Keith Lauby, Author at Unretirement Project

Inspiration: The Best Thing To Do With Success Lists

December 12, 2018 by Keith Lauby Leave a Comment

success list, inspiration, rules for success, business, business success

We’ve all seen inspiration lists that feature a wildly prosperous person (like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, or Steve Jobs) under a catchy headline telling us how to be successful – either in business or life in general. It’s followed by a number of things we should all do to achieve that success. The idea, of course, is that it worked for this person, so it should work for us too.

It’s easy to dismiss these offhand – – I’m never going to be a billionaire entrepreneur so just forget it. Early in my business life I did that all the time. At some point, though, I started to pay attention to some of the inspiration lists. And this is what I decided to do with them:

Look for things you are doing already. Okay, we all work hard. We all read and try to learn things that will make us more effective and productive. We try our hardest to achieve without giving up. These are affirmations of the great job we are doing every day. Look for them in inspiration lists and celebrate them! Then think of ways to do even more of them.

Cross off things that are beyond your control. This one will take some soul searching because it’s easy to dismiss a lot. You don’t make the company’s products, or you don’t have any input on who gets hired or who you get to work with. But you can offer great service, whether it’s to the general public or coworkers. And you can always help others improve. Make better the things you can and don’t worry about the rest.

Look for things you can start doing. Whether it’s focusing on your well-being or taking more risks, there is almost always something in an inspiration list that you could do better. And avoid the temptation to feel you have to do it on a grand scale. If organization is a problem, schedule a little time to organize something small. Too many distractions? Develop a morning routine and stick with it! That will help you focus for the rest of every day.

The best way to be successful is to know yourself. Know what you do well and find ways to do more of it. Regardless of where you are in your career, we all have areas we can improve so make that a priority. Learning resources are abundant so take advantage of them.

In the end, we all make our own success. Our stories can be an inspiration to others. But everyone has to find ways to make it on their own. In the year ahead, be your own inspiration and create your success story.

Is It Safe to Use Social Media for Marketing in Unretirement

April 11, 2018 by Keith Lauby 2 Comments

By now, we’ve all seen the articles about Facebook and their use of user information. It has caused a number of users to delete their accounts. Some brands are doing the same. So, I thought it would be a good time to talk briefly about online privacy and social media.

Over the years, social media has become an integral part of our lives. We engage with family and friends on Facebook or our business associates on LinkedIn. Or we monitor trending stories and its entertaining commentary on Twitter. The question people are asking – is our information safe?

Recently, I wrote about using Facebook to help with marketing in unretirement. For years, I’ve used Facebook for my marketing and I will continue to do so, simply because there are more advantages than disadvantages – as long as you’re smart about it.

First of all, know and understand your privacy settings. Every social media site has them. I recommend spending some dedicated time getting to know how every type of social post is handled. Can everyone see it? Only friends? With Facebook, you can start by seeing how others view your page. Click on your profile and, in the bottom right corner of your cover image there are three dots – that’s an extended menu. Click on it and select “View as . . . “.

The difference may be subtle, but you will notice a prompt to send yourself a friend request and an “Add Friend” button. You’re on the right page! From here, carefully read over your Intro box. Does it have the right information? Is it sharing information you don’t want to share here? Any changes in your information can be made using the “About” tab (be sure to quickly click on your profile again first to get back to interacting as you). You should select each heading listed on the left side of your profile and make any edits in the field as needed.

After you confirm your information is correct, it’s time to focus on your privacy settings. On the far right at the top of your Facebook page is a down arrow. Click that and select “Settings” from the drop-down menu. Select “Privacy” on the left to confirm your settings and edit them as needed. After that, select Timeline and Tagging on the left. That will give you a breakdown of your posting types and who can see them. From here, you can select “Edit” for each type of Facebook action and select who can see them from the drop-down menu.

Every social platform has their own version of a privacy setup. Get to know them! In fact, it’s a good idea to schedule an annual social media audit because sites tend to fine-tune their settings over time.

Social media is, and will continue to be, a major force in shaping our communities and culture. It offers vast opportunities! So, don’t be afraid to take advantage of everything it has to offer. Be smart and be aware. And, above all, be safe. It’s really not that hard to do.

