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By Dharma
Paula Lopez Crespin’s encore career is teaching math and science in a low-income school in Denver.
Teach for America www.teachforamerica.org has made teaching cool for graduating seniors from the nation’s best universities. Are they now going to make it cool for don’t-dare-call-them-seniors graduating into their own encore careers?
Paula Lopez Crespin, 50, gave up a banking career, took a $32,000 pay cut and now teaches in a “gang-riddled section of Denver.” For that opportunity, she had to compete with tens of thousands of applicants, go through a challenging selection process and convince skeptical Teach for America officials she was sincere. “How much more honest can I be?” she told The New York Times. “I want to change careers. This is not a résumé builder.”
Crespin is among the 81 percent of Teach for America (TFA) applicants last year who were either career changers or graduate students, which the organization is increasingly focused on in an attempt to increase the number who continue teaching after the two-years TFA requirement.
Currently, 40 percent of TFA teachers leave after the two-year commitment in a low-income school. Finding applicants is not a problem for TFA. This year 42 percent more people applied to the program than last year: 35,178 for just 4,100 positions.
Hiring experienced adults like Crespin is part of TFA’s new strategy. “Age is not a factor,” says Grant Besser, head of TFA’s “emerging markets” team, who is looking for “leaders and high achievers committed to education reform.”
Writer Cecilia Capuzzi Simon writes, “Seasoned professionals like Ms. Crespin might help improve that retention rate by bringing self-knowledge, work ethic and tested ideals to the job.”
Crespin says her friends thought she was crazy to give up her banking career and take a $32,000 pay cut, but she maintains it would have been insane to remain in a job she “just couldn’t stomach anymore” and opted instead to do “something meaningful with my life.”
Crespin had been drawn to teaching before, but gave up and returned to banking after several months of substitute teaching because she was unable to find a fast-track program. Her second introduction to the field came via her daughter, who was accepted into TFA after graduating from college.
Fearing for her daughter’s safety in an inner-city classroom, Crespin opposed the move until she visited her daughter on the job. “That was the ‘wow!’ moment for me,” she told Simon. “I was sitting in the back and wanted to wave to her, but she was in a zone, in command. She was the best teacher I had ever seen.” Crespin decided to apply to TFA herself.
The job isn’t easy. Crespin typically works 60 to 65 hours per week, “beyond what you get paid for.” But she and her husband, who recently obtained a master’s degree in social work, preparing for his own encore career, do not regret dipping into their 40l(k)s, refinancing their home and cutting back on spending. “We are happier than we were,” she said.
Posted 07/27/2009 – 11:12am by Terry Nagel
By Dharma
WATCH for YOUR FREE REPORT COMING SOON…
TOP 10 SENSATIONAL REASONS
Why NOW is the Perfect Time for Boomer Women to Discover their Life Purpose & start planning for an ENCORE career that they Love!
Quote: “Don’t Die with Your Music Still In You” –Wayne Dyer
By Dharma
The question of the boomers’ legacy is very much up for grabs right now.
In “The Boys of Pointe du Hoc,” about the most heroic rangers on D-Day, Douglas Brinkley argues very convincingly that Reagan’s 1984 visit to Normandy actually began the whole “Greatest Generation” thing. It hadn’t existed before, and understanding the story and the current yearning in the country was part of Reagan’s political/cinematic genius. So he largely “invented” the greatest generation mythology that day, with Peggy Noonan’s help.
Tom Brokaw followed a few years later, named it in a catchy and appealing way, and we have lived with that story ever since.
If it is true that the story of the greatest generation was written between 1984 and 1995, then we are coming into the time when the story of the boomer generation might be written. And how that story turns out will be determined by several things including what we “need” as a country and people at the moment, what the generation actually does (if anything), who writes the story and the motive of the writer.
We can influence the story of the boomer generation in a big way, but we can’t make it up in the absence of the right societal political setting, and we can’t make it up in absence of real and important action and leadership from those in the generation.
