Unretirement Project – Retirement Redefined

A Career Coach Can Help You Find Your Encore Career

September 20, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

One of the great things about unretirement is that you don’t have to go it alone. For example, there are dozens of retirement-related blogs that you can read for inspiration and information. There are also professionals who can help you.

Let’s say you’re considering an encore career in your unretirement but aren’t sure yet what you’d like to do. Do you want to be a consultant? A writer? Or maybe just take a part-time job as a barista at Starbucks? All of those options are possible. But realistically, the decision could be tough. If you’d like help making decisions about your encore career, consider getting a career coach.

To understand more about what career coaches do, I reached out to Hannah Morgan (aka Career Sherpa). She is a nationally recognized career coach and author of the book, “The Infographic Resume”. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Hannah over at HR Bartender. Her suggestions on “What to do if You’re Stuck in a Dead-End Job” are worth a read.

Hannah, first of all, briefly describe what a career coach does? I could see someone saying “I’m already employed. What do I need a career coach for?”

[Morgan] There are times in your life when need expert advice. Let’s say you wanted recommendations on what to do with your financial investments. Would you get advice from a friend or would you consult with a financial planner? You might do both, but you would probably rely on the recommendations of someone who manages investments for a living. This is why tapping into the expertise of a career coach is so valuable.

A career coach is someone who has expertise in helping people evaluate career options, not just find jobs. A career coach regularly consults with clients on career decision making issues from identifying the right opportunities to planning future career moves. A coach can help you see alternatives and is qualified to help map out a solution that’s right for you.

Many workers are considering a new second career (also known as an encore career) as they get older. How should a person decide if an encore career is for them?

[Morgan] When deciding what you will do for your encore career, there are many things to consider:

What are you interested in (or passionate about)?
What skills do you enjoy using?
What is the market demand for those skills?
How much do you want to work? And,
What are your income requirements?

For the first time in your life, you have the opportunity to choose a career move that will serve your wants and needs. As you can see, identifying what you may want to do as an encore career is a complicated decision and one you will need assistance evaluating.

Is it better to have an encore career in a field related to your current profession? Why or why not?

[Morgan] If you loved the work you did in your last role and love the industry, then it would make sense to stay within it, perhaps as a consultant or working as an advisor. However, if you are no longer excited by the type of work you are doing, you may want to tap into your outside interests for ideas which would provide options for an encore career.

Sometimes collecting a big fat paycheck isn’t the main driver- people may just want something to keep busy. Taking a retail job, seasonal work or even tapping into the sharing economy, with Airbnb, Uber or Lyft provide social and mental stimulation.

Whatever direction you go in, you should be interested and engaged in the work. Breaking into an encore career may require assistance to help you define what is most important to you during this point in your career and can take effort. A career coach can help you identify opportunities that meet your needs.

I assume pursuing an encore career takes time. How long should people expect to prepare for an encore career?

[Morgan] Finding encore opportunities is going to be challenging. You may have to invent the position or start your own business in order to get what you are looking for. This will take time. How much time will depend on factors like the viability of your idea, your messaging and announcement, and the strength of your network.

Before you do anything, you also want to speak with your accountant and financial advisor about social security regulations and access to investments in your 401(k) or pension. You don’t want to be penalized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for making too much or early withdrawal of funds.

Is applying for an encore career job the same as applying for a regular, full-time job now? How should a candidate explain they are transitioning to their encore career?

[Morgan] You can’t go to Indeed or any job board and find a listing of encore careers. Well, not at this time. Your encore career may be an existing role within an organization. You might be able to slip into an existing role if you have the right connections. But a question that any interviewer wants to know is whether or not you’ll stick around for a couple of years. It is your responsibility to anticipate this question and proactively address why you are looking for an encore career.

Your explanation should include your motivation or why you want to make the transition into a new role at this point in your career. You also need to convince the interviewer that you are dedicated to this new career path, so explain why you are pursuing that company and that type of job.

A HUGE thanks to Hannah for sharing her expertise. If you want to learn more, follow Hannah on Twitter and read her blog.

Encore careers can be an exciting and fulfilling part of unretirement. But deciding what your encore career will be could take some time. And some planning. Using a career coach could help you focus on your goals so you make the right decision.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby somewhere in her South Florida offices.

5 Lessons Learned from Adult Coloring Books

September 13, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby 2 Comments

I’ve noticed a few themes emerging in the personal development space that center around the need for individuals to find ways to decompress, de-stress, and detox from their digital lives. One of the ideas I heard was adult coloring books. Now before you laugh, check out these articles on CNN, Huffington Post, the NY Post and the LA Times about the popularity of adult coloring. This isn’t a fad that’s going away.

