Over-50

Baby Boomers, No, Cool Doesn't Cut It

It all began with the stunner of a jury verdict in "Hulk Hogan v. Gawker." Reputation-protection lawyer Charles Harder pulled off a nucler one: $140 million. That was March 2016.

Since then, there have been antennas pulled way up trying to connect with signals about other possible big-bang jury awards.  

 So, it was predictable that I would begin following the racial bias class-action lawsuit filed in Illinois: "Christine Crawford, et al. v. McDonald's." More than 50 former Black franchisees contend they failed because of the fast-food giant's racist policies and procedures. Here is a copy of the complaint.

And, follow it I have, compulsively. There's a lot more to the lawsuit than just what could be another of those large awards.

To begin with, there's the matter of contract law. Always a solid and strong point of law. Well, in the book "Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America," Marcia Chatelain explains how that McDonald's contract represents unequal power. The terms and conditions mandate strict conformance to the rules for franchisees established by McDonald's headquarters. 

Incidentally in that book the author provides the backstory of how, after Martin Luther King's murder, the power structure in America was championing Black Capitalism. At the time, becoming a franchise owner seemed to be a perfect fit. There were no barriers of academic credentials and the risk of entrepreneurship was (supposedly) reduced by the safety net established by the franchise concept.

Another reason for anyone's fascination with this litigation is that for the defense is Black lawyer Loretta Lynch.

If this gets to trial, in the subconscious of the jury will her being a woman of color operate as a symbol of total objectivity?

Or will it turn into the kind of Shakespearean tragedy of a Black highly credentialed lawyer using her skills against her own people?

Add on to that this: Some or all media outlets could resurface the infamous tarmac incident. That was when Lynch, as U.S. Attorney General in the Barack Adminstration, met with Bill Clinton, whose wife was under DOJ investigation, at the airport. 

A third magnet drawing attention in "Crawford" is that Lynch is a partner in elite law firm Paul Weiss, chaired by high-profile Brad Karp.

Would the optics for all this have been better had McDonald's selected for the defense a low-profile law firm in IL? Baby Boomers recall the lousy optics of big brandname controversial attorney F. Lee Bailey defending Patty Hearst. To today, followers of that trial argue that Hearst might have gotten off had her family selected a no-name lawyer with an earnest persona.

Think about it: Having such a prominent law firm like Paul Weiss in the loop against what could be perceived as a relatively powerless group of Blacks.

To today, it is also argued that Sherwin-Williams made a mistake being represented in the Rhode Island lead paint public nuisance class action by out-of-town white-shoe firm Jones Day. The alleged victims of lead paint were primarily low-income children. I had live-blogged that trial and have been convinced that Sherwin-Williams might not have been convicted the first time around (four years later the RI Supreme Court threw out the lawsuit) had it used a no-name local law firm which exuded great compassion for those allegedly poisoned by lead paint in their homes.

Well, my ongoing obsession with "Crawford" has been the gift that keeps giving. That is, professionally.

Recently, I had successfully pitched doing an article on the pros and cons of franchising to a magazine. Of course, in my analysis I would allude to "Crawford."

In addition, the library in which I accidentally spotted the book "Franchise" and jumped up and down in wild joy at such an addition to my perspective on the litigation has become part of my network. That's the Copper Queen Library in Bisbee, Arizona.

As usual, one thing leads to another and I blogged on that library's unique ethos. I catapulted into library royalty. That opened the door to the comfort level in which I could approach patrons for interviews for one or more of my three syndicated blogs. Today I was able to nail down an interview with a Baby Boomer about how he made the decision about retiring. Spoiler: It's a feeling. You know when you are "done."

Probably the takeaway here is: Forget cool. Grab onto enthusiasms and hold on tight. In unexpected ways opportunities unfold.

Small changes can trigger big success in your career and your business communications. Also guidance for pre-retirement. Swing by for a complimentary consultation (janegenova374@gmail.com)

Semi-Retirement - The Long Game

Semi-retirement can be the best of all worlds.

The extreme pressure of a career is over. 

The boredom of retirement doesn't loop in.

But, just like everything else, you have to be strategic about how to do semi-retirement. 

Essentially the mindset has to be: the long game. That is, you are in this indefinitely. And you are taking it seriously. 

