WorldWide Drilling Resource

63 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® FEBRUARY 2016 Tips for Baby Boomers Still on the Job Adapted from Information by News and Experts Baby Boomers may recall one of the poets they grew up reading, Dylan Thomas, and his most famous poem, named for its first line, “Do not go gentle into that good night,” a desperate appeal to resist the trappings of old age. “As they retire, baby boomers need to stay true to their reputation for grand statements, and to mobilize their skill set in the business world,” said media expert Steve Kayser, author of The Greatest Words You’ve Never Heard. “In fact, many older Americans may have little choice but to adapt their mind-set and survive longer in their careers if they want to maintain something resembling their current lifestyle during retirement.” Kayser lists a few trends which may be incentives for aging workers to clock in for a few more years: e The number of Americans 55 and older will almost double by 2030 - from 60 million to 107.6 million, according to the United States Census Bureau. This will likely strain public safety nets such as Social Security and Medicare. e American life expectancy is at an all-time high, while death rates are at an all-time low, which means some people will outlive their retirement savings. e The global economic crisis wiped out, or severely affected millions of middle- and senior-aged people’s life savings. With an increasingly competitive pool of professionals whose skill sets need to be regularly updated, how can boomers stay in the game? The answer lies in learning, unlearning, and relearning. The ever-shifting sands of technology pose a unique challenge to older workers. Younger professionals not only grew up working and entertaining themselves with screens, they also learned to adapt to technological leaps. A program you learn today may not be relevant in a few years, so keep an open and flexible mind. Answer the question, “What strikes a chord with you?” This is a deceptively deep question when you apply it to your life’s path. If life hasn’t turned out as you expected it would 30 years ago, then it’s time to readjust the way you see yourself, especially if that’s as a perpetual preretiree. If you’re not sure of how you see yourself in today’s setting, start with what spiritual writer Joseph Campbell called the “moving power of your life,” which can be sensed through things that resonate within you. Something that strikes a cord inside you, such as an unusual book, may just be the compass you need to find your way. Finally, be RELEVANT - this acronym encompasses the ideas of promoting a proactive life: R isk E xperiment L isten and learn E ngage V alue A ttitude of gratitude N o to negativity T ime “This is an ongoing, evolving note to keep in your mind no matter your professional situation,” Kayser said. “I’ve been around a lot of charismatic and effervescent folks in their 70s and 80s who are still successful and growing, both on a personal and business level.” 0 $75,; 3'& %,76 'RLQJ EXVLQHVV IRU RYHU \HDUV ‡ 3'& %LWV FXVWRPL]DEOH WR DQ\ VL]H DQG DSSOLFDWLRQ DW DQ DIIRUGDEOH SULFH ‡ 3'& %LW 5HSDLU ‡ &XVWRP %LWV ‡ 7ULFRQHV ‡ +ROH 2SHQHUV ‡ 'ULOO 3LSH ‡ 6XEV ‡ 6WDELOL]HUV ‡ &ODZ %LWV ‡ 5HYHUVH &LUFXODWLRQ %LWV )RU ELW GHVLJQ DQG ELW SURJUDP FRQVXOWDWLRQ FDOO RU YLVLW XV RQOLQH DW ZZZ PRDEELW FRP : 1 ‡ 3 2 %R[ 0RDE 87 ‡ )D[ 0 2$% % ,7 7 22/ & 2 , 1&