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Articles by Mary Lloyd
If you've decided you don't have the funds to be able to retire, you're in good company. Many of the richest people in the world--Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates--are still working. What do they know that we need to learn?
The Biggest Challenge Of Going Back To Work
The hardest thing about going back to work once you've retired is staying committed to the idea. There are more options than when you were young--work, consult, or tighten your belt instead, for example. The first strong step toward getting on with getting back in the workforce is being sure that's what you want to do and then ignoring the other options.
The Power Of Negative Thinking
We all know we should "think positive." That's easier said than done with so many messages about what to worry about, avoid, or be afraid of. There are some powerful consequences to all that negative thinking. Here are some tips on how to stay on the plus side instead.
The Shape Of Work -- Does It HAVE To Be 40 Hours And 9 To 5?
Is getting the work done within traditional work hours and at a company location really all that effective? Much of what we now do as work can be accomplished anywhere and at any time of the day using electronic access. Perhaps it's time to rethink how to get it done.
Making A Choice About Choosing
When you make choices on purpose, the results are far more satisfying—even if what you choose is what you were already doing. Here are the key steps to deciding well.
Family Time When You're Retired And The Family Isn't
A big expectation of retirement is that you will be able to spend more time with family. But what if "family" doesn't have any more time than they are already spending with you? Or wants you take on responsibilities that you don't want?
To thrive, businesses need to pay attention to how young employees relate to older customers. Those past 50 have the money to buy, but they value how they are treated in the transaction more heavily and are willing to not buy at all if the experience isn't positive. Given the culture's ageist assumptions, they are often treated poorly by default.
Creating The Characters For Your Everyday Dramas
We want to believe all those awful emotional things that happen are someone else's fault. But most what makes us miserable is stuff we are telling ourselves. And we have all the power we need to change that.
Grandma Geek - Learning To Love Tech After 50
Many over 50 can choose whether they want to become computer savvy. But information is moving toward electronic access and not knowing how to "go online" will become a bigger and bigger disadvantage. Even more important, continuing to learn keeps you vibrant. Get on with it!
What To Do If You're Retired And Don't Like Not Working
Much as the idea of not working is the brass ring for those still holding full time jobs, it's not the delight we all expect for many once they actually retire. If that's the case for you or a loved one, here are some things to do—and not do.
Pain is one of the best tools ever for getting us to stop what we are doing, change direction, or otherwise modify current behavior for the better. Instead of telling yourself, "I should not be feeling this pain" look for what it's trying to help you do.
Keeping Your Job--4 Good Things To Do
You can do a lot to insure that you have a job. Start by finding the things you like about what you are doing—even if it's a job you don't really like —and appreciating them. Then do all you can to get really good at it and become the person everyone wants on the team. It's easier than you might think if you decide you want to do it.
The attitude you use to plan and enter retirement makes a huge difference in the quality of your life when you get that far. Assuming you "can't" and letting yourself become invisible will give you a boring gray life. Addressing what you believe in and taking action that brings you joy and keeps you engaged will make retirement sparkle like silver.
How Much Experience Are You Throwing Away?
If you just keep your experienced workers doing the same thing they've been doing, you're wasting the talent and knowledge base they've been developing over those years—and taking a risk they will end up using it for someone else, either now or when they retire. Use them--to train the next generation, to solve the tough problems, to add perspective to development teams.
Becoming Wise Is Worth Getting Older
Getting older can mean getting wiser—at least if we choose to accept both. Wisdom is one of the best perks in life but the only way to acquire it is by being around for a while and paying attention to what's going on around you. We need to start savoring that.
The Psychology Of Passive Income
Relying on passive income is comfortable when the economy is running smoothly. But when things get bumpy, what can you do to keep your attitude calm and your outlook positive? Downturns are part of every cycle and we need to learn to cope with them. here are some ideas for doing that.
Top 10 Reasons To Ditch Ageist Assumptions
Ageism is a bad idea for a lot of reasons and many of them have nothing to do with "the right thing." To be effective in a knowledge-based economy, we need to mesh new thinking with experience and with the wisdom that only comes with age.
Just trudging along in a job you hate is the worst thing you can do for yourself and those around you. Finding the work you love and getting into it with the passion that's uniquely yours will have you enjoying every day instead of just your time off.
Computers are scary for those of us who didn't grow up taking them apart to see what's inside. When they quit working, we want someone to fix them instantly. But computer technology is a trial and error effort. Even if you know a ton, figuring out what's wrong is a matter of trying things to see what helps—and what doesn't. So learn to do that yourself with your own computer before you look for superhero help.
Laugh When It Hurts - Using Humor To Cope With The Downturn
Humor isn't just for those lighthearted times when things are going well. It's an essential part of a good tool box for coping with the difficulties life sometimes brings. As we face the hard times and bad news of this economic roller coaster ride, use humor to help keep yourself centered. That's best done by laughing AT yourself and WITH others. And include some silliness if you can.
Economic Downturn Strategies - Confirm What's Important
Hard times are the best times to take a long, sincere look at what you value and how you want to live. When things slow down because times are tough and the plans you made won't work anymore, the best benefit of all is the chance to make an honest assessment of what's really important toYOU so you can build your life from that foundation.