For example, you make your work a priority. No, you don't accept the social invitations during your working hours to do this or that. 

With so many living so much longer, two cultures have evolved. There are the retirees. And there are those who are determined to keep working, only not with the intensity of their career years. 

Often those two cultures clash. The retirees resent the preoccupation of the semi-retired with their work and your ability to bring in income. They can even be hostile. 

How to deal with the retirees who become a nuisance? Steer clear of talking about your work. Introduce into the conversation how much you are enjoying life through something social. 

If you approaching leaving your career and are toying with semi-retirement here is my book, free to download, on getting, holding and moving on to better work Download Outwitting ageism.

Semi-retirement has become a standard phase in your work life.

Small changes can trigger big success in your career and your business communications. Swing by for a complimentary consultation (janegenova374@gmail.com)

 

Blogging - Still a Power Tool in Developing New Business, Launching a New One

Most established enterprises are moving on to TikTok. That's added on to all the other social networks that have become must-dos for marketing communications. LinkedIn is increasingly important.

So, business players, overwhelmed with the daily routine of "keeping up on social," ask me: Is blogging still worth it?

After all, it's a mature medium.

Frequently the matter covered requires long form.

And, even with repurposing the post, the question is if there is enough bang for the buck.

There is no ambiguity: If the blog provides information and insight not available elsewhere, the fundamentals of search engine optimization are used but not overused and there is provocative repurposing (think catchy headline), blogging can be a power tool in new business development.

For about 17 years, now and then, I have received assignments in the hospitality industry. Those included describing the main attractions for 15 day tours of China sponsored by Chinese firms. I had been a brand consultant to a major hotel chain. 

During COVID, I was feeling burned out in the categories of business I had usually pursued. Burnout is all about losing fire in the belly about what we do.

So, several months ago, as an experiment, I launched a travel blog on Blogger. It's free. It's easy to navigate. Google seems to love it.

I made it my business to visit on my own dime off-beat locations. I figured out catchy angles. In addition, I became a sort of expert in the booming recreational vehicle industry. Then I folded in macro material such as trends in the recovering travel and tourism industry. 

So far, I have become a regular contributor to a publication which welcomes articles on RVing, produced blog posts for a startup which matches up traveling companions and am now creating marketing communications for a travel site supported by advertising. 

Yes, blogging can still be a platform for attracting business or even parachuting into a fresh niche. 

In about six months I will pitch to public relations agencies specializing in hospitality. That's where the big money could be.

The investment of time and thought in blogging can yield an excellent return. 

Jane Genova helps travelers feel like an insider, all the way around the globe. Contact her for assignments janegenova374@gmail.com.

You Probably Have Given Up Finding Work - But, You Can Grab Hold of Hope, Again

Bloomberg nails it. Since August 2020, 2.7 million jobs have been created and filled by those under-55. During the same time, only 28,000 55 and over landed work. Overall, about 2 million of those 55 and older have given looking for work.

Some of them have legitimate reasons for dropping out.

They may have feared contacting COVID - and dying.

They may have had it with the pressures of getting, holding and moving on to better work.

Perhaps they have to take care of a parent, spouse or offspring.

Or, they have just needed a nudge to take a retirement package. 

But most, I know from my coaching, just ran low on hope. After overcoming myriad obstacles in their career they assumed they could no longer jump through hoops. Not again. And what for. After all, as ProPublica documents, after losing those good job only 1 in 10 will move on to another which pays comparable compensation. 

Where hope can take root, even after severe disappointments, is where mindsets are open to a fresh start. There is that old adage which is on the money: Nothing gets you a job like a job. Here the aging have to shift from the traditional notion of a career path to the more simple concept of working for income. 

That kind of pivot liberates the 55 and over from the past. They can welcome new experiences, including learning new skills.

That aligns with the Future of Work vision of Willis Towers Watson: Careers are anachronisms. They are being replaced by putting together portfolios of experiences and skills. That process is unlikely to be linear. The security guard could parachute into being a leasing agent for a residential complex. Related? Maybe. But it doesn't represent the expected progression in what used to be career paths. What counts is that there is movement to better-paying, more enjoyable work.

So, how can the aging loop into hope?

What I hammer is this: Get work, any work. That's articulated, along with the how-to, in this book, a free download Download Outwitting ageism. 

