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Yes We Can!

Baby Boomers Move Over

A common refrain of the 60s was "you're either part of the problem, or part of the solution." Today, we stand at the cusp of change, and some believe it's time for the Boomers to step up or shut up.

Rough words but succinct and reflect the sentiments of Jeff Gordinier, author, X Saves the World: How Generation X Got the Shaft But Can Still Keep Everything From Sucking. Gordinier focuses on the contributions and accomplishments of the so-called "lost" generation, those born between 1964 and 1980. He says that the Baby Boomer mythology has actually stunted their growth.

If the following video doesn't inspire you to act, change, hope or dream, then I guess Gordinier is right. It's time to move over.

Starbucks' Mid-Career Crisis

Starbucks is hitting some resistance to its phenomenal growth. Same store sales are down, the CEO has publicly questioned the dilution of the brand and side offerings are getting lukewarm reception in the market. Is Starbucks going through a mid-life crisis?

Sounds similar to a corporate mid-career crisis. After having run half the marathon you're out of juice and not sure which path to take. Are you questioning your ability to make it to the finish line? So what does Starbucks tell us about getting a handle on this mid-career situation?

Growth Strategy: You are probably stuck mid-stream because you are unsure about your career path. Just like adding more stores is not working for Starbucks, you know what is not working for you but are unsure about what will. Strategize your growth and career options. Look at the big picture, and put the pieces together of where you want to be eventually. Then chalk out a plan for getting there. Confer with mentors. Review, evaluate and create your growth strategy. As they say – “if you don’t know where you are going, any road will do.”

Focus: Are you digressing from your strengths? Remember Starbucks trying to sell music and movies? Starbucks' true service offering is coffee, not music and movies. Don’t make that mistake in your career. Diversify, expand, learn, but keep your focus on what you do well and how to leverage those strengths to move forward.

Brand Management: When the Starbucks chairman, Howard Schultz, frets that rapid expansion is diluting the brand, there is something to learn from that message. You have a brand and your brand proclaims who you are. You have spent years inculcating that brand – don’t dilute your brand by being negligent and comfortable. Brand management requires exemplary delivery on the promise. Your brand and credibility is contingent on your execution. You cannot afford to let-up.

Capitalizing on your strengths is a big part of career progression. I recommend this post on career management. Whether you're looking to make a midlife career change or establishing a second career mid life, Mark Runta offers excellent advice on the subject.

Says Mark: "You have come this far and kudos to you for that accomplishment. But the race is still on and the last half is harder. A lot harder! The prepared, resolute and focused usually finish the race."

If you still have the energy to climb the ladder, Mark offers a free e-book, Unstuck, to help you reenergize your career progression.

Thanks to Mark Runta, who offers thoughts and comments on Project Management and Global Outsourcing on his blog.

The Mid-Life Brain & Beyond

Want to build muscle, improve memory and condition the brain? In a recent USA Today interview, John Ratey, M.D. recommends working up a sweat at least four or five days a week if you find yourself stressed or depressed.

More importantly, a vigorous workout can help revitalize the aging brain. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, points to a number of studies that show regular physical activity can prevent the age-related fogginess that often develops by age 65.

Exercise connects the head to the body. For example, the act of walking grounds one to the earth; weight training focuses you on your body; bike riding makes you mentally alert for cars and stray dogs!

But, I think the greatest antidote to mental fatigue and ennui is laughter.

I attended a health and fitness lecture yesterday conducted by Austin Davis, a former stand-up comedian, police officer and male adventurer. His Web site bills him as "America's funniest fitness specialist." I don't know about "America's," but he certainly is Houston's funniest professional trainer.

After a serious sky diving accident ("Is there any other kind?" Austin asks.), he decided to take control of his midlife male body. (Visit FitandFunny.net for more info.)

When I left the session, I was motivated to change some habits, both physical and mental. Prior to attending, I hadn't known I was making excuses for my sedentary lifestyle. Somehow, the laughter cleared the cobwebs in my brain. Austin Davis, with his "laugh and learn" approach, gave me the stimulus I needed.

Austin's best advice: Relax. Reflect. Re-center. Even if you don't change your eating habits, new mental habits can create a new you.

Do Boomers Really Need a Web Home of Their Own?

Eons, a two-year-old company based in Boston, is one of several portals aiming to become the pre-eminent Web destination for Boomers. There's also BOOMJ and TeeBeeDee (as in "to be determined".) But when I arrived at their search engine, www.cRANKy.com it made me, well, cranky.

First off, my day job is Search Marketing specialist, so I'm going to view any Home page with a keen eye. They have broken one of the cardinal rules of online marketing... Dated content! The Home page features top searches for 2006.

I was prepared to embrace a new type of search engine because I think Google holds a monopoly, but if you're going to play with the big boys, you have to start off right. Here's a free tip: If you're going to run a blog, you need posts that are more current than one year ago.

BOOMJ, on the other hand, presents a much more generation-friendly experience. It bills itself as a Lifestyle & Social Network for Baby Boomers and Generation Jones.

