The following has NOTHING to do with business and everything to do with communication. If you are struggling with generational communication; read on.

Ever since there have been generations, there has been a Generation Gap.

Even in the Bible; when Jesus was a pre-teen he left his folks to hang out in church talking business with the elders. His folks were Frantic and you can just picture the conversation that took place when they finally found him. Jesus' reaction? "Where else would I be?" Like, duh.

Mark Twain said that as a teen his dad wasn't very smart but as Mark got older, his dad got wiser. Hmmmm.

For those of you who are Baby Boomers, you'll remember the general disdain for members of the "Establishment." We would never join them and yet, here we are.

Alice Cooper swore he'd never be 30 - and yet he's alive and well in Phoenix and WAY over 30.

Now here we are with a fresh batch of teens looking down their noses at how lame we are. We couldn't possible understand what they are feeling. Hang out together? NEVER.

As the parent of a 15 year old I am frequently the recipient of his rolled eyes, huffy sighs and sarcasm. Yet, just the other day we had a break through.

I was driving him to or from some place (I may be lame, but I am his only transportation) and we turned on the stereo to discover the song American Pie just beginning. I may have trouble remembering where I put my keys, but I remembered every word except for the 2nd to the last verse of that classic 8+ minute song.

My son, a fan of all things vintage rock, knew all the words.

We harmonize on the final verse, the song ended and we looked at each other.

Ah....common ground.

That night I decided to share with him a gift I'd received from a dear friend: a DVD of the Pink Floyd Live Pulse concert. Yes, you know it. All the best songs from one of the best bands ever.

We sat on the floor in the family room, lights off, television on, volume UP UP UP.

For that moment in time, there was no such thing as a generation gap in our household.

It was a beautiful thing.

Music: the great equalizer.

And for those who feel hip hop and rap got it all goin' on baby...check out the words to the Christmas song written in 1949 currently playing on the radio, "Baby its cold outside." It's a guy trying to convince a girl to spend the night - so don't be so quick to assume that older means less with it!