REWIRE! - Jeri Sedlar's Notes From The Road

DISCOVERING MY INTEREST IN JAZZ

2009-07-02T08:34:00.026-06:00

I've been telling people that we all need to "rewire early and to rewire often." What I mean is that we constantly need to be looking at our life and adding and deleting activities, interests, even relationships. We need to learn how to discard and how to add. Many people across the country have told me that they don't have a hobby, or even an interest. They've become too family and work -oriented, or just tired, and they've lost their fun.

I don't remember how, where or why but a few years ago I developed a low level interest in jazz. I stress the word, low level, because I want everyone to realize that passions don't just happen...they build. I wasn't just listening to jazz, I found myself at Jazz At Lincoln Center ; I watched the Ken Burns video on JAZZ. I'm someone who needs to know the background on a topic..how did jazz get birthed? What makes jazz, jazz? Where does Miles or "Bird" or Dizzy fit in? Why were they considered great?

One of my personal drivers in life is to constantly be learning. To give me a jumpstart, Michael Bomwell, a New York-based jazz saxaphonist, lent me The Smithsonian Collection of Classical Jazz. It is great! I am really understanding Jazz, the Blues, Ragtime and Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton!

I'm also reading the VERY colorful autobiography of MILES DAVIS and can say that there appears to be a lot of regret, recovery and fulfillment in the world of jazz artists. As my interest has been growing, I have been doing more exploring, and just discovered that a colleague from my days at WORKING WOMAN magazine, Marc Myers, writes one of the web's most popular daily blogs, JazzWax.com. Marc's writing has also been exciting and his love and knowledge of jazz makes reading his blog a joy and an overall experience! So my rewiring has allowed me to reconnect with a friend and get great jazz insights on a daily basis!

Yes, life is still challenging; unemployment is up and the Dow is down (at least today it is!) but the erraticness of life seems to be a bit more managable now that I have a new interest to explore and "cool" jazz constanly playing in the background. So how about it... are you ready to rewire and find your new fun?

REWIRE ON THE JOB---and KEEP YOUR JOB!

2009-06-03T10:11:00.007-06:00

These tough economic times know no boundaries! Canada, like the United States, is now going through its worst recession since the 1930's and many Canadians, are looking to refocus their careers and their lives.

I was flattered when the Toronto Sun picked my brains for ideas on how to use the rewiring process to help their readers refocus their life at work and play. I think that it's a greater challenge to enact change when you are living in the middle of change itself, but I totally believe it's possible to take back some control in our lives--- in fact I think it is actually highly desirable! You might be thinking --"no way"--but the truth is, we are in greater control of our lives than we realize.

I know that it's hard to imagine that, especially on days where we feel totally out of it but take the time to read the Toronto Sun article---the tips and new ideas I present work regardless of where you live, work or play!

DANCING WITH THE STARS CONTESTANTS ARE GREAT ROLE MODELS OF REWIRING!

2009-05-21T07:57:00.012-06:00

Dancing with the Stars is a terrific metaphor for Rewiring™. The celebrities involved are almost always people who achieved a level of fame, but now the reason for that fame is fading, faded--or gone. But they still want to be visible and known for something.

The stars I’m talking about weren't trained as dancers. But like great dancers, these actors and athletes almost always are willing to make a sacrifice. Actors wait on tables and athletes strain almost daily at the gym. In the case of dancing, all of them had to learn a whole new set of skills. They are always drawing on strengths from their past, whether that's talent, discipline, courage, or simply the ability to make people want to root for them.

Significant is the fact that none of them rewire alone. They seek out encouragement and training from a variety of sources, from their primary dancing instructors to the parade of motivators that surface during their training and performances. By taking the risk of looking foolish, failing, or having people say they should have stayed retired or out of the limelight, they have opened themselves up to new opportunities. There is a lesson here for all of us.

WORKING OUT AND WALKING ARE GREAT ECONOMIC RECOVERY SPORTS

2009-05-15T11:18:00.037-06:00

I've heard that during times of change and challenge that people take to working out more. I was curious to see if there was any data to support this notion, and discovered that the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association had some very interesting findings.

