Unretirement Project – Retirement Redefined

Let’s Do Lunch with Meals on Wheels #SaveLunch

July 19, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

If you’re not aware, average life expectancy is 78.7 years.

While modern medicine has made great strides, getting older can often still involve some challenges. One of those challenges is being able to live independently, and everything that goes along with it. Like food shopping and cooking meals.

Did you know that 1 in 6 seniors struggles with hunger?

Most of us have heard of Meals on Wheels. It’s the oldest and largest national organizational supporting the more than 5,000 community-based nutrition programs addressing senior hunger and isolation. They work in virtually every community in America and, with the help of more than 2 million volunteers, deliver nutritious meals, friendly visits, and safety checks so America’s seniors can live with independence and dignity.

Did you know that, for the cost of one day in the hospital, Meals on Wheels is able to provide 1 YEAR of senior meals?

Currently, a significant portion of the Meals on Wheels budget is funded by The Older Americans Act (OAA). This piece of federal legislation has been in effect for 50 years. 8 out of 10 Meals on Wheels programs rely on this Federal funding to serve seniors. The rest comes from private donations.

Under the current administration, the Meals on Wheels budget is insecure. Which means that providing nourishment to seniors is in jeopardy. To help focus attention on their situation, they’ve started the Let’s Do Lunch campaign.

I’m not here today to tell you to give money to Meals on Wheels. But I believe this organization does deserve our attention. If you can give, please do and many thanks. Maybe you can spare an hour or two to become a volunteer. Write your legislators and let them know what you think about this. Blog or Facebook or Tweet your two-cents.

I ran across this quote from former U.S. Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey that seems so fitting for the situation we’re facing right now.

“It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

If we all do just a little, we can give Meals on Wheels a lot. Let’s do lunch with Meals on Wheels.

What Does Delaying Retirement Mean for You

July 12, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

My father-in-law retired at age 55. He then spent over 35 years enjoying his retirement life by playing golf, tending to his gladiolas, and eating pork chops with potato chips. He could do this because he planned and saved for retirement.

Today, many people won’t be able to enjoy the same kind of retirement my father-in-law had. In fact, I’m certain that I won’t have the same kind of retired life he did. For some, the Great Recession dwindled – or eliminated – retirement savings. And the current discussions about changes to Social Security and Medicare…well, are making folks nervous.

That’s why I was particularly interested when I ran across this report from The Conference Board titled “Delaying Retirement” [PDF]. While the report is a few years old, I don’t know that the dynamics have changed much. And the report does offer some perspective about the extent that the Great Recession impacted families and their post-work savings.

For example, the report says that households’ net worth dropped from $66 trillion during the peak of the recession in 2007 to $48.5 trillion in 2009. That’s a pretty big chunk of change. Which explains why parents moved in with their adult kids and started rethinking when and how they plan to retire.

From a work perspective, the decisions being made to delay retirement are giving companies a little bit of a reprieve. Several years ago, HR pros were all running around like Chicken Little talking about the Boomers retiring and the impending labor shortage. Now Boomers are delaying and redefining retirement. So, the sky isn’t falling…yet.

But make no mistake, all of the Boomers will retire at some point. Some are already retired and others are making plans right now. They’re figuring out what the new normal is for their retired life. They’re getting comfortable with the changes they need to make in both their personal and professional lives.

While I initially read The Conference Board report as a human resources professional with the need to develop a workforce plan, I’m now looking at this retirement data differently – from the perspective of a person considering retirement. What lessons can I learn? You can grab a copy of the report here [PDF]. It’s well worth your time to understand the retirement dynamic and how it will potentially impact you.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the Neon Sign Graveyard in Las Vegas, NV

The Business Case for Hiring Older Workers [infographic]

July 5, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

I’ve been to quite a few conferences lately and recruiting remains a top challenge for businesses. So, I think we’ve moved past the point where we need to convince people that recruiting is difficult. It seems to be a given that finding qualified talent is tough.

Organizations everywhere are looking for qualified workers.

If you’re not aware, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has partnered with AARP to help organizations understand the value of recruiting, engaging, and retaining older workers. At this year’s SHRM Talent Management Conference, we learned about a report titled “A Business Case for Workers Age 50+: A Look at the Value of Experience”. In addition to the report, AARP produced this infographic.

Let’s face it. We know that many older workers had to postpone retirement in the wake of the Great Recession. But as the economy gets stronger, and older workers are considering their options, not all workers are looking to retire. Many older workers have a passion for the job they do, like contributing to the organization, and enjoy the mental/physical challenge of work.

This is an opportunity for HR and hiring managers who are looking for talent.

But the reason I’m writing about it here on this blog is because it does involve open, honest communication from everyone. It’s true that organizations need to create cultures where having open dialogue about retirement is acceptable. Workers do not want to think that mentioning retirement means the clock is ticking on their departure.

