LETS CHANGE “RETIREMENT” TO “RE-FIREMENT”!

“Every generation needs a new revolution.” Thomas Jefferson

It should come as no surprise that large numbers of Baby Boomers are bucking tradition and not willing to accept the prescribed life that the “Traditionalists” carved out in the 1950’s.  (Remember our favorite motto? “Hell no, we won’t go!”) Several recent surveys show that Baby Boomers are not ready to stop work and that they believe there is another big thing that is still calling them.

IMPACT FACTORS  :Several factors have shaped this new reality.  First, our life expectancy has skyrocketed. In 1915 it was 50 years old, in 1980 it was 75 and now a large percentage of us will live into our 90’s.  Second, the recession and the nature of work has radically changed.  Some people either can’t afford to retire or realize that they have another 20 plus years of active engagement left in them.

LATEST SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: There are two powerful ground breaking books that really speak to this new reality.

Mark Walton, in his new book, “Boundless Potential” captures about seven years of research in the area of brain science, psychology, sociology, creativity and happiness. His three core discoveries: 1) We (Baby Boomers) are hard wired for reinvention and emerging brain power in the second half of life; 2) A growing number of boomers are learning to leverage their experience and wisdom into profitable new careers and businesses that can impact our world; 3) Longevity experts report that meaningful and purposeful work can pay back in terms of long term health and happiness.  Check out this Youtube video about Walton’s book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LtavZ-C48U&feature=youtu.be

Another book by Marc Freedman (founder of Encore.org) “THE BIG SHIFT- Navigating the New Stage Beyond Mid Life” also lays out some reasons why retirement as we have known it for the last 50 years really does not work for this generation. Here is the link to an excerpt of his book:  http://www.encore.org/excerpt-big-shift.

LET’S MAKE THE SHIFT

What really moved me about “The Big Shift” was Freedman’s call to action to create an “Encore Stage of Life” characterized by purpose, contribution and commitment.  Marc said, “We believe that this changing notion of aging in America offers the prospect of the ‘experience dividend’ of staggering proportions.  Never before have so many Americans had so much experience- with so much time and interest in using it”.  He calls for a SHIFT in thinking about the real potential for this over-50 Baby Boomer generation.  This also means a SHIFT in society norms, institutions, public policies, programs and perceptions!  It starts with  how we see ourselves in this new stage of life.

I challenge you to read these books (or summaries) and get excited about the possibilities and opportunities that our society and Baby Boomers have to recreate for this next stage of life!

Bottom line…We are NOT ready to retire, but ready to Re-Fire!  Boomers still have a lot to offer in this second half. Let’s start the Encore Movement! 

How will we as a nation, as a community, make it easier for the largest, best educated, longest living generation to create a better world for the generations to follow? What are your reactions or thoughts?

Bevan Gray-Rogel

Encoretampabay@gmail.com

www.encoretampabay.wordpress.com

As more workers plan to work longer (in 1991 32 percent planned to retire between 60 and 64 and now only 14 percent plan to retire between 60 and 64) where will all the jobs come? One source of new jobs and opportunities is from the aging population.   About one in five Americans will be over 65 by 2050 compared to 13 percent now according to Pew Research.

Baby Boomers, the largest generation that Time magazine once described as making “every whim a trend”, are changing our expectations of aging and in the process creating new job opportunities.

Read more about a few of these new opportunities in this New York Times article.

Our by-line is that we stand for aging in place with dignity and independence.  I’d like to add that wisdom and breadth of knowledge and experience has high value in today’s economy and world.  Not only are we living longer, but improved health means that many who are “retired” are very capable, have excellent leadership qualities, and have learned much about what it takes to be successful.  Organizations, communities and society-as-a-whole can use these assets to advantage.

In entertainment venues we often stand and applaud performances we like.  We are asking for more, an “Encore”.  Noted author and entrepreneur Mark Freedman coined this word to discribe what we used to call retirement. The Encore Generation is growing and adding to ways to achieve dignity and independence in a vibrant last half of life.  Join us in these efforts!

Let me introduce Debbie Grovum and her company Ageinista, L.L.C.  Here is a link to her Newsletter with a focus on the new definition of retirement, Work!

This is the most recent Newsletter:  http://www.ageinista.com/newsletter.php

The Baltimore Orioles have temporary jobs available during Spring Training.  For more information contact Bev Cox at theinsurancelady@gmail.com

10 things to know before you get another day older

My friend and colleague, John Greer, facilitator of Young Entrepreneurs of Sarastoa (YES) added this to the YES Newsletter.  I include his introduction  and then Cheryl Kimbal’s link to the list.  The article was originally published in Entrepreneur Press.