Since a lot of the work I do has to do with mature workers, remember that is any one over the age of 40, (I know many of you may be freaking!) I have a high interest in that group. I learned that the most popular athletic activities among people 55+ are fishing and golf followed by fitness walking, treadmill exercise, stretching, and the use of hand weights.

Since people are watching their money, I love the fact that walking, stretching, and lifting weights are free or inexpensive, and in this economy, that sounds pretty good. In fact The Wall Street Journal had a great editorial by Cameron Stracher called RUNNING FOR LEAN TIMES.

I live in New York City, and have run in the MORE mini- marathon, but more importantly for me, I walk alot. The health benefits of walking are huge. Walkers are a lot healthier than their sedentary friends. Walking reduces the chances for cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and if these aren't good enough reasons to put on your sneakers or comfortable shoes I don't know what are! Yes it means that you have to rewire your mindset and view walking as fun and as a positive move, and not as drudgery!

And by the way, when you walk you will want to stretch before and after. And that means you've participated in two positive sports!! So go for it. And start out slowly; don't overdue and don't try to prove that you're a jock if you're not!

YOGA CAN KEEP YOU YOUNG

2009-05-14T12:43:00.009-06:00

I had been saying that I wanted to build yoga in to my life for awhile now. And like many of you, I live in the land of good intentions (it sounds better than saying the land of procrastination) and some things get done faster than others. But I'm pleased to say that practicing yoga and trying to live what I call a yoga life--- are now a part of my life. I always knew that yoga was good for my body, soul and spirit but I was even more thrilled when a friend sent me the article entitled: "YOGA'S GRANNY SWAMI"http://www.news.com.au/

Bette Calman is an 83 year old yoga instructor who has no problem doing a headstand and has taught the spirit of yoga for over 40 years. She is an inspiration on every level. As I travel the country giving people ideas on how they can rewire their life I now add ---and try yoga. Be aware that there are many different types of yoga and yogis so you may try a few different classes before you find one that feeds your spirit and soul.

If you want to do some homework, read YOGA JOURNAL or check out The Everything Yoga blog at http://www.itsallaboutyoga.com/.
Namaste

Suzanne Braun Levine Does It Again!

2009-05-11T15:47:00.010-06:00

The whole "age thing" can rock people. Some people out there are denying their age; even denying to themselves that they're getting older. And then some people I know, not many, but some, say they are actually older than they really are so others will think they look terrific for their age! ( and can you imagine one time the culprit was my own little sister!) She got back into yoga and living right and quickly returned to her senses.

But it is the French philosophy that I love. They say "you have to feel good in your own skin." For all I know the French could be big fans of plastic surgery but regardless I still think it's a wonderful philosophy to live by.

And now Suzanne Braun Levine's new book, FIFTY Is the New Fifty, offers a great new philosophy that I think many of us have been waiting for! The book is honest, practical, inspiring even a little irreverant and everyone should read it and LIVE IT! And if you want to know more or subscribe to her newsletter visit http://www.suzannebraunlevine.com/.
You keep us in the present and honest Suzanne!

DOCTORS SAY- DON'T RETIRE! and LIVE TO 100!

2009-04-20T21:56:00.006-06:00

It's one thing for me to say to people, don't retire, but it's a whole other thing when doctors and medical research supports my belief! Deborah Kotz of USNews, recently wrote an article, entitled: 10 Health Habits That Will Help You Live to 100. I've included a few pertinent paragraphs below.

The biggest factor that determines how well you age is not your genes but how well you live. Not convinced? A new study published in the British Medical Journal of 20,000 British folks shows that you can cut your risk of having a stroke in half by doing the following four things: being active for 30 minutes a day, eating five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding cigarettes and excess alcohol.

