Over-50

Baby Boomer Leon Black and His Tribe

Perhaps Leon Black's return to a public presence was not only premature. It could have been a major strategic error in the big job of reputation restoration. Recently, he exited his no-profile existence post-scandals and had attended Mike Milkin's annual financial pow-wow. 

That visibility could have made him again a sitting duck for media attack and more. We don't know the facts. But given how guilt by accusation operates, facts don't matter. Alan Dershowitz made that clear in his book by that title. Here it can be ordered from Amazon.

What we are told is what respected journalist Gabriel Sherman has published in Vanity Fair.  He reports - and the Black spokesperson denies:

"The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has opened a criminal investigation into Black, according to two sources briefed on the probe. Sources said prosecutors are examining allegations in court documents that Black raped and sexually assaulted the two former models. The allegations were included in former Russian model Guzel Ganieva’s civil lawsuit against Black. Ganieva and a woman identified in court documents as 'Jane Doe' ..."

Sherman goes on to say that the two women had met with the authorities about this and that the investigation is in its early stages.

The DA's office did not comment.

However, lots of others will comment. Just when interest in Black seemed to be dying down, again a perfect storm of negative attention blew in. The New York Post features this story. Once again Black has been caught up in a force field of accusations. 

Good lawyering can't reduce the intensity of that. He has had and still has the resources to hire top legal minds. It had been those at Paul Weiss which got him off on criminal charges about $158 million in fees paid to Jeffrey Epstein. And smart lawyering probably had him file a countersuit to Ganieva's original lawsuit. Countersuits signal innocence. Later, Ganieva filed an amendment. Black denied again what had been alleged.

If Black will have a comeback, this latest development delays it. 

Who else is affected are those who had been or are still on Black's network. And, by extension all of Wall Street. After all, Black is a financial player.

After Black stepped down from heading giant Apollo, long-time executive Marc Rowan took over. In terms of financial performance and in strategies for the future, Rowan has been doing well. In addition, he had repositioned Apollo for ESG (Environmental Social Governance).  Recently Apollo hired a Chief Sustainability Officer and acquired a portfolio of wind and solar energy assets. All that puts the firm on the side of the angels.

But with the possibility of criminal charges for rape for the former founder again Apollo might have to battle itself back to positive branding. That isn't a certain. But it is a possibility. 

There are also all the lawyers and law firms associated with Black. No longer does the "everyone deserves a right to the best defense available" tune play so well.

David Boies took a body blow and still hasn't been able to stand up right after there had been guilt by association for representing Harvey Weinstein and startup Theranos. Boies' brand could take another hit if he testifies at "US v Elizabeth Holmes." E-discovery has retrieved plenty of communication between defendant Elizabeth Holmes and himself that is not protected by attorney-client confidentiality. Obviously, that provides a peek into how Boies operates. 

Another bit of fallout from Sherman's article: The cloud hovering over Wall Street since the publication of the expose "The Caesars Palace Coup" could darken. By Sujeet Indap and Max Frumes it conjures up a take on Wall Street as a cabal of greed and behavior on the far edge of ethics. Incidentally, Big Law is also vilified. The allegations that the authorities are interested in Black for rape reinforces that the tribe he is from assumes it can impose its own rules. That could trigger an outcry for government to check out what's going on at the reservation. 

Yes, this is all bad. An earlier Vanity Fair article by William D. Cohen had created plenty of bad publicity for a lot of the tribe. They ranged from Black, of course, to his and Apollo's legal counsel Brad Karp of Paul Weiss. To some observers, that had fizzled out. Since its publication, there have been fresh accomplishments and good deeds. For some, that blew away much of the stink. All seemed back to normal on the reservation. Now, there could be scrambling on how to manage this latest narrative and the solutions might not be effective. The future of that tribe could be in play.

No, let us not praise famous men. What they put together is so fragile in a media era.

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Marketing communications. It’s about results. Not quantity. Not clickbait. Not even influence. Together we will get those results. Clients range from crypto to industrial trades. Fees customized for your unique budget. Complimentary consultation - janegenova374@gmail.com.

Will It Happen Here in US? Boomers Boomeranging Back with Elderly Parents in UK

Yes, it really is happening. The generation that created the generation gap is bridging it.

The Guardian reports that baby boomers are boomeranging back to living with their elderly parents throughout the UK.

Here are the major reasons:

Concern about their elderly parents

Their own financial challenges

Relationships ending in their own lives.