Managers need training on how to discuss options with employees. They have the ability to redesign jobs. The only way they can do that is by 1) knowing an older worker is interested in a job redesign – maybe to part-time or flexible hours and 2) having enough time to work with HR and senior management to properly make the change.

Finally, workers have to communicate as well. If the company is willing to work with them, are there ways they can work with the company? Maybe in terms of assisting with job design, hours, pay, benefits, etc.

My point is this – companies want qualified workers. Workers age 50+ are qualified workers. Conversations need to happen and jobs revisited, but it can be done. It could be the best thing that ever happened for the business and employees. If you’re not thinking about what work might look like during your unretirement, now might be the time to start.

Bookmark This! #GigEconomy Opportunities Edition

June 28, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Opportunities multiply as they are seized. – Sun Tzu

If the gig economy had an official quote, this would probably be it. Think about it – the more gigs you work, the more people know about you and your work. Thus, your opportunities can multiply. And that brings us to another quote, this one by William Arthur Ward: Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.

The gig economy goes by many other names (agile economy, flexible economy, servant economy, optimized economy) and is defined as a labor market characterized by the prevalence of freelance work. There appears to be more gig opportunities available now than ever before. Since we don’t want to miss them, let’s take a look at a few great resources to help us get the most out of this growing trend.

Careercast has assembled a great list of freelance, contract and part-time jobs for 2017. The list crosses several industries and includes data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) such as projected growth and median salary. And, since they are a job board for temporary and part-time jobs, information regarding how to apply is also available.

Small Business Trends shared their list of “20 platforms that are growing the gig economy”. So, if you aren’t sure which direction to take your unretirement, consider a quick look at this list. Maybe being a Lyft driver isn’t your dream gig, but how about being an expert instructor? Or even a freelance chef? Yes, there are jobs in those areas and platforms dedicated to them.

Still not convinced gig work is for you? The BLS published an article that offers a quick but comprehensive look at the ideal occupations for gig employment, pros and cons of gig work, and different ways to get started. The article also includes a variety of census data on gig workers because, you know, that’s what the BLS is known for.

Finally, if you have the skills but don’t want to be tied to one of the specific platforms we’ve talked about here, consider hanging out your digital shingle. Workify offers what they call Hustleware – their “all-in-one platform for making a living online”. You can digitally set-up shop and market your services all in one place.

Whatever you choose to call it, we know the “agile economy”, isn’t for everyone. But we think it can be a great fit for those who want a little more freedom and income in their unretirement life. Knowledge can give us the tools we need to be successful part-time entrepreneurs.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby during an adventure of a lifetime at the Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport

Using Feng Shui to Plan Your Unretirment

June 21, 2017 by Keith Lauby 1 Comment

You may remember at the start of the century, the growing interest in the United States with the Chinese philosophical system of feng shui. If you’re unfamiliar with it, feng shui professes the importance of harmonizing everyone with their surrounding environment. Evidence of this ancient practice dates to 4000 B.C.

Like many westerners, Sharlyn and I were curious about feng shui so we purchased a few books and read some articles to learn a little more about it. Historically, feng shui practices have to do with orienting buildings and their structures, such as doors and windows, relative to local features such as bodies of water or stars. Please note that I in no way profess to be an expert in feng shui. The main thing that I took away from reading about it is that the practices are designed to make your life easier.

That’s what really caught my attention. More than 6000 years after the start of feng shui, Microsoft Founder Bill Gates was believed to have said:

“I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.” Had Bill known me at the time, he probably would have made me chairman of the board.

And this is where feng shui becomes important in unretirement. Chances are, you won’t wake up one morning and say “Today I will quit my full-time job and focus on my unretirement gig.” Instead, what most of us do is find some spare time to work on gigs on the side. No spare time? No gigs.

So find ways to create a little some spare time by making your life easier. One of Sharlyn’s favorite quotes is by celebrity chef Alton Brown, “Organization will set you free.” So get organized and harmonize yourself with your inbox, your desk, and your to-do list. Focus on the things you do repeatedly throughout the day and find ways to do them easier and faster. A few minutes here and there can really add up.

When planning for your unretirement, you don’t have to be a feng shui master to understand the value of a little harmony.

What We’re UP To: June 2017

June 14, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby 2 Comments

Watching | Twin Peaks

> It’s been 25 years, but the Twin Peaks revival has started. Before we start watching the new episodes, we decided to watch the original. I must say, the show has held up well over the years. You know, there are some shows that are 10, 20 years old and they look 10, 20 years old. Not the case with Twin Peaks.

Reading | Toxic Octopus

> I’m a big fan of comedy mystery books. Love Carl Hiaasen and Jana DeLeon. Now I can add Lisa Haneberg to my must-read list. Lisa and I worked on a management development book years ago and she’s branched out to fiction. “Toxic Octopus” is the second book in the series. You can download the first book, “Ghost Rat” for free.

