Jordan Spieth is my hero of the week. The 16 year old Dallas high school student made professional golf headlines this week when he made the cut at the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Only last week he was playing in the state high school golf championship. Spieth came within a few strokes of the lead Sunday afternoon before finishing his final round at two over par for a #16 spot.

He charmed the galleries and seasoned pro golfers alike over the course of this past week in Irving. It seems that his playing partners in each round were very patient and respectful to the young buck out getting his first taste of PGA golf as a player. Saturday Jordan played with Tom Pernice Jr. Apparently he was very encouraging toward the young man, as they completed their round together. Interestingly enough Pernice has two teenage daughters. Columnist John Maginnes states: Dads with teenage daughters generally don’t like teenage boys. And professional golfers with teenage daughters like three-putts, fat wedges and double bogeys far more than they like teenage boys. I love it! Spieth was quoted as saying that he did not know whether to call his playing partner “Tom” or “Mr. Pernice.”

Those of us who are veterans in our respective professions would be wise to pay attention to Spieth and Pernice. There are young Jordan Spieth’s in every single profession coming up faster than most of us can imagine. They may not be 16, but nevertheless they are young, sharp, and very capable. In my field, the young professionals on the horizon are well educated, well read, and articulate too. We can welcome members of the Millennial Generation with open arms, or we can snub them like a group of middle school kids trying hold on to their popularity status. I think I will choose the former.

I realize that the Millennial’s can teach me a lot during this time period in my life. They have a way with technology that I will never be able to fully replicate, but surely I will learn something! It seems that this generation is a wealth of information on a variety of topics. They have grown up after all in this Age of Information. The list goes could go on and on. I must realize that my attitude toward them will shape their careers and mine as well.

It is a little painful to admit that we are no longer the young kids on the block. It is tempting occasionally to assume a stance that communicates: We did not do it like this in 1984. And most of us will have days when we feel threatened by the Jordan Spieth’s of this world. Such attitudes are indeed foolish. I say that we step aside and welcome such talented young people with open arms. I am looking forward to seeing more of Spieth on the PGA Tour in the very near future.  I am quite confident that Tom Pernice does not care for teenage boys, but I suspect he made a slight exception this past week during the HP Bryon Nelson Championship.