I often read articles referring back to the good ol days of working in America. Of an era where job security and a good retirement, (gold watch included), were the right of every U.S. citizen willing to work hard and promise loyalty to their company. It sounds like a golden age but if it existed, I believe it was short-lived.
I was born on the cusp between being a baby boomer and a generation x. I guess that makes me a Baby Gen or a Generation Boomer. Either way, I know that the career expectations that I grew up with as a kid in rural New England aren’t what they used to be.
Every generation faces its own challenges. By the time I hit middle age, the traditional working world my dad had grown up with, had drastically changed. Tech and automation were the norms. Inflation, downsizing, and a constantly changing career description led to job jumping and a career uncertainty not felt for decades.
As we got older, our generation became challenged with the fear of layoffs caused by cost-cutting, constant change, the uphill battle to stay relevant, and competition by the next generation and their willingness to do the same jobs for less pay. Sadly, ageism is alive and well these days.
In response, we leaned on our work ethic and dug in! We worked harder, picked up more hours, or took on multiple jobs. We have kids we’re trying to help through college and the media-based fear that social security is going to disappear any day now is always on our minds. It’s exhausting, isn’t it?
I know it's tough on all of us regardless of age but being in our 50s and 60s, and 70s in this world brings a great deal of added complexity and unsurety that isn’t always experienced by younger generations.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. It caused a great financial and lifestyle re-prioritization for many baby boomers.
The silver lining in a horrifically dark pandemic cloud is how it changed the way we see our working lives. Everything was flipped upside down and for the first time in our decades-long careers, because of remote work and pandemic-induced retirements, boomers are beginning to see new opportunities that will allow us to change our perspective of what life will be at retirement age. A life enjoyed at a more relaxed pace without the grinding office regimen and insecurity.
According to a survey released in 2021 by mortgage lender American Advisors Group, it’s suggested that the pandemic prompted over 46% of Americans over the age of 60 to rethink their retirement strategies in order to maintain their living standards.
It will never be easy, but I believe we’re entering a new golden age. One where there is a balance between work and lifestyle and where retirement isn’t the only solution to an unhappy work life.
With the huge increase in opportunities to work remotely, flexible schedules, and new options to affordably create your own business, many boomers are choosing self-employment or a semi-retired lifestyle that allows more time to pursue personal interests and passions and that sounds pretty amazing to me!
What would your life look like if you were doing something in your, career, business, or personal life that you looked forward to doing so much that going to work on a Monday morning was just as fun and exciting as going home on a Friday night?
What would it be worth to get back on your path?
How would it feel to be doing something that you didn’t need a vacation from?
Want to find out how? Message me. Let’s chat!
Dave
#small business #reinvention #coaching
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