Over-50

Ok, Boomer - It's Come to This in Year of COVID-19

It's come to this: rationing of emergency medical care. 

The Wall Street Journal reports that at NYU Langone Health, Robert Femea gave ER front lines "sole discretion" for who is put on a ventilator. They also have permission to withhold futile incubation. In that decision-making loop the Ok, Boomer could be assessed as, crudely put, not a good bet for treating.

So goes another day in the coronavirus pandemic.

Andrew Cuomo becomes increasingly attractive as a presidential candidate.

His approval rating, depending on the latest presser, is around 90%. On CNN, his news-anchor brother Chris Cuomo brought up the possibility of Andrew as next U.S. president.

Among the many edges Cuomo has is that the public trusts him. That is so much so that he can make errors of judgment and is quickly forgiven.

Celebrity culture might be ending.

Folks are too scared about dying from the virus to give a damn what Ellen DeGeneres throws out there as guidance or supposed inspiration. 

It's posited that celebrity culture began with Teddy Roosevelt's flamboyant daughter Alice. The Ok, Boomer might remember the catchy song associated with her "Alice Blue Gown.'

Instead of celebrities America is embracing those ordinary people who serve in necessary functions.

On social networks, there are lots of likes for and comments about the workers at Aldi. We cheer that they are receiving "hazard" pay for manning the grocery lines. 

Tomorrow, April 1st, is THE DAY.

That's when many bills, including rent, are due.

As a public service, some corporations are letting it be known that they are open to negotiation. For example, when I called into my Bank of America Visa card about rewards (you bet, those can help out plenty with balances), the automated messaging was front loaded with this: The powers that be invite discussions about alternate ways to approach payment.  

But there are businesses which might not be concerned about the branding implication of taking swift action against those not paying their bills on time. After GM shuttered the Lordstown, Ohio plant, evictions from apartments were routine. And the sheriff doesn't ring twice.

Not everyone is in a financial pickle - lessons learned. 

There were individual catastrophes before The Time of Coronavirus. In 2003, I had lost my nest egg, business, and mind. Here is my book on that, including lessons learned, which can be downloaded free. 

Not only did I resolve never again to live above my means. I embraced what's now called "radical frugality" or "minimalism." Then I referred to it as a "vow of poverty." In the front lines of that psychic (and behavioral) shift had been cognitive therapist, based in West Hartford, Connecticut, Amy Karnilowicz. 

The results included going from six-figure debt to having a surplus of income at the end of most months and maintaining an investment portfolio.

Takeaway: Research how to live cheaply. It can be done, even in America. My most recent initiative has been to donate my automobile to Kars4Kids. That, according to Nerd Wallet, can save someone an average of $8,469 a year. I had been at that fork in the road: Buy a new car or figure out how to get from Points A to Points B, C, and D without a car.

Some can enjoy the pause and some bump up against the tipping point of despair.  

On social networks, brandname lawyer Norm Pattis (he had defended Connecticut's Fotis Dulos) reflects that slowing down is not a bad thing. The courthouses are closed so he and other lawyers are not cranking out the usual lawyerly things like briefs and aren't appearing before a jury.

However, Pattis is self-employed. He is positioned to manage his financial everything. The self-employed have more wiggle room in hard times. 

Lawyers employed by law firms aren't so fortunate. Recently Womble Bond Dickinson laid off junior lawyers. Reed Smith is slowing down cash distributions to partners. 

Ironically, those lawyers losing jobs might find themselves scrambling for help, just like the former servers in restaurants and the clerks in department stores.

They should click into the Paul Weiss Coronavirus Relief Center, created by lawyers working pro bono. It simplifies the mazes for help.

Red tape can be daunting. It could also be the tipping point into despair.

On an individual basis, pitch in with helping those allergic to red tape to get the information and aid they need. Recently, readers who are gig workers have been asking me how to apply for unemployment. That's permitted by the CARES Act. Here is my public service post on that development for contract workers and the self-employed. 

Allow ourselves to change. 

The New York liberal in me is being forced to re-think values. Where I am living now (very affordably) is not a coronavirus hotspot. But an hour away is one. Governors, mayors, health officials, and medical personnel are deciding whether the hospitals here will be open for those from the hotspot. 

