What Is Holding You Back?
What is a typical retiree? There may have been a time when those who were beyond their working or productive years of life were relegated to the relative obscurity of a retirement lifestyle.
In times past, the mental images that come to mind when we thought of retirement was Grandpa, passively sitting in his rocker, by the fireplace, pipe in hand, and a blanket to keep his legs and feet warm, and grand children sitting about listening to his stories, or maybe it was Grandpa, sitting under a tree at the lake, fishing pole in hand, sound asleep, missing the catch that just stole his bait.
You may be wondering what is so bad about the lifestyle these descriptions depict, and if you are, perhaps it will do you some good to examine your attitude and beliefs as they relate to the stereotypical retiree.
Do you live to work, or work to live? As youngsters, trying to establish our worth in a very competitive workplace, we spent a great deal of our time in the pursuit of knowledge and experience to help enhance our value to employers, or a clientele if we were interested in professional status, and as our abilities grew, generally, so did our productivity and the income associated with success.
This same process plays itself out, in one way or another, for every individual born on this planet.
For some, survival in life may mean just learning a simple trade, or the family business, or other pursuits depending upon influences to which we are exposed, even criminal activity.
Some of us love what we do, no matter what it is, and others loath the price life exacts for the space we occupy on this Earth.
For one, the load is heavy.
For the other, the load is light, even uplifting.
The latter looks forward to a new day and the opportunity it presents, and the former feels forced to comply with life's demands, and only dreams of the day that things will change.
Which one are you? Are there insurmountable obstacles? As a layman, having traversed a considerable span of my life at this point, I have drawn a few conclusions about the things that seem to be causal in the determination of what any individual may or may not become during their lifetime.
Some of these causes are beyond our control, and some are brought about by the quality of our own thought.
For example, a child born with a handicap, such as deafness, or perhaps a more obvious abnormality, such as missing limbs or even mental disability, really has nothing to do with the circumstance in which they find themselves, but given the proper nurturing and the development of a proper attitude and a little focus, some have done quite well.
There are many documented case histories.
Helen Keller is one example that proves this point.
Of course there are others who are not able enough to live independently and support themselves throughout life.
Consider it duly noted that there are some who do not get a fair shake in life, but also, that it is not these unfortunate individuals around which this discussion revolves.
Are you a product of your circumstance? Most, who find themselves on the wrong side of success at some point in their life, if they can be honest, will generally admit that it was about choices they made.
Sure, there may have been some who were pointing them in the wrong direction, but they bought in to whatever was presented to them, only later to learn that it could have been different, or that they didn't have whatever tools it took to make it work for them.
Ultimately, they could have taken a different course and avoided some critical mistake.
But how could they have known?There are studies that have proven that the social environment in which we are immersed has a great deal to do with our thinking.
I believe this is true.
Human beings have a tendency to become a product of their associations.
If you hang out with criminals, it is more likely you will become one.
I think the same can be said of just about every facet of our lives.
The difference between these otherwise healthy individuals, and those described in the previous paragraph, is that they were in possession of, or had access to, all the tools for success, but ignored, misapplied or misused them.
Had they chosen to direct themselves, starting with the abilities they possessed, toward the right (for them) objectives in the first place, perhaps the story would have been somewhat different.
Another human frailty that seems to come into play here is that of selective hearing.
My own experiences have proven this point to me.
Sometimes we only hear the good side, or promised reward of an issue, as we apply it to our situation, and simply do not take into account that there is a downside that has to be factored into the equation.
It's sort of like playing a slot machine.
If all you think of when you drop in the coins is the large jackpots that are possible, then you are likely to drop in all your coins before you give it up.
On the other hand, if you will just look around at all the glitz, glitter, and expense that are required to bring you to the machines, you have to be wondering how the proprietors pay the bills.
The odds have to be stacked in favor of the house don't you think?Balanced thinking is a good thing.
What is the cost of an uncorrected mistake? Time marches on as they say, and every minute that is spent in a misguided effort, is a double loss.
First, the obvious loss, that minute is gone forever, that much we know for sure.
The second loss occurs because it was spent for a lost cause instead of toward the acquisition of an asset that could benefit us directly or even later on in life.
In other words, you pay almost double since you didn't benefit from the endeavor.
But is the misspent minute a total loss?Not quite.
Of course a lot depends on one's attitude, I think, but it doesn't have to be a total loss.
If nothing else, you will have found one way that did not lead to the success that you expected.
What does this have to do with retirement? Remember the descriptions of the stereotypical retiree at the beginning.