Fitness Matters in Unretirement So Get Creative

March 21, 2018 by Keith Lauby 1 Comment

Our pursuit of fitness changes over time. It’s not that we stop pursuing it – we can’t. But rather, how we do it and the tools we use to get there evolves as we age. And when you work for yourself, you may have to get creative where your fitness is concerned.

Please understand, I’m not a medical or fitness professional. But I am a business pro who is always looking for ways to keep healthy and fit. Ways that align with a hectic schedule. When I worked in corporate offices, some of my daily activity was walking to meetings, warehouses, and a variety of other workplaces. Now that I work in a home office, I’m looking for a different solution to help me keep active.

After reading that the Deskcise Pro from FlexiSpot won a 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Innovation Award, I jumped at the chance to give it a test drive. The Deskcise Pro combines a standing desk and exercise bike in one compact piece of equipment. It has a very small footprint, so it doesn’t get in the way in my small office and it easily rolls wherever I want it. But don’t worry, it won’t roll around as you’re using it because it has an innovative feature that locks the wheels when you’re pedaling.

I’ve always believed that accessibility was the key to consistent use of any exercise equipment. It becomes even more important as we age. After waking up one morning with a stiff neck, I just used a spring lever on the Deskcise Pro to raise up the desk so it’s a little more comfortable to read on my laptop. You can also move the desktop a little closer just as easily. When my legs a little sore from too much yardwork, a dial on the Deskcise Pro main console lets me dial in just the right amount of resistance. And a screen allows me to track speed, distance, calories, odometer and revolutions per minute (RPMs).

Even if you don’t want to pedal, you can still be active. A spring lever adjustment can quickly convert your bike into a standing desk. Let’s face it, you I won’t have an excuse not to keep active anymore! And that’s important to me when I’m working from a home office.

Working in unretirement can bring a few challenges and fitness can be one of them. If you’re looking to keep up your activity in a home office, but don’t want to invest in a lot of different equipment or lose work time at the gym, consider checking out the Deskcise Pro. It’s a simple but creative solution that offers a lot of flexibility.

Your 5-Day Plan to Using Facebook In Your Unretirement

March 7, 2018 by Keith Lauby 4 Comments

Social media isn’t a fad. It’s a daily part of our lives. According to Pew Research, seventy percent of Americans use social media with thirty seven percent of them age 65+. So, whether you’re using social media to market your blog or communicate with friends, it’s important to know how to use it well in your encore career.

That’s why I thought it might be helpful to run a series about social media. Think of it as a mini-learning plan. We’ll take a short look at using popular social platforms, but from the viewpoint as part of a marketing engine. The marketing engine, of course, will help drive your unretirement efforts whether it’s through blogging or other types of content promotion. Social platforms can help you showcase your interests and skills, learn about new opportunities, and discover trends you can leverage.

Our first installment is about Facebook. Of all the platforms, I believe Facebook is where most of us already have accounts. According to Pew Research, 72 percent of the American adult population has a Facebook account which they visit at least once a month. Globally, the number is 38.6 percent. The challenge is getting comfortable using a platform for business that we may have exclusively used for personal connections.

What is Facebook?

Okay, you probably already know them, but Facebook is a social networking site that allows you to connect with brands, organizations, family and friends. As of their last earnings report, Facebook broke the 2 billion monthly active user mark. It’s the first social platform to reach that level of popularity.

You Have a Facebook Account, Right?

In case you don’t have an account, Facebook is free. You can learn how to sign up using their help page.

Your 5-Day Plan to Learning Facebook

If you don’t have an account, all of these activities will be new to you. If you do have an account, ask yourself, “How many of these have a done?”

DAY 1 – Post one piece of business news that interests you. Maybe it’s a blog post about leadership, an update about the gig economy, or something about what’s happening in your preferred industry.

DAY 2 – Like a group related to your interests. It can be a professional association that aligns with your unretirement goals. Gig economy sites like Wag! (dog walking on demand) or Helpr for babysitters have thriving Facebook pages.

DAY 3 – Like a business brand page. My guess is at least one of the vendors you currently do business with is on Facebook. Or look for a business you just enjoy. For example, I follow Consumer Reports to help me make informed purchases and Disney because I love their products.

DAY 4 – Like a government agency that pertains to your work. I’ve connected with my local city government – they publish a weekly informational newsletter and announce jobs and purchase requisitions. Facebook Townhall can also help you connect with your elected representatives.

