Shrewd, Ben Franklin was a narcissist who didn't allow that flaw get in the way of his highly managed relationships with people. In his AUTOBIOGRAPHY, he does an equally splendid job of portraying himself as such a fascinating character that it merits the obvious delight he takes in himself.
Franklin put pen to paper on his memoirs when he was 65. Back then that was old old age. Now, it would be the new 45. Those I coach ask me if the age they're at is still too young for them to try to capture their lives. After all, there could be experiences, good and bad, which will change them. And, more to the point, will those reading it consider them over?
There are ways to keep a life and career open and still take stock. The classic device is to position the story as a sort of What I've seen so far. It's a reflection and can serve as a platform for the insight needed to move on to what's next. Another approach is the: Since you asked me. It addresses the frequent questions which have arisen, especially from those seeking enlightenment. A third method of not allowing a book to finish off a career is the: Ironic or humorous observation. Both are valued entities in these confusing times. However, not everyone is as skilled a writer as those tones demand.
A few years ago I published my What I've just gotten on the other side of. Here is that ebook Download Geezerguts. The victorious follow-up is my print book, just published, OVER-50: HOW WE KEEP WORKING. If you're a mom, ask for it for Mother's Day. If you have a Mom, give her that gift of employability.
Incidentally, the powers-that-be in the employment world might cater to us Baby Boomers. According to policy analysts Barry Bluestone and Mark Mednick, a job boom is coming Download JOBGLUT. To fill all those 14+ million new jobs, employers will have to provide incentives for us to remain employed. What's floating around as a perk is getting our grandchildren's birthdays off.
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