“It seems that the “shared sacrifice” ethic evoked by the past generation has gone by the wayside. In place of the greatest generation, we now find ourselves in the midst of what might be called the “greediest generation,” whose hallmark includes an insatiable appetite for the trappings of status and wealth” (Monheit, 2010, p.272 ). Studies demonstrate how effective parenting can influence an individual's independence and the role these characteristics play during adulthood (Lekes, Gingras, Phillippe, Koestner & Fang, 2009). In addition to providing structure, there must be consistent rewards and punishments to reinforce such behavior. These traits learned during adolescence are detrimental to managers in determining employee motivation methods and effective job performance. For thousands of years, humans have struggled for independence. Moses' people fleeing the Egyptians and the Pilgrims fleeing religious persecution in Europe are examples of people seeking freedom from hostile conditions that have weakened their free will. For these groups, independence was far from free, the journey was dangerous, but the reward was extraordinary. Their nobility and perseverance is what makes their actions so admirable and memorable hundreds and thousands of years later. Getting something for nothing was not always the norm, but a learned trait passed down over many generations. According to a study conducted by Farkas and Grolnick (2010, p.267), parental involvement has been linked to a wide variety of outcomes, including perceived competence and control. Child autonomy supported by parents produces high levels of warmth and involvement as well as providing structure, motivation, and perseverance (Farkas & Grolnick, 2010, p.266). The structure allows children… at the center of the paper… the types of sacrifices essential to advance the common good” (Monheit, 2010, p.272). Receiving “something,” whether tangible goods or feedback, not contingent on specific performance, will decrease an individual's motivation and satisfaction, as well as future performance (Podaskoff, 2010, p.298). Parental influence on adolescents shapes characteristics and behaviors for adulthood. These learned traits are relevant to managers seeking to validate and administer rewards to achieve a specific outcome or goal. By considering the personality's response to feedback, one can determine how non-performance rewards may have little effect on individuals' attitudes or behaviors (Podaskoff, 2010, p.299). People who get something for nothing become good for nothing through unjustified honors that reward unsatisfactory behavior and performance.