DAY 5 – Get comfortable with notifications. At this point, it’s been about collecting information. If you feel comfortable, take a little time to review your feed to make sure are hearing from the people you really want to hear from. Keep in mind, that could include people or brands.

The easiest way to turn on notifications is by clicking on the three dots next to every status update. That will bring up a small menu. Look for “Turn on notifications for this post” – you may have to click “more” in the first menu.

BONUS! At some point, you may way to create your own business page. You can read all about it in the Facebook Help Center.

Facebook can be a valuable business tool without disrupting our personal space. I go into Facebook several times every day, so there are business things I just prefer to read on Facebook. And I do enjoy being connected to my friends and colleagues there.

Think about blending a little business and personal on Facebook. You might decide that you like it.

How to Start a Blog In Your Unretirement

February 14, 2018 by Keith Lauby 2 Comments

Blogging started back in 1994. At that time, they were mostly the work of a single individual about a single subject. In 2017, it’s estimated there are more than 440 million personal and corporate blogs in existence. And they cover far more subjects that we can even begin to imagine.

Blogging can be a very satisfying pastime. Sure, there’s a learning curve – just like there is for everything. But today, it’s easier than ever and there are plenty of resources to help you along the way. Done right, a blog can even be monetized to provide a source of revenue in your unretirement.

If you are considering blogging, there are 5 things I would recommend giving careful thought:

Think about the platform. There are many places to blog. Sites like Google’s Blogger have been around since 1999. In recent years, Tumblr has become extremely popular. This blog (and our first one, HR Bartender) are on a self-hosted WordPress site and it has worked very well. Just do your homework about what platform you want to blog on.
Figure out why you want to blog. Maybe it’s because you have something you want to say. It might be to find clients for your consulting business. Or to directly make a little extra money. But it’s important to know why you’re blogging, because it will drive other decisions along the way.
Never say never. Be open to opportunities as they arise. The reasons you blog may change over time. Just understand how that change impacts other aspects of blogging. For instance, if you just blog for fun, you can immediately publish whatever comes to mind. If you want to monetize, your readers and potential sponsors may have different expectations.
Carefully choose your blog’s name because, no matter why you blog, you will need to market So, develop a name that helps you accomplish your blogging goals (see #2). Just remember, it can be very hard to successfully change your blog’s name and rebrand down the road.
Think about how much time you want to spend. Blogging can sometimes take a lot of work. You might start off slow – maybe once a week. Then put yourself into the shoes of your audience. Knowing what your audience wants is important when deciding how long a post should be or how frequently to publish.

Don’t worry, these considerations aren’t designed to scare you. Taking a little dedicated time on the front end should help eliminate a few frustrations down the road. And, if you’re curious why the list has little to do with writing, it’s because we all have something to say. That part you’ve already taken care of!

Do you have any questions about blogging? Let us know and we’ll try to answer them!

The New Definition of Retirement Insanity

November 30, 2017 by Keith Lauby Leave a Comment

You probably know the famous quote about insanity that is most often attributed to Albert Einstein:

Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

The meaning of the quote is pretty simple – change requires doing things differently. You can find a perfect example in sports – – if you line up your golf swing and hit it the exact same way, the little white ball will travel the same every time. Every time! Now, if you’re like me, that ball will slice into the lake or hook onto the beach. But that just means I made slight changes to my stance or club face.

In business, the Einstein quote is often used in relation to productivity or profit. You can’t expect to produce more if you have the same number of employees working at the same rate. Makes sense, right?

When we consider this for our workplace or career, it’s important to remember two things:

Primarily, the quote references a controlled environment like a laboratory.

That was then, and this is now.

Today, the thing that keeps CEOs up at night is the speed of change. External factors like technology and competition are changing faster than ever and businesses are struggling to keep up. So now, we can’t expect the same results if we keep doing the same thing. We have to find new and improved ways to use our skills and explore different paths that can lead us to success.

The same is true for our retirement. We can’t expect to do the same things our parents did entering into their retired life. We won’t have the same results. Adapting our skills for the gig economy or learning new skills that can take advantage of technology will ensure our successful retirement life.

Planning for retirement can be challenging, but preparing for your encore career is an important part of it. Learn about opportunities that are available to you and understand the best way to take advantage of them. A career coach can help or organizational resources available through AARP. Whatever you do, don’t think that everything will work out just fine without preparation. Because that would really be the real definition of insanity.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the Wynwood Arts District in Miami, FL

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