despite the fact that he has offered more than a few opinions that raised an even larger number of eyebrows, 60 Minutes would not have been then nor will be in the future the same without his presence.

We must be, and fill our lives with, courageous thinkers. Our personal histories will always play into the decisions we make and the ideas we create. Including people whose personal histories are unequivocally more experienced and rich in navigating those decisions and creations can only be considered a wise option.

“I believe if all the truth were known about everything in the world, it would be a better place to live.”

-Andy Rooney

The Diversity of Joe

When working in any industry, even when off the clock, one has a tendency to notice work-related details as they happen across them while going about their day. A plumber walking down the street might notice that a discarded pipe is actually a galvanized steel pipe, and the reason it’s being disposed of is because it’s not environmentally-friendly and will corrode over time. A florist’s eye might be caught by the inappropriate use of a Night-blooming Cereus in a park that is strictly closed in the evenings. What’s exciting for me as a diversity and inclusion professional, is the fact that the details that catch my attention are quite often rooted in the people I encounter.

I feel fortunate to work in a profession that constantly introduces me to people that I believe embody everything that I and my group of companies stand for: equality, diversity, empowerment, innovation and positive cultural cohesion.

I’d like to tell you about my friend  Joseph, the spouse of a colleague of mine. When I met Joseph, I was astounded as he began to describe to me his day-to-day life in detail. He is a living example of how diverse individuals function within a variety of inclusive work environments, bringing home the point that, while the workplace may change, the culture of diversity and inclusion is everywhere, becoming increasingly, socially and economically imperative as time goes on.

Five days a week, Joseph works 9-5 for the Government of Ontario as a bilingual public information agent, ensuring that accurate information is available to the Ontario, Canadian, and quite often international public in both English and French. He shares his office with co-workers that represent over 20 different countries of origin, who in turn provide services in over 25 languages.

When most people call it quits from their work-day at 5, Joseph’s time card isn’t punched just yet. One of the things that defines Joseph as so individually diverse is that, in addition to working with the Ontario Government, he is also a professional classical singer, having sung all across Canada, the U.S. and Europe, in a multitude of languages.

As a Heldentenor (another example of his complex diversity for those of you who know how rare this type of tenor is), Joseph has appeared with the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto, on multiple occasions over the last several years. His favourite production was War and Peace and you may have even caught his picture in the Globe and Mail, boldly singing in Russian on the front page of the Arts section.

The performing arts industries, especially opera, are an incredible example of how diversity of thought on a business level can create innovative experiences for an audience. Take the Canadian Opera Company’s 2007 production of The Marriage of Figaro for instance: an operatic work, based on a French play, sung in Italian, written by an Austrian composer, with an English conductor, directed by a Canadian director in a Toronto opera house. With tickets ranging from $22.50 to $318 and the consistency of playing to sold out houses of 2071 seats, this opera company is a prime example of how a diverse team, working on a diverse product can create revenue and appeal for an organization.

Though the curtain may have come down, Joseph’s work week is not over just yet. As many have to take on several jobs to support their families, he is also hired to sing for the Rosedale Presbyterian Church, where he is the tenor section lead of a multi-generational choir, singing religious hymns and anthems every Sunday Service. While Joseph is not of the Presbyterian faith – and considers himself to be Buddhist if he “had to choose” – the congregation welcomes him with open arms. It’s not a rare occasion when a lovely women in her late 80’s should stop Joseph on his way out of a service, to tell him just how glad she is that he is there, because hearing him sing is something she looks forward to every Sunday. Despite his alternate views on faith, he devotes a portion of his work-life to enriching the religious experiences of those that care deeply for their Presbyterian background.

I could go even further when describing the many facets of my dear friend Joe, including his “self- proclaimed” overzealous passion for books, his adorable Parson Russell Terrier, or how he enjoys running half-marathons and that his husband’s name is Michael.

While you may not live and work in such culture-based environments as Joseph, I truly couldn’t resist the opportunity to illustrate all the magnificent varied ways diversity is being represented both on a personal as well as an organizational level in this one person’s life.

I encourage you to be inspired by Joseph, as I have been, and to examine your own personal facets of diversity. Then don’t stop there. Examine the diversity of all of your environments, both at home and work. By constantly striving to understand ourselves and our surroundings, we can thoughtfully assess the best ways to naturally co-operate with one another and mindfully move forward in business and life. Our goal should consistently be to place ourselves in situations where we are encouraged and even potentially required to interact with others of varied backgrounds, beliefs and passions, all the while having a firm grasp of our own. It is this hands-on approach to multiculturalism that will further educate and in turn innovatively elevate all of our futures.

“A human being has so many skins inside, covering the depths of the heart. We know so many things, but we don’t know ourselves. Why, thirty or forty skins or hides, as thick and hard as an ox’s or bear’s, cover the soul. Go into your own ground and learn to know yourself there”

~ Meister Eckhart, German writer and Theologian, 1260-1328