Is that what you expect to happen when you get to retirement?Or are you beginning to develop a little different view? If you haven't already figured it out, how much longer do you think you can afford to believe in the "cradle to the grave" promises of big government or the corporate world?Have you been listening to those who would have you believe that the retirement income that you have been promised all your working life will be sufficient, or that the government social security plan will fill the gap and provide the added income that will give you the ability to continue the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed?Have you chosen not to hear about the pressures of inflation (more dollars for fewer goods), or appreciating real property values (and the subsequent higher tax appraisals and assessments that follow)?Even worse, do you realize that you are probably as healthy today as you will ever be, and that healthcare costs have been going up at a rate about 5 times faster than the rate of general inflation?And, by the way, the vast majority of us will have to face these issues on a fixed retirement income.
I could go on and on, but the results we can all expect from these retirement challenges will not be changed by remaining focused on the problems themselves, but by looking for, finding, and implementing the solutions for them.
Is there a way out of the dilemma? I am convinced that there is a solution and a way out of the dilemma for many who find themselves in the middle of the boomer generation with its many challenges.
And I have great faith that the solution will come, not from the politically powerful elite who claim to have all the answers, but from the Boomers themselves.
How?This has been the great question that has become the watch word for this very large segment of the world's population.
Think about it.
How did our nation, and the rest of the world for that matter, cope with the arrival on this planet of one billion new citizens?Yes, that's billion with a capital "B".
This huge number includes those who were born between 1946 and 1964, an 18 year period, who have placed a huge burden on every facet of our societies around the world from the beginning, and every subsequent phase of a human life since then.
And I will quickly add, the same generation of the world's population that has made a huge contribution for the betterment of mankind along the way.
We have done it before and we can do it again! The answer to every "how" that's been asked has been answered.
Somehow we have managed to make it through every boomer crisis that has developed.
Now, as the retirement boom is arriving, the question is again, how will we get through it, and I think the boomers will respond, as in times past, with new and innovative ways to make it through.
One of those ways will be by changing the way we think about retirement.
No more rocking chair.
No more full time fishing or golf retirements (that stuff gets boring pretty quick anyway).
The Boomers will become the new version of retiree who will find a way to pull their own weight.
Will retirement become the final career? Why do I believe we will do it?We will do it because we must do it for our very survival, the same as with all previous challenges.
How?I believe it will be by becoming independent home based business owners and operators, consultants, independent contractors and other entrepreneurial types at precisely the moment in our history when economies around the world, especially in America, need a major boost, an extra shot of energy.
I believe that Baby Boomers will take advantage of the experience and knowledge they possess, combine it with the Internet and all the advances in technology to do what has to be done to save ourselves.
I believe we will create the greatest of all Boomer legacies as we meet the greatest of all challenges of the Boomer Generation, and that is, a proud and graceful exit from the world scene.
In times past, the mental images that come to mind when we thought of retirement was Grandpa, passively sitting in his rocker, by the fireplace, pipe in hand, and a blanket to keep his legs and feet warm, and grand children sitting about listening to his stories, or maybe it was Grandpa, sitting under a tree at the lake, fishing pole in hand, sound asleep, missing the catch that just stole his bait.
You may be wondering what is so bad about the lifestyle these descriptions depict, and if you are, perhaps it will do you some good to examine your attitude and beliefs as they relate to the stereotypical retiree.
Do you live to work, or work to live? As youngsters, trying to establish our worth in a very competitive workplace, we spent a great deal of our time in the pursuit of knowledge and experience to help enhance our value to employers, or a clientele if we were interested in professional status, and as our abilities grew, generally, so did our productivity and the income associated with success.
This same process plays itself out, in one way or another, for every individual born on this planet.
For some, survival in life may mean just learning a simple trade, or the family business, or other pursuits depending upon influences to which we are exposed, even criminal activity.
Some of us love what we do, no matter what it is, and others loath the price life exacts for the space we occupy on this Earth.
For one, the load is heavy.
For the other, the load is light, even uplifting.
The latter looks forward to a new day and the opportunity it presents, and the former feels forced to comply with life's demands, and only dreams of the day that things will change.
Which one are you? Are there insurmountable obstacles? As a layman, having traversed a considerable span of my life at this point, I have drawn a few conclusions about the things that seem to be causal in the determination of what any individual may or may not become during their lifetime.
Some of these causes are beyond our control, and some are brought about by the quality of our own thought.
For example, a child born with a handicap, such as deafness, or perhaps a more obvious abnormality, such as missing limbs or even mental disability, really has nothing to do with the circumstance in which they find themselves, but given the proper nurturing and the development of a proper attitude and a little focus, some have done quite well.
There are many documented case histories.
Helen Keller is one example that proves this point.
Of course there are others who are not able enough to live independently and support themselves throughout life.
Consider it duly noted that there are some who do not get a fair shake in life, but also, that it is not these unfortunate individuals around which this discussion revolves.
Are you a product of your circumstance? Most, who find themselves on the wrong side of success at some point in their life, if they can be honest, will generally admit that it was about choices they made.
Sure, there may have been some who were pointing them in the wrong direction, but they bought in to whatever was presented to them, only later to learn that it could have been different, or that they didn't have whatever tools it took to make it work for them.