While those are some of the obvious steps you can take to age well, researchers have discovered that centenarians tend to share certain traits in how they eat, move about, and deal with stress—the sorts of things we can emulate to improve our own aging process. Of course, getting to age 100 is enormously more likely if your parents did. Still, Thomas Perls, who studies the century-plus set at Boston University School of Medicine, believes that assuming you've sidestepped genes for truly fatal diseases like Huntington's, "there's nothing stopping you from living independently well into your 90s." Heck, if your parents and grandparents were heavy smokers, they might have died prematurely without ever reaching their true potential lifespan, so go ahead and shoot for those triple digits by following these 10 habits:

1. Don't retire. "Evidence shows that in societies where people stop working abruptly, the incidence of obesity and chronic disease skyrockets after retirement," says Luigi Ferrucci, director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Chianti region of Italy, which has a high percentage of centenarians, has a different take on leisure time. "After people retire from their jobs, they spend most of the day working on their little farm, cultivating grapes or vegetables," he says. "They're never really inactive." Farming isn't for you? Volunteer as a docent at your local art museum or join the Experience Corps, a program offered in 19 cities that places senior volunteers in urban public elementary schools for about 15 hours a week.

Now do you belive me when I tell you take the time to read Don't Retire, REWIRE! You won't be sorry!

JOB SITES FOR MATURE WORKERS

2009-04-20T21:01:00.009-06:00

I did a program this weekend in West Bloomfield, Michigan entitled: PRIME TIME OVER 50 sponsored by Jewish Vocational Services of Detroit. http://www.jvsdet.org/. JVS does outstanding work for a wide variety of constituents and employs some of the most compassionate, caring people that I have ever had the opoporutnity to work with!

The audience was comprised of several hundred energetic people who were all in some type of work transition. I gave them what I call one of my Meat and Motivation presentations which included the following job sites. I think they're some of the best and wanted to share them with you. I hope you find them helpful:

http://www.retiredbrains.com/

http://www.workforce50.com/

http://www.retirementjobs.com/

http://www.theladders.com/

And one that is very comprehensive and chocked full of info is http://www.seniorjobbank.org/!

JERI REWIRES BY PLAYING POKER!

2009-04-04T07:17:00.002-06:00

I decided to rewire some of my fun a few weeks ago and took a poker class!
I needed to add something active, not passive to my life, and a lunch n' learn event on poker sounded great. Not only did I learn to play, but I won! Check me out at

http://www.pokerdivas.com/category/news-and-events

Playing poker fulfilled many of my personal "drivers." Those 85 motivators that we identified in DON'T RETIRE, REWIRE! My drivers include having a need to have new and different experiences and to be current. I realized that today's challenges were zapping me of my energy and positive spirit and that I was yearning to do something new! So off to a PokerDivas class I went! It was everything I wanted and MORE !

Are you in a rut? Feeling like you want to get away, but can't? Ask yourself if you are getting enough "driver" fulfillment? And if the answer is no, then take the time today to see what you can add to your life! Make the time to Rewire! Your future fun is waiting!

Rewirement Tips for Mature* Job Seekers - March 2009

2009-03-23T19:26:00.000-06:00

These challenging economic times have resulted in many downsizings, rightsizings, layoffs or whatever you want to call it –people are losing their jobs, or waiting for the next shoe to drop! The idea of Rewiring®, originally developed for pre and post retirees, is now a process for everyone. We all need to know how and why and where to rewire.

I’m still traveling around the country talking to large audiences about the future, but I’m also doing small group work helping people to rewire themselves in their current work or to secure a new work option.

Here are some tips that I recently shared with an audience. They are a combination of substance and style and exemplify my belief that getting a job today, in these highly competitive times, demands that we be more strategic in our job search.

View yourself as a product: It’s competitive out there. Ask yourself: Why should someone hire me?
Network, network, network- on-line and LIVE!: If you don’t like the word, network, think connecting, relationship building.
Elevate the conversation with a potential employer: Get more aggressive. Ask specific questions about the job.
Demonstrate mental agility: Cite examples where you can show how flexible and adaptable you are.
Look the part: Appearance and presentation still matter. Don’t kid yourself.
Match your drivers to the job description: Read DON’T RETIRE, REWIRE! to discover your drivers, or motivators, and see how they correlate to professional success and fulfillment.
Discover how to differentiate yourself from the pack: Don’t associate only with the same age cohort! Pick up new trends and ideas from all four generations.
Articulate what you can offer an employer: Don’t wait for the interviewer to ask about your strengths, tell them.
Demonstrate that you are up to speed with “new” skills: Don’t get old and rusty in your technology or leadership skills.
You’ve got the experience; have energy and enthusiasm, too: This is the great triumvirate. There is no replacement for the BIG THREE.
Manage your expectations: Need I say more?