Sometimes things go well. Sometimes they don't.

However, the model is worth analyzing for possible application to the perfect storm many over-50 are struggling to navigate.

For one thing, rents have escalated 10%. It's cheaper to live with others than to rent an apartment alone. Yes, inflation in the US has been brutal. Just stroll through the grocery section of Walmart. The prices seem funny money.

Another reality is the longing for connecting. It's hard to make new close friends when aging. So, it makes sense to deepen relationships with those who once had been the source of such intimacy.

There is also the sustained angst of not knowing if the parent had fallen in the shower or had had a stroke - and hasn't been able to signal that help is needed. Yes, it's consoling to know that you are there.

This is a trend to monitor for the US.

Intuitive guidance about your next. Drop your story line and open to extreme possibility. Sliding Scale Fees. Please make an appointment for a complimentary consultation at janegenova374@gmail.com.

Introducing You to The Metaverse

The internet. So yesterday.

Now for marketing, public relations, collaboration, and even everyday socializing, it's the metaverse. Here is my introduction to its potential and risks, published on O'Dwyer Public Relations. 

Marketing communications. It’s about results. Not quantity. Not clickbait. Not even influence. Together we will get those results. Clients range from crypto to industrial trades. Fees customized for your unique budget. Complimentary consultation - janegenova374@gmail.com.

So Sad (and not admitting it) - Unitarian Minister Tina Squire Opens Us Up with a Children's Book (yes, a children's book)

Sadness continues to hover over us.

That's even though the worst of the pandemic seems to be over.

Justice has been accomplished in the murder of George Floyd. 

And, what helps with crazy inflation is Social Security's biggest COLA increase in a long time. 

Well, it was sadness, including how that plays out in grief, which had been Rev. Tina Squire's sermon topic this morning at the Unitarian Church, Sierra Vista, Arizona.

One of her points is that such a feeling can be part of complex emotional set. To illustrate that meme in a provocative way, Squire leveraged the children's book "I'm Happy - Sad Today: Making Sense of Mixed-Together Feelings" by Lory Britain. 

Children, just like adults, can become confused about where they are emotionally.

Not only can that be complicated.

There can be continual fluctuations in those feelings.

Of course, society is also out there with "oughts" how feelings should be processed.

That creative way into what in America is a taboo topic (yeah, we are expected to shake off the whatever after the memorial) generated from members of the congregation this: bearing witness about their own emotional struggles. The takeaway was that sharing the internal chaos with another human being can clear the way for healing.

This was the second time recently Squire had read a children's book in church to explore a meme.

This approach is one other ministers can use, particularly for issues society isn't comfortable with.

In addition, after a communal trauma such as a natural disaster or violence mental health counselors might also introduce the eloquent simplicity of a children's book for working with youth. 

And, how about us as our daily life had become such an emotional rollercoaster? 

No, that isn't nutty.

Why not give a children's classic to a family member, neighbor, or colleague who has become overwhlemed with any emotion. 

The experience of being involved with the children's book can trigger that Ah-Ha Moment: Life isn't all that complicated. 

Actually, much of it isn't. Overthinking is not only a threat to mental health. It can derail a career since the mighty mind blows up the whatevers. 

When I am feeling my emotional stability slipping away I light a candle and open my dog-eared copy of "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper. 

Intuitive guidance about your next. Drop your story line and open to extreme possibility. Sliding Scale Fees. Please make an appointment for a complimentary consultation at janegenova374@gmail.com.

What a Blessing - We Baby Boomer Women Didnt Become Famous

"The 47-year-old news anchor [Norah O'Donnell] — who muscled her way into the evening slot in 2019 as she fled a reportedly strained relationship with co-host Gayle King on “CBS This Morning” — now stands vulnerable to the network’s bean counters as her ratings have stayed stubbornly stuck in third place, according to sources close to the situation." - Alexandra Steigrad, New York Post, October 24, 2021.

In the glam world of television, it is always a struggle to hold onto everything from the markers of success to even one's job. No, do not praise famous women. 

However, O'Donnell's woes have been worsened by a number of factors. 

At the top of the list is that both David Muir and Lester Holt are ahead of her in ratings. And ratings are everything. Wobbly ones shake even solid brandnames off those prestigious platforms.

The other factor is that the organization is weathering the aftereffects of a merger. Viacom and CBS had combined.