Ultimately, they could have taken a different course and avoided some critical mistake.
But how could they have known?There are studies that have proven that the social environment in which we are immersed has a great deal to do with our thinking.
I believe this is true.
Human beings have a tendency to become a product of their associations.
If you hang out with criminals, it is more likely you will become one.
I think the same can be said of just about every facet of our lives.
The difference between these otherwise healthy individuals, and those described in the previous paragraph, is that they were in possession of, or had access to, all the tools for success, but ignored, misapplied or misused them.
Had they chosen to direct themselves, starting with the abilities they possessed, toward the right (for them) objectives in the first place, perhaps the story would have been somewhat different.
Another human frailty that seems to come into play here is that of selective hearing.
My own experiences have proven this point to me.
Sometimes we only hear the good side, or promised reward of an issue, as we apply it to our situation, and simply do not take into account that there is a downside that has to be factored into the equation.
It's sort of like playing a slot machine.
If all you think of when you drop in the coins is the large jackpots that are possible, then you are likely to drop in all your coins before you give it up.
On the other hand, if you will just look around at all the glitz, glitter, and expense that are required to bring you to the machines, you have to be wondering how the proprietors pay the bills.
The odds have to be stacked in favor of the house don't you think?Balanced thinking is a good thing.
What is the cost of an uncorrected mistake? Time marches on as they say, and every minute that is spent in a misguided effort, is a double loss.
First, the obvious loss, that minute is gone forever, that much we know for sure.
The second loss occurs because it was spent for a lost cause instead of toward the acquisition of an asset that could benefit us directly or even later on in life.
In other words, you pay almost double since you didn't benefit from the endeavor.
But is the misspent minute a total loss?Not quite.
Of course a lot depends on one's attitude, I think, but it doesn't have to be a total loss.
If nothing else, you will have found one way that did not lead to the success that you expected.
What does this have to do with retirement? Remember the descriptions of the stereotypical retiree at the beginning.
Is that what you expect to happen when you get to retirement?Or are you beginning to develop a little different view? If you haven't already figured it out, how much longer do you think you can afford to believe in the "cradle to the grave" promises of big government or the corporate world?Have you been listening to those who would have you believe that the retirement income that you have been promised all your working life will be sufficient, or that the government social security plan will fill the gap and provide the added income that will give you the ability to continue the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed?Have you chosen not to hear about the pressures of inflation (more dollars for fewer goods), or appreciating real property values (and the subsequent higher tax appraisals and assessments that follow)?Even worse, do you realize that you are probably as healthy today as you will ever be, and that healthcare costs have been going up at a rate about 5 times faster than the rate of general inflation?And, by the way, the vast majority of us will have to face these issues on a fixed retirement income.
I could go on and on, but the results we can all expect from these retirement challenges will not be changed by remaining focused on the problems themselves, but by looking for, finding, and implementing the solutions for them.
Is there a way out of the dilemma? I am convinced that there is a solution and a way out of the dilemma for many who find themselves in the middle of the boomer generation with its many challenges.
And I have great faith that the solution will come, not from the politically powerful elite who claim to have all the answers, but from the Boomers themselves.
How?This has been the great question that has become the watch word for this very large segment of the world's population.
Think about it.
How did our nation, and the rest of the world for that matter, cope with the arrival on this planet of one billion new citizens?Yes, that's billion with a capital "B".
This huge number includes those who were born between 1946 and 1964, an 18 year period, who have placed a huge burden on every facet of our societies around the world from the beginning, and every subsequent phase of a human life since then.
And I will quickly add, the same generation of the world's population that has made a huge contribution for the betterment of mankind along the way.
We have done it before and we can do it again! The answer to every "how" that's been asked has been answered.
Somehow we have managed to make it through every boomer crisis that has developed.
Now, as the retirement boom is arriving, the question is again, how will we get through it, and I think the boomers will respond, as in times past, with new and innovative ways to make it through.
One of those ways will be by changing the way we think about retirement.
No more rocking chair.
No more full time fishing or golf retirements (that stuff gets boring pretty quick anyway).
The Boomers will become the new version of retiree who will find a way to pull their own weight.
Will retirement become the final career? Why do I believe we will do it?We will do it because we must do it for our very survival, the same as with all previous challenges.
How?I believe it will be by becoming independent home based business owners and operators, consultants, independent contractors and other entrepreneurial types at precisely the moment in our history when economies around the world, especially in America, need a major boost, an extra shot of energy.
I believe that Baby Boomers will take advantage of the experience and knowledge they possess, combine it with the Internet and all the advances in technology to do what has to be done to save ourselves.
I believe we will create the greatest of all Boomer legacies as we meet the greatest of all challenges of the Boomer Generation, and that is, a proud and graceful exit from the world scene.
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