* As defined in the 1967 Age Discrimination Employment Act

CAPITALIZE ON THE LONGEVITY REVOLUTION!

2009-03-23T09:08:00.000-06:00

I recently attended a seminar at DEMOS, a non-partisan public policy research and advocacy organization headquartered in New York City. Demos works with advocates and policymakers around the country in pursuit of four overarching goals:

a more equitable economy with widely shared prosperity and opportunity

a vibrant and inclusive democracy with high levels of voting and civic engagement
an empowered public sector that works for the common good
responsible U.S. engagement in an interdependent world

DEMOS, http://www.demos.org/, does great work in terms of Ideas and Action! I went to their event to hear the brilliant Dr. Robert Butler, founder of The International Longevity Center http://www.ilcusa.org/ talk about the realities of living longer. His new book, THE LONGEVITY REVOLUTION, is terrific for professionals and lay people. The focus is on the benefits and challenges of living a long life---a subject that I think that we all need to know more about!

Dr. Butler has great delivery and great insights...and when he told the audience to exercise and work to strengthen their thighs so we can always climb stairs I knew he was right on!! What a great message for all of us Boomers!

From my standpoint I think that to really get this longevity revolution right, we need to rewire ourselves mentally, physically and civically for starters!

LEARN TO PLAY TEXAS HOLD 'EM

2009-03-20T06:06:00.000-06:00

During these challenging times I've decided to try new and different things that are fun, inexpensive, and getting me out of my comfort zone. And if I can learn a thing or two along the way, that's terrific so that's how I ended up at the YMHA, better known as the 92nd Street Y Tribeca http://www.92y.org/92YTribeca in New York City.

I wanted to learn to play poker. I'm from a card playing family in Michigan but have gotten rusty through the years. My goal was to learn the game, get a group of friends together once a month to play cards, to get caught up, do some networking, and do something that challenged the mind and was active, not passive! Basically I was Rewiring my fun time!

I took a lunch time class called- POKERDIVAS. Their motto is "If you want to be in the game, you have to be at the table." They have a great site: http://www.pokerdivas.com/.
In one class, with a highly talented "teacher," Ellen Leikind, I learned the basics and am ready to go! I met great women, from entrepreneurs and nurses to corporate executives and policy makers.

If you're in New York take the class, but also think about learning the game. From a career standpoint learning TEXAS HOLD'Em has several benefits beyond fun and learning to bluff well:

develop strategic skills

learn to read the competition

become more of a risk taker

All good skills for managing the work world regardless of your position! and it's a lot of fun!

DON'T COUNT THE "OLD DOGS" OUT!

2009-02-12T14:22:00.000-05:00

I'm an animal lover. Animals are one of my passions, and in fact I would love to be a vet's assistant one day (maybe that will be a part of a future rewiring!) but for now I get my thrills from going to events such as the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Watching the dogs compete is wonderful but going behind the scenes is the best. It's upfront and personal and being close to the dogs feeds my soul! And when Stump, the 10 year-year old Sussex spaniel, (that's 70 in human years!) who had just come out of retirement, won Best in Show in New York City Tuesday night, no one cheered louder than me!

It wasn't just for Stump that I was cheering but rather for all mature workers, both four and two footed! As Senior Advisor at The Conference Board on the Mature Workforce, my mission is to challenge organizations to continue to recognize the talent and productivity of experienced workers. It's crazy that in 1967, the Age Discrimination Employment Act, designated 40 as the age of the Mature Worker. Since we are living on average another 20 to 25 years after the age of 65, some things have got to change!

We all have to rewire our thinking and actions about the future! Stump is my new hero---right up there with US Airways pilot Sully Sullenberger! Let's hear it for mature workers!