Generation Jones, coined by Jonathan Pontell, characterizes those born between 1954 and 1965, who largely do not identify either as Baby Boomers or Gen Xers. This at least explains why it's hard for me to identify with those approaching retirement age.

I believe that the speed and adoption of technology distinguishes generations today. And why, for the first time in memory, we have a clear generational choice in this year's election.

Will it be the Silent Generation, the Baby Boom Generation or Generation Jones? TeeBeeDee...

Mid-Life Blues
Making It Right

You may have missed the news about the "mid-life slump" which has now been verified by researchers in Great Britain and the U.S. Data was collected on measures such as depression, anxiety, mental well-being, happiness and life-satisfaction spanning more than 35 years.

I'm dating myself, but 35 years ago, I was in a "puberty slump." As I recall in 1973, I was depressed, anxious, unhappy and dissatisfied with school, family, work and boys.

Fast forward to 2008 and if you're depresesd, anxious, unhappy and dissatisfied with family, work and boys/men, (Thank god we're no longer in school!) then I suggest you're not experiencing a mid-life crisis. May I tenderly suggest that you are living a self-absorbed, self-contained, shallow life.

At 15 this is acceptable. At 45, it is not.

Mid-lifers Can Make It Right

My personal antidote to depression and self-absorption is to get outside of myself. I find that when I give to others, even if it's a simple phone call to my mother, I feel better. If you're feeling down and troubled and you need a helping hand . . . (Oh wait. That's Carol King.) Sorry. Midlife moment.

I recommend a "giving hand" to help you out of your midlife (or otherwise) slump.

Make It Right

The ravages Hurricane Katrina wrought are still with us. Ellen Degeneres, a native of New Orleans, brought the point home on a recent show. Her efforts to help the displaced people of her home town have raised over $10 million.

Brad Pitt convened a group of experts in New Orleans to brainstorm about building green affordable housing on a large scale to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Having spent time with community leaders and displaced residents determined to return home, Pitt realized that an opportunity existed to build houses that were not only stronger and healthier, but that had less impact on the environment.

Visit Make It Right 9 and Adopt a House.

And say so long to midlife malaise.

Defining One's Life Purpose

If you're looking to overcome the mid-life transition with purpose and meaning, I encourage you to visit CivicVentures.org.

Every year Civic Ventures recognizes individuals over 60 who are using their talents to enhance the Greater Good by awarding The Purpose Prize –– five $100,000 and ten $10,000 investments. Nominations are now being accepted for 2008.

To nominate someone you know or to apply yourself, visit PurposePrize.Org. The application deadline is March 1, 2008. Prizes will be announced in the fall of 2008.

"Aging Boomers should be encouraged not only to continue contributing, but to rethink the purpose of that work—in short, to dust off their idealism of the ’60s and ’70s, and get to work making the world a better place."

As Marc Freedman, Founder and CEO, said, "It is the perfect opportunity for the generation that set out to change the world and got lost along the way." If you want to embrace the second half of life, read on.

A special thanks to Ode Magazine and their Encore Forum.

Iconic Masculine Guy, Burt Reynolds, Wants You to Pimp His Ride

Forget your motorcycles baby boomers. You can win a restored Trans Am by submitting a video to Heavy.com telling Burt and his co-judges why you deserve the car.

Depending on your sense of humor, Smokey and the Bandit, was either classic 70s shtick or a poor substitute for The 3 Stooges. You'll remember that Burt Reynolds co-starred with the 1977/78 Pontiac Trans Am. Starting Friday, October 19, on the DIY Network, 5 episodes air where you can watch Burt and a team of experts restore the classic Motor City ve-hi-cle in Burt Builds a Bandit. (10 pm EST/9 pm CST)

Here's a video clip detailing the submission guidelines from the po-lice. Even if you don't enter, this is one Officer of the Law, that will make you laugh out loud.

Deadline for submission is November 30th and the winner will be announced on the series finale December 14th.

I can't think of a better Baby Boomer gift than that!

Baby Boomer Career Made In Hog Heaven

A perfect midlife career transition might be self-employment by way of franchise ownership. According to Scott Yarnell, GuruFocus, "... For the patient investor who enjoys accumulating, at reasonable prices, those rare privileged companies with a durable business franchise, current market conditions offer such an opportunity with Harley-Davidson (HOG).

"... Warren Buffet has explained that the test for a business franchise is how much harm a competitor can do to the company if the competitor did not behave rationally with regard to its own performance. In the case of Harley, the well established mystic of owning a Harley among its devoted customers appears impossible for others to imitate. Harley customers pay a premium for both the image and quality of a Harley motorcycle. The company has managed to create an entire culture.

"Although I have seen many willing to adorn their bodies with the Harley name, I have yet to see anyone with a Honda motorcycle tattoo (and not for lack of looking). For most of its customers, a Harley is the only motorcycle they will purchase. This strong brand loyalty among its customers seems to cement Harley’s status as a durable business franchise. Harley has over 49% of the market for heavyweight motorcycles in the U.S. while its closest competitor has only 15%..."

While this is not a stock recommendation, I do think it offers some insight into a viable middle age career change. If you're turning 50, why not have fun with the quintessential "male midlife crisis" product.