July 27, 2009 – John Gomperts, Civic Ventures
By Dharma
Baby Boomers are transforming the way we think about retirement and aging. Retirement in America is undergoing a revolutionary transformation. When our grandparents and parents retired, they could usually count on a handsome company pension, as well as Society Security and other benefits. Today, few workers in the private sector will enjoy a company pension. And today, Social Security and Medicare face growing funding issues. Americans are being told—every day and in increasing numbers—that they will have the sole responsibility for producing income for themselves for a much longer span of retirement time.
Retirement Revolution, hosted by broadcast journalist Paula Zahn, is a two-part documentary that explores the many challenges and opportunities faced by the 78 million Baby Boomers who are now heading into retirement.
Our new generation of “old people” fulfill a unique and important role in society.
As the first wave of Baby Boomers turns 65, they are changing America’s ideas about what it means to grow old and what it means to retire. With sixty-five fast becoming the new “middle age,” retirement may mean a new career instead of the golf course.
Retirement Revolution offers practical considerations that can help ensure a retirement on one’s own terms, even in a risky world in which Medicare and private pensions are facing real problems. With everyday stories placed in the context of experts’ perspectives on retirement and aging, Retirement Revolution alleviates anxieties, inspires confidence, and demonstrates the pressing need for change where the ways of the past simply won’t be enough.
“Retirement” today often means the beginning of a new career.
The documentary explores numerous revolutionary discoveries: how even late starters can save enough to supplement their Social Security income; how to turn home equity into old-age income; how to ensure a secure old age with new retirement investment products like annuities that begin at age 85; the joys of encore careers begun after age 50; how Social Security can be secured for another 50 years; and the remarkable compassion and help that the new “old people” are providing to the rest of society.
Explore the Retirement Revolution microsite at www.wttw.com/retirementrevolution.
Retirement Revolution is a co-production of James L. Schlagheck and WTTW National Productions.
By Dharma
After my friend Anne left a successful career on Wall Street, she spent several years writing fiction. She completed two novels, then realized that the issues and problems in the real world had become more compelling than the stories she was making up.
“What was I doing writing fiction when I could be out there with real people, doing something meaningful?” she told me. “Cliché or not, I wanted to use my business skills and international experience to make an impact on the world.”
As it turns out, she is in good company, according to a study released today by the MetLife Foundation and Civic Ventures, a San Francisco-based think tank on boomers, work and aging. The 2008 Encore Career survey asked 3,500 Americans between the ages of 44 and 70 about their current and future work plans and preferences.
The results indicate that a majority of people in that age group want to use their skills and experience to help others. In fact, the report estimates that between 5 and 8 million Americans are already involved in what Marc Freedman, CEO of Civic Ventures, calls an “encore career”—meaningful work that combines earning an income with making a contribution to society. “I think of it as practical idealism,” he says.
What the Study Means
The results of the study may be early evidence of a trend. “For us, the major finding was the numbers,” says Freedman. “This is not just an abstract ideal. Millions of people are already acting on this impulse.”
People like Ed Speedling, who became an advocate for the homeless after a career as a health care executive, or Beverly Ryder, who brought her years of corporate experience to a new role in public education. (These stories and others can be found on Civic Ventures’ networking site, www.encore.org.)
Freedman credits these “pioneers” with “blazing the path” for those behind them. And considering that there are 78 million baby boomers, that’s a lot of people to play “follow the leader.” According to the study, nearly half of those not already in encore careers have a strong desire to move into such jobs.
“If even a small fraction of baby boomers go into encore careers, it could have a transformative effect on industries that are so dependent on human resources to be effective,” says Freedman.
This is good news for education, health care, government and the nonprofit sectors, all of which already are experiencing critical labor shortages. A study by the Bridgespan Group—a Boston-based management consulting group for the nonprofit sector—reported that nonprofit organizations will need some 640,000 new senior leaders over the next 10 years, and that number could rise as high as 1.2 million.