Working On | BlogHer17

> We envision this blog to be different from HR Bartender. While we’ll talk a bit about careers and consulting, we want to also talk about travel, food, and life. Since this year’s BlogHer conference is in Orlando, we decided to go get some ideas and inspiration.

Feeling | Frustrated

> …with my computer equipment. It always seems like whenever I have a bunch of deadlines, my computer decides that the blue screen of death (BSOD) needs to show up. We’re wondering if it’s time to make the transition from PCs to Macs. If you have an opinion, please drop us your thoughts in the comments!

Planning | Menus!

> You guys know that I’m a planner. Spring human resources conference season is ending soon and I’m looking forward to some home cooking over the summer. One of our favorite things to make is pizza on the grill. We’ve been perfecting homemade pizza dough and fresh sauce. Delish!

Loving | Yeti

> I always carry a Yeti in my suitcase. It was wonderful to have it during our cruise to Cuba. When you’re used to having a nice big mug of tea in the morning, the small cups on the ship just won’t do. And we weren’t the only people walking around the ship with Yeti travel mugs.

Geeking | Apple Pay

> I know, I know…Apple Pay has been around for years. I’ve been reluctant to give it a try. But I recently set it up and it is so convenient! Especially at Starbucks. I initially purchased my Apple Watch for the health and exercise features, and I really like that the watch is more than that.

What’s UP with you? Leave us a note in the comments about how you’re spending the summer.

Image of Agent Cooper captured by Keith Lauby

HOW TO: Set Up a Home Office for Unretirement

June 7, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Years ago, my father-in-law gave me a piece of advice – live where you want to live and then go find a job there. It was that piece of advice that made us realize we want to live in Florida and eventually become consultants.

When we first realized that we might want to consult in the future, I took every opportunity to talk with consultants about their experiences. One area where there was quite a bit of differing opinion was office space. Some people told me the first chance you have to lease space, do it. Others said working from home is fine.

In fact, one person told me that it would take two years to get used to working from home. And for me, it did. I was so concerned about getting distracted with Hamster Dance videos that I made myself miserable. Once I lightened up about the benefits and challenges of working from home, I found my productivity (and outlook) significantly improved. So, if part of your unretirement might involve setting up a home office, here are a few things to consider:

Figure out your “flow”. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi coined the term “flow” to represent a state of consciousness where you are at peak performance. Finding your flow is uniquely personal. To do your best thinking and work, your office space needs to be comfortable for you. Don’t apologize for it.

Think about proper ergonomics. I broke my back several years ago, and since then, I’m a posture freak. I feel better when I’m sitting up straight. Not only does your home office need to be comfortable but it also needs to be good for your body.

Don’t forget good lighting! We are a very technology driven society, which is fine. I love tech. But I also realize that working and reading in front of a computer are hard on my eyes. Proper lighting, including sunlight, is essential.

Research how much internet you will need. Speaking of technology, chances are you will have to consider internet access in your home office. Even if it is to say, I don’t need it and will go to the library when I do. It’s easy to overbuy (or underbuy) WiFi. Start keeping track of how much you’re using so you can properly estimate your needs.

Make decisions about communication. In addition to internet, you must decide about phones, voicemail, etc. Think about if you plan to do podcasting or webinars as part of your unretirement and if you need to have a phone line. IMHO, you can always tell when someone is trying to conduct a webinar using their cell phone. The sound and reception just isn’t the same.

Create a charging station. Working from home means all your technology needs a place to charge. Will that be in your home office? Or a place somewhere else in the home that everyone can use?

Surround yourself with stuff you like. This might sound a bit trivial but I think it’s important. Make sure you find pleasing what’s on the walls and your desk. Use office supplies that you enjoy. I’m not saying go crazy, but you’ll find that you’re happier and more productive when you like your surroundings.

Think about software. If you will be using a computer, you should think about word processing software, file storage, backups, etc. There are free options available and others that pricey. Consider how much you will use a piece of software and if the price is worth the expense. Many offer free trials to check them out.

Ask about the legal stuff. If you work from home, you must consider general liability insurance as well as your home owner’s insurance. You’ll want to get advice about what’s deductible (and not) on your income taxes. And if you’re working with client files, you’ll want to know about secure storage and how long you need to maintain files.

Anticipate your marketing plans. At minimum, you’ll want to have business cards for your unretirement side hustle. The question becomes, do you list your address? Or set up a post office box? And if a client wants to meet with you, think about where you would suggest.

The good news is that setting up your home office can be one of the most enjoyable experiences you’ll have for unretirement. My home office is by far the nicest office I’ve ever had in my career. And that makes it nice to get up and go to work every day. I spend too much time there not to have it be my dream space.

For those of you who work from home, what’s the best part about your office space? Leave us a note in the comments.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby just off the beach in Key West, FL