Last week at AT&T in Atlanta, I had the honor of bringing The Hunt to the Brand Innovator’s conference “Marketing to Millennials” as a keynote speaker. Millennials are Generation Y – and the Y stands for “WHY”… These are a generation of people with incredible buying power who respect transparency and relationships. They strive to be indefinable but they might just be the biggest group of Above & Clear hunters this world has ever seen.

I say that because a Desired Outcome is key for this group. They want to work, but on their own terms. They want to be defined by their very lack of description. And I’m fairly sure not one of them wants to wear the label of “hunter” but that’s exactly what they are. Unconventional, untethered and free, Millennials are reimagining this world and shaping their future based on what they know they don’t want.

Here are the Pillars of The Hunt, redefined for the Millennial Generation:

Consciousness: Millennials know how to be present, in the moment, alive and aware. They rise above the noise and clutter of their ego and are able to predict developments and stay on track.

Authenticity: In this world of social media, authenticity strikes hard and fast with Millennials. Do not hide behind a Facebook or Twitter handle and expect to get away with it. Authenticity and transparency go hand-in-hand and millenials want to know about and then build a relationship with your brand in order to trust it.

Leverage: Millenials leverage their minds and power at every opportunity. They know their value and use it to define everything from their work hours and location to their benefit package.

Real-Time Execution: If there is anyone who understands real-time, it’s Millennials. They were raised in a world of reality TV and Twitter as a source of news before it gets to CNN or (gasp!) traditional news channels. They know how to execute in real time, targeting on-going decisions to that ever-present DO.

Flow: The gold medal, the true prize. Everything this generation does it to reach a state of Flow, where the targets line up and come to them directly. They see the world clearly, own their Desired Outcomes and are committed to doing what it takes to claim them. They align their actions and decisions with their authentic motivations building on their relationship and creating their own Hunt.

I’m was born a decade too late to be a Millennial, but I embody so many of their truths: doing what I love, so work is my joy; balancing life with work, so I get to enjoy my life; knowing that the trail I leave behind is as important as the one in front of me. Millennials are the new badass hunters and I cannot wait to see the trophies they start bringing home. Who will be the next Mark Zuckerberg?

Be prepared. It’s the motto of the Boy Scouts of America and some of the best advice in the world. Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boys Scouts, did not merely mean to be prepared for emergency, but be ready in mind and spirit for struggle and meet with a strong heart any challenge that arises. To be prepared for life – to live happily and without regret, knowing you have done your best.

Preparation is key for any meeting, pitch or interview. When I deliver a keynote speech, I make it a priority to know who the important players are in the company or organization, as well as familiarizing myself with the goals and pain points they are seeking to resolve. I recently spoke at North American Bancard’s international sales conference at the Motor City Casino.   The vendors needed to be fired up to sell new products, while being kept informed on key changes to technology, as well as being reassured that they are leveraging the power of NABancard across the globe. I dug in and armed myself with all the information; and it paid off in the Q&A when questions were asked that I could not have otherwise answered.

Preparation is also a necessary tool for guarding your time. By doing the prep work necessary you can make a quick, clean kill of the target you are after – the deal, the promotion, the new budget, the new job. Being prepared means that you position yourself to be in the right places at the right time and can leverage every opportunity.

Proper preparation gives you:

Confidence. When you walk into any situation knowing you have done the legwork, it’s like wearing your finest suit and knowing you look your best. And confidence can fill you up with the unknown “it” that people have a hard time resisting.

Leverage. When you are prepared and armed with your Desired Outcome as well as the needs of your target you can leverage that knowledge to anticipate next moves.

Opportunity. When you combine confidence and leverage, you are putting yourself in the position for opportunity to find you. The elements for success are in your territory thanks to your experience, observation and preparation.

Freedom. The simple act of preparation will unchain you from your inner Judge – the voice that preys on your fear. You free to focus on your plan and your target.

Do not leave the prep work to the last minute. Take some advice from Robert Baden-Powell and David Farbman, and get prepared NOW so you can live happily and without regret, knowing you have done your best.

I can’t wait for opening day, seeing hard frost as it melts or the dew on the ground, hearing the first shots ring out. When hunters take to the fields next Saturday for opening day, you can be sure they are pumped up and ready to hunt. Every hunter should follow five steps to ensure they get the shot at the trophy they seek. When you apply these five things to the target in your own life, you will hit more of your bulls-eyes!

• Study your prey. I study the deer herd up north year-round. I watch the bucks mature, make notes on their trails, where they eat, where they live. I pay attention to the details of their lives. If you are targeting a new job, a new love interest or a long-term goal, study that business, that person, or how others have reached their goals. These details will contribute immeasurably to your success.
• Narrow your scope and set your desired outcome. Trophy hunters never walk into a field guns a-blazing. We wait and choose and negotiate for the deer we want. You should to do the same. Once you set your desired outcome, you can tailor everything toward hitting your target.
• Gather your gear. Most hunters have unique and personal rituals which can border on the superstitious. For example, I wear the same hand warmer/muffo, bring along the same number of sandwiches, and have even found the perfect water cup that makes no noise when I drink. What gear is important to hit your target? Lucky pens, an amazing resume, whatever makes you feel powerful and secure, pack it up and be ready to go.
•  Get in the field. I can visualize taking down that buck all I want, but when it comes down to it, I have to be in the moment and ready when the time comes. Get out there, visit the place you want to work, check out the places you’d like to share with someone special, hit the gym. Very little happens at home, sitting on the couch. What are you waiting for?
• Take your shot when it is time. You’ve prepared, you’ve studied, and you have invested your heart and your head in this moment. Aim carefully; be confident and go for it. In this heart-pounding, exhilarating moment, you feel so fully alive; you won’t want to wait before starting all over again.

You don’t need to wait for November 15; your hunt for success starts now.

When I was a kid, Halloween was a day. Just one day wearing costumes, running like demons through the neighborhood and staying out after dark. I would put on the camouflage and hunted for the house with the best treats.   As an adult, I love an opportunity to slap on a costume and a fake tattoo and celebrate the Halloween “season” with my sons.  Trips to the Detroit Zoo’s Zoo Boo, getting lost in corn mazes, my family and I hit “costume required” events as often as possible in October.

Here’s the thing, I know people who wear costumes every day. They put on a suit like a coat of armor, burying their true self deep under layers of worsted wool and tailored shirts and silk ties. They wrap themselves in layers of camouflage designed to distract and draw people away from who they truly are.

We all know these people, trapped by fear and convention into playing a game of pretend. The ones who think, “if the world knew who I am, they would never accept me.” Imagine the stress of living in a constant state of pretending. It’s fun for a while, but eventually, we are all just human beings with quirks and charm, moments of brilliance and brutality, hearts beating and thoughts racing, looking for the key to life. And I promise you, being yourself will unlock doors in unexpected places. It’s like having a master key to your own life.

Every day of my life I do my best to be myself. Jeans and t-shirt, suit and tie, fake tattoo and pirate hat, I am ME. I was speaking at an event recently when a man in the audience said, “what do you do when being who you are causes people to immediately stop listening to what you say?”   I say, acknowledge it. Say, “this is who I am and my authenticity is the key to my success.”

Enjoy your Halloween. Dress up and have fun. But leave the costumes for Halloween and the camouflage for hunting. And never underestimate the power of being you.