Unretirement Project – Page 2 of 10

Your 5-Day Plan to Using Facebook In Your Unretirement

March 7, 2018 by Keith Lauby 3 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.

What We Are UP To – February 2018

February 28, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby 4 Comments

Disclosure: Occasionally we receive free products for review or include advertising links in posts, but no one impacts the honesty of our opinions.

Watching | Black Panther

> We’re big fans of the Marvel Universe, so we’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of Black Panther. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so all I’m going to say is … it lives up to all the February hype. Try to find time to see it on the big screen.

Reading | Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife

> Mary Roach is without a doubt one of my favorite authors. I really appreciate the way she explains science in a casual, conversational tone, with just the right amount of dry wit. In this book, Roach dives into the subject of the ghosts, spooks, and the afterlife. What I like most about this book is that she gives the topic the respect it deserves, regardless of your beliefs.

Remembering |Our 1-Year Anniversary

> We started Unretirement Project one year ago in February and we’re so glad we did it. Thank you for reading our articles and sharing your thoughts with us. We’re looking forward to more good times as we continue on our unretirement journey together. ICYMI – This was the first post that launched this blog.

Working On | Growth Matters Network

> I have a new project that I’m working on with SAP Small Business. I’m part of a small group of business professionals who will be having regular conversations about business, marketing, talent, etc. on the Growth Matters Network. The discussions are open to everyone, so if you’re interested join the network and be a part of the conversation.

Feeling | Accomplished

> Keith and I have been downsizing and decluttering little by little over the past few weeks. It’s amazing how one minute we feel like we haven’t made a dent in the project and the next we look around and say “Wow! Look at how much we’ve done!” There’s still a lot to do after February, but we’re getting there. And it feels great to be accomplishing things.

Planning | Lifestyle Journals

> Plum Paper has a new offering that’s caught my attention – lifestyle journals. They focus on meetings, travel, meal planning, budget, and gratitude. All with the beautiful style we’ve come to expect from Plum Paper. I’m very tempted to give one a try.

Loving | Stainless Steel Straws

> A few years ago, I read about using stainless steel straws for beverages. I was a little concerned about whether I would like them in general. And Keith was concerned about cleaning them. But our concerns were unfounded on both fronts. Great for smoothies, easy to clean, and good for the environment!

Geeking |Apple HomePod

> Yep, we did it. Broke down and got ourselves a HomePod. We still have our Amazon Alexa but wanted to give this one a test drive as well. We’re still trying to figure out HomePod’s full capabilities, but I will say that the speakers are noticeably better than Amazon.

What’s UP with you?

8 Things I’ve Learned Writing a Book

February 21, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

I know a lot of people who have writing a book on their bucket list. I was one of those people. I wrote my first book, Essential Meeting Blueprints for Managers, in 2015 and my second, Manager Onboarding: 5 Steps for Setting New Leaders Up for Success, came out in 2016. My third book, The Recruiters Handbook: How to Source, Select, and Engage the Best Talent, is scheduled to be out over the next couple of months.

The reason I’m mentioning this is because writing books is a very interesting experience. After each one, I take some time to think about the writing process. Think of it as a personal debrief. For those of you who have also been thinking about writing a book, here are a few lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Know why you’re doing it. There are many reasons to write books: money, experience, etc. Your reason will help you make decisions about the process – especially when it comes to publishing (i.e. self-publishing versus niche publisher versus big name publishing house). Believe me, there’s a huge learning curve here.

Be open to inquiries. You don’t need a literary agent – unless, of course, you want one. You can get a book deal from an email. If you’re a blogger, keep in mind that publishers might be reading your blog to see if you have book potential. And if you’re not a blogger, but you want to eventually write a book, maybe starting a blog is a good first step.

The process takes longer than you think. There are proposals, research, outlines, writing, revisions, etc. I would say that every book I’ve written takes well over a year from idea to publish. When you commit to a book, it’s a long-term project. You have deadlines. Be prepared for the writing process to be a very big priority in your life.

