Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I love the new CNN thing on "Life After Work".

My favorite stories are Cal Ripken and the woman who now runs a sculpture business. I just love the whole idea of reinventing oneself.

My mom is a workaholic. So I was a little shocked when she recently looked at me and asked me what she was going to do next in life ... that she didn`t want to do what she was doing anymore, she wanted to retire from that and do something completely different. But I think the question is always, "but what?" My husband faces this same challenge currently as well, after nearly a decade at the same company he is burnt out and we want to move. Would he go on to doing what he was doing, or would he do something different?

I have to say that for a serial entrepreneur, I`m bad at being an entrepreneur. I don`t particularly find new companies - I just find new jobs! So I`m not exactly sure what I would want to do either, if I needed to reinvent myself in 20 years.

But I`d love to see a discussion here about it!

Don`t you think that reinventing one`s self requires having some sort of context for what contains that self, why does it exist, and how does it work?

I think it`s just scary to do something for a long time, and then suddenly say "OK I want to do something else now ... but what?" - regardless of your age!

Absolutely right, it`s very scary. I`ve done it several times, not always with
the success I`d anticipated.

But we are finding a new dynamic. The larger companies are letting the
old folks move on, to make rom for the young blood. Trouble is the
young blood doesn`t have the experience or skills. Companies are
constantly de-skilling, and ultimately find they need to bring the skills
back for specific projects.

Seems to me this makes the entrepreurial boomer a godsend to the CEO
with a problem. They have the experience and skills to fix it, and they`re
happy to move on when they`ve finished the job.

I think Craig is right. Understanding where one can add value and
positioning that at the people who need it could be the secret. There
seems to be a lot of people making a post career living out of it. They`re
never going to be CEO, but maybe they`ve figured out they don`t want to
be.

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Serious about focussing your business on customers?
visit us at http://www.frontofficebox.com

I suspect that this is an interesting dilemma for many boomers today! As a fellow boomer that has reinvented himself - I can say that the prospect as well as the actual undertaking creates more panic in the ones that depend upon your continued success (that they have become accustomed too) - than it does in yourself. At least that was my experience.

After 35 years of sales - and one quad bypass surgery - I started a videography and video production business. There have been lots of twists, turns and disappointments but the rewards are really starting to come forth. Have a long way to go but now have a solid footing from home - with a great deal more enjoyment, reward and satisfaction 

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Providing the Methods of Protecting Every Modern Family's Legacy from Loss

Hi LifeStoryBob

tell us some more, you`ve really got my interest and I`m sure that applies to lots of other people.

What turned you from sales to video production?

I can`t match your 35 years in sales, but can run you pretty close.

Of course this might just be naval gazing, but it seems to me making a living out of sales is hard yards all the way - nobody wants to take your calls but everybody wants you to bring home the bacon.

Maybe we could have another forum for boomers who made sales a career?

saxmansteve


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Serious about focussing your business on customers?
visit us at http://www.frontofficebox.com

Saxmansteve,

Once you have learned the art of the sale, the negotiation and the close you will always make a great living and acheive a great deal of personal satisfaction. There are always the cold calls, the people that will not take your calls and the gate keepers, but that is all part of the art of selling. Maybe I should produce a video on the art of selling for our fellow SuN yougsters (ha, ha).

When I had quad bypass surgery three years ago (August) it gave me time to really do some self analysis regarding what legacy I was leaving behind for my kids and grandkids. I realized at that time that I had a legacy that I wanted to leave  and I started researching and planning an approach to fullfill my wish. As a salesperson of high end personal products (translated - Million Dollar RVs) to my generation of business owners and successful baby boomers, I realized that everyone has a life story and that most of them had not made any provisions to actually tell it.  You might be able to spend your children`s inheritance if you choose, but you can not rob them of their legacy, which is your life and accomplishments, that they may choose to model themselves after. Therefore, I analyzed my present resources and talent and realized that my interview techniques that I had honed so well as a saleperson, allowed me to get people to open up and discuss their life stories, given the right forum and setting. I put the talents I had developed to work on what I consider a much higher calling, recording and producing individuals life stories, in a specific format that is appropriate for distribution to the individuals family members and freinds, before or even after the subject dies.

I also found, by studying and analyzing the questions, responses and forums of my fellow SuN members, as well as other on-line resources, and them making inquiry to additional prospective clients, that I could stay busy producing similar products for other people. industries and events and decided that I will undertake to my present business.

And so there really is a saleman out there that actually is looking for a response to those many qualifying questions that are asked when you are thinking about about a purchase, and it may not relate to what you has really anticipated.

Thanks for asking.

LifeStoryBob 

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Providing the Methods of Protecting Every Modern Family's Legacy from Loss

It is said that during the course of any conversation or negotiation that you will reach a point (if you are listening) where the next one that speaks loses! (I prefer to say commits rather than loses)

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Providing the Methods of Protecting Every Modern Family's Legacy from Loss

You`re right Bob... Like I said above, knowing when to shut up is a key factor.

Sometimes, the best answer in that situation is to just give a little sympathetic smile... and politely wait. (Yeah, I know a few seconds waiting time can seem like hours, but it WILL pay off... I promise.)

Nick