Changing Public Policy
While Freedman acknowledges that those who want to pursue an “encore career” must take some of the responsibility to make that transition, he also thinks that society should meet people halfway. That’s going to require changes on many levels, he says. “We’ll probably see a dramatic increase in life coaching and workshops for more affluent people, but if we are going to tap the talent in other sectors of the boomer population, we need changes in public policy.”
In the first place, he suggests getting rid of penalties for working longer. Making affordable health care accessible could encourage active participation in encore careers, he says. Freedman also argues for the creation of new kinds of incentives, like IBM’s Transition to Teaching program, which prepares employees to take on a second career as a math or science teacher.
“And we need more online resources for people wanting to make this kind of shift,” says Freedman, who notes that most of the major job sites offer openings in other industries.
The study reports that people already in their encore career discovered that many problems that they had anticipated—like the lack of flexibility or the fear of being underappreciated—never materialized. Over 75 percent were satisfied with the salary and benefits, but the need to learn new skills and coping with a loss of seniority continued as concerns. Still, the feedback from those who have already embarked on an encore career was positive. “The message seems to be ‘try it, you’ll like it,’ ” says Freedman.
That’s certainly true for my friend Anne, who’s now working in the nonprofit sector in the area of global poverty. “Right now, there’s nothing else I’d rather do,” she says.
Survey Results
The survey of 3,500 men and women was conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc. by telephone and on the Internet from February through April 2008. The respondents were divided into three categories: those in encore careers, those interested in such careers and those not interested. The complete study is available at www.civicventures.org.
Among the key findings related to those in encore careers:
• The majority were between the ages of 51 and 62. More than half were women.
• Most (52 percent) are engaged in professional or managerial careers, and an additional 28 percent in other white-collar occupations. Nearly one in five (18 percent) have blue-collar jobs.
• The largest group (42 percent) lives in the suburbs; 30 percent live in urban areas and 28 percent in small towns and rural areas.
• More than a third of those who chose encore careers did so for financial reasons and health benefits.
• Most reported a high level of satisfaction (84 percent) and felt they were making a difference (94 percent).
By: Cathie Gandel | Source: AARP Bulletin Today | June 18, 2008
By Dharma
OKAY, Now Here’s The Next Big ThingWE are probably going to be the next big thing – women baby boomer entrepreneurs! By 2010, I predict that many of us will be like Colonel Sanders who made more in his second career after age 65.Women make really great entrepreneurs. We work for other people usually but when women take that risk to become business owners, look out! We can ride that wave, especially now with the Internet to help us.
Surfs up! Let’s get started! Learn to market your self and your business. Sign up now to learn more about Internet attraction marketing!
Make More “Retired” Than Hired!”
One of my mentors is Ann Sieg. She tells one of my very favorite stories about how she not only wanted to retire early but she wanted to make enough money in multi-level marketing (MLM) to retire her husband early too! And she did! But not the usual MLM way, the renegade way. She leveraged herself by working at home, building her MLM online.
Talk about a “Don’t Mess With Me” spirit with a big heart, that’s Sieg. She’s THE renegade network marketer. She wrote the book!
Colonel Sanders Didn’t Have What We Have
Colonel Sanders didn’t have the Internet Web 2.0 advantage. We do. Learning things like how to Generating free leads using Squidoo 
for example, is something the colonel couldn’t do – there was no Squidoo!
Terri Stallcop www.terristallcop.com
By Dharma
There is no security in doing something for a living when you are dying inside while doing it. That is taking care of the body at the expense of the soul. And a withering soul cannot help but produce a withering body. So do not think you are “taking care of yourself” by killing your spirit to keep your body alive. How long will you put off what you are dying to do? You will not have to think but a second to know exactly why you received this message today.
Neale Donald Walsch www.nealedonaldwalsch.com
By Dharma
Women: Have you ever thought of becoming a custom home builder for your ENCORE career?
