Fighting Ageism

Posted on September 2, 2008 by maryalison

Ageism occurs in many different forms.  We brainstormed and came up with the following examples:

 

  • Black balloon parties
  • “You don’t look 40” (or any other age)
  • Doctors not taking older patients
  • Terms like “elderly,” “aged,” and “greedy geezers”
  • Limited positive roles in TV and movies for older people
  • People in their 20s being told they are too young to work with seniors
  • The assumption that young people are computer whizzes and older people are computer-phobic
  • Cosmetics focused on anti-aging
  • The notion that mental ability declines with aging
  • Old people are bored (not to mention boring)
  • Lower ticket costs for older adults at the movies

If you have other examples, please share them with us by posting a comment.

 The EEOC receives 16,000 age-discrimination claims each year.  In corporate America, ageism can also take the form of:

 

  • Underutilization of older or younger workers
  • Not providing older workers training and development
  • No longer promoting or selecting older workers for opportunities
  • Providing internships for younger workers only
  • Downsizing high earners regardless of performance
  • Hiring younger workers at less than market pay
  • Freezing salaries for older workers

If you have other examples, please add them to the list by posting a comment.  The more we are aware of ageism, the more prepared we can be to combat it.

 As a related resource, check out our September newsletter that looks at the cultural stereotypes that are visible in advertising and the effect that negative ads have on the older adult.  Also view the factual evidence that dispels the perception that mature workers lose value over time in the workplace.

Filed under: Resilience, Workforce Transitions Issues and Solutions | Tagged: , | No Comments »

Olympic Obsession

Posted on August 25, 2008 by maltmix

 Posted by Margy:

 You can find me every evening watching the youth of the world twisting, jumping, running, diving, digging, hitting, rowing, spiking, leaping and bouncing as they compete in Beijing to wear the gold medal. Before the Olympics started, I didn’t plan on watching at all, but I’ve found myself immersed in the drama and stories. Mostly, however, I’m caught up in watching the amazing feats that these athletes perform.

 Before these games I thought beach volleyball was a game for people who didn’t have jobs and were waiting for the waves to get better.  I now know that these players have to work so hard to compete that beach volleyball has become their job, and they don’t have time for surfing. Over the countless practice hours they’ve become like husband and wife—so aware of each other, able to predict what move their partner will make, and ready for their own opportunity to finish the volley.  Some of the teams even have “spousal spats” when the volley does not go their way.

 I have been intrigued with water polo.  I don’t really understand the game, but I’m amazed that these swimmers’ feet never touch the ground for the entire game, even when they’re in the penalty box. What core strength they must have!

 As a young woman I did everything I could to avoid gym class. That wasn’t difficult because it was far more important then for girls to learn to cook, sew and attract a date for prom than it was to swim, run or throw a ball.  In fact, if you were athletic you better not ever let a guy know you were better than him or you would be staying home prom night.  So watching the men and especially the women perform at the Olympics makes me wish I would have not avoided gym but challenged my body to be the athlete that I could have been.

 I can still be the athlete I can be at this age, so it’s time to get off the couch, get out and move.

Filed under: Health, My Plan After 50 Musings | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Coaching and Courage

Posted on August 19, 2008 by bkoran

posted by Rick

 Coaching is about change and more importantly about courage. I have noticed that most of the clients I coach don’t see themselves as courageous or understand what courage really means. When I talk about courage with individuals pursuing change through the coaching process, I stress the following: 

  • Courage is not defined as a lack of fear 
  • Courage means doing something in spite of your fear 
  • It is not courageous to do something that we are not afraid of doing. If we are afraid and still do it we are doing the hero’s task.

Author Susan McMahon in her book: The “Portable Therapist” makes the point that: “Being afraid is being human. Your fear is your feeling; your behavior determines your character”. Courage and change go hand in hand. Individuals facing change, even good change, are naturally, at times, afraid. What is critical to the individual pursuing any goal is to realize that your fear is your feeling; your behavior around your fear determines your character. Many times individuals pursuing change through coaching do not acknowledge or even realize their courageousness. It is one of the tasks of coaching to open client’s eyes to their courageousness. Individuals at times get stuck by the fact that they have feelings of fear or trepidation and equate this with weakness or powerlessness. The meditation I have above my desk from the aforementioned book by Susan McMahan states in part that: “Being afraid of being afraid can produce the exact outcome that one was trying to avoid in the beginning. The more we do when we are afraid the less fear we have. Acknowledge you fear, accept it without criticism, be gentle with yourself because you are afraid, and then do what you have to do anyway.” Know that going through the fear is the true act of courage the way of the hero.”