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR THE 2009 PURPOSE PRIZE?

2009-02-05T15:52:00.000-05:00

I am thrilled by some of the innovative and socially rewarding things that people 60 years and older are doing as "encore careers." (People under 60 are doing cool things too, but today I'm focused on 60+!) I am an advocate of people rewiring and when you see people doing things that are fulfilling their own needs and society's, you can't help but get excited.

Civic Ventures, the fantastic organization spearheaded by my friend, Marc Freedman, is looking for nominations for the next 10 winners of The Purpose Prize. The Purpose Prize is a $100,000 award for people over age 60 who have created new ways to solve social issues. From healthcare to education, to global warming to poverty reduction, winners of The Purpose Prize have been recognized for using their experience, wisdom, and skills to figure out new methods and/or organizations for improving communities both here and abroad. Click here to read about Purpose Prize winners.

I have met some prior winners, (who I consider to be great rewiring role models!) and have to admit that they are truly living fulfilled lives, while enriching the lives of others. I know that some of you are also doing great work, or know others who are so here is your opportunity to nominate yourself or another for the 2009 Purpose Prize award.

It's easy to do the nomination at www.encore.org/prize. The deadline is March 5, 2009.

So maybe you're not a candidate this year, but at least take a moment now and think---what issues are out there today that interest me? and that I would want to change? That is the beginning of the rewiring process that puts you on the pathway to your encore career!

REWIRING GURU TAKES HER OWN ADVICE

2009-02-03T13:43:00.000-05:00

During these times of challenge and change, I have been telling audiences of all ages, and at all stages of life, that they have to rewire. Rewiring is not something you do in, or for the future, it's something you should be doing every day of your life. The truth is, few people enact change in their lives until they are forced to.

I'm not talking about BIG changes, nor am I talking about work-related change only. Rewiring is about changing, now. Rewiring impacts how you are living your life, today. In a recent speech I challenged an audience to leave the program, and to go out and add some fun into their life. I asked that they do something different than normal, and that they think about how it fulfilled one of their drivers, as identified in our book, DON'T RETIRE, REWIRE! My challenge was to get everyone to do something that was fun and out of their comfort zone.

It was apparent that some people were totally ready for more fun, and just were waiting for someone (me!) to say go for it!

Others were less enthusiastic and it showed. One guy said, "So rewiring guru, have you made any changes?" So to my readers and friends, yes is the answer. I took my first belly dancing class last night at The Open Center in New York City with the dancer, Safiya.

I was not only way out of my comfort zone but I was also one of the oldest women in the class

(I wondered where all of the other boomers were??) The reality was, I loved the class! and I filled one of my drivers, which is to have new experiences---and boy did I ever!

I rewired some of my energy into doing something that was totally new to me---not very expensive---where I was with people I didn't know---where I discovered a new from of exercise---and where I woke up today feeling great!

So folks---I'll ask the question, what's stopping you from doing a little rewiring today?

OLDER WORKERS NEED NEW IDEAS AND INSIGHTS TO STAY COMPETITIVE

2009-01-28T10:37:00.000-05:00

We're almost one month into 2009 and the market is still volatile, unemployment numbers continue to creep up as the Consumer Confidence Index goes down. I've been on the road a lot working with organizations and individuals who are in transition or think that they might be in the near future. I don't want to appear as a gloom and doom person...I really am a realistic optimist but having said that---I tell people "not to assume that their work life can't or won't change any time soon!" I think that this is the right time for all of us to adopt the Scout motto---BE PREPARED!

I have a particular focus on the older worker and was recently interviewed on the subject of rewiring for older workers...a topic near and dear to my own heart.(Remember in the United States a mature worker is anyone over the age of 40!)

Please read my interview on George's Employment Blawg http://www.employmentblawg.com/.
I tried to be as straight-forward as possible in sharing strategies and tactics for getting the job or getting the overall next act right!

Stay tuned! We will be adding advice for the Wise Job-Seeker. Helpful hints to get you where you need to go.