So, a couple of years ago, when Free Period Press offered to send me a coloring book, I jumped at the chance to see firsthand what coloring would bring. Lora DiFranco, one of the founders, said they created the coloring book as a result of “not being very crafty” but wanting to spend time away from computer screens and feel creative. After successfully funding a Kickstarter campaign, she heard from people that, in addition to using them at home, they were using the books during breaks at work.

I keep a coloring book on the edge of my desk and, and when I needed a break or a little distraction, I color. Here’s what I learned from the experience:

Old skool isn’t bad. Just because something is old, vintage or retro doesn’t make it bad. Frank Sinatra, Manhattans, and adult coloring books are evidence of this. Conversely, there are some things that are better left in history. It’s about putting things into proper context. It’s okay to revisit pieces of our childhood. And if you prefer digital, there are plenty of coloring apps – my favorite is Recolor – that you can use on your mobile devices.

To be successful, you must have the proper tools. In the case of coloring books, you need proper lighting and some good colored pencils. I honestly didn’t think I would enjoy coloring as much as I am. I initially thought this would be a passing fancy, so I only purchased a dozen colored pencils. Since then, I’ve upgraded to the 24-count package. You can do whatever you choose. The point is, to really get the benefit from anything, you need to have the proper tools.

Give creativity time. I work on pages for days, sometimes even weeks. Every time I look at a page, I see something different or I get a new inspiration. It’s coloring and I’m not under a deadline, so enjoy taking my time.

Having a low-tech or no-tech activity is a healthy break from the computer screen. There are medical studies that say staring at a computer screen all day isn’t good for our eyes. And looking at our tablets right before bed isn’t good for our sleep. Coloring can get us away from our technology. It’s nice to end the day with 5-10 minutes of coloring.

Beware! Coloring is just as addictive as chocolate and computer games. I really enjoy coloring and have found it to be a fun activity. Since my first coloring book, I’ve funded a Kickstarter campaign in my area who created a coloring book showcasing local artists.

My only question was what do I do with the finished colored pieces? Is the activity sufficient by itself? When we were kids, our finished coloring went on the refrigerator. I guess you could still do that. But, Lora suggested turning your works of art into cards for family and friends. Just cut them into the shape and size you want and glue them to thicker cardstock. I’ve also used my digital coloring pieces as screensavers for my mobile devices.

If you haven’t tried coloring books, and are looking for something different, give it a try. You might be surprised. It takes very little time and money to get started and coloring can offer a lot in terms of creativity as well as relaxation.

Successful Retirement Takes a Partnership Between Organizations and Employees

September 6, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

When Keith and I started this blog, we assumed it would focus on the things people do when they retire. You know, like traveling and volunteering. However, we’re finding that what people really want to hear is about how to prepare for retirement…specifically from a careers perspective. Yes, people know they need to save money. But how do they tell their boss that they want to transition to part-time before retirement?

The key to a successful retirement…or unretirement…is learning how to partner to create a win-win. Not only employees, but organizations. Here are a few articles to get the conversation started.

There Is No Such Thing as a Traditional Retirement

There are many ways to fill your retirement life. With such variety, traditional retirement becomes history. The future is unretirement and it features the Gig Economy.

Organizations Aren’t Prepared for the Aging Workforce

Are businesses ready for the aging workforce? Not yet. But they will have to engage freelancers to get stuff done in the Gig Economy. Enter the concept of unretirement.

6 Reasons You Should Embrace #Unretirement

Regardless of age, at some point, we all probably enter a post-work phase of life. That requires planning and understanding. It’s time to start thinking and planning for your unretirement.

Why Unretirement and Why It’s Important

We remember what retirement used to look like. But those days are gone. We need to retire on our own terms. Unretirement can help us have a modern retirement.

Retirement Plans Are an Essential Part of Employee Well-being

High employee engagement hinges on well-being. Dean Aloise from Conduent HR Services says retirement plans are crucial to employee well-being.

You might be saying, “I’ve got a long way to go before I retire.” And that could be true. Planning for your retirement unretirement takes time. Think of it like networking. The last thing you want is to need a network and not have one. You can’t build a network overnight. It takes lots of small steps.

Planning for your unretirement is the same. Unless you win the Lottery, it takes years of small steps. Start now to build the future.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA

What We’re UP To – August 2017

August 30, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Watching | Solar Eclipse

> Did you see it?! Keith and I were out there in the middle of August with our NASA approved eclipse shades on. South Florida didn’t have a total blackout, but it was still amazing. I saw a headline that the solar eclipse cost the U.S. $700M in lost productivity. But with the next one quite a few years away…hopefully people took a few moments to enjoy.

