George Washington Carver

American Indian Tribes

The American Indians are another group that embraced and honored the earth. The president of the Sioux Tribe is organizing a meeting of the National Congress of American Indians to discuss BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill and its impact. Perhaps they will come up with an enlightened spiritual way to clean up the oil spill or otherwise deal with the environmental crisis the spill has caused. Based on the American Indian traditions, I’m sure they will incorporate tribal wisdom.

Tribal Wisdom of Elders

In tribal cultures the elders are honored. Even if the elder has passed on, homage is still paid. They recognize the wisdom that comes from going to sleep and getting up many days. As the old saying goes “stuff happens”. So the longer we’ve been here on this earth, the more stuff we’ve walked thru and survived. Hopefully us over 50 senior folk have learned from our mistakes. The British Petroleum’s current wisdom is to use the same techniques that were unsuccessful with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill back in the 70s.

Clean Up Oil Spill

We’re all one tribe, one race – the human race. And there is one earth. So, when it comes to environmental issues, we’re all in this together. Perhaps we need to convene a tribe of seniors from all cultures to weigh in on the oil spill clean up.

Check out “good for the environmental” products at GoLiveGreenLife.com

In 2011:

Those of us over age 50 will respresent 25% of the population.
In that same year it is estimated that the US population will be
12.5% Non-Hispanic Black and
14.8% Hispanic origin

Marketing Implications:

If you’re starting a business, you should consider products and services that appeal to the over 50 population.
And if you’re already in business, we’re still a worthwhile target market.

Check out

A Profile Of The Baby Boomers Market And Their Potential As Buyers

Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC

But now I learn that 62% of baby boomers are
sure they look younger than they are.

With so much company, perhaps there needs
to be a new standard for what a given age
looks like.

Viva La Over 50 Folks!

Check out http://www.boomer-insight.com/

Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC

The Boomerang Generation refers to those born in the 1970s and 1980s. So allegedly, these people are the children of baby boomers. But the term does not apply to all people in that age bracket. It more specifically refers to those who, due to economic conditions and challenges, are back at home with their parents, the senior citizen empty nesters. So the “boomerang” part of the phrase is quite clever.

However, the boomerang concept is not limited to the 70s and 80s groups. Everyone is at risk. With the business / corporate financial failures, mortgage crisis, layoffs, gas prices, etc, many who are trying to conserve their financial resources are forced to re-evaluate and revamp their living situations. I’ve thought about renting out a room in my house to tide me over until Noble & Associates Consulting and / or Noble Finances start bringing in some substantial revenues. And, sometimes it’s the senior citizens and retirees who are moving back with their children. So there are variations on the boomerang theme.

I’m not in touch with the economic situation in other countries. But. we in the United States need to pull together to help each other out. Just saw a video of the Donnie McClurkin story. Marvin Winans allowed McClurkin to stay in his house for months. But there comes a time, when helping becomes enabling. So McClurkin was kicked out. Each situation is different.

As Shakespeare says “The quality of mercy is not strained”.  When it becomes strained, it’s up to you to take the appropriate action.

Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC

So, now I’m confessing. My blog post titled “Business People Over 50 – Who are we?” ended with the statement “no twittering for me”. Well, I’ve learned to never say never. I admit that I am now twittering or more correctly tweeting.

The younger set primarily uses text messaging to do their tweets. I turned that feature off on my phone. Since I have no texting capability, I assumed I would never do tweets. However, I discovered ping.fm. It allows me to use the internet to enter my tweets. And the beauty of ping.fm is that it sends my postings to multiple social networks.  So, my entries are simultateously sent Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, Plaxo Pulse and now Delicious. Ping.fm makes it easy to actively participate in the Web 2.0 social networks.

There are those who allegedly use Twitter for business. I’ve attended teleseminars on the business use of Twitter as well as on the business use of Facebook. Business people under age 50 are using Twitter and other social networks. I have my doubts about the participation of the over 50, senior citizen group. I’m on Twitter and I’m over 50. I’m making a concerted effort to keep up with web 2.0, internet marketing and other new technologues and techniques. The purpose for this blog is to share my journey with other AARP qualifiers. Hopefully, I can help ease the process for my contemporaries.

Not convinced about the benefits. But for now, I’m trying Twitter.

Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC

Why?
Telecommunications used to be big in Atlanta. Telecommunications has taken a deep dive. And lots of other major employers in metropolitan Atlanta are faltering. And of course, the problem is not unique to Atlanta.

The three main effects of the recession or the financial downturns:
1) people are prematurely forced into requirement,
2) people are laid off and
3) pension funds and retirement accounts have lost value.

We’re not even going to talk about real estate, which in years past have been a source of funds for the senior citizen group. Our homes were the investments that were supposed to allow us to sustain ourselves after our working days were over. The equity that has been lost in our housing has forced the AARP aged folks to continue working to get the extra or essential spending money.

In an ideal world, many more would choose to retire. Your retirement plans wer probably to retire early. But the economic climate, both national and personal, removes some of the options. So I, as a late stage entrepreneur, am not alone in working long days and in pursuit of the dollar.

So much for retirement plans!
Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC

]]> http://businessover50.com/the-80-hour-un-work-week/feed/ 3 http://businessover50.com/business-people-over-50-who-are-we/ http://businessover50.com/business-people-over-50-who-are-we/#comments Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:50:25 +0000 Sandra Noble http://businessover50.com/business-people-over-50-who-are-we/ I started this blog to explore issues of interest to business people age 50 or over. They could be run of the mill employees or decision makers in large corporations or business owners / entrepreneurs.

Found a kindred blog written by someone who appears to be from both Canada and the United States. She provides a definition of business baby boomers in the post What are Small Business Boomers?

Since I plan to live to age 120 or longer, I don’t personally think of myself as middle aged, let alone a senior citizen. Theoretically baby boomers can include some 40 something people.

But, I’m sticking with the AARP definition, because I think there is a technology and cultural divide that starts around age 50.

Do you know anyone over 50 who likes text messaging?
How many of the over 50s even utilize that tool?

An over 50 friend of mine told me that I could turn off the text messaging capability on my phone. Without delay, I got that done.

So no Twittering for me.
(And if you don’t know what that means, you’re one of us.)

Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC

Linkedin is a social networking and connection forum for business people. If you’re in business, check it out. You might be surprised who’s already signed up.

Invite me to join your LinkedIn network. Every opportunity you have to network and build your sphere of influence is important to your success. When you add me as a connection use president@NobleAdvantage.com for the email.

Click the above icon or go to http://www.linkedin.com/in/SandraNoble.

If not already member, then click “Join Now” on the right.

If you’re already linkedin, then click “Contact Directly” on the right.

Let’s look for ways we can help each other have more successful
businesses and make more money!

Sandra Noble
President / CEO
Noble & Associates Consulting, Inc.
Noble Finances

Technology and the world in general is changing fast and I’m constantly trying to keep up. You see I’m ne of those over 50 folks who don’t find it second nature to keep up. But I am and I will.I’ve created this blog to vent, communicate and bolster my position as a viable business person. Have you heard the buzz about those who made it big, i.e. rich, by age 30? Well, that’s impressive. But what about the over 50 babyboomers who’ve perhaps been downsized, rightsized, laid off or fired. And hose who’ve more gracefully retired and now are looking to make a second mark on the world.We’ve got skills, wisdom and business savvy. If we can stay healthy, we have unlimited potential.Power to the “Over 50″ people!

Sandra Noble
President/CEO
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC

Addendum:

a plug for my webcam and more about blogs…