The United States is in trouble – economically and one could argue politically as well. The U.S. Congress is a wonderful legislative system, in theory. But. politics has become a dirty word. The political news would suggest that the system has gone awry. Regardless of political party, both Republicans and Democrats seem to be more focused on business of politics and being re-elected than they are on the best of doing what’s best for the country. Now the political campaigns are underway. Incumbent candidates are trying to convince the American people that the public’s interests and needs and wants have been served. And of course, that they will do better next time.
A Sustainable Future?
I love my country. Despite the negative political news, the United States government has lots of pluses. I want myself and all other Americans to survive and thrive. What’ the best way of having a sustainable future for the United States? Recycle!
Consider the idea of replacing them all and starting fresh.
Once again I was at a business event where it was recommended that we send a text message to business contacts. In fact, the story was told that one business person requested that a text message be sent to him while he was in the middle of a business meeting. And why did everyone think this was a good idea? In any and every given situation, it is acceptable to check for and respond to a text message.
Phone texting is in. I am amazed at the thumb dexterity of those that do text. Perhaps part of the fascination with texting is attaining mastery over the keyboard. It is apparently quick and efficient for the expert texters to communicate.
In the state of Georgia, legislation is being considered to ban texting while driving. (While they are at it, they should also limit cell phone use while driving.) And the anti-texting law would apply to all drivers, not just teenagers. I am amazed that any adult would think it’s a good idea to text and drive. A couple of people operating public transit trains were fired for texting on the job. Keep your eyes on the road! Have we all gone crazy?
Anyone else over 50 who doesn’t even know how to text message?
I have never sent a text message. I do have a cell phone. And, I have received text messages. But I was delighted to find out that I could turn the text message feature off. If a text message was free, it would be one thing. But the cell phone, blackberry, iphone and other device providers, have those pesky little charges for text messages. Charges for something that was of no value. It was a cost benefit decision for me.
Are there good uses for Texting?
I’ve heard someone saying that the elderly could text for help in a crisis. Not sure it’s feasible for the senior population to text. I’m a long ways from being elderly, but I don’t text. And, in a crisis situation, you’re only likely to do something that you’re totally comfortable with. So, probably not a good use for texting.
Then there is the earthquake tragedy in Haiti. That is a good use of texting.
Wyclef Jean, a musician from Haiti, has arranged for
$5 donations to be made by texting “YELE” to 501501 or a
$10 donation by texting “HAITI” to 501501.
$10 donations can also be made to the Red Cross by texting “HAITI” to 90999.
Not sure how this works, but I assume the cell phone companies will make the donation and add the charge to your cell phone bill.
I’m not ready to turn the texting capability back on my cell phone yet. We’ll see what develops.
In the US, us “over 50″ folks spend $2.3 trillion and
we controls 50% of all discretionary income.
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.
I recently found out about Dotsie Bregel who has a couple of sites for baby boomer and over 50 woman. One of her articles is about the “Boomerang Generation”. Can you guess what the term means? I got it wrong.
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.
Well the actual term is tweeter. When you make an entry into Twitter, you are tweeting. And what is Twitter? It’s called a micro-blog. Tweets are limited to 140 characters of data. The idea is to share what you’re doing at that moment. People who care about what you’re doing will sign up to follow you. They get entries in their Twitter account whenever people they are following make tweets.
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.
Baby Boomers Go Into Un-Retirement is an interesting blog post about how baby boomers are handling retirement or not. Don’t know if Atlanta is different, but I know a lot of over 55 people who are going the NOT route.
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. 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. Sandra Noble NOBLE FINANCES NOBLE &ASSOCIATESCONSULTING, INC
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.)
Now there is a new breed, which normally refers to them as network marketers. I guess to get past the defenses of people like me who found the term MLM distasteful. I’d hear about “those people” and run into “those folks”. But it was really background noise.
Two or three years ago, I heard John Di Lemme speak. He’s a powerful speaker, motivator and success coach. He made his millions in multi-level marketing. At that point I was neutral about MLMs and even respected some of the people I knew in them. Then there was the onslaught of the YTBs – a travel MLM. But since I rarely take luxury vacations anymore, that had no appeal. But recently an old friend has a very upscale professional approach to YTB. Much more palatable, but still didn’t move me.
I think I’ve found an MLM that is different. No ordering, no inventory, no deliveries, no collections, no customer contracts, no customer risk. Sounds good to me. So, I’ve decided to let down my defenses and my disdain about network marketing income opportunities.
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!
