The Age Busters Power Summit for Boomer Men is Coming!

It’s always a good thing to get insights on topics that are near and dear.  There is a great opportunity coming which will provide important information to Boomers.  The Age Busters Power Summit for Men is a virtual event broadcast on the internet Beginning October 17 and running for 2 weeks.  The cost is exceptionally good:  It’s free.  This very unique program will offer tips and strategies on retirement, health issues, wellness, relationships, social security, lifestyle changes and financial issues for men over 55 years old.  They have already done a successful event for women.  This should be another good one.

Jonny and Jodye Friedman, a husband and wife team, are co-founders of Age Busters.  They provide information, advice and services to help people “dazzle within” as they call it.  They have taken it upon themselves to interview experts in a variety of areas important to the over 55 set. Rick was interviewed on the subject of finding a new job when you are a mature worker.  Jonny did the interviewing.  Jonny is exceptionally passionate about getting good information into the hands and ears of Boomers who are either looking forward to retiring, already in it, or looking to cycle back in to new work opportunities.  He has selected and interviewed some great experts in the field.

Each interview lasts about 45 minutes to one hour and will be available on line by going to the following link:  The Age Busters Power Summit

You can tune in any time 24/7 during the offering period to get valuable strategies, insights, and reflections on the things that matter during this key life stage.  It will be well worth the time investment!!  You don’t have to be a man to listen.  Anyone who has a guy in their life: father, brother, son, husband, partner, etc.  may get some very helpful info to pass along.  Don’t miss it. 

 

 

Is Globetrekking For You?

Overseas travel is a huge topic for retirees.  Everyone's Bucket List, or whatever you call yours, seems to have several places they want to visit.  Forbes.com recently published an article by Judy Martel titled: Globetrekking: the new retirement. The article features our friends and fellow authors, Tim and Lynne Martin.  Their new book, Home Sweet Anywhere, highlights their retirement, and it isn't what you would typically imagine.  They had a dream for adventure.  After selling their home in California, they have been living in a variety of cities around the world.  Their retirement is not for the faint of heart.  They are very flexible, adventurous, and are inspirational for anyone who has a travel bone in their body.  The book is a great read, but a lot more than that.  It is full of insights on how retirees (or anyone with courage) can cast off the lines and head for parts unknown.  Globetrekking has become another way Boomers are breaking the mold.

We were interviewed for the article because as authors of the book, Don't Retire, REWIRE! and as "rewiring experts" to get our views on how people execute on their dreams.  We think that not only do Lynne and Tim know themselves well, but they know their drivers---what motivates them.

We highly recommend you read the article and apply it to the many aspects of your life...not just travel.  Yes, packing it all in and leaving the country on an adventure is extreme, but you have to have some idea what's there when you arrive that will give you driver fulfillment.

If you read the article with an open mind, be prepared to have it stretch your thinking and to be challenged to dare to imagine different things for yourself.  Ask yourself..."Do I envy Lynne and Tim, or do I think their retirement choice is too extreme? Or am I somewhere in the middle."

It takes courage to do what they.  All we can say is BRAVO!!!

When a Vacation is More than a Vacation

Travel can become a big part of any retiree’s life.  Whether you are a current retiree or about to become one, you probably have some travel destination on your TO DO or BUCKET LIST.

Recently we met some retirees who said they weren’t sure where they were going to travel next, because they had already seen most of the places they had longed to see. We were a little surprised because some of these people were only in their late 60’s and early 70’s, and could have a long longevity runway in front of them with no place to go.

We decided to turn the idea of travel on its head and challenged people to REWIRE their thinking and attitude when it came to seeing new places and experiencing new cultures. …and we are happy to report that it worked! People began to use a new set of eyes when they looked at their vacations!  

A retired engineer told us that he was not eager to visit another beautiful cathedral (or ABC to seasoned travelers) but after visiting Chartres Cathedral he decided that he was going to figure out how Chartres Cathedral was built! One day it just hit him that rather than just look at beauty, he would turn the cathedral into a project for himself when he got back home. A fellow traveler suggested that he begin by reading Ken Follett’s book, PILLARS OF THE EARTH, to jumpstart his interest.

Or how about the couple who took an unplanned food tour in Parisand couldn’t believe how much enjoyment they got by learning about a culture through its food. They decided that looking at a city through a “food lens” was going to be their new travel criteria.

Other examples included a woman who visited Vienna, attended an opera against her will, and loved it! Or the person who saw a Santiago Calatrava bridge in Seville, Spain, and said “when I get home I’m going to Google him to learn more! Maybe we’ll visit his other works around the world!” Who knows….maybe there are architectural tours for non-architects? If not…maybe there should be!  There are countless stories of people traveling the world…Asia, South America, Africa…..who discovered new interests   simply by being curious and asking questions.

Travelling and acquiring new experiences and making new memories are powerful ways to be engaged in life. Rewiringhow you look at travel can make your future trips more fulfilling and rewarding in ways you never dreamed.  It will be no surprise that you will also meet new friends along the way who may even become traveling companions.

 

 

Reconnecting With Your Past Through Basketball

When you saw the title, Reconnecting With Your Past, you probably thought that we were recommending that you visit Classmates.com to look up old friends, or go to Ancestry.com to check out your family tree. Many people are checking out those great sites especially as they may now have more time or interest to do so, but that is not what we are talking about here. You might have noticed the words….Through Basketball in the title?  This is about a recent experience I had and relates to some of the topics we write about in our book, Don’t Retire, REWIRE!

 I’m a graduate of Michigan State University, and admit to having no real involvement with the university since graduation. With no family, and few friends left in Michigan, I haven’t walked the campus for many years. Yes, I would randomly support my college when they called for a donation but for whatever reason my heart really wasn’t in East Lansing; college was a point in time. Maybe some of you can relate to what I am saying; others may be shocked because you are strong alums. The point is everyone’s experience is unique, then and now.

