Posted on March 28, 2011 by Laura
Credits to Judy Feld, Guest Editor, for her fascinating and inspirational article, BOOMERS, ESCAPE FROM YOUR BUBBLE!, in the Summer 2010 Edition of the Career Planning & Adult Development Journal, Volume 26 Number 2 I share some insightful excerpts here..

Its different from just looking for a job (which you can certainly doyou might get lucky). Here are some things we can do (and many are already doing):

I. Refuse to Decline.

We can pay significant attention to the health of the brainin addition to supporting a healthy body.

2. Be a futurist and a lifelong learner.

..recognize the benefits of being flexible, adaptable, accepting of new technology, and good at learning new skills.

3. Wake up your sleeping entrepreneur.

Boomers are becoming business owners at a faster pace than any other business segment. From 2007 to 2008 new businesses launched by 55-to-64-year-olds grew 16 %, faster than any other population segment, according to the Kauffman Foundation. Boomers in that age group started approximately 10,000 new businesses a month.

4. Use leverage in your professional development.

Shift from one-dimensional thinking to a matrix of ideas and professional relationships.
Shift from in-person as often as possible and add as much virtual as possible.
Value your time as a precious commodity!
5. Harness the power of numbersand employ your technology tools.

From time to time I find myself in a conversation with an older Boomer who insists that it is too late or too annoying to learn, understand, jump into, and profit from social media. These same people may believe having their own website or blog is out of their reach. In my observation this self-imposed generation gap is a a huge barrier to entrepreneurial successA question to pose to Boomers: Are you driving your own career bus, or are you just looking out the back window while the rest of the world speeds by?

6. Communicate across generations.

Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials

7. Focus on legacy and lifelong learning.

.If you are 60 today, maybe you have 25 or more good years left. People look back 25 years to when they were 35 and they say That happened fast! and may ask any or all of the following questions:

Are the next 25 years going to happen that fast?
And if they are, when am I going to do something that matters?
When am I going to leave a mark on the world?
What is my legacy going to be?
How am I going to be remembered?
When am I going to live my best life?
What is my purpose?
What contribution will I have made in my lifetime?
8. Free yourself of the constraints of geography go virtual.

Downsizing, outsourcing and telecommuting have made many corporations become virtual, in that they may not do their own production, marketing, information processing, distribution, or any number of formerly required in-house functions. Boomer entrepreneurs can use these principles in their own small, nimble businessesBoomers may lose their jobs, but not their experience and wisdomThink Specialty and think Niche..Invent your own sub-niche; create your unique are of specialty.Above all, choose niches and specialties that you enjoy

9. Expect happiness Jump for Joy.

..Feeling good.Engaging fully..Doing good.