Post-merger, across industries, it's typical to have to start cutting budgets in order to pony up the costs of the coming together. In addition there are often both reductions in force and stealth layoffs because of redundancies. For instance, the merged entity usually only need one investor relations department.

The brass at ViacomCBS is focused on cost-cutting. O'Donnell reportedly comes at a high cost: about $8 million a year. 

There is buzz about downsizing that. However, she could sitll have a position. Her role on "60 Minutes" could be beefed up.

Without being famous, many of my female colleagues and I have been enjoying satisfying careers, "good money," and even awards. My syndicated legal blog had recently been recognized as among The Top 100 legal ones. Sure there were transitions, such as shifts in stylistics or what specialties were most marketable. But we didn't have to keep wondering if we could or would lose it all tomorrow. 

Seemingly through the unattractive gossip of her book "Going There" Katie Couric could be trying to reclaim fame. But she may not get there. Pre-release sales aren't good. On Amazon, the book ranks low: 314,943. Given all the publicity the book has had the numbers should be much higher. If the book crashes and Couric is relegated to the Amazon's corridor of rankings shame, she may have an Ah-Ha Moment about fame. It might not be worth it could how she connects the dots.

Intuitive guidance about your next. Drop your story line and open to extreme possibility. Sliding Scale Fees. Please make an appointment for a complimentary consultation at janegenova374@gmail.com.

Alec Baldwin - Darkness Can Fall Fast, Let's Not Praise Famous Men

First the nation absorbed the reality of a death and an injury on the set of Alec Baldwin's film "Rust."

Then came out a fact that shifted attention to the husband - Matt Hutchins - of fatal shooting victim - Halyna Hutchins. He is an associate at elite law firm Latham & Watkins. The world found that fascinating. Here is his LinkedIn Profile. 

Now, as expected, is the speculation about criminal liability and the almost certain civil lawsuits. The New York Post interviewed a number of legal experts.

Yes, as producer of the film - that is, the one in charge, Alex Baldwin could be accused in the state of New Mexico of negligent or involuntary manslaughter. That is despite that there had been no intentionality. Essentially the liability would come the perception that he had been involved in a lawful but dangerous act. Involuntary manslaughter in that state is classified as a fourth-degree felony. The sentence could be up to 18 months in prison.

As for civil lawsuits anyone on the set could become a defendant. The usual way that is configured is a wrongful death lawsuit.

Of course, as a "deep pocket" Baldwin could the primary target for any civil lawsuits. Overall, his legal problems could go on for years. The legal system moves slowly.

Marketing communications. It’s about results. Not quantity. Not clickbait. Not even influence. Together we will get those results. Clients range from American Express to industrial accounts. Fees customized for your unique budget. Complimentary consultation - janegenova374@gmail.com.

Pivoting from Intense Career - But to What?

Few of us baby boomers found our career right after our formal education was over. Most of us tried not only a number of jobs. We also catapulted from industry to industry.

That kind of pattern has often been playing out as we leave demanding careers, reports The Wall Street Journal. What could be next may require experimentation. Probably a lot of it. The takeaway: Keep at it.

However, the majority of those I coach expect a linear experience. They want a plan which will take them straight from where they had been for 30 or 40 years to a kind of satisfying safe place. The latter could be full-retirement where the sun always shine or setting up an online business.

Often, life doesn't cooperate. The cost of living, as had happened in Tucson, Arizona, might go way up. The web venture doesn't get business. 

The danger is going into retreat. That is, not continuing to experiment. 

The reality is that all of living, not just the challenges of retirement/semiretirement, is a platform for what I call The Goldilocks Syndrome. This is too hot. This is too cold. But, eventually a something will be just right. 

Along the way the right mindset is this: no expectations. 

Intuitive guidance about your next. Drop your story line and open to extreme possibility. Sliding Scale Fees. Please make an appointment for a complimentary consultation at janegenova374@gmail.com.

Elton John, 74, Isn't Fully Healed - Maybe We Boomers Don't Have to Do That Either

At age 74, iconic musician Elton John is still going strong, reports The Guardian. He has a new album out - "The Lockdown Sessions." Also, he's enjoying the new wonders of fatherhood. 

But he admits that he isn't fully healed from childhood trauma. There are times he is afraid he can't hold it together and will explode.

That gives the rest of the us boomers permission to also not be totally okay. The expectation is that by now we should be navigating life smoothly and effectively. That is,  that we have become whole human beings.

