National Womens History Month

Jean Chatzky, Financial Expert for NBC's Today Show and blogger for the website, Retailmenot.com, had a great idea for Women’s History Month.  She reached out to sucessful women and asked them to remember the best finanical advice they got from afemale role model. I am so pleased to be included with others such as Barbara Corcoran from ABC's The Shark Tank, Gerri Willis from Fox Business, Jane Bryant Quinn from the Dailyvoice.com, and of course, Jean, who I think is terrific.  The advice is varied and will hopefully make you think back to where you got and get your financial advice. This is a good blog to send on to daughters, sisters , nieces, granddaughters

Get Involved and Learn!

It's almost fall.  Labor Day signaled the last day of summer vacations.  School has begun and the yellow buses are packing the roads once again. But learning isn't just for kids.  One of the secrets we have discovered from people we have interviewed over the years is that learning is ageless, fun, and engaging.  Whether you are 50 or 90, continuing to learn improves vitality and increases energy.  Learning is a form of REWIRING.  It doesn't matter what you call it.  Continuous or life long learning mean the same thing.  The important point is that you do it.

 

One of America's wisest sons, Benjamin Franklin, was voracious in his desire to learn, to explore, to travel, and acquire new perspective.  He never stopped doing it and was the richer for it.  After a long life, he reflected on what and how he learned.  He said:

"Tell me and I forget.  Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."  These are words to live by.

We all learn differently. We do so by listening to others in a lecture, by visiting historical sites and talking and listening to guides, by doing hands on volunteering. The internet has opened vast amounts of knowledge for all of us to know.  If you have never watched a TED Talks, you are missing something very special.  Try it. We know you will like it.  You can also secure DVDs at your local library on just about anything.

One form we recommend above all the others, is putting yourself together with other seekers.  You will benefit from the collective questions, knowledge, and enthusiasm that groups provide.  Community colleges, museums, and traveling with others on a themed tour or vacation are just a few of the activities that can lead to knowledge, new friendships, and broadening your perspective.

Geography shouldn’t be a barrier.  You can learn locally, go to another state, or travel to another country, or never leave home. After all you can learn in a group on an interactive webcast.  You can learn regardless of your budget.  Now there are learning venues for everyone.

So as Ben said: Get Involved and Learn!

 

Running for your life at 100

This past weekend Fauja Singh completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. No big deal, except Fauja is 100 years old. He was born in 1911 in India. He ran as a youth but gave it up. When he was 89 his wife and son died unexpectedly. He became very depressed and was running out of reasons to live. But it was running that saved him.

Singh claims his secret to an extended life is no alcohol or smoking, a vegetarian diet with lots of curries, and tea. Importantly, daily exercise is his mainstay. "I have said it before: that I will carry on running, as it is keeping me alive," he told the Toronto Marathon website. He walks or runs at least 10 miles a day.

Fauja Singh is a role model for all of us. Not because he broke a marathon record, but because he was willing to try something new...or old...running. We all need to recognize that finding an activity or interest that is meaningful and purposeful will not only add years to our life, but will add life to our years. We tell everyone to REWIRE! Rewiring is trying new activities, reconnecting with old interests or finding new ones. The focus is not just doing for the sake of being busy, but doing it because it is fulfilling, interesting and fun. Having a reason to get up in the morning makes all the difference in the world as we grow older.

You don't have to be a marathoner. If collecting stamps, hiking, birding, learning to enjoy opera, or any other activity that fulfills is your thing than do it. Make a committment and see the return on your new investment...in yourself! As Mr. Singh says, the first 20 miles are the hardest. After that it's a breeze.

Life Long Skills Enhancement

There was once a time when we said that the only two things you could really count in life were death and taxes. Now there is a third. It's called life long learning.

Computers, the internet, new applications, new industries, social marketing, etc., all require some form of continuous education, and that's just what recruiters want to see.

If you want to rewire® and have a competitive advantage in our complex world, it means making an even deeper dive into your field. If are changing careers, you may have to go back to school and start the learning journey from the beginning.

New York Times columnist Steven Greenhouse nails it with Learning Curves On the Career Path. The good news is that learning today is more accomodating with online education, weekend courses abbreviated on campus courses, and more. Colleges and universities have pumped up their offerings in new fields like Green, energy management, global ecology, etc., and the government is making more training money available.

Read between the lines, it's even more important today to select a job and work that you really enjoy. After all you will be spending more and more time learning about it as well as doing it.