During the last few years I had accepted a few invitations from MSU to attend events in New York City, but again my attendance didn’t result in any commitment. Maybe this is sounding familiar to some of you? All that changed last week however when I attended a pre-game MARCH MADNESS event prior to the MSU-Virginia match up at Madison Square Garden.

Surrounded by Spartans in green and white attire, I was treated to remarks by MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, a tremendously effective leader, and Basketball Coach, Tom Izzo, who inspires and entertains, and is one of the great human beings of college sports and a legend at the NCAA.  Was it cool to be there? Absolutely! Did I have a sense of belonging to something bigger than myself? For sure! Was I proud? Yes. And things took a very positive turn when I introduced myself to the man standing next to me who turned out to be very involved in the alumni program. His pride, his stories, and his enthusiasm for the new horizons that MSU plans to reach to inspire current and future generations in and outside of Michigan and the United States was infectious.

What I learned from my research on Don’t Retire, REWIRE! is that two of my personal Drivers or motivators, as identified in the book,  is to have new experiences, and to belong. Sometimes we don’t know what hidden treasures associated with our past can be found, until we start showing up at events, asking questions, listening to stories, making new acquaintances who may turn into friends.  The key here is to show up.  I asked a lot of questions that night and just joined the MSU Alumni group today.  I am looking forward to meeting the 7000 MSU alums in the New York area….well not all of them, and going back to East Lansing to see a campus that has become a beacon to the future in a state that is rising once again and headed back to greatness. 

As I always say, when the student is ready the teacher will appear.  Moral of the story?

When you Rewire make sure you show up at activities and ask questions! And know what your Drivers are!

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

Why is REWIRING So Important?

One of the biggest fears our readers have is that they will eventually be faced with memory loss.  Alzheimer’s disease & Dementia looms in the back of our collective minds. For that very reason we have been beating the REWIRING drum since the first edition of our book, Don’t Retire, REWIRE! was published, encouraging people to continue to be active and involved in life.  We know that for many people retirement can be deadly.  If you stop work and go on a permanent vacation, you run the risk of letting your mind and your body atrophy.

We are not medical doctors or psychologists, but we are always looking for news that will be useful to our readers. We are happy to report that the news isn’t all bleak. Alzheimer’s & Dementia Weekly cites an article in The New England Journal of Medicine that reports that the rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s are going down.  How can that be?  While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are lifestyle adjustments people are making around the globe to postpone memory loss. It is all about rewiring and how you look at and what you do in the future.  Exercise is the number activity recommended.  Forty-five minutes, four days a week of aerobics…..walking, jogging, biking, etc. is the number one thing you can do to help your body and your mind.  Exercise goes hand in hand with having a healthy diet.  Maintaining your optimal weight is another important aspect to consider at this life stage.

Having an active social life and staying engaged with others is mandatory.  Social interaction keeps the brain stimulated. Having fun, doing volunteer work, attending religious services and activities with others can all have a very positive effect.

Don’t forget your annual physical.  Find out if you have high blood pressure…..today it is easily treatable.  High cholesterol is also very treatable.  A healthy diet helps, but there are medications available to lower it, too. And for heaven’s sake, STOP SMOKING.  That is the worst self-inflicted injury that can be avoided. 

Stay working as long as you can.  The seduction of early retirement is one of the most negative things you can do to yourself.  Having a schedule, using your skills, solving problems are all ways to keep your brain running smoothly.  If you are forced to retire, get rewired quickly.

Not everyone will avoid Alzheimer’s or dementia, but doing the above will slant the odds in your favor.

 

 

 

 

 

Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving, 2013 is upon us.  Where did the year go?  We just received a phone call from a reader who has become a friend wishing us a Happy Thanksgiving.  We hadn't talked since last Thanksgiving, so our conversation covered year's events and the many things we are thankful for: family, friends, work, etc.  The list for the fortunate can be quite long.  But that is the beauty of living in the United States.  Even with all the political madness, we have opportunities that are unavailable in other countries and cultures.

Our friend pointed out that her response to Thanksgiving 2012 was to go and find a volunteer opportunity that would enable her to give back and give thanks.  When we congratulated her, she said not so fast.  I am on my third charitable involvement.  The first two didn't work out and this one is presenting some challenges.  We let her know that this is a familiar refrain from many of the people we know.  They wanted to give back but no one would let them!

We suggested to our friend that she go back and re-read the section on volunteering in Don't Retire, REWIRE! There are some things about yourself that you must factor in before you select a charitable endeavor. 

Here are a few things to remember:
1. Whatever volunteer gig you select make sure it aligns with your own Drivers.  Drivers are the emotional fulfillment your receive from the work and activities you perform. For example, If you have a leadership driver, you probably want visibility and a decision making role. Serving soup in a homeless shelter won't give you the driver fulfillment you seek.  Get on a Board or Executive Committee instead.  Both jobs are important. If you don't get the fulfillment you need chances are you will leave or be very unhappy.

2. Find a volunteer opportunity where you will be appreciated.  If you end up doing volunteer work for people who are thoughtless or rude (yes, even they can be volunteers) you will quickly tire of the lack of respect and not receiving positive reinforcement or a simple thank you.

3. Select volunteer work that is geographically convenient.  If you have to go too far to make a difference, you will quickly tire of the journey.  God knows there are plenty of needs. So find one close by.  When you are tired, the last thing you want to do is drive or take a bus for 45 minutes.

These are just a few thoughts to consider.  Thanksgiving is a great time to consider giving back.  So if you aren't already volunteering, start.  But know your drivers first!