The next step is: Don't settle in.

That work experience is simply a bridge to the Next. This is really nothing that new. In the ultimate job guide "What Color Is Your Parachute?" has documented since The Great Recession the shorter and shorter time any human being will be in any work situation. That is, reinforces the book, there will be a search for work from the get-go in high school or earlier to the day when permanent retirement is selected. 

So, it can comfort the aging that they aren't not the only ones who are caught in the nonstop search for work that brings income. The focus of the new reality is to be heading toward better-paying and a better fit of work.

The Future is already underway. Ghostwriting/Marketing Communications and coaching on those issues. Sliding scale fees. Complimentary consultation (janegenova374@gmail.com)

 

Aging & Haven't Made It Big Yet - Maybe You Don't Understand American Ethos of Success

Some people just got an instinct for success. 

Obviously, make-believe heiress Anna Sorokin aka Anna Devey is among them.

Sure, she wound up in prison for her attempted con of securing a multi-million-dollar loan and actually living the good life without paying the bill.

But in October she obtained parole and could be released next month. That will dovetail with the release of a Netflix film about her amazing life. For that she had been paid about one-hundred-thousand bucks. However, the law mandates the funds circle back to the victims she hoodwinked.

In the process of the Netflix undertaking, of course, she has strengthened her brandname. America, founded by a bunch of misfits who couldn't cut it in the old country, loves its outliers.

Her touch, this time on the legal side, will remain magic. The American Way is supposedly boyscoutish/girlscoutish. But the reality is that most who who made it big knew their way around the official rules. Those who stayed big did that within the parameters of the U.S. legal system - sometimes with the help of prominent lawyers.

Likely Sorokin has learned much about all that in a short time. Also, she has acquired the resources to operate within the system. Although born outside the United States, Sorokin had a deep understanding of its complex success ethos.

Of course, in prison she was no slouch when it came to creating a platform for her future. She launched a personal blog, reports Daily Mail. It's called "Anna Devey Diaries." That name, in itself, has become a powerful kind of trademark.  In it, she complains about the lack of luxury items such as gourmet salad dressing. Likely, when on the outside, she will start a podcast. Here is my article, published in Odwyerpr.com, on how that medium is doing in 2021 and how to make yours noticed.

It is never too late for the aging in America to shake off all the misleading success advice foisted on you since high school. For most of us, that kept us servants of the system. Not masters of it. 

It's not unthinkable that in time Sorokin could reimagine herself into a great philanthropist. Her legacy could be one of extreme service to humanity. That's also embedded into the American ethos of success. 

The Future is already underway. Ghostwriting/Marketing Communications and coaching on those issues. Sliding scale fees. Complimentary consultation (janegenova374@gmail.com)

Aging - The Extreme Advantage of "Crisis Competence" (including in getting, holding and moving on to better work)

We got through so many other things - maybe even worse, at least it seemed at the time - before the isolation of a pandemic.

As a result, reports John Leland in The New York Times, we over-65 have acquired what's being called "crisis competence." No matter what is going down, we not only have the confidence we can get through it. During it, we can find sources of joy. And look forward to satisfaction in the future.

Leland notes that, overall, the mental health of the aging tends to be better than those younger.

Obviously, we have made progress on the learning curve of life. 

In addition, I have observed in coaching displaced professionals over-65 that many have an edge younger generations don't.

That's twofold.

One is the ability to push on despite rejection during a search for jobs or contract assignments. And the other is the know-how to be strategic about finding, holding and moving on to better work. Such skills are the result of experience. How many financial downturns have we been through! How much aging bias have we already bumped up against! And how many work situations have we landed even in regional economic depressions.

We are entering a new year. But, despite the optimism, there is no guarantee it will be better in terms of employment than 2020. Here, a free read, is my bible on continuing to earn income from work, no matter what our age Download Outwitting ageism. 

Yes, 2021 could play out to be another "the worst of times." But not for the over-65. 

The Future is already underway. Ghostwriting/Marketing Communications and coaching on those issues. Sliding scale fees. Complimentary consultation (janegenova374@gmail.com)

Let's All Stop Talking Like Lawyers - At Least, Those of Us Who Aren't Lawyers

Dating back to the heyday of consumer advocate Ralph Nader, filing lawsuits was sexy. In fact, it was the signature of people alert to their rights and putting themselves through the ordeal of litigation for justice.