Reading | WTFJHT

> It’s an acronym for “What the F*** Just Happened Today”. Matt Kiser started an electronic newsletter about the shock and awe of today’s politics. It’s become very successful and turned into a full-time occupation for him. It can be a daunting task to sift through today’s news. Matt does a great job of curating the headlines.

Working On | Cleaning Out Old Photos

> Both hard copy and digital images. First, I plan to review all my digital images and get rid of the slightly blurry and crooked ones that we’re never going to show anyone. Then, my next goal will be to decide what hard copy images should be transferred to digital. If you know of a great company for converting photos to digital, leave a note in the comments!

Feeling | Ready

> I’ve just spent a couple of days working on air travel, hotel reservations, and shuttle trips. Fall conference season is coming. It will be fun. I always learn a lot. (And getting to see the autumn foliage is fabulous!)

Planning | Specifically, Estate Planning

> We already have wills, etc. But I’ve seen quite a few articles recently about the importance of estate planning. One of them was Next Avenue’s “The Biggest Estate Planning Mistake People Make”. It’s made us realize that regularly reviewing our existing plans is important. Estate planning isn’t a one and done activity.

Loving | Cold-Brew Coffee

> I gave up drinking coffee in the morning a few years ago. Coffee decided it just didn’t like me anymore. But this August I’ve tried a couple of Starbuck’s new cold-brew coffees and really like them. So much so, that we’re attempting to make our own cold-brew at home.

Geeking | New iMac Computer

> I finally made the switch. I love my iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. But I’ve been a holdout when it comes to my desktop computer. No more. I’ve converted to an iMac. It does take a little getting used to, but I’m getting the hang of it. Once my file conversion is complete, Keith says he’s going to be next. Wish us luck!

What’s UP with you?

8 Ways to Become a Lifelong Learner

August 23, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

As part of your unretirement, you might want to add some new skills. Learning is important. We must continuously learn to remain healthy and relevant.

I believe the term lifelong learner may have become a little stale. Some people have renamed it “self-learning”. Regardless of your age and what you call it, the concept is important. Becoming a lifelong learner takes planning and discipline. I tend to think of it as a practice, similar to mindfulness or an exercise program like Pilates. It’s something I’m constantly working on and getting a little better every day. If you’re looking for ways to create a personal learning practice, here are 8 things to consider:

Admit how you like to learn. There are three primary ways people learn something – auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. It’s important to know your preferred learning style. And that your style might be different at times. For example, when it comes to cooking, I’m a hands-on learner. But if it’s a theory, I prefer auditory or visual.

Realize there’s a difference between what you want to learn and what you need to learn. Just because you’re thinking about retirement doesn’t mean there aren’t things you need to learn. You might want to learn a software program so you can do your own taxes. Or a second language so you can spend part of the year in another country. There may be lots of things we want to know, but what are the new knowledge and skills that will help us accomplish our goals.

Create a learning bucket list. Speaking of wants and needs, find a process that you’re comfortable with for prioritizing learning. Even when you have all the time in the world, you don’t want to take on too many things at once. It will ultimately impact the thing you’re learning at the moment. Create your own list of skills that you want to learn.

Look for learning buddies. IMHO, over half of learning is enjoying the experience. There’s no rule that says self-learning must be done alone. Lifelong learners might find an occasional group meeting to share stories is helpful and valuable to the process. Find a club or a group that will support your learning goals.

Discover new and fun ways to learn things. Today’s technology allows us to learn in ways we could have never imagined. I just discovered that, if I wanted to take a cooking class with famous “shouty” Chef Gordon Ramsay, I can. Or I can learn how to code using Apple’s Swift Playgrounds app. Learning doesn’t have to be boring.

Connect with good sources for learning opportunities. The second thing that technology brings to the learning space is new sources. The good news is there are lots of smart, talented people we can learn from. The hard part is sifting through all of the noise to find them. Maybe our learning buddies (#4) can help.

Schedule time for learning. Block off time on your calendar for learning. Even when you don’t have a formal work schedule. I do not have to tell anyone what will happen if you postpone learning to when you have nothing else to do. Make learning a priority and it will happen. So, schedule an appointment with yourself to learn. You deserve it.

Regularly reflect on your takeaways. Learning should have a purpose. When you decided that you wanted to learn something, there was a reason. Reflect on your learning experience. Ask yourself, “Am I getting out of the learning experience what I hoped?” And if necessary, make adjustments.

Your age has nothing to do with being a lifelong learner. We will never know it all. The best way to manage learning is by developing a personal process of learning because you’re going to be doing it for a long time.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the 34th Street Graffiti Wall in Gainesville, FL

5 Things to Take With You on Your Next Cruise

August 16, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Keith and I like cruising. One of the reasons we enjoy cruising is the ability to disconnect. While cruise ships do offer WiFi, it’s not the same and cruising gives us the opportunity to really put technology away.

