Over-50

John Edwards: Role model for second chances

John Edwards is a smart guy. He's also ambitious.  And he's young enough to put together a second act.  POLITICO lined up a lot of experts to interview on how Edwards could "redeem" himself.  But, he doesn't need the advice. Throughout the trial and after the mistrial he orchestrated everything just right for a comeback.

He is someone we should watch in approaching our own continual transformations in a professional marketplace with so much uncertainty. In a sense, Edwards is a gift to us over-50 who struggle with finding our place in a world we never anticipated being in.

Limal Phase: When we are not who we used to be but not yet who we are going to be

The characters on the small screen can teach us much, especially about ourselves.  In NEW YORK Magazine, Margaret Lyons deconstructs Joan on "Mad Men." Lyons explains Joan's decision to sleep with car dealer as due to being in a "liminal phase."  That's the state of limbo in which we are no longer the person who we used to be but haven't yet become the person we could be.

So many of us Baby Boomers find ourselves in transition or the liminal phase.  For example, our businesses used to be so wildly successful.  Now we are struggling to reposition them for changing digital times.  Or we recognize that it will be difficult to continue to work inside an organization and we will have to put together another way of making a good living.

Transition is such a soul-wrenching experience because we lack a comfort zone.  Instead we have to create a new world in which we fit, at least for a while.  The word of caution here is that Joan is not being self-protective as she travels her life and work without a clear identity.  Will she wind up a suicide?  Or will she, like Peggy, have the courage and confidence to leave the firm and treat life as an adventure rather than a burden? 

Tragedy of "Not Old Enough"

"We're the lucky ones, Jane.  We're 'old enough' for Medicare."

That's what a colleague in my field of communications commented last night.  We were playing around with how the concept of aging could be rebranded.  That has been the mission of the digital community ALL THE SINGLE GIRLFRIENDS, started by marketer Toby Bloomberg.

I got to thinking about that this morning.  He's right on the money.  Before I was old enough to be eligible for Medicare, I was paying about $600 monthly for coverage which had a $3500 deductible.  And people told me that I was lucky to have that.  One couple, age about 62, was paying $1800 monthly.

For me, Medicare runs about $100 a month.  Here in Connecticut, the company Connecticare provides supplemental packages that are affordable or even free.  Right now I have the free one and have opted for the $28 monthly Connecticare dental insurance.

Medicare is a particular blessing for those who are hunting for work with employers instead of self employment.  We can sometimes get the edge by saying we don't need benefits.  A number of my acquaintances have landed full time employment by providing employers with just that option.

Decorum 1, Hoodie 0 - America returns to common business sense

The implosion of the Facebook IPO, along with the realization that the company's business is threatened by mobile, has restored common business sense to America. That's good news for us over-50.

To be taken seriously, no one will again be tempted to present themselves as full of youth, hyper confidence, and a source of disruption.  We can feel comfortable pursuing business opportunities as the experienced professionals we are.  With experience comes caution.

Also, we can slow down and calm down.  Buyers, whether of stocks or of professsional services, want to see poised human beings, who can provide something that is sustainable.

Talk about Comebacks: Queen Elizabeth, 86, celebrating 60 years on throne

Queen Elizabeth, 86, has much to celebrate.   The royals didn't get thrown out of power.  And she weathered the worst of times to now have 60 years on the throne. 

Along the way her children were ridiculed in the global media for being one of the most dysfunctional bunch around. And there may always be suspicions that she was behind the death of Princess Diana.

Now in her grandson William and his wife Kate she has the platform to construct the UK version of Camelot. 

Over-50 Readers: We're syndicated

We did it.  Newstex LLC has decided to syndicate this blog.  That means that this digital community for the over-50 will be accessible to many more men and women eager to keep working.

Thank you for helping make this happen.

"Mad Men" - Does age steal hope? It doesn't have to be that way

The message we get from "Mad Men" is that aging kills hope. 

Roger doesn't seem to even consider that he can change his life to become happy and maybe even like and respect himself.  Don tries to grab hold of something like marrying Megan and getting a new start.  Then it turns to dust.  Megan, full of hope for a career in acting, is pulling in another direction.  We viewers don't have hope that Don can fix that situation.  Likely he will drift back into womanizing.  As Pete ages, he seems increasingly unable to be in charge of his life.  Stuck in the suburbs, he could be the suicide on the series.  Lance is stuck being his father's boy.

Like Megan, Don's daughter Sally is growing.  She got on the other side of self-destructive rebellion. 

But the anti-aging theme on "Mad Men" doesn't mean that after a certain age we can't hope.  Actually research has shown that aging brings inner peace.  That provides the platform on which we can build a fresh approach to our personal lives, our careers, and our need to eventually leave planet earth better than when we entered it.

Examples of those who seemed to turn hope into achievement?  Betty White, Hillary Clinton, T. Boone Pickens, Clint Eastwood, and Walter White on "Breaking Bad." 

Back to Boring: Facebook crash changed everything

Almost immediately after the mess during the Facebook IPO the world has changed.  But even before that, more of those with influence and power were questioning if the way of youth at Facebook and other social networking companies is a sustainable model for how to conduct business, invest, and finetune our professional personas.

Almost overnight, boring has become, well, sexy.  In analysing the value of companies for the financial information site Motley Fool, I am coming across more recommendations for staid stocks such as Coca-Cola and McDonald's.  At those companies there is little turmoil and executive churn does not exist.  The tone of the investment community seems to have shifted.

The good news is that we Baby Boomers are being viewed in a more positive light.  We have the experience to bring to novel situations.  Instead of just jumping into the Next New Thing we have perspective on its possible pros and cons. 

Digital Communities: In sickness and in health

The "tragedy" of the Facebook IPO has some questioning the very value of social networks.  Were they a fad, like the hula hoop, which pulled in even those with old Yankee common sense?

Time will answer that.  And the first sign will be the stock prices of social networking companies.  But the benefits of being part of a digital community won't go away.  Joining and participating in online communities - that's an established standard.

In sickness and in health, I have been part of the digital community All The Single Girlfriends.  Its mission is to rebrand aging.   Recently, a member got information and support from us as she faces a biopsy for possible breast cancer.  It was an honor that I could pitch in on its bulletin board with my own experience dealing with mortality.  Here you can read that.

Incidentally, I have never met in person any members of All The Single Girlfriends.  However, each one seems to me like the sister I had lost to breast cancer.  Marketing genius Toby Bloomberg brought us all together.

Memorial Day: But, we are still alive

At our age.  That phrase has entered the conversations we have with ourselves and with the world.  Sure, it often refers to our work situation.  Every time we compete for a job, contract assignments or new business it's there like the elephant in the room: Age.

But, at some point, it also enters our personal life.  The routine tests like a mammogram or EKG are no longer routine.  At our age we worry.

Here is another Memorial Day when we are still alive.  The holiday honors the dead.  However, since we know that at our age we could soon cross over to that category and join them we celebrate still being alive.  More of our family, friends, bosses, and clients are part of the dead than part of the living.