Support Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs
By Shelly Scriba
As the largest generation ever born, it comes as no surprise that millions of Baby Boomers own and operate businesses. We should support all local businesses but there are additional reasons to support Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs.
Boomer unemployment rates have never been higher and the length of time it takes to get a new job far exceeds that of any other group. The job market is challenging for everyone but Baby Boomers also face growing ageism. Make a few clicks with your mouse and you’ll find that Boomers are blamed for every negative thing that has happened, is happening, and will happen. We are admonished to retire to make room for younger workers even as we are chastised for sucking the country dry by collecting Social Security and Medicare while contributing nothing to society.
Boomers worked long and hard to rise to the top. Few just fell into positions of power and influence with wages to match the responsibilities. Most were loyal, stayed for years, worked it out, and worked their way up. Some got the big corner office. For others, the dream ended when the Great Recession forced many employers to shed costs by cutting high wage employees, many of them Boomers.
Today’s economic challenges come at a critical time as Boomers have watched their nest eggs erode twice in a decade. Some won’t have enough money to sustain themselves in retirement. Add in a job loss, stir in growing workplace ageism and you can see that many Boomers are in real trouble.
Many stare down the problem by starting a new business. New Boomer-owned and operated businesses sprout every day as our generation leads the way in new business creation. Some now have the time and the means to bring an idea or product to market or to act on their dream. Others do it to create their own job.
This may be the most challenging time of our working lives to start a new business. It has certainly been the most challenging in terms of unemployment. Before it is over, it is likely that many other Boomers will find they have no other choice than to become entrepreneurs too. Are you next? Will you decide to harness your dreams, to package your innovations, to draw upon your ingenuity, to create a job for yourself when others can’t or won’t?
All business owners have guts and in bad times, they have extra fears and worries. Boomers entrepreneurs face additional challenges because they have fewer years to achieve their goals and little opportunity to recover financially if they fail. That is why they need the support of other Boomers.
Imagine if hundreds, thousands, even millions of Baby Boomers actively seek out and support Boomer entrepreneurs. Boomer businesses will grow and create new jobs, helping to create financial stability. Financial stability fosters the comfort necessary to increase spending. Increased spending leads to more growth as the cycle continues and the economy, and the number of jobs, grows. By supporting Boomer Entrepreneurs with our vast Boomer bucks, the jobs we help create may someday be our own. And if we join the ranks of Boomer Entrepreneurs, we’ll know just how important that support will be.
About The Author…
Shelly Scriba writes for myboomer2boomer, a web-site dedicated to providing information and resources to Baby Boomers who want to support Boomer Entrepreneurs and other Boomer Friendly Businesses or who want to find Boomer Friendly Employers. Visit the site at www.myboomer2boomer.com .
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A lot of seniors realize that they can’t retire the way they had originally planned due to the economic situation. Many are proactive and find alternative ways to make extra money. A senior friend of mine recently had her home painted by a senior that offers seniors special rates. The local seniors center is happy to promote his services so everyone wins.
http://www.lifebydesignover50.com
I appreciate this article. We have had all sorts of feedback about unemployment rates for older people – like social security is enough to retire on! Plannig is better but obviously, nobody anticipated the great recession – so the important thing is to focus on the present!
There is such a huge group of knowledgeable and talented people in our age group. And also SO many people struggling to get things done that they don’t know how to do easily or efficiently. I envision a G2G (that’s Grownups to Grownups) Exchange where people share their knowledge with others.
Even simple things, like “cut and paste” on the computer are not known by all computer users.
If you have ideas of how to share the knowledge please share! My tools for helping spread this kind of knowledge are Twifties.TV where you could make an “educational” short video and I could post it under G2G. Or TwiftiesCalendar.com where you could post your educational course up nationally.
Let’s share what works! Please contact me!
Btw “Over50website” is a great idea!
Lauren
founder of Twifties, the FUN people over 50
I think that “ageism” is real. On the other hand, I see so many boomers mired down in an “employee”mentality that is counter-productive in their current situation.