That was then.

Sure, folks are still suing. But the cool has been sucked out of it.

The influence game is more fun. It's faster. And for those who have down cold its dynamics, it's could even be free. Just invest some time and creativity.

The ways of influence are almost infinite.

There are:

Podcasts

Social networks ranging from LinkedIn to Instagram

Old-line blogging

YouTube

In-person theatre in the streets (protesting as during the counterculture)

Email/texting campaigns

Connecting with government officials

Paid newsletters such as Substack and Ghost

And, more to be developed.

Along with the shift away from litigation as a form of personal branding there is this: a recognition that maybe talking like a lawyer isn't all that effective. Better to first use soft skills or Emotional Intelligence. During the past five years of Perfect Storms, I have used both for everything from shaking loose payments from clients to getting out of leases with bad-actor landlords.

The common response when the talking like a lawyer card is played is that those at the other end simply shut down the game. They refuse to continue the conversation. That usually means we really will have to follow through and use legal means. Those can be expensive and slow-moving. In addition there is no guarantee of success.

On the other hand, when we do a Dale Carnegie - "How to Win Friends and Influence People" - the conversation can continue. Eventually both parties will wear out. We are ready for compromise. Likely we both get more of what we wanted than we had anticipated. In contrast, litigation is highly uncertain as to outcomes.

Applications to law schools are way up. But that has nothing to do with how we non-lawyers navigate our little lives, our obsessive feuds and our big causes. It might be downright smart to leave all the lawyer rhetoric to the lawyers. 

Place your paid sponsored content on this blog. Here are 6 tips for search engine optimization (SEO) in 2020. Contact janegenova374@gmail.com.

Some Things Just Don't Pan Out - Bob Dilenschneider's book "Decisions" Ranks 1,251,308 on Amazon

The toughest professional guidance I provide those I coach is the reality that many initiatives won't succeed.

An obvious example of that is Bob Dilenschneider's book "Decisions." It was published on December 31, 2019. Less than 11 months later it has plunged in Amazon's rankings to 1,251,308.

Dilenschneider operates a public affairs boutique in Manhattan. He had been the late Roger Ailes' personal public relations representative. Last month, he turned age 77.

Had Dilenschneider come to me for professional coaching, here are the five recommendations I would have put out there:

• Pivot from marketing through books. That succeeds only if the book will be a brisk seller. If it doesn't sell, in this era of Amazon rankings, it will put you in the corridor of public shame. Any book which doesn't catch fire can play out to be a liability.

 

• Ask all his constituencies what they need to learn as well as reflect on. Every major holiday Dilenschneider publishes in third party media what he considers an inspirational thought leadership piece. For me, most seem to have the wrong tone and content for our disruptive times. 

 

• Be committed to market differently - and keep changing.

 

• Experiment with other marketing strategies and tactics. Among them can be podcasting and paid newsletters such as Substack. 

 

• Update his website. The leading article on the homepage is dated September 2019.

It was as he aged, actor/director Clint Eastwood made the shift from B-Grade action films to artistic creations. "Unforgiven" is a classic. He had made his money. He was free to experiment.

Dilenschneider could also parachute into a transformation. (He's invited to a half-hour free coaching session. He can make an appointment at janegenova374@gmail.com.)

The Future of Work is now. Ghostwriting on those issues and coaching for job search, transition, personal branding, re-entry after recovery and reputation restoration. Sliding scale fees. Complimentary consultation (janegenova374@gmail.com)

Make Your Past Work for You

The past is a known - unlike these very uncertain current times. 

Also, the mind tends to sort through that memory bank and select out happy moments. An example might be trying out Coca-Cola's new product introduction - Tab. It might have been with young friends. Ah, youth.

No surprise, across Americana, there is mourning for the disappearance of Tab from our lives. BusinessInsider reports that announcement from Coca-Cola triggered widespread nostalgia.

That collective feeling reflects the nation's current return to heavy-duty nostalgia. 

Yes, the market for reaching back to what seemed a golden age (or at least lots better than 2020) is a growth one. 

Businesses which can embed them in their product/service offerings can thrive. 

