I have a question...
Who doesn't want to know about the new trend of aging entrepreneurship among us? What we associate with our retirement years has a whole new meaning.
If any of you saw the movie Up In The Air, the dialogue that George Clooney's character delivers when he is firing a an older man embodies the notion of a new beginning for all of us who think it will be the end. Here's some of the dialogue:
"Your resume says that you minored in French culinary arts. Most students, they work on the fryer at KFC, but you bussed tables at Il Picador to support yourself. Then you get out of college and then you come and you work here. How much did they first pay you to give up on your dreams....and when were you going to stop and come back and do what makes you happy?"
He continues: "I see guys who work at the same company for their entire lives,
guys exactly like you. They clock in, they clock out, and they never have a moment of happiness. You have an opportunity here, Bob. This is a rebirth. If not for you, do it for your children."
It seems trite, but Ryan Bingham may have had a point. Is there a more productive way to view suddenly being cast out of the workforce or teetering on retirement?
The truth is that there is a whole new movement called elderly entrepreneurship.
(Ting Zhang, Ph.D. George Mason University) .
This movement recognizes that the U.S. population is aging and consequently, so is its labor force. A 2009 analysis of U. S. census and vital statistics data forecasts that the population in the retirement ages of sixty-five and older will rise from 38.7 million observed in 2008 to between 99 million and 108 million by 2050, and that the population aged eighty-five and older will rise from 5.4 million in 2008 to between 27 million and 35 million by 2050.
Because of the financial crises, most seniors and baby boomers do not have enough money to retire on and need income. Yet, staying in the same job for another 10 years is unappealing. Sure, collecting social security is an option, but when you are accustomed to making twice or three times that a month, public benefits do not seems appealing.
This is especially true if you have become accustomed to life-style that necessitates a particular monthly income. We also now have enough evidence to suggest that saying active mentally and physically is good for our brain health and in fact can aid in thwarting Alzheimer's disease.
You have a variety of skills that are well suited for knowledge-based occupations: you have years of cumulated job experience, know-how, and valuable business ties and you still have energy. Retiring boomers could provide a valuable source of human capital through participation in the labor force as entrepreneurs and have a positive impact on the economy (by continuing to contribute to the social security fund) and a positive impact on mitigating social discrimination against seniors.
I found this article very interesting in that many readers share their ideas about a new lease on work life upon retirement. It is not the most sophisticated item I have shared, but it is relevant like I desire you to remain!
http://seniorliving.about.com/u/ua/workandcareers/work-after-retirement.htm What a way to start off the new year!
This month I have already had double the calls I received last year at this time. Many of them were from you, my newsletter subscribers, and referrals from clients looking for help with elder care, finding an assisted living community, or estate planning.
Thank you for being so supportive and for forwarding my newsletter to your friends, relatives and co-workers. You make writing this newsletter a joy because I feel it is appreciated by you.
