Retirement As You Want It

How to Show Employers That We Are the Next "Hot Commodity?"

Become This was the compelling question that the panelists on Dori Mintzer's"Boomers & Beyond" Special Interest Group tackled on the telecall recently. Carleen MacKay (described as "the voice of the mature workforce"), Gene Burnard (publisher of Workforce50), and Kit Hayes (of LifeWork Design) asked: how do we want to position ourselves to become the next hot commodity?

As Boomers, we are known for "wanting it all." We constitute 50% of the workforce in the US. We will probably outlive our income, at this rate of saving and investing. But, the US economy needs our expertise and work ethic to compete in the global marketplace. Despite this, most Boomers will struggle to be gainfully employed. Since the economic crash, there's been a 100% increase in unemployment for the over-55 demographic.

Boomers want to contribute to society in meaningful ways, be adequately remunerated, and have ea voice in our future as employee, entrepreneur, or in a traditional retirement. We want to make a difference.

MacKay talks about a "gap analysis" -- between what the market needs and where we are. How can we bridge that gap? "We have to learn from the future, not the past," says MacKay.

What steps can we take?

• Become active in at least 1 professional organization to build professional visibility

• Continue learning - never stop. Get out of comfort zone, especially in areas that your market requires

• Monitor business trends and market shifts - be alert and proactive

• Develop and maintain a vibrant network of contacts, on and offline, whether employed, an entrepreneur, or when looking for work

• Take this stance: "like a tennis player anticipating a serve from the opponent" be ready to go anywhere on the court."

You are a "hot commodity" to the extent you believe in yourself and do all the preparation you need to be there. Go for it!

Stay Put in Your House Regardless of Age or Mobility of You or Your Frail Parents

According to a 2000 AARP study, 71% of baby boomers over age 45 declared they want to stay put, not move to Florida or Costa Rica. So, how is the building industry responding to this huge projected need to provide housing that people can comfortably stay in as they age?

In How Stuff Works, Molly Edmonds discusses"How is an aging baby boomer generation changing the design of homes?"

"Universal design" is meant to incorporate all of the features of a handicapped accessible house, but not look like old-timers are living there. It just looks more spacious and is more comfortable for people of all ages. Universal design involves the following principles:

• Equitable use: all people use it in the same way
• It's simple and intuitive
• It's easy to determine information associated with any special feature
• Tolerance for error, which minimizes danger
• Low physical effort to use any feature
• Flexibility for right or left handed people
• Size and space for approach and use allows anyone to have room whether seated or standing

And what do these houses look like?

• They have a stepless entry and easy-open door lever for the person with their hands full, or carrying something heavy, or for a wheelchair
• All necessary functions are on the ground floor, including a master bedroom, but upstairs there could be guest bedrooms and a study
• Stairway is wide to accommodate an elevator for aging parents or someone who has an injury
• Cabinets and countertops are lower and toilets are higher
• Walk-in showers - no need to step over a 2' high tub

If built from the ground up, rather than remodel an existing home, these designs might add only 5% cost. Since 20% of Americans will be 65+ by 2030, it makes sense from a seller's perspective to incorporate these features. How about it?

AARP Convention or Consumer Electronics Show?

This year's AARP convention could have fooled anyone. Techie consumer products companies like Nintendo, Microsoft, and Google were there demo-ing their newest games and gadgets.

And the over-50 crowd were lined up eagerly awaiting their turn to try Nintendo's WiiFit, a balance board controller that offers interactive athletic activities like yoga, stretching, and balance exercises.

The tech companies have recognized that Baby Boomers are a lucrative market.It's the first technically savvy retirement generation.

Nintendo has even partnered with companies like Dell Webb, the retirement community builder and with cruise lines to make their products available in clubhouses and ships.

Since Baby Boomers as they age want to maintain their active, engaged lifestyle, it makes sense that they'll want to keep up with the latest technology, just like they were accustomed to doing in their middle years. And this means that they have a lot of clout to influence the kind of products that companies design. But how can this huge population get to the people who make the decisions and the designers who implement them?

Let me know your expectation of the kinds of techie games and devices you are using, what you're struggling with, and what you imagine you'll need in the future to continue to engage with technology.

Comment here or write to me at karma@lifespringcoaching.com

Use Your Marketing Clout to Get What You Want

Marketing people are energized to promote new ways to target the huge Baby Boomer demographic. At the Fourth Annual What's Next Boomer Business Summit, experts from all fields touted the benefits of attracting this healthier, wealthier population.

Make it a win-win proposition. In the last post, I suggested that the corporate and institutional environment is going to be open to ideas about how to retain their high-level workforce past retirement age. You can also make your needs known in many other domains.

The political sphere is another one where Baby Boomers, by their sheer numbers, can exert a big influence. Know that your organizations are appealing places for politicians to show their faces. Let them know what is important to you. Senator Roy Dysen, Maryland congressman, sponsored the Baby Boomer Initiative Act to encourage flexible work hours and part-year work, tax breaks, and other special perks.