How about blaming it on your generation? Isn't your generation the one that raised this generation? I don't buy into all of the 'this generation is completely irresponsible" BS. If it was true then why would I, as a 20 year old not only own my own business, but be completely revamping a broken business so it can be profitable again? (and there are plenty of other people on this board that are under 30 and making it work..Tre and Ryno come to mind)
I live in a county of about 30,000 people and twice a month I get together with other young business owners and have a powwow where we talk about whats working and whats not as far as marketing, how we are meeting our challenges, hiring/firing, and anything else that affects our businesses. We have about 15 people there every meeting. Some of them are taking over there family farms, some of them have started a business from scratch, some of them (like me) have purchased existing businesses, bu we are all completely committed to making our businesses work, no matter the cost in time, effort, and money.
There is one fellow at these meetings that is around 26 (I think) that owns a construction company. He took this company over from his alcoholic father when he was 18. When he first took over none of the local supply shops would extend him any credit because of the way his father had been and the company had lost alot of respect in the community because of less than satisfactory work. He took it over though, changed the name, weeded through the employees, and rebuilt it from the ground up. In less then ten years he has not only made it profitable, but made it one of the most respected construction firms in our area.
By the way...his alcoholic father was from your generation. It seems to me that many of the old folk that are your parents had this same discussion in the 60's and 70's about you. If I can believe anything that the history books teach I don't think that those of you in your teens and twenties in those decades had the greatest name for yourselves either...but you turned out ok.
Just give us time...we'll come around peace