This time my mindset is the conservative NIMYB. That is, not in my background. So far the cases of the virus and the deaths are low in this county. Allowing those from a hotspot to be treated here could be the game-changer.

"At my age," as the saying goes, I never expected to have to be "tested" so severely. After I bounced back in 2004 from my individual year in hell I assumed I was entitled to a smooth ride. HaHa. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with SEO and social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Not Knowing - We Should Have Gotten That in the Early 1970s

Coronavirus

The stock market

Can the house sell for price needed

Of course, age puts a target on your back at work

Will the landlords up the lease at renewal time, despite what's going on.

It's impossible to have the answers to these.

We got that now, with all the moving parts colliding in crazy ways.

But we never really knew what was going to happen, did we.

Maybe the first real reversal of fortune was the brutal recession of the early 1970s. Before that there had been the predictable path of going to college, not getting into serious trouble with the law, and, for women, doing what was necessary to prevent becoming pregnant before marriage. Life was good. We deserved to be smug. 

Then, we lost jobs. Or couldn't get them when we received our degree. 

With that jolt, relationships, especially from school, often unraveled. 

Next was becoming ultra serious about a career. That likely peaked sooner than we ever imagined.

Parents died or became dependent.

Yet, the funny thing was that we still assumed we were in the driver's seat, doing the planning. 

I had a dry run on the current uncertainty when I put together my big plan to shake off the East Coast and relocate in Tucson, Arizona. That lasted 27 months. I headed back east in August 2016.

Plans blown up since COVID-19 have included scaling my communications boutique. That's not going to happen. And not only for me. So many of my colleagues, spanning all generations, are in the same pickle of reduced demand. 

Reflections: Can we ever surrender to the reality that life can't be planned out? Control is a dangerous illusion. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with SEO and social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Rethinking Everything about Retirement/Semiretirement - Black Monday

No, none of us want to hear from anyone.

There is nothing insightful to say, at least by those too eager to fret or pontificate about what's going on.

And, what's going on is a new kind of version of the financial perfect storm.

It's Black Monday. That could go down in the history of world finance or, more specifically, of business as The Great Unraveling.

At 9:40 A.M. ET, the Down is down more than 1,700 points.

Obviously, the coronavirus isn't being managed. On the ABC two-hour special on its implications, one business owner used the "L" word, that is "layoffs." If the virus continues to pound her enterprise she will have to conduct a reduction in force. Overall, employees jittery about layoff are more anxious. Members of the Class of 2020 could enter a job market worse than that of 2008.

Those who figured their investment portfolios had reached the point of allowing them to retire know that has become magical thinking. They better hold onto their mode of making a buck.

The retired might have to become that one-third statistic, provided by the Federal Reserve, who unretire. They have to bounce back into the workforce. 

We self-employed might have an advantage. We can quickly adjust our mode of doing business to align with changing conditions. But, we could get hit badly, without the safety net of severance and unemployment insurance. Out here, most entrepreneurs are on the their own. Expect venture capitalists to becoming more rigid in their criteria for investing. Haha, the sharks on "Shark Tank" could begin killing off plenty of dreams.

The worst of the unraveling could be the long-term residue of such a brutal economic hit. My immigrant family never recovered emotionally. I made it my mission never to replicate that dark mindset. Give that a belly laugh.

Smart global ghostwriting, with SEO and social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

COVID-19 Economic Fallout - Older Employees Vulnerable

That was expected: A corporation buffeted by the current economic uncertainty makes the decision to conduct a reduction in force (RIF).

The company laying off is Cisco. The Wall Street Journal provides more details.

A major variable in the uncertainty is, of course, the coronavirus. Until that Black Swan is understood and contained, global business will continue to lose its footing. Goldman Sachs predicts that in the U.S., corporations could experience zero growth.

Therefore, RIFs, as in 2008, probably will be the norm. Especially vulnerable are older workers. As recent research found, more than 50% will be forced out of their jobs. Their high compensation makes them targets in the campaign for cost-efficiency. In addition, they are perceived, as not being at-home with technology.

