X Appeal Secrets to managing Generation X.

The Generation X stereotype is that those born between 1966 and1978 are lazy, anti-authority slackers with an ultrashort attentionspan and absolutely no loyalty to their employers. Sound harsh?That verdict was loudly echoed in a recent survey of small-businessowners. A stunning 65 percent said Gen X's work ethic is worsethan that of prior generations, with 49 percent contending Gen Xsimply isn't willing to work hard, according to Cleveland-basedsmall-business lender Key Corp.

Is this sweeping put-down accurate? Not according to the manymanagement experts who insist Gen X workers are top quality andhighly educated (more have attended college than any priorgeneration). More important, "These are the employees who arecoming into the workplace," says Rebecca Haddock, a careercounselor at the University of San Diego. Since these aretoday's--and tomorrow's--workers, you've got to learnhow to motivate Gen X for best results.

Small-business owners who have learned how to handle Gen Xersare profiting as a result. "If you allow slackers to work foryou, that's what you'll get. But I don't have anyslackers on my payroll--my people all work hard," says DenisePagura, owner of Dublin, Ohio-based Northern Lights Tree Farms, aChristmas tree grower and multistate retail operation that employssome 50 Gen Xers in peak seasons. "Set your standards highenough, and many will rise to meet them."