I ran across this post titled “9 Cruise Packing List Omissions that Can Completely Ruin Your Trip”. It’s a good read and offers some items you definitely want to pack – like medication, sunscreen, and your passport. But I wanted to add a few things to the list because packing for a cruise can be a little different.

A couple of months before your cruise, check out the cruise line’s website and see if there are activities and amenities you can book in advance. Cruise lines have become very sophisticated and you can make spa and dinner reservations, book shore excursions, and even buy internet minutes. Years ago, Keith and I would get on the ship and have to run around to make all these arrangements. Now, we can embark and just focus on relaxing. Also, see if your cruise line has an app. For instance, Norwegian Cruise Line offers passengers an app, which has restaurant menus and account review.

Also, check the loyalty programs for your cruise line. There are many little perks to being a frequent cruise traveler – like internet minutes, special cocktail receptions, and laundry services. Know what your loyalty program level gets you. Don’t pay for something you can get for free.

Here are five things to take with you on your next cruise:

Something to carry your keycard. Remember cruising is a cashless environment. Your keycard gets you on/off the ship and it’s your method of payment. So guys might want something to keep their keycard in. I always bring a wristlet or crossbody bag with me. It’s small and I can carry a few items, including my keycard.

A small carryon bag. As much as the cruise line wants to get everyone their luggage on embarkation day before dinner, that doesn’t always happen. So we try to cut the cruise line some slack and walk onboard with enough to get us through dinner. By then, our luggage has arrived. It also works for disembarkation.

A good book. Waiting for trivia or bingo to start? Read a good book. Sitting on deck early in the morning as the ship is going into port? Read a good book. Of course, you’ll want something to read as you’re soaking up the rays. (If you’re into that sort of thing.)

An insulated travel mug. I carry a Yeti with me everywhere I go. I love a nice big cuppa tea in the morning. And I want it to stay hot. Instead of complaining about coffee cups on the ship, I bring my own. Then in the afternoon, I can fill it with cold water and it says cold. Best thing ever.

The Mobile Passport app. If you cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, the Mobile Passport app (FREE on iTunes and Android) will speed your trip through U.S. Customs dramatically. Set the app up with your passport info before you leave and, when you’re ready to disembark, just fill out your declaration in the app.

Cruising is a very relaxing way to travel. But it does take a little preparation. So, we don’t have to make any big decisions during our vacation. Well, except whether to have red or white wine with dinner…

Image captured by Keith Lauby somewhere off the coast of St. Thomas, USVI

The One Key to Successful Blogging

August 9, 2017 by Keith Lauby Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago, Sharlyn wrote a post about blogging as part of your overall unretirement strategy. I thought I would add my suggestions about what blogging can (and can’t) do – with a focus on growing your audience.

There are many different reasons to blog. But, if you ask just about any blogger, they do it because they have something to say. Don’t assume, however, that having something to say is the goal of the blog. That may, or may not be the case. Some people blog just for fun. Or maybe they want to make people aware of something they enjoy or believe in.

People also blog for profit.

Regardless of the goal for a blog, the typical measure of successful blogging lies in its audience. Whether it’s quality in terms of loyalty or engagement or just a large quantity of readers, your audience is often what makes or breaks your blog. And the one key to building an audience for your blog is marketing.

No, you don’t need an MBA from Wharton to market your blog. If you’re just starting out, you should focus on two important things:

Letting people know about your posts. Trust me when I say that “Build it and they will come” only works in Kevin Costner movies. After you write a post, you need to tell people there’s some new content to read. Social media is a great place to start, so fire off a quick note on Facebook or Twitter. Some readers will want to get your posts emailed to them so they can read it when it’s convenient. Giving them a place to sign up to receive emailed posts is an important part of blog marketing. Be sure to put it in a highly visible part of your blog.

Learning as much as you can about your audience. Successful blogging means giving your readers what they want to read. Makes sense, right? Initially, you attract an audience because they generally enjoy what you have to say. Now the goal is to get more. Any marketer will tell you, that means finding out what you’re doing well, and doing more of it. Google Analytics is a great place to start. Just a few of the basics at first – how many visitors, where do they live, popular pages and posts, and how do they access your blog.

Blogging and unretirement can be a dynamic combination. Successful blogging can give you the freedom to enjoy all aspects of your unretirement. That’s why we will talk about it a lot here. All it takes is a little creativity, some basic marketing know-how, and a lot of patience.

Out of curiosity, what do you find are the easiest (or most challenging) aspects to marketing your blog?

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby after attending the Great Place to Work Conference in Austin, TX