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA—Cathleen Gallagher could have turned over that glorious piece of land at 609 Las Lomas Avenue in Pacific Palisades to a “different” kind of builder. She could have hired someone to plan out where each room would go, how they would all work together to create the home’s flow, figure out the big picture and the details, and pick all the finishes.
After all, men dominate the home building industry as a whole, and when it comes to custom homes, women are but a speck on the builder spectrum. Which is unfortunate, given the fact that, if Gallagher’s home—a magnificent display of smart floorplan choices and exquisite finishes— is any indication (and it is), women make mighty fine custom homebuilders.
“The reality is that the larger-scale builders, from the Centexes to the Brookfields of the world, have invested a lot of money to get a female perspective on their product, usually through the services of an interior designer,” said Tom Weston, president/CEO of Weston/Mason Marketing, a Los Angeles-based advertising agency specializing in home builders and developers. “Typically these builders are male, and while very talented and capable of overcoming enormous challenges, they do sometimes overlook some of the realities of building a home that really works for today’s family, which means emphasizing the woman’s perspective.
“In the custom market, it’s all about anticipating needs, which is certainly the role of any builder, but at a much more personal and detailed level,” he added. “Someone who naturally comes equipped with the female perspective and who also brings the necessary building/planning/designing skills offers a tremendous advantage to that process.”
To read the entire story go to: PowerWoman Magazine http://www.powerwomenmagazine.com
By Dharma
I promised you last month that I would share my “childhood entrepreneur” story, not just to hear myself talk (or, see myself type), but because the more successful entrepreneurs I talk to, the more I see clear evidence of an entrepreneurial spirit as far back as elementary school. Rather than a simple stroll down memory lane, there is something to learn from looking back as you continue moving forward.
When meeting with LifeBio CEO Beth Sanders at the Book Expo America in Washington, D.C. this past spring, she and I began talking about how your early story typically links right up with your current story in some way or another. We were discussing our childhood entrepreneur memories, and I was surprised that I hadn’t remembered mine until that moment.
Looking back, I really had a ridiculous amount of toys, games, and dolls. More was definitely more when I was growing up, and, having grown bored with most of the items in my toy box (that hadn’t received a whole lot of attention in the first place) I decided to take on the grown-up idea of a yard sale, and instead set up a toy sale. I figured I could do much more with cash than I could with toys that no longer interested me.
I think I was 10 or 11 at the time, with sufficient spelling and math skills to launch this first business of mine. I enlisted the help of my older brother to do the heavy lifting, and allowed him to work on commission (25% of every sale he made). I priced these gently used toys competitively, displayed them on lovely tables in our front yard, set up a lemonade stand to lure passers-by (this refreshment was complimentary if you browsed), and posted attractive, clear signage throughout the neighborhood to attract my target market to the hottest setup on Adams Avenue.
Soon, my young customers, seeing my good fortune, wanted to setup their own sales to earn some money from their own discarded toys. To prevent competition, I set up a franchise. I pointed out that since I had already created signage and had a great location secured (with refreshments at that), I would grant them the privilege of setting up their individual tables in my yard and piggybacking off of my brilliant marketing efforts for $3 per day. They were certainly free to create their own location and signage, but why reinvent the wheel?
While I’m no longer in the toy or franchise business, looking back on this adventure gave me some great laughs, and also some insight into why I became an entrepreneur in the first place.
Notice that I didn’t want to make toys to sell; just to sell toys that were already well-made.
I have always looked at good ideas and asked “How can I improve upon them?” For many clients, hefty PR agency retainers were out of reach, so I figured out a way to make these skills affordable…by teaching entrepreneurs by the dozen how to do it themselves.
Notice that I didn’t force my playmates to set up their sales in my yard; I simply pointed out that they could benefit from the setup already in place.
I have always innately understood the difference between “features” and “benefits,” which I have put to work in my own grown-up business and those of my clients. Ultimately, your prospects want to know “What’s in it for me?” It doesn’t matter how smart you are or how fast your product goes. Move on from features, and focus on the benefits of what’s in it for your client.