The good news on that is more businesses offer outplacement. There, displaced employees receive comprehensive services, ranging from data about the labor market to resume/cover letter assistance. That is programmed for the former workers to have a "soft landing." The traditional definition of a "soft landing" means another employment situation with comparable compensation.

Actually, now that outplacement exists, professionals have a platform for reimagining their career path. And, they don't have to pay out of their own pockets for what it takes to make that fresh start.

There's only one must: Those who have been laid off have to be open to what could be. As the old saying goes, one door has to close before a new one opens. Here, free to download, is my book on exiting comfort zones. 

The typical example of being stuck in an unmarketable job history is the 60+ lawyer from publishing. Her age was against her. Publishing is a downsizing field. Her business experience over the years equipped her for management positions in fields such as residential real estate.

She would have none of it. She was determined to be a lawyer per se. After the company-funded outplacement ended she remained jobless and decided to apply for Social Security early. 

Full Disclosure: After being laid off from middle management in a major food corporations I leveraged the resources of outplacement to launch my own communications boutique. That transition was traumatic. But it panned out. I remain a business owner, not an employee.

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

The Big Business of Controversy - Jane Genova's Analysis is LinkedIn's Editor's Selection

LinkedIn is the most influential and powerful professional platform - at least which is open to Everyman and Everywoman. It's leveled the playing field in networking. 

I'm thrilled to share with those following my social media that for the second time recently LinkedIn has chosen my analysis of the Sussex Royal issue as the Editor's Selection.

Here is that original content.

I thank those of you who invested the time to read the content and respond. Time is money. You have created a kind of "gold mine" for me. 

Language, Law, and Marketing - Meghan and Harry Contend No One Owns Word "Royal"

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Smart global ghostwriting, with SEO and social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Ok, Boomer & Dressing for Success - Before There Was Telecommuting

Yesterday was a brutal reminder of how it used to be. 

Before it was possible to make a very good living through 100% telecommuting, we had to dress for success. The mandate was very expensive. And, time consuming.

That hasn't gone away either, not for those who still have to go into the office. For example, New York Magazine has an article on what women can wear to work. 

Well, on President's Day, an eager-beaver prospect for my communications services scheduled a video interview via Zoom. 

What that meant was this: I had to pay extreme attention to my blouse (the fabric had to be good), hair style (was it youthful enough?), earrings (not too loud?), and makeup (a friend handled that).

Between the preparation and being "on" for 37 minutes, I was plum exhausted post-interview. That clued me in why my years as an onsite employee (as well as consultant) had taken so much out of me. The work was a piece of cake. It was the maintenance of a presence.

Those determined to make it big usually have to be out there. There's no question about that. But it is possible to scale an enterprise and bypass the in-person presence. I can create my brand totally out of what I put there online. The refresher for my fall/winter look ran less than $500. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with SEO and social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

The Marketing Mix - Bob Dilenschneider, 76, Continued to Leverage Books

Everything changes.

That includes the marketing mix.

As professionals, businesses, and nonprofits age, they tend to not pivot, at least not fast enough, to what is effective.

During his long career in public affairs, Bob Dilenschneider has leveraged publishing books as marketing tools. His firm in Manhattan also promoted the books clients had published. 

That worked until it stopped working, at least not as well.

On December 31, 2019, Dilenschneider's most recent book - "Decisions" - had been published. The marketing initiative actually could be counterproductive. On Kindle, Amazon ranks it at 711,740. The paperback version is at 385, 161.

Such rankings can tarnish a brand.

The lesson here is not necessarily Don't Publish a Book. This week Dan Peres' memoir "As Needed for Pain" was published. On Amazon, it ranks 1,246. For that former editor in chief of Details book publishing can and probably will open new career doors, as well as generate profits. 

The lesson is that, with the marketing mix mutating minute by minute in a digital world, those over-50 have to research options before they invest resources. Dilenschneider might have created new equity for his brand by creating a free-to-download e-book.

Here, also free to download, is my own e-book on how to navigate out of a comfort zone. 

This lesson also applies to the search for a job or contract assignment. The recruitment industry, for example, is being disrupted by artificial intelligence. Resumes, cover letters, and in-person interviews are becoming so yesterday. That means the over-50 have to research how to present themselves in ways that lands them work in 2020, not 1990. 