REWIRED CAREERS- Meet The Purpose Prize Winners

2008-12-10T08:38:00.000-05:00

I'm always looking for stories and ideas to share with you about people who have rewired or are in the process of rewiring and I have to say that the 6 NEW Purpose Prize winners blew me away! Their stories, their achievements, their honesty about their trials and tribulations were inspirational and I want you to meet them.

The easiest way to read these fascinating stories, and maybe get some rewiring ideas of your own, is at http://www.purposeprize.org/index.cfm.

The creators of the Purpose Prize are Civic Ventures and Encore.org with financial support from The Atlantic Philanthropies and The Templeton Fund.

The innovative winners who have made such an impact on the lives of others receive a substantial monetary award.

I happen to be a member of the Encore Leadership Network, and I know that we are already looking for next year's winners...so nominate someone---or even yourself--
at: http://www.purposeprize.org/nominate/nomination-begin.cfm.

We are living in challenging times and often someone else's story just might be the catalyst to get us to think differently about our work options, or the story could contain a nugget of an idea that sparks a brand new idea...either way, let the sparks fly! And no matter what-- remember getting an idea to pursue takes time! Be kind to yourself.

RETIREES? REWIRING AND OFF TO WORK THEY GO!

2008-10-21T08:14:00.000-05:00

Recognize these characters? They are the famous Walt Disney Seven Dwarfs from the Disney movie SNOW WHITE. Why have I featured them so prominently, because I think they have a positive message for us about work.

A real life person, Lee Iacocca, also has a positive message about work. It was the July, 1996 FORTUNE cover featuring Lee Iacocca with the headline- "HOW I FLUNKED RETIREMENT" that was the catalyst for us to write DON'T RETIRE, REWIRE! Lee Iacocca said he flunked retirement because he had underplanned his life, his activities, not his finances. Today it's a different story. Today's economic crisis, the surrounding chaos and impact on our investments, is driving many people into considering going back to work, if they're not there already. Lee Iacocca hadn't planned it, but he has rewired several times....he has gone back to work...sure it was to buy businesses, to write books....maybe not our league, but the key is is that he is doing work he enjoys!

Work is only a bad four letter word if you hate what you're doing!

I am a "realistic optimist," not a Pollyanna, and maybe it sounds corny but I think we should adapt the tune that the seven dwarfs sang-----"hi ho hi ho it's off to work we go..."

Much of the media is reporting the horror stories. They're not giving their readers or viewers any sense of hope, or any tactics or ideas to pursue. I'm known as the "rewiring guru" and I take that title and coinciding responsibility seriously so I'm here to give retirees a few ideas...BUT THE TRUTH IS, THESE IDEAS WORK FOR PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE.

1) Before you charge out, use the ZEN philosophy- You can't see your reflection in rushing water.

2) Think about how you want to work. --Do you need full time, part time, seasonal, or flex time and how do you define that for yourself?

3) Try combining your interests and your skills. Yes, times are challenging, but go after work that you think you'll like and that you would look forward to doing.

4) Your resume tells some of your story, but why not create an accomplishment sheet for yourself. Having a list of your successes will help you recognize all you have done and allow you to determine what might be applicable to a new work situation. Plus it will help those you are networking with understand you better!

5) Manage your expectations.

We're all in this together and I hope to be sending along ideas with some regularity...and remember...breathe...

STAYING AFLOAT WITH SOME REWIRING IDEAS

2008-10-15T13:42:00.000-05:00

The book, A TALE OF TWO CITIES, begins with the line, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times" and for many that line sums up life today, both here and abroad. For over 15 years I have worked in the areas of executive search, and personal and professional growth and development. Writing DON'T RETIRE, REWIRE! was a logical output of that work since so many of us Boomers were looking ahead. Well we're still looking ahead....but the future has changed and for many it's pretty fuzzy. Many people feel betrayed by life, their employer, WALL STREET, and the government. As one friend said, " there's no place to run, and no place to hide!" So , breathe, and let's begin.

The concept of "rewiring" is not age or life stage specific, so it's not surprising that I have been doing some programs for outplacement firms, churches, and non profits to help people look at the future and their job options with a new set of eyes.