Find a routine that works for you. And your friends and family. Speaking of long-term projects, one of the best things I do is establish a writing schedule. Keith and I agreed that Saturdays would be “writing day”. This kept me on track and I didn’t feel guilty about locking myself away. Figure out what works best for you so you can meet both your writing and family obligations.

Always ask yourself, “Would I buy this?” It’s great to write a book because you have something to say. It’s another thing all together to get people to buy it. One of the things I really enjoy in my book writing process is the part when reviewers are given my draft for comments. They were asked, “Would you buy this?” I got some terrific feedback which only made the final version stronger.

Editors exist to make the outcome better. If you plan to write a book, get ready for people to critique and edit your work. Looking back, I’m grateful for the writing opportunities I’ve had with publications like Mashable because it allowed me to get used to people editing my work.

While writing a book is a long process and a lot of work, I really do enjoy it. And if presented with the right set of circumstances, I’d probably definitely do it again.

Is writing a book on your unretirement list?

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

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!

There’s Nothing Wrong With Having a Bucket List

February 7, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

I’ve never seen the movie “The Bucket List” but I do understand the concept. It comes from the term “kicked the bucket.” If for some reason you don’t know, a bucket list is a list of the things we want to do before we die. On some level, a bucket list is a wish list. It’s a list of things we want to experience someday. And as we change as an individual, our bucket list might change as well.

For example: for years, Keith and I wanted to take a repositioning cruise from Alaska through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean. Over the years, we’ve taken shorter cruises to the Caribbean, Panama, and Mexico. Now that we’ve done over half the trip, we’ve decided that if we never go on a repositioning cruise it isn’t a big deal. That doesn’t mean we’ll never take a repositioning cruise, it just means it isn’t on our list.

The reason I’m talking about bucket lists is because, a few weeks ago, I was reading a magazine article and a quote stuck out – “I don’t have a bucket list. If there’s something I want to do, I do it!” And my initial thought was there’s nothing wrong with having a bucket list. We might not be able to drop everything for a bucket list item.

Putting together a bucket list isn’t easy. To me, it’s not a list of “nice to haves” like the latest G.H. Bass & Co Wynn mules in yellow patent leather. That’s just my shoe fetish. A bucket list is a list of experiences that are important to me that I hope to do in my lifetime. The key word being important. And I don’t believe anyone can tell you what to put on your bucket list. Your list is yours and yours alone.

Sometimes we have to save resources to accomplish something. And by resources, I mean both money and time. A bucket list item might include a work sabbatical or maybe it will cost thousands of dollars. There’s nothing wrong with saving to make something on your list happen. That being said, we also might need to be open to opportunities as they present themselves.

We have to think of other people’s bucket lists. Every once in a while, Keith and I talk about our bucket lists. Obviously, they’re not the same. It reminds me that not only do I have my own list, but other people might expect me to participate in theirs. Maybe not for everything, but for some things. IMHO, that’s a tremendous honor and responsibility.

The decision to have (or not have) a bucket list is an individual one. It can be a long list or a short one. There’s nothing wrong with having bucket list, changing it, and sharing it with others. The important thing is to live your life the way you want to.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the Charlotte Amalie harbor in Saint Thomas, USVI

What We’re UP To in January 2018

January 31, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Watching | Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert

> This Australian movie about two drag queens and a transgender woman crossing the country in a bus dubbed Priscilla is filled with friendships, fun, and disco music. We saw the theater version recently and had to rent the original movie. If you’re looking for a little bit of retro fun, check it out.

Reading | Slow Burn

> Actually, it’s more like I’m listening. Slow Burn is a podcast about Watergate. I remember Watergate as one of my first political memories. Like many people, my parents watched the hearings on television. It’s a fascinating look back at what happened, especially given what’s going on in politics right now.