Entrepreneurs can create whole new lines based on the nostalgia meme. 

Marketers and public relations representatives can leverage nostalgia into the messaging for clients. The iconic way that had been done was in the Kodak Carousel campaign developed by Don Draper on "Mad Men."

Individuals can also cash in. One platform for networking can be to create and strengthen bonds through shared memories. Yes, that is perfect for commenting on LinkedIn Updates and Twitter. Baby Boomers from the counterculture would probably welcome circling back to that period of extreme optimism about reforming the system. Also, reaching back into history has become effective in your podcasts, blogs, YouTubes and speeches. Right now there is push-back on the notion that the past is passed. 

Trends come and they go. The nostalgia one is, of course, a use it or lose it. In the present it's a power tool for business in general and individual careers. 

The Future of Work. Ghostwriting on those issues and coaching for job search, transition, personal branding, re-entry after recovery and reputation restoration. Sliding scale fees. Complimentary consultation (janegenova374@gmail.com)

The Number-One Reason Your Networking Has Turned You into a Pest

Networking is a multi-use power tool in business.

You can use it in:

Positioning yourself for a promotion, as in partner or head of an administrative unit

Job search

New business development

Introducing a new practice

Gaining access to resources.

But, too many businesspeople, especially those over-50, fail in the process.

That's because you don't understand that networking is a form of horsetrading. Before you enter that space you have to know what you have to trade. And, what's the market for that particular horse.

Otherwise you can be perceived as a pest - or overreacher. And, wind up being shunned.

The prerequisite in networking is to first take an audit of what you could trade. You calculate all that based on your knowledge of both human nature and the needs/wants of particular groups and individuals. What you find out becomes your inventory. As in all businesses, you have to keep that inventory fresh. Toss what's out of date. 

The trading process can start out on a very simple basis.

You make it your business to participate in professional online networks. They range from LinkedIn to specialized groups.

What is proving especially effective is trading your time to "like" and leave thoughtful comments in order to get the attention of those whom are useful to meet. Such action enhances their branding and they know it. Soon enough, they are checking your profile or even messaging.  

Another easy way in is to launch your own media sites. Those are perfect for linking to them, telling their stories and featuring them in interviews. The vehicles to use are growing in number. They include:

Podcasts

YouTube

Paid Newsletters such as Substack or Ghost

Blogs.

You could also develop relationships (again, through networking) with third-party media. Through that connection you can gain attention for those who are necessary for your career. What is published in third-party media can have greater reach than what's on your own platforms.

There are also more imaginative ways to acquire assets for trading. 

At the top of the list is to take advantage of what is known as "the power of weak ties."

In the 1970s, researcher Mark Granovetter discovered that more professional opportunities come through those you know casually versus the supposed key members of your professional network. 

That's because of three reasons. 

They know what you and those on your professional networks don't know. For example, the nurse at the hospital which you're trying to add as a client is aware it's unhappy with the current vendor. Or, the security guard in retail can tell you about a not-advertised job opening in human resources.

Since they are not competing with you, they will share that information. Even within your own organization you and your colleagues are in competition. It isn't in their self-interest to help you, unless they do that as part of their own networking.

They have down cold the lay of the land. As insiders, they can advise you how to approach the opportunity. 

What should be obvious to you is that the trade game is easier with the weak-tie group. The classic example is the strategy of family ties. Your children play with their children. Another classic source of trading is being available for providing generic insight derived from your own expertise. The nurse is considering opening a healthcare placement agency. You explain the forms of business structures. 

Another option for piling up assets to trade is through multiple sources of earning income. Your playing field is broadened. MarketWatch reported on full-time lawyer Kevin Ha. He has 13 side hustles. They include delivering food. There are plenty of people he can network with along the way. The caution there is how to manage all those identities. This article discusses "mutt branding."

Having a broad base of entities to trade puts you in a place of strength. You can enter any niche and know you have what is of value to others.

That's exactly why the most successful networkers don't have rigid boundaries. Or settle into a single sphere of influence. Here, a free read, is my book on exiting comfort zones. In the new normal of a COVID-19 shaped economy, there is no settling in.

The work world has become unforgiving. You may be among those who have to reimagine your career. Affordable coaching.  Make an appointment for complimentary consultation (janegenova374@gmail.com)