Notice that I didn’t work harder; I worked smarter.
Instead of trying to do it all myself, I brought in the help I needed (my brother) and profited from both his efforts and the fees paid to me by other entrepreneurial children. I have always tried to focus on what I do best, and outsource the rest, for ultimate client satisfaction.
What is your childhood entrepreneur story? How does it link up with what you do now? What can you learn from it?
My 6 year old daughter recently told me that when she grows up, she wants to be an “entrepren-OREO” like Mom. Looks like it’s in the genes.
About the author: Jennifer Kalita has been a leading PR and small business consultant, writer, speaker, and strategist for more than a decade. Visit her company web site at
www.TheKalitaGroup.com. April 02, 2009
By Dharma
There has been much buzz surrounding the explosive growth of the Baby Boomer & Retiree segments of our population. Today, when combining the state of the economy with this population shift, the topic of employment is certainly the most popular.
-The 50+ demographic will grow by 49.1% for the next few years, 5 times the growth rate of the rest of the US workforce.
-From 2004 – 2010 workers aged 35 – 44 will decline by 19%, workers aged 45 – 54 will increase by 21% and workers aged 55 – 64 will increase by 52%.
-Boomer spending is projected to increase $800 billion to over $4.6 trillion by 2015.
-Boomers are the highest earners, best educated & largest home ownership group of any generation to-date.
Companies that embrace the talent & experience of our 50+ population will win in the competitive global marketplace. They are finally realizing that their longevity is contingent on understanding these trends. As a result, companies are starting to develop programs to hire & retain 50+ workers. This is easy to do because 50+ workers bring a lot to the table. They are loyal, possess significant interpersonal skills and are flexible in terms of schedules, benefits & pay. They are also tech savvy; In 1990 the desk of every 40-year old worker had a PC. Those same workers are now 59 with 19 years of computer experience and have been online since the advent of the web.JobsOver50.com and AARP do a great job as well.
To get a feel for the impact, here are some powerful statistics:
Boomers (people born between 1946 – 1964) control the lion’s share of the population and will do so for the next 30+ years. They are a major driver of our economy. They also have needs including retirement. However, after completing extensive market research it became clear to us that today’s 50+ population wants to continue working past retirement. Advancements in healthcare as well as improved nutrition & exercise are allowing people to work past 65. Most cite the need for income (84%), boredom avoidance (78%) and health coverage (56%) as the reasons to continue working.
The good news is that working past retirement, even 2-3 years, can result in a dramatic improvement to a 401(k) balance, higher Social Security benefits and less dependency on savings. Plus, the ability to continue exercising the mind can actually extend one’s life.
So what opportunities exist and where?
50+ job seekers can turn to head hunters, staffing agencies and even classifieds. Online services such as
Another powerful resource for job seekers is their Alma Mater. Schools & alumni associations across all education levels are starting to pay close attention to the employment needs of 50+ alumni. These are great venues for job seekers to go for job search as well as up-to-date advice and best practices. Many schools even offer “lifetime career services” in their mission statements. Thanks to the proliferation of social & professional networks and web-based alumni associations, more & more alumni are connected to their schools daily. These networks are also the perfect place for employers to post their jobs into a sea of talent.
There are certainly challenges facing 50+ job seekers today. However, their mass, experience & talent yields an opportunity to drive the US workforce to new heights. We will see a significant economic recovery as employers embrace this growing trend.GoliathJobs & JobsOver50:
About GoliathJobs is a free web-based employment service. We connect job seekers to employers via schools & alma maters. GoliathJobs creates partnerships with schools throughout North America which serve as liaisons. This model delivers a powerful career service edge to schools at no charge, a competitive edge to job seekers and high-quality results to employers. We believe that employment starts with education regardless of age, experience or educational level. 100% spam-free.
JobsOver50.com is a dedicated employment portal for baby boomers & retirees built on the same platform
June 2, 2009 By David Mezzapelle—JobsOver50.com Special to BB[KC]
"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."