Use The Downturn To Experiment With Work Design
There's a lot to learn about innovative work design from what's going on now to cope with the sour economy. The reduced hours, furloughs, and temporary layoffs that are part of current company survival tactics also give us room to experiment with new approaches to work what can provide a competitive advantage once the economy improves.
How To Calculate Your Intangible Assets
"How to Calculate Your Intangible Assets" helps readers see the options for making a living that go beyond what they are doing now—or were doing. Using a seven-step process, readers can enumerate ALL their knowledge, skills, and abilities, not just what's been needed recently. Having options reduces stress. And the process sometimes takes a person in an exciting new direction, regardless of financial needs..
Retirement Travel And Relocations --Assess Your Geography
A lot of us dream of travel or moving to a different part of the country when we retire. That may be exactly what you need, but it's expensive, financially and emotionally. Knowing why you want to go is essential for it to be satisfying. Take some time to focus on what you hope to gain with the trip or the move. Here are some key questions to help you lay that out.
Veterans In The Talent War - Using Older Workers Well
Winning the war on talent is about more than attracting the brightest and best from the current crop of graduates. Companies who recognize the value of older workers and strategically utilize their skills, knowledge, and experience can gain a major advantage over the competition. And the opportunities for cost-saving work arrangements might be better than you think.
We Need A New Number For "Old"
We're shooting ourselves in the collective foot with how we define "old" in this culture. Assuming anyone over 50 is "old" is as ridiculous as assuming they're all acrobats with Barnum and Bailey. When we decide people who are still capable can't do the work because of their age, we lose access to an incredible amount of talent and experience. Even worse the practice costs each of us in terms of Social Security and Medicare needs.
Use The Downturn To Have An Honest Conversation
One of the best things to come out of an economic downturn is the time to talk—to your spouse about what both of you want for the future, to your adult kids about how they'd like you to fit in their lives, to your boss, coworkers and advisors about how you might shape your future work to more specifically match how you want to live. So while it's easier to find the time because things are slow, have some honest conversations.
Coping With The Economy - Take A Walk
Coping with the Economy -- Take a Walk lays out the multiple advantages of including walking as part of your overall strategy for getting through the current economic crisis and whatever might come next. Walking provides mental and emotional pluses as well as burning calories and increasing cardiovascular health. Plus it gives you a chance to do something where your progress is obvious and immediate.
Time To Rethink Work And Retirement?
The decision to continue working or retire has more options than we typically consider. When the economy gets scary, giving up work seems insane. But the chance to have all the fun retirement promises also has allure. Luckily, it doesn't have to be an either/or decision. You can add work to your retirement plans in ways that leave room for the rest. Using what you believe is important to choose the work you want to do is the key.
Remembering How to Jump Between Trains looks at the downside of having "plenty of time" to decide. Whether it's a layoff or retirement that slows your personal pace, it's important to practice jumping at new things rather than giving yourself copious amounts of time to decide every time. Otherwise, when opportunities you're yearning for come along, you may miss out because you didn't move fast enough,
5 Big Reasons NOT to Retire explains that retirement is not as good for you as the hype suggests. Your physical health, mental health, current job enjoyment, potential to find your dream job, and level of vulnerability are all improved by avoiding the leisure model of retirement. A better strategy is to find something you love and to do it for pay in a way that lets you enjoy your life now AND later.
Four Major Reasons To Hire Older Workers
Four Major Reasons to Hire Older Workers looks at the real benefits of what experienced workers bring to a job. Usually, you get more than you pay for. They have better work habits. They help you expand your demographic appeal, and connect you to a market that is grossly under-served--people over fifty. That age group has two-and-a-half times the discretionary buying power of the younger generations. Hiring them helps you sell to them.
How to Say "No" offers practical ideas on why, when, and how to say the most difficult word in the English language--"no." The article offers three rules: be honest, be authentic, and stay the course, and encourages the reader to assess whether "no" is the right answer early on and to look for the right reasons to say both "yes" and "no."
Pre-Retirement Financial Strategies -- Learn (or Relearn) To Cook
Cooking your own meals isn't usually high on the list of how to insure your financial future. But the cost savings might surprise you. Plus you get to learn (or relearn) something that gives you a practical way to be creative and to treat yourself well. Making a meal doesn't have to involve every pot in the kitchen. Buy what's in season and what's on sale. Plus then we you go out to eat, it's more of an event as well.
How To Live With The Downturn -- Assess Your Stuff
How to Live with the Downturn -- Assess Your Stuff looks at what to do with stuff you need to part with. It considers the options of selling it, donating it, recycling it, and just plain throwing it way and discusses when each is appropriate. Our pleasure in buying stuff makes our economy hum. But sometimes, you need to cull the herd and get back to keeping track only of what you really love and need.
How To Evaluate Your Consumption
How to Evaluate Your Consumption helps readers look at ways they are spending money that they're not even consciously enjoying. If you don't even notice you bought it, maybe you didn't need it in the first place. We need to keep buying the things we appreciate as long as we have the money to do so. But spending money without having it make a difference is a waste no matter what the economy is doing.