However, the reality is that there are days we feel as lousy as we had during college. The difference is that we usually don't act on what that horrific mood might be signaling us to do. No, John typically doesn't explode. Mostly he applies the restraint that he had learned during his recovery from substances.

Maybe that's as good as it gets: We don't cave to negative emotional sets.

Marketing communications. It’s about results. Not quantity. Not clickbait. Not even influence. Together we will get those results. Clients range from American Express to industrial accounts. Fees customized for your unique budget. Complimentary consultation - janegenova374@gmail.com.

No Level Playing Field for First-Generation College Students - A Baby Boomer Reflects How It Was and How It Hasn't Changed

The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) confirms it: First-generation college, as we are called, have poorer career outcomes than those with at least one college-educated parent. Also, law school graduates who have a parent who is a lawyer enjoy a career advantage. 

All that circles back to the primary task in life. That is eating.

Around the table (we ate in the kitchen, not a dining room) the conversation in a family with an educated parent probably will be qualitatively different than what I heard around mine.

Blue-collar immigrant families like my extended one were locked into a survival mode. They didn't have the knowledge, experience, or personal energy to guide my generation on how to make it big.

It had been our guidance counselors at the public high schools (not prep schools) we attended who steered us toward at least acquiring a college degree.

However, how could they clue us in on what really are the prerequisites to getting ahead? They couldn't. My graduating class at Henry Synder High School had about 500 of us. It had never dawned on my family to seek out a scholarship for my sisters and myself to attend a boarding school. That would have gotten us off the mean streets of pre-gentrified Jersey City, New Jersey.

Mostly we had to learn on our own what to do and what not to do on a career path. That, of course, wasn't efficient. Also, making mistakes and having to live with the consequences (like going for an unmarketable advanced degree) wore down our soul.

Along the way, there were generous mentors in my early corporate jobs. I will always be grateful to them. One was actually straight with me. He said: Your children, if you have them, will have an easier time than you have had. His father was a prominent estates attorney in Boston. He was quite aware the career playing field isn't level. 

Well, I did make it to Harvard Law School in my early 40s. However, by that time I was so depleted that I decided to pull the plug. We do that often, don't we first-generation college. In my orientation group everyone except me had spent the summer not working. I had worked up to the day I left for Cambridge. There was a brutal ah-ha moment. I felt that I didn't belong. And didn't deserve to.

I had left Harvard Law and returned to my moderately successful career in communications. I never lost my love for thinking about legal matters and operating this blog since 2006 has created a force field of joy that I had never experienced from any other pursuit. 

If the Biden Adminstration really wants to change America for the better it will create a formal well-funded initiative to provide intensive coaching for those who will probably wind up as first-generation college students. I needed help. Lots of it. The tragedy was that I didn't know it. We don't know what we don't know about professional success.

Marketing communications. It’s about results. Not quantity. Not clickbait. Not even influence. Together we will get those results. Clients range from American Express to industrial accounts. Fees customized for your unique budget. Complimentary consultation - janegenova374@gmail.com.

We Could Have Been Colinford Mattis and Uroof Rahman - Circling Back to Radicalism of the Counterculture

After taking a plea for a single count of possessing or making a destructive device, lawyers Colinford Mattis and Uroof Rahman face up to 10 years in prison. Their sentencing will be Feb 8th by U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan. They are in their early 30s. And, obviously their lives and, of course, their careers have gone poof. At least for a long time.

As many remember, as the nation was absorbing the death of George Floyd while apprehended by police, the two were associated with a Molotov cocktail.  

Those from the old-line Counterculture radicals might feel great distress about this play-out.

I, for one, had been caught up in that force field. It seemed like a sacred calling to take action against so many factions in the establishment. Somehow I did not cross the kinds of lines which would have sent me to prison for years.

The worst that had happened was when I had joined a walkout on behalf of more black admissions to the university. I lost a part-time job. However the organizers got it back for me. Eventually, when the universities conceded, the Viet Nam war ended, and the severe recession of the mid 1970s took hold, most of us circled back to being ordinary liberal Democrats. And that was that.

That won't be that for Mattis and Rahman. Both have expressed regret for their conduct. But, come on, they will be paying a high price for what to them might have seemed to be doing the right thing.

This could be a time of compassion. Not a lust for "teaching them a lesson." We human beings are so myopic.

Marketing communications. It’s about results. Not quantity. Not clickbait. Not even influence. Together we will get those results. Clients range from American Express to industrial accounts. Fees customized for your unique budget. Complimentary consultation - janegenova374@gmail.com.