SERVICES FOR OUR "OLDERING" COMMUNITY
on OLDERING Well
I. Introduction.
Our OLDERING[1] community is well-served by established organizations and resources that support our interests and needs. There aren’t enough yet, but the support is growing.
This post mentions a few that you might find useful. I have personally used these services on my post-50 years journey. Of course, there are many more. So, this is just a taste.
II. Brian Clark is a serial thought leader.
Brian Clark’s trendsetting has created a long and successful serial entrepreneurship career. He created “https://copyblogger.com/,” which helped initiate online blogging as both a tool of pastimes and business ventures.
After selling the Copyblogger site in 2018, Clark turned his attention to focusing on our 50+ demographic. He produced an intellectual and practical focus that decries ageism and promotes long, healthy, and prosperous lives. His positive views see a “Longevity Economy” with power and productive living rather than merely aging. Clark’s contributions to the paradigm include studies, articles, reviews, courses, newsletters, and consulting services.
Brian broke down the focus into two key areas.
FIRST. The first is transitioning from ages 50 to 60. Clark’s insight is that this period of life is a natural and neurological transition rather than a midlife crisis. The insight here is that ageism makes getting a job much harder. However, some of our most productive capacities kick in during this period of life. So, these years are the most likely for entrepreneurial leadership in the business world.
Clark suggests we look to “unretirement” rather than focusing on getting jobs from unfriendly ageist corporate environments. Guiding us through this period of life is Clark’s “Further” newsletter (see https://further.net/). The tagline “Live Long and Prosper” demonstrates its theme and attitude. The key insight is that the better path to financial security is “solopreneurship” by consulting, freelancing, or creating a new business enterprise. Clark introduces the location-independent business made possible by the resources of digital nomads, the internet, and available online software for conducting business. The life of the expatriate living in attractive foreign countries is explored. So are recommendations on financial planning and solopreneurship.
SECOND. Clark’s next focus area speaks to how powerful we are as an ignored “demographic” that makes up a $22 trillion economy. We have accumulated the most wealth in history but are abandoned as a customer population. Ageism causes the youth-oriented culture we baby boomers initiated to abandon us. In this second focus, Clark offers another newsletter, Longevity Gains (see https://longevitygains.com).
Marketers lack insight into our age group, which results in terrible messaging mistakes. We no longer appreciate the descriptive phrases “elder” or “senior.” So, new language and perceptions are needed to speak to our consumer cohort. Longevity Gains helps us understand these emerging truths. We are not merely a statistically analyzed “demographic.” Drilling down to our individual values and preferences is needed to speak to us.
I took an online course given by Clark. It was full of surprising intelligence not seen on the surface. Clark provides the underpinnings of the insights he brings to bear in his writings and consulting. It has triggered my discovery of the niche I choose for my own writing. My focus is more retail than Clark’s 30,000-foot overview of our community. To avoid the negative implications of ageism, I made up the word “OLDERING” since it has no connotations of slowness, frailty, or sickness.
OLDERING suggests, instead, aliveness, robustness, happiness, and health. That is why I am calling this Substack “on OLDERING Well.”
III. American Association of Retired Persons (“AARP”).
A bit more than a ¼ century ago, I realized my years were passing when I noticed I could take advantage of a “Senior Discount” at a local aquarium. I was shocked to find that my age of entitlement was only 50. This is also the initial age of qualification for membership in the American Association of Retired Persons. (see https://www.AARP.com).
AARP is a resource-rich amalgamation of advocacy, education, information, and general support.
Have I got a discount for you! AARP offers its members discounts galore. These include discounts on pharmaceuticals, health memberships, dental insurance, a bookstore, cruises, travel and car rentals, flights and vacation packages, hotels and resorts, clothing, groceries, flowers and plants, and shipping. That is only a start. Sponsorship revenue from vendors offering discounts is a large part of what supports AARP’s budget.
In its efforts to enrich our lives, AARP sponsors many activities to entertain us. The AARP Virtual Community Center provides a superabundance of free entertainment and films.
A highlight is the “AARP Movies for Grownups Awards.” These awards celebrate outstanding films and television shows made by and about people aged 50 and older. Since its inception in 2002, these awards have championed the representation of older adults in entertainment, highlighting our stories and contributions to the industry. They have become part of the annual awards season, right along with the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards.
AARP is a national leader in the fight to preserve Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. This leadership includes tools for our own advocacy, such as easing our ability to communicate with our Congresspeople as important votes are coming up. Many articles help us understand these programs and their benefits.
AARP The Magazine is a periodical devoted to the members of the OLDERING community. An attractive feature is an article in each edition about a celebrity we remember from our youth, what they learned in the ensuing years, and various insights they share.
AARP membership is a major resource for information, activities, and entertainment, all focused on the needs and wishes of our OLDERING community.
IV. The Grey Wave
I remember Steve Dotto’s original YouTube tutorials about computer software and online organizational tools. He has evolved into a major resource about all things digital for those of us over 50. The Grey Wave is a membership resource (see https://dottotech.com/?s=Grey+Wave).
Dotto has refined his plethora of courses into a focus on remaining relevant after 50 in the digital age. He is passionate about empowering us to embrace technology rather than fear it. Dotto believes that anyone can master digital tools and create meaningful opportunities in the online space, regardless of age or prior experience.
Through his work across various platforms, Dotto has become a trusted resource for those seeking to remain relevant in an increasingly digital world while pursuing personal growth and professional reinvention.
The Grey Wave program is tailored for older adults who want to adapt to the digital economy, whether by starting a side hustle, building an online business, or simply improving their tech skills. It addresses the unique challenges faced by this demographic, such as overcoming age-related barriers and staying relevant in an evolving digital landscape. He also has a focus on learning Artificial Intelligence called the “AI Academy.”
V. Camille Attell’s (www.camilleattell.com) Remote-Work School™.
This site focuses on working for other people, albeit remotely, as well as providing guidance on starting or growing a solopreneurship. The site provides a free course for those of us who are semi-retired or leaving the traditional workforce. How to go about finding remote work is a focus. Transitioning from a full-time office job to a remote job has unique challenges. The Remote-Work School’s free course provides several coaching and training sessions. Also available is personalized guidance to help identify unique skills and talents that are, while not apparent, valuable in the remote workplace.
A key set of instructions is about creating a resume, especially for those who have been out of the workforce for a significant period. One interesting and specific insight Camille provides is the value of listing “soft skills” along with hard skills on a resume. For example, if an individual has spent a lot of time as a caregiver, that provides experiences not necessarily typical for a classic resume. However, providing care generates a lot of insight into dealing and communicating with people. That can be just as important as certifications or specific paid work experience.
Camille has a regular podcast, “The Remote Work Retirement Show.” She also walks the walk, spending much of her time with her husband, RVing around the country while producing the show and managing the other aspects of her site, courses, and “Strategy Coaching” sessions.
VI. Conclusion.
As the business world becomes more attuned to the uniqueness and positive attributes of the OLDERING community, more services and attention are given to us. What I describe here is only a smattering of what is becoming available. We must continue to insist on stopping the discrimination that comes with ageism and increasing the opportunities for OLDERING Well.
[1] OLDERING is a made-up word. Most words describing folks over age 50 are ageist or imply slowness, frailty, or sickness. OLDERING Well suggests aliveness, robustness, happiness, and health.