Filed under: My Plan After 50 Musings, Resilience | Tagged: , | No Comments »

Those who Can…Need to Keep Doing

Posted on August 11, 2008 by kjenwws

It’s monsoon season in Iowa.  If you don’t know where Iowa is, this will confuse you even more since we remain in the heart of the U.S.  For Iowans, it has been the year of the natural disaster including tornados, explosions and fires from lightening strikes and flash and not-so-floods.  I wish I could say this was happening just in Iowa but I can’t.  While the Midwest is making Costner’s Waterworld a reality, California is the embodiment of Firestorm (think Howie Long as a forest fire fighter); Arkansas and Tennessee experienced Twister and Texas just opened a very Mean Season.  Tired of environmental issues?  Then look to the global economy, housing, energy, the pandemic threat and other healthcare issues or the pounding we take each day from marketers.  Like many who approach Baby Boomers even The Dark Knight  is only coming for our money.

 If you thought you knew where I was going, get ready ‘cuz I’m not going there.  I’m actually feeling hopeful.  Surprised?  Despite all we face, my hope is cautiously rising as I watch people take care of and act for other people and for ourselves.  Perhaps our years of waiting for a “government” that never came or from being thoroughly disappointed when they did show up has forced us to resurrect our once-admired American can-do spirit. 

 Do I hope that this resurgence of volunteerism and social activism is being lead by Baby Boomers coming out of their stupor of stuff?  I certainly do but regardless of who may be leading the charge, I watch a gen-mix step up more and more with each event.  Executives are stepping out of Corporate America to volunteer their expertise in non-profits and think tanks.  Ex-politicians and oil barons are proposing energy solutions.  All of us are finding alternatives to cut our expenses and save for retirement.  More importantly, we’re re-finding our courage to make our thoughts known, especially thrilling in an age where expressing a difference of opinion is labeled as unpatriotic. 

 Perhaps we finally realize that no one is coming to save us and to our credit, we may actually be looking to save ourselves.  Today, Boomers have added education and experience to our sheer numbers, an exciting combination to influence outcomes across the world.  My sense of empowerment grows each day and I hear in my head Network’s newsroom anchor yell “I’m mad as #@*% and I’m not going to take it anymore.” 

 Check out our article, Volunteerism and get started doing what you can today.

Filed under: Perspectives and Trends | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Family Matters - You Turned Out Just Like Me

Posted on August 4, 2008 by maryalison

By Dennis

“Let me tell you where I’m at in life”. This was the opening comments from Bill who is ready to make important decisions in his life. After completing the initial survey, he decided that Family was one of the Eight Essential Elements in which to begin work.

 Bill stated he has been reflecting on his life and also stated that a particular song he grew up with has just recently impacted him all over again. Like many boomers, Bill both enjoyed music and identified with many of the lyrics.

 It was December 1974, Bill was in the middle of work, family and marriage. At the same time Billboard Chart topping song was “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin.

Cat’s In The Cradle

 “The song could have been written for me”, Bill exclaimed. He went on, “did you know that Harry was inspired to write this song from a poem that his wife Sandy wrote? Harry wrote this song when he became upset with himself for missing his own son’s birth while on tour. It’s a song that was written out of the heart of a man in touch with his own weaknesses and an awareness of how easy it is to go through life and miss the really important things”

 “I wish I had spent more time with my family, I can’t turn back the clock but I want to make changes from here on out”, Bill said firmly.

 “I heard a minister talk about the Tireless Thirties, The Fiery Forties, Fabulous Fifties, Serene Sixties and I thought that’s me, I was all about the tireless, fiery side of life!”, Bill mused.

 “I told my family I was doing it for them. I’m putting in the 60 or more hours a week to provide for you. I know I missed a lot of the sports and school activities, but after all it’s quality time, not quantity, right?” Bill decided it is about both!

 “I may not be in the sunset years of my life, but I’m aware that it’s on the horizon and I’d like to have those people that are the most important to me, here to share the view.”

 Action oriented questions we developed for Bill to work with are as follows:

  • What do I want my primary relationship to look like when we have more time with each other?
  • What must I do to mend relationships with those I have neglected?
  • How can I strengthen the relationships with those on my inner most circle?
  • How close do I want to live to my children, grandchildren? Bill first wrote out his response to each of the above questions. While it was not easy, it was very meaningful and gave Bill new insight for the next part of his action plan. He decided that he would immediately initiate communication with several people on his “needs improvement list”, and if the person was not receptive now find a way to leave the communication door open.

Filed under: Family, My Plan After 50 Musings | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

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