Life Reinvention Archives - Page 4 of 4 - Encore Tampa Bay Connecting Boomers to their Encore Careers

WORDS OF ADVICE FOR THOSE CONSIDERING THEIR ENCORE CAREER

July 17, 2013

Last week, Marci Alboher (author of Encore Career Handbook) offered great advice to a group of Encore Graduates. These graduates were part of a program called Encore Hartford, where the University of Connecticut developed a workforce preparedness program for professional employment in the non profit sectors of Connecticut. They offered an 8 week intensive program where participants attended 56 hours of professional skill set curriculum, networking and hands on interview practice. During the graduation speech, Marci talked about the importance of lifelong learning. If boomers are going to continue to work in organizations or in the community for an additional 20 years, they need to repeatedly “Refill the Tank”. The Encore Hartford program was a great example of how a community came together to provide lifelong learning in a way that was relevant to boomers.

Intergenerational Mentoring Opportunities

Marci also spoke about the great intergenerational opportunities in the area of mentoring. She suggested that the graduates look for fields and work environments that value their life long experiences and skills. There are plenty of organizations, groups and entrepreneurial centers that could benefit from adults over 50. Mentoring is not only great for the individuals being mentored but for the mentors as well. Mentoring opportunities are in organizations where retirees are walking out the door with all the organizational memory and experience that could certainly benefit other generations ready to “Take the Torch”. Retirees often feel isolated, desiring more social interaction and wanting to feel useful. Mentoring is a win-win for everyone involved. Next Avenue just posted an article that offers great resources and ideas for you to find organizations and people who need mentors.

We All Need to Support Encore Careers in Our Community

Marci’s final piece of advice was directed to the community and business leaders attending the Encore Hartford graduation. There are so many various and unique ways that adults over 50 can enrich our communities and organizations. We can start by reframing how we view baby boomers, not as retirees headed off to pasture but a wealth of energy, experience and skills not ready to retire! She urged organizations to begin thinking of ways to hire people on a part time basis, non-profits to offer internships, and organizations to set up mentoring relationships or simply help create a network of connections and resources for adults looking for their Encore Career. Hartford is a shining example of a community dedicated to creating relevant, timely courses and resources to help these adults find and retool their Encore Careers.

What are the programs and resources in the Tampa Bay area that could assist Baby Boomers looking to find and connect with their Encore Careers? Encore Tampa Bay is interested in working with individuals and organizations that are ready to respond to this opportunity.

Contact me at encoretampabay@gmail.com

Bevan Rogel
Encore Tampa Bay

ENCORE CAREERS- THEY ARE GOOD FOR EVERYONE

July 1, 2013

I’m sure you’ve heard these numbers before, but they are worth mentioning again to set the stage for the huge potential that is at our doorstep. There are over 80 million Americans born between 1945 and 1964 with over 40 million reaching retirement age. That means over 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day! There seems to be a lot of hand wringing and concern about the impact that this onslaught of retirees are going to have on our economy and society as a whole. I would like to offer an alternative perspective.

PBS Newshour recently did a great TV segment called, “Reinventing Old Age: The Good We Do When We Work Forever” which highlighted people working well into their 70s and 80s. PBS news anchor Paul Solomon, interviewed Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of Encore.org prior to the TV segment. Marc talked about the opportunity that our society has to recognize the full potential of this population and to use it in a way that benefits everyone. Marc sees this group of 50-70 year olds as an enormous economic engine of productivity and innovation that will turn the dependency ratio into an abundance ratio.

The Economic Benefit

PBS pointed out two examples of economic benefits which occur as a result of people choosing to work longer (whether it is within a company or sole entrepreneur) One, they are less likely to draw down on social security benefits. Another example is a longer more continuous influx of income tax revenue as result of more people generating income for longer periods of time.

A Legion of Problem Solvers

In a recent interview Marci Alboher (author of Encore Career Handbook) talks about Encore Careers as a second or third act that provides meaning and purpose along with social impact. She talks about this same age group as a tremendous resource, rather than a problem, a legion of problem solvers.