My talks haven't just been about tactics and strategies but about pain, being angry and in denial and how you need to rewire some of your energy and time so you can face the future more positively. I'm going to offer ideas on job hunting but also on keeping your sanity, and that is the focus of my blog today.

Here's a few basic ideas we need to be doing:

1. Breathe. Feel your stomach go out when you inhale. Focus on your belly. Slow down.
2. Eat. What foods are you eating? Junk or comfort food? Go for greens and protein.
3. Listen. What are you saying to yourself? Is it negative or positive? Don't depress yourself.
4.Watch. Watch what you're viewing on TV. Don't overload on financial news or politics!
5.Fitness. Get off your duff. Take a walk. Go to the gym. Walk
around the office. the block, the company parking lot!
My goal is to have you rewire some of your energy---even in a small way---do something different. You need it; I know I do!
Stay tuned.

Interview with Brian Kurth of Vocation Vacations

2008-09-08T14:35:00.000-06:00

An interview I recently did with Brian Kurth of Vocation Vacations is now available as a free downloadable podcast in the iTunes music store. Just search 'vocation vacations' in iTunes to find it. You can also listen to in mp3 format here.

Rewirement Tips - v.3

2008-09-03T14:31:00.000-06:00

There are so many things to consider as we face the future. The concept of Rewiring® should touch on all aspects of our life--- if we let it. Here are a few more tips to contemplate your future; the reality is, they work for people of all ages! You’ll see that there’s a few tips that I keep reinforcing, such as Know Yourself! The reason I keep driving this message home is that too many people want to skip this most important step…they just want to just go and do; that will work for awhile then you’ll come up anxious again. Spend some time getting to know yourself; I bet you’re a very interesting person!

Accept the Future as a time of endings and beginnings. Think about what will end in your life, and ask will you miss it? Ask what you want to end, and know why you won’t miss it. Also cite what you don’t want to have changed.

Acknowledge how you handle change. Do you run from it; thrive on it; embrace it; lead it? This insight should guide your planning.

Keep your values close. Our values are our anchors. Is work your anchor? Recognize that the absence of work may leave you feeling adrift.

Go on vacation. Do something totally different the first week of your new life. If you know that change is hard for you, and that the first Monday of your new life will be tough, be away.

Take the time to know yourself. It’s a journey well worth taking. As a start read Don’t Retire, REWIRE to gain insights, then if you want more go hire a coach or talk to a role model or mentor, you don’t have to figure out your life alone.

Listen to yourself. Take one off-beat idea you have and play it through. Let the kid in you emerge. There may be a whole other side of you dying to get out.

If You Plan to Work in Retirement, Here's A Few Rewiring Tips!

2008-08-30T12:53:00.000-06:00

Today’s workplace is competitive, challenging and more complex than ever! So whether you’re looking for a new job because you have to or just because you want to, I’ve compiled some job- seeking tips for everyone, but especially for people 50+. I advise people to take an inward journey first, that they look inside themselves and answer a few questions, BEFORE they take action! I'm seeing too many people going the route of "READY, FIRE, AIM! and then wondering WHY they didn't hit their bullseye!

Follow the Boy Scout motto and Be Prepared to answer some basic questions before you jump into looking for a job. Too many people say they want to go back to work, or want new work options but can't articulate what it is they want!

We need other people to help us uncover opportunities so we need to make sure--- coming out of the gate--- that we have our act together! You need an elevator speech ready to go! So here are some questions and tips to get you thinking. Many of them are pretty basic…in fact you may think they're too obvious!

So my question is: CAN YOU ANSWER THEM?

1. Know WHY you want to work in retirement. Is it for pay, intellectual stimulation, community, driver fulfillment? Other?

2. Where do you want to work. For your former company on a reduced schedule, for the competition, as a consultant, as an entrepreneur,for a non-profit?

3. How do you want to work? Part time/full time/flex/seasonally?

4. Do you have the technology skills you need? Are you willing to get them?

6. Did you review your past accomplishments? Do you know what's important to you?

7. Have you identified the skills you want to use in your next act? Just because you have a certain skill DOESN'T mean you have to use it!