John Greer- YES facilitator All you need is an idea….. You can start any of these home based businesses for less than $5,000. Today, tens of thousands of people are considering starting a home based business, and for good reasons. On average, people can expect to have two and three careers during their work life. Those leaving one career often think about their second or third career move being to their own home. People who have been part of the traditional nine-to-five work force and are on the verge of retiring from that life are thinking of what to do next. The good news: Starting a home based business is within the reach of almost anyone who wants to take a risk and work hard. Check out the 55 ideas See you Tuesday and bring a friend that will enjoy & learn from the goup. John Greer, YES facilitator.

It seems like the news about job growth fluctuates from week to week.  I’m not sure that matters for most of those 55 and older who want to work.  My sources suggest that “Encore” work opportunities might have a wider range, so part-time work, self employment in more or less entrepreneurial work, and even volunteer work that might lead to a paid position are all in the game.  I call these “Work” opportunities.  Jobs means 8 – 5 with a boss, and all the deductions etc. that full-time implies.

I also want to suggest a couple of specific ways that one can “position” oneself for work.  Volunteering is the first and most obvious.  You engage in a serious way with volunteer work and demonstrate that you have skills and interest.  You prove your dependability and commitment.  You build trust.  In the process you can see where you might best fit in.  A brief example from my experience is that I volunteered at Mote Marine Labs in Sarasota as a tour guide for the Aquarium.  After about 9 months I asked the volunteer coordinator if my teaching or consulting skills would be useful to the organization, and soon was contracted to facilitate a Strategic Plan.

A second positioning can be accomplished by being a “virtual assistant”.  Here you offer to take on a specific task, e.g., doing the organizations books using Quickbooks.  You might offer artistic skills, writing skills, or any number of tasks related to previous employment, but you do it part-time and without benefits.  Again you prove yourself, get known for great work, and are building trust. You are in a position to be hired full-time if they need it, or to propose additional tasks you might be able to take on for them.

I believe that in the work climate of this era, one needs to be known and respected to gain employment, and when you just submit a resume that is one of  hundreds, your chances are slim or none.  Get involved, prove yourself, and then seek something that will provide steady income.

I picked this up from Google Alerts.  Remote sensors are a growing market!

Remote monitoring: Chronic illness, aging Boomers drive 16% growth

The remote patient monitoring market is expected to grow at a 16 percent compound annual rate over the next several years, driven primarily by an aging population that’s increasingly afflicted by chronic diseases.

The value of the global remote patient monitoring market is expected to reach $506 million in 2017, up from $184 million in 2010, according to a new report from GBI Research.

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) refers to the collection of data from medical devices such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), for example.

 Chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease are expected to increase health costs in developed economies in the coming years, which will push hospitals and health providers to search for ways to reduce health expenditures. RPM could represent one means of controlling costs by reducing in-office visits and hospitalizations, according to the report.

RPM also helps doctors track patients’ health while enabling patients to remain in their homes, which can be appealing to patients because it cuts out travel and wait times associated with in-office visits. RPM holds potential health-improvement benefits because the technology can deliver alerts before potentially life-threatening complications become visible.

Currently, the RPM market is dominated by two major players: Germany-based Biotronik and Minnesota-based Medtronic. Biotronik holds 23 percent market share, while Medtronic holds 20 percent. The next-biggest players are St. Jude Medical (14 percent), Boston Scientific (9 percent) and Philips Healthcare (8 percent), according to the report.

Biotronik says its Home Monitoring product can reduce in-office follow-up for patients with cardiac implantable electrical devices (CIEDs) such as pacemakers and ICDs by 40 percent.

“Hospitals, health insurance companies and politicians need to find solutions for handling the workload that results from follow-up visits for CIED patients,” said Dr. Carsten Stoepel, a physician affiliated with Biotronik. “There are two possibilities: pay to increase the capacities of the hospitals, or look for ways to work more efficiently, such as remote patient management tools like Biotronik Home Monitoring.”

Here is the latest white paper published by Julie P. Cotton, Sandra K. Kassalow, and Jane A. Paquette of Continuing the Conversation’s Work Matters! Money Matters! Workgroup. The paper is called Mining Silver for Workplace Gold: Sarasota County’s Experienced Workers Add Value During Tough Times

The authors have also created a handout of resources for employers, employees, job seekers, and volunteers, which is available at the link below.

Mining Silver for Workplace Gold: Resources