Jane Pauley shared an example of problem solving. Ken Wood, a retired well-driller helped his church solve a problem it was working on in a village in Ghana. Ken jumped into this project and flew to Ghana to help educate and assist the village people in drilling more than 1,000 wells to find safe drinking water. Pauley cited another example of Jenny Brown, the mother of a 2-year-old orphan from China who was not able to talk or walk when the child was adopted. Jenny decided to use her skills and experience to set up an agency that recruits and trains nannies in China to nurture orphans and prepare them for adoption. Encore Careers utilize people’s skills and experiences while at the same time tapping into something that is important or meaningful for them. The real bonus is when that career or project has a positive impact on society!

The Cleveland Foundation recognizes this potential and has launched a new program that will encourage the 50+ community to get involved and help solve pressing issues in Cleveland, such as poverty and education. The program will model some of the elements of the Encore Fellows paid intern program and encourage Baby Boomers to utilize their skills and experience.

What about Tampa Bay?

I believe it is time for Baby Boomers to get out of the house, step out of your comfort zone, pay attention to that small voice in your head. What are some ideas you have for your second act? What skills, talents, and experiences are you willing to tap into to make this community a better to place to live? Maybe it is time to start thinking about your Encore Career: it will be good for you and for everyone!! It was 227 years ago this week that our founding fathers made a similar decision- a choice between liberty and bondage. Today, you have the freedom to choose what kind of life you want to live in the second half!

Call to Action: I want to hear some local, inspiring, personal Encore Career stories. Once a month I will be featuring people in our community who are living their Encore Career. Please email me at encoretampabay@gmail.com to share a story about you or someone you know.

If you liked this blog- send it on to other friends and folks who might be ready for their Encore!

Happy Fourth of July!

Bevan Rogel

Encore Tampa BayE

LIFE REIMAGINED- A GREAT START

June 17, 2013

On May 28, AARP launched an amazing new website , www.lifereimagined.org. This is a great tool that will help the 50+ market begin the process of figuring out what’s next! Helping Boomers to navigate their future, has become a big focus for life coaches, financial planners and organizations such as Encore.org. So AARP is jumping on the bandwagon in a big way! What most excites me about Life Reimagined is, that it is an easy to use tool, that will be easily accessible to Boomers all over America. It is the perfect way for people to get started on the journey of discovery and action for their Encore career.

I recently sat down with AARP’s Florida State Director, Jeff Johnson to talk about this significant new focus for AARP. Jeff explains, “The Life Reimagined website speaks to a need in our members. There are plenty of people at this stage of life where they are wondering what’s next.” AARP has spent several years working with thought leaders in many related areas to identify the steps people need to take as they began to explore what is possible for them and also how to implement a new direction in life. Jeff traveled across the state asking boomers what was most important as they navigate through a new stage of life. Jeff’s message across the state was- “The Future is yours for the making and we are here to help!” AARP’s primary focus and mission is to provide dignity, independence and purpose for adults over 50. Life Reimagined will continue to address these same three areas.

The website is designed as a self driven exploration with many different tools, assessments, resources, articles, videos and activities. AARP basically created six different stages or practices:

Reflect: Take inventory. Where are you and how are you feeling?
Connect: Create a core system that uniquely supports you along the way.
Explore: Imagine what’s possible, think about where your life could go.
Choose: Weigh your options, set direction and shape your life.
Repack: Clarify your needs, identify what you need to succeed.
Act: Take the first step, get ready to make things happen.

Jeff talks about the best way to approach the website; take your time, there are lots of great things to read and listen to, activities that require self reflection and techniques that help you along each stage, so go play and have fun and don’t forget to scroll down as well as click on the arrow on each page.

One of the features/ideas on the website that I really liked was the “Sounding Board”. AARP ‘s research found that going through this process requires on going support so they have you identify six key people in your life who could be your sounding board. They even provide ideas about how to utilize your sounding board and connect with them on an ongoing basis.

I asked Jeff about what lies ahead for Life Reimagined and AARP. First and foremost he wants to get the word out and encourage people to experience the website. He also would like to get feedback from those who went through the website. Jeff and everyone at AARP will be looking for opportunities to bring people together to continue the conversation and to identify other local resources and programs that can enhance the Life Reimagined JOURNEY! So stay tuned!

So here is your call to action—- jump in the water is fine… www.lifereimagined.com (it is free and you don’t have to be an AARP member).

Let Jeff or me know what you think about the experience!

JPJohnson@aarp.org

encoretampabay@gmail.com

Bevan Rogel

Encore Tampa Bay