Here, another free download, is my e-book on how to get, hold, and move on to better work, at any age Download Outwitting ageism.

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

You Lose That Good Job - Hope Becomes a Misguided Emotion

TTake a look at LinkedIn Updates.

What's obvious is that plenty of your colleagues, that is, those over-50, are losing their good jobs. The current ritual is for the laid-off or the simply sacked to make that termination public on Linkedin Updates and ask for help. Such networking is smart. 

What's also obvious, both from experience and research, is that the majority of those sidelined will encounter major problems in the rest of their working life. 

That begins, found the Urban Institute and Pro Publica study, from the get-go of joblessless at 51.

The framework for the research dates back to 1992. It tracks those who were 51 at the time or afterward throughout the rest of their working lives. 

Here's the story. The norm after losing a job has been six month of unemployment.

That is usually followed with a 50% decline in weekly earnings over the next two years.  

In addition, reports MarketWatch, AARP documented that 90% of those who did lose a job will never earn comparable money.

It isn't rocket science: Frugality will be the new normal.  The cool term for that is "minimalism." And those doing that often feel like the new in crowd.

Reality: Your game has changed. A 62-year-old lawyer who was forced out of a law firm had the ah-ha moment that the big earning years were over. His specific response was to embrace the philosophy of "enoughness." It was enough to take day trips rather than one-week exotic cruise.

So, what are the must takeaways now that you are likely playing a new game? Or, soon will be?

From my coaching those over-50 who had lost a job or fear their employment is vulnerable, I know that there are two urgent priorities:

• One, professionals have to get back to work, any kind. The old saying is true: Nothing gets you a job like a job. Here, free to click open, is my bible on that Download Outwitting ageism.
• Two, professionals have to ensure they won't outlive their income. As long as their health holds up, there are many tactics for bringing in income, at any age, as well as continually downsizing expenses. In his seminal book "Making Toast," Roger Rosenblatt observed folks don't need much as they age. When health deteriorates, research into local, state, and federal resources can turn up ways to make ends meet. Adapt and prevent homelessness.

Essentially there are seven disruptions in attitudes and actions.

Ditch the magical thinking.

Sure, a wonderful earning opportunity could come your way. But the odds against that are 90%. What this entails is no longer looking back to past earnings for a guide to what should be current earnings. In addition, hope for "a miracle" usually will trigger extreme frustration. Brutally put, the best earning years may be behind you. And, that's that.

Expect more losses of jobs and gig assignments.

That very expectation prevents total collapse of income. For example, those I coach who continue to maintain financial security and even continue to build wealth establish multiple sources of income. They may have a full-time position as leasing manager for a 100-unit residential property, operate a small editing business, have a part-time job supervising a call center, and groom dogs. Leverage all job skills, dating back to high school, to maintain a stream of revenue.  

Here is my published article on what I label "mutt branding."

Learn new skills, free.

The sidelined public relations representatives can get the hang of search engine optimization (SEO) by retrieving and studying material on the internet. That ranges from YoutTube briefings to articles. More and more help-wanted posted on Craigslist for communications professionals require knowledge of SEO fundamentals.

In addition, the public library provides free tutorials.

And, universities such as Youngstown allow seniors to audit, for no credit, courses. The fee is probably about five bucks. The laid-off lawyer can boost the hourly rate in document review by acquiring fluency in another language. Two courses at Youngstown might do that. 

Consider geographic relocation. 

There are two reasons for that.

One is cost. Frequently, the toughest nut to crack in budgeting when earning less is the housing expense. In many cities those leasing are "cost-burdened," that is, paying more than one-third of their income for keeping a roof over their heads. Meanwhile the home-owners struggle with rising property taxes, unexpected repairs, and damage from acts of nature not fully covered by Social Security. The solution: Research where leasing or home ownership is more affordable.

The other reason is more work opportunity. After GM shut down the Lordstown, Ohio plant, the smart over-50 got it that they had to flee the area. Yes, there was the ripple effect of the closing of other local businesses, ranging from auto suppliers to restaurants. Also, some areas such as Arizona have a higher median age. There you could encounter less job discrimination. 

Consider reverse-retirement.

