Reinventing...Not Retiring

In my last article I wrote about how the Baby Boomer generation as well as countless others are determining that there is alot more to accomplish in their lives. Places to go, people to meet, goals to achieve, passions to embrace.

Growing up in the Creek household included reminders from my parents that there were no acceptable reasons for not working. My dad was quick to point out to me that he could turn to the want ads any day of the week and find available jobs. I may not 'like' the job but it would do until I found something more to my liking.

So there wasn't much discussion, if any, about pursuing my passion, dreams or goals. Even my high school counselor when I became a senior had one session with me about "my future". After all I was getting ready to graduate and I needed my life mapped out before I left the hallowed halls of Webster City high school.

"So" he said, "what do you think you'll want to do with your future?" How should I know? I was 17 at the time! Now many years later I've seen a myriad occupations and pursuits I would have enjoyed learning and incorporating in my life. Who had ever heard about being a Crime Scene Investigator? Not me but to be honest it I wished I had known there was such a profession back in those formative years.. I would have liked being a forest ranger. I mean really...drive around in a jeep in beautiful mountains, the wildlife, and out in the open country! Sign me up! And being a college basketball coach would have been right up my alley.

For you it may be an occupation, a trade, or a skill you'd like to pursue. It could be a country to visit, book to write, business to start that has always been a passion you'd like to achieve. But for one reason or another, or even upon the "advice" of a loved ones, you never took that next step. I mean those you respected would have said how silly you were being.

So why not start your journey today? Why wait any longer? Making the effort to embracing your life's passion is closer than you may believe.

Here are some initial steps you can take in 'jumping off the end of the dock' and start to swim:

1. TAKE ACTION Avoid being paralyzed and overwhelmed by the challenge. Author Joe Vitale writes, "Do anything to keep the momentum going forward."

2. JUST TAKE THE NEXT STEP You don't have to "see" your destination to reach it. Vitale says, "It's like driving your car at night when there's no street lights. Your headlights may allow you to see only the next 100 feet in front of you. And then finally, you make it to your destination."

3. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE RESULTS, CHANGE WHAT YOU'RE DOING Jim Rohn, personal development expert suggest asking yourself, "What can I do today so the next five years are not the same as the last five?"

4. EVALUATE HOW YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR TIME Rohn asks, "Do you focus on the majors? Spend major time on major things and minor time on minor things."

5. MAKE SURE YOUR HEART IS IN IT You have to find something you love enough to be able to take risks, jump over the hurdles, and break through brick walls that are always going to be placed in front of you.

6. PUSH YOURSELF TO REACH YOUR POTENTIAL! Passions, dreams and goals worth pursuing in your life will demand that you give 100% effort.

"Who Said We Were Finished?"

Have you seen the latest AARP commerical? The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) commerical? Retired...ha! This isn't your parents or grandparents AARP!

The AARP is one of the most dominant organizations in the United States serving the retired population. They are bringing to light that largest, most influential, and wealthiest generation, the baby boomers, really don't plan on retiring. They are just going to shift to other dreams, goals, or to discover their passions in life. I heard a gentleman say the other day that he would know he was retired "about three days before I die."

For many of us we were raised by parents of the Greatest Generation, made more famous by the efforts of former NBC newscaster Tom Brokaw with his book and TV specials. The parents of the Greatest Generation taught their children who would become baby boomers to "get a job so you can pay your bills and buy food." My grandfather always talked about the day when he could retire...and then...well he'd be retired.

Now there is a generation of over 77 million baby boomers who don't see life in the same light. They still have dreams to live, goals to accomplish, passions to discover. Don't even bring up the "R" word. In the AARP commerical, a lady decorating a cake even says, "I want to fall in love again." Check their website...the opening page is a middle-aged couple in a romantic kiss. My grandfather would have a fit! THAT is NOT retirement.

I have the feeling that many of us who claim the title of baby boomer would rather go out with a bang and not just a whimper no matter how old we get. After all, baby boomers who lived through the 1960's shook up the whole world. Who chanted "the whole world is watching" in 1968? The baby boomers! Who burned their bras? Baby boomers! Burned draft cards? Baby boomers. Fought for equal rights? Baby boomers! Protested an ugly war? Baby boomers! Were the first to talk about the environment? You got it.

It's evident that there is a new "R" word for this generation and its not 'retire'. The new 'R' stands for "reinvent". People in their 50's, 60's, 70's and beyond want another journey to experience. They want to discover and return to their roots of the 1960's. The Baby Boomer generation always enjoyed hearing "you can't do that...you can't say that...you can't go there."

Well we're still here and we have some unleft business to attend to. For card carrying members of this generation of dreamers, its still our time. Time to discover our passions and live them to the fullest.

In coming blogs I'll be addressing the "how" of making those discoveries. I'll be offering advice, tips, and plans that everyone can use to guide them on their path to fulfillment.

Discover Your Passion

Welcome to Discovering Your Passion!

At one's core, in one's heart, resides the power, that unique passion, that 'thing', we want to accomplish in life. That "it" we've at least wanted to take a shot at. That hidden desire in our lives that we've kept hidden in a box deep in our souls. It could be a new profession, a trip you've always wanted to take, learn a new skill, go back to school, 'that dream', reunite with a friend, the thing we wanted to do in life but maybe those we trusted gave us a direction that was more comfortable for them!

Stop and ask yourself..."do you spend time doing things you don't want to do in places you don't want to be, for no other reason than you feel you have to?"

Do you ask, "What am I chasing after? * Why am I chasing it? * What is my purpose?

My LifeWorks blog is here for you. Articles, tips, motivational stories, real people successes and plans will be posted regularly to help those who are ready to start their adventure. I am convinced that the greater percentage of baby boomers are ready to reinvent themselves. That's who baby boomers are in today's world.

A survey revealed that people 80 years of age and older had very few regrets for the things they had attempted in life. Conversely, the same group of people reported that they DID HAVE regrets for the things they hadn't tried in life. As one older gentleman put it, "his use on or before expiration" date had come and gone for trying those things he would have pursued if he were younger. Baby boomers and others want to discover what their passion, dream, "it" is today and then go out and achieve it.

For some it means leaving a legacy, others its about fulfillment, and for some people it's not getting cheated in being all they can become in life.

So let's get started...yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised, and today is all we have. I look forward to helping you and hearing what "passion" you've disocvered and brought to light.