8. Are you open, adaptable and flexible? Or closed to new ideas and set in your ways?

Before you head off to a recruiter, a job board, or a networking lunch, have the guts to talk to yourself about what you want and need from your work and your life.
Labels: plan of action, working in retirement, rewirement, tips

Is Writing A Novel In Your Future?

2008-08-01T20:35:00.000-06:00

To me, there is nothing better than reading a good novel. Why do I tell you this? Because over the past several years of traveling the country speaking to audiences about their futures, I have heard more people say,"I want to write the Great American Novel one day." But they openly admit they have no idea of how to get started. So for all of you future writers, I am thrilled to introduce you to literary agent and author, Evan Marshall, who has made novel writing easier than ever before! Evan has turned his best selling book on how to write a novel, "The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing" into downloadable software and it's great! and available at here.

Many people are deciding to rewire and get new skills at the height of their careers. Evan is a perfect example. On top of his day job as a literary agent, he used his nights and weekends to master a whole new skill set--software programming--in order to create the software himself. He told me that "no one knows The Marshall Plan better than I do, so I'll write the software!" But how to begin is always the question regardless of the topic.

Evan took night classes at County College of Morris, enrolled in an on-line course through the Montclair School of Continuing Education, and read several textbooks in his spare time! Although a New Jersey resident Evan found help all over the world. He posted problems on expertsexchange.com, got feedback from a fan in Australia, and hired an expert programmer in Pakistan, who bid for the job on elance.com.

Best of all, Evan listened to his fans who had been asking him for years to turn his book into software. He also listened to himself,and decided to go for it. Three years later he is thrilled and so are his fans!

So,do you have a book project,or idea, you've been thinking of doing? Don't deprive the world of a great novel, you now have the software to get started; Evan has done the legwork for you!

Oh, if only life were always this easy!

EXPECTED the UNEXPECTED

2008-07-15T11:53:00.000-06:00

When I hear the comment, "Oh well I've just come to expect the unexpected," or "nothing surprises me any more," they are usually uttered with a heavy sigh and from a more negative standpoint. Many people think that when you expect the unexpected that you are assuming something bad will happen. Being a "realistic optimist," (an attitude that I think we all should be adopting right now) I expect good things to happen to myself and others. And am thrilled and excited when an unexpected cool thing occurs! Which was what happened last week when our book DON'T RETIRE, REWIRE! and our idea of rewiring was a focal point of Jane Brody's column in The New York Times.

I believe that we need to work hard, work smart, and live by the Golden Rule and sometimes with doing everything else right, we also get lucky! It is challenging times at the ranch and Jane's words rewired some of my thinking! I was in Battle Creek last week doing an AARP program, entitled WORK @ 50...Getting Rewired for Your Next Act. The audience of 250 people were eager for new ideas and insights so Jane's comments and my AARP audience has caused me to do the unexpected....I am going to start offering more HOW TO FIND WORK Tips and ideas in my blog and on my website.

So when something unexpectedly wonderful happens to you, think of how you can use it to make something unexpectedly positive happen for someone else!

Looking For Meaning and Purpose In All the Right Places

2008-07-03T12:08:00.000-06:00

I tell people NOT to eavesdrop on other people's dreams, because what one person considers heaven, you might consider hell. I give myself the right to eavesdrop. I view it as part of my on-going research. I see myself as a "social voyeur" so if you have that title then eavesdropping goes with the territory.

Recently a lot of folks have been telling me they need to rewire because they need to find new meaning and purpose in their life. They have gone stale at work and at play even in their relationships. When I ask how they define "meaning and purpose" I usually get a blank stare or quizzical look----"meaning and purpose" are great words but I believe it it up to each of us to define those words for ourselves.

Many Boomers say they want to do new work in their next act...to have a retirement career, or as my friend and author, Marc Freedman , calls it...to have Encore Career. If you are one of those people looking for new work that touches both your life and society then get ready to do some personal due diligence by reading the latest survey from MetLife and Civic Ventures on the topic.