The Federal Reserve documents that one-third of those who retire return to work. The most common reason is worry about money. Elder Poverty is real. The best way to dodge that bullet is monitoring any changes in the ability to make ends meet. If things get tight, find work, any kind. That could trigger a new kind of career path.

The 66-year-old who started out as a security guard in the mall then landed a job overseeing loss prevention in a nonprofit retailer. When he became licensed to use a gun, he could seek jobs in a more lucrative niche.

Be circumspect.

Success attracts success. A sad story of chronic underemployment drives others away. Develop an elevator speech to recite when your work situation comes up. It should always have an upbeat spin.

NOT TO SAY:  "I have been out of work since X reorganized."

TO SAY: "I have been blessed. New doors seem to keep opening." 

P0ur out your heart to a tight-lipped friend or your dog. 

Start a Roth IRA. 

As long as you're earning income, you can continue socking away funds in a Roth IRA. When you withdraw those funds that will be tax-free. The deposits made are after-taxes.

Reflection: Over and over again, in the history of mankind, it's concluded that those who are willing and able to adapt survive. 

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.  

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Maybe Sunbelt/Coastal Retirement Isn't Such Hot (pun intended) Idea

It's going to snow again tomorrow. 

Of course, those of a "certain age" turn to thoughts of retiring/semi-retiring where it's warm. And, if they afford it, throw in a cottage by the sea.

That thinking may be catastrophic.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is now predicting that the temperature could increase 5.3 degrees. That's 33% more than earlier predictions. Blame carbon dioxide levels. BusinessInsider provides more data.

It's not only the heat. That increase in temperature can also swell sea levels. 

The situation goes beyond only being hot. The bottom line is that air-conditioning is expensive. That can kill off the planned savings in cost of living from relocation from pricey areas such as Manhattan or Los Angeles to the sunbelt.

For instance, in April 2014, I journeyed from the New York Metro area to the southwest. There, in Tucson, Arizona, I planned to find Financial Salvation. Sure, the rental was peanuts compared to what I was ponying up in New Haven, Connecticut. But the price of energy in 120-degree heat put the kibosh on that. In addition, rent soared because of those folks from California who were piling into the desert to escape that state's high cost of living.

The bottom line also impinges on bunking in a coastal area. Good luck getting affordable property insurance. Also, the possible flooding can be the kind of stress no aging human being should have to put up with.

The cold and the snow might be rebranded as inconvenient necessities for the aging on a budget. Admittedly, here in the locked-in Midwest the energy bill in winter is not cheap. But that only lasts several months. The bill for the air-conditioning, if the thermostat is not put on low, is reasonable. 

Relocation is a big-ticket item, both in terms of money and in terms of emotional wear-and-tear. Do it right the first time. That is, factor in climate change.

I didn't. I couldn't take the AZ heat. And the surging lease-renewal rates pushed me to relocate yet again. I have settled in Ohio. Currently, the rent is low and increases are peanuts. Yes, heat is expensive. But, a part-time gig or ramping up self-employment can neutralize that. 

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

Dog-Walking Can Be Lucrative Gig, Growth Small Business

At the office and when meeting out of town with clients, we think often about our four-legged children back at home. This is the era when dogs are replacing the young two-leggers in families. So, of course, we are willing to spend big on dogs.

That's good news for the aging who have been knocked out of the box in conventional employments and those considering starting their own business.

The Wall Street Journal confirms that often dog walkers earn more than caregivers of infants and toddlers. 

This new career path can start by applying for assignments with a service such as Wag. Or, just post signs of availability. Hand out flyers at dog parks. Notify pet-friendly apartment complexes that you will take loving care of their dogs. Here in West Toledo, Ohio, there is an online neighborhood news network. Neighbors, for example, ask for referrals for dog walkers and longer-term dog boarding. 

Once the walker understands the business, then there can be the shift to starting up a dog-walking enterprise. Sure, other services such as transportation to the vet can be offered. 

Wordpress is the platform for the website. There will be a fee for the hosting. Launch a blog and be downright excessive in posting on social networks. Word of mouth promotion will also be important. 

Here, free to download, is my book on how to land, hold, and move on to better work, no matter your age Download Outwitting ageism.

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.