Remembering | Fort Lauderdale

> While we haven’t moved yet, I can’t help but wonder if every time we go to a restaurant or visit someplace will it be the “last time”. On one hand, it does make me appreciate every moment we’ve spent in South Florida over the past 15+ years. On another, it makes me sad. As much as I’m excited about our new adventure, I will miss this place.

Working On | Day One

> I mentioned before that I’ve wanted to do a photo-a-day project starting in January. Since we expect 2018 to be a big year for us, with the move and all, I decided my photo-a-day project would be about what I love about Fort Lauderdale and our big move. Keith found an app for me called “Day One” that allows me to create an online journal with images, etc. If we want, we could eventually print it and turn it into a real book!

Feeling | Focused

> I’m sure I’m not alone in that I set too many goals for myself. I love starting the New Year with new goals. But I’m also very aware how easy it is to abandon my goals. I’m trying very hard to stay focused early in January. And to realize slipping for a day isn’t the same as failing. Just pick it back up the next day.

Planning | Fantastical 2

> I’m a planner. A ridiculous planner (I’ve been told). So, my computer calendar is important. I’ve been using Microsoft Outlook for years, but since getting a Mac, I’ve been thinking that Outlook isn’t the same. I found a Mac app with good reviews called Fantastical 2. I recently downloaded it and I’m loving it. Very nice look! The developers also have a contacts app called Cardhop.

Loving | Amazon Echo Spot

> We really enjoy our Amazon Echo. It’s connected to our Pandora account and we play music through it. We also have a couple of WeMo switches to control lights and fans. The latest Echo product is called Spot. It’s a small ball shaped Echo with a digital face. We’re using it as a replacement for a Dot and an alarm clock.

Geeking | Cladwell

> Since we’re moving this year, we’re trying to downsize and not buy stuff. That includes clothes. To help me make the most of my wardrobe, I downloaded the Cladwell app. It’s like having a styling service on your phone or tablet. You log your closet into the app and every day the app gives you three outfits to select from. It takes into account the weather. I’m loving the suggestions it’s made so far.

We hope 2018 is off to a good start for you. Let us know what’s UP with you in January.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby on Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL

How to Effectively Transition from Full Time to Part Time Work

January 24, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby 2 Comments

One of the great things about planning our retirement is that we don’t have to go from working full time one day to not working at all the next. Part of that is being driven by organizations that realize they don’t want to lose talented employees. Frankly, they can’t afford to. Unemployment is at a historic low.

But the other piece driving companies to discuss phased retirement strategies are employees. People just want to work longer. Maybe not in a full time capacity, but they still can and want to contribute. I happen to work with someone who falls into the category. She just recently made this transition from full time to part time work.

Joyce Maroney is executive director of The Workforce Institute at Kronos, a think tank focused on empowering organizations through education and research. I serve as an advisory board member for the Institute. When I heard what Joyce was planning, I asked her if she would share her story and thankfully, she said “yes”.

Joyce, how did you decide that transitioning from full time to part time work was right for you?

[Maroney] I have been thinking about my retirement strategy for a few years. My husband retired completely in 2012, and we wanted to spend more time together. At the same time, I enjoyed my job and wasn’t ready to give up the intellectual stimulation of my work or the professional collaboration with colleagues inside and outside of Kronos. Finally, since it will be a few more years until I am eligible for Medicare and other senior benefits, part time work allows me to pay for benefits I need and to enjoy things we like to do like travel without relying entirely on savings to do so.

Walk us through your development of the conversation with your boss.

[Maroney] I began discussing retirement strategy with my boss in January 2016. It was he who initially suggested part time work after my desired retirement start date of January 1, 2018. At that point in 2016, I had been with Kronos for almost 10 years and had a broad portfolio of responsibilities.

There was one particular responsibility, however, for which there was no clear alternative internal owner. I had founded The Workforce Institute @Kronos in 2007. This is a think tank through which we publish research, expert opinions, books, and podcast interviews related to human resource management. In that capacity, I had been (and continue to be) a company spokesperson as well. We agreed that this was a job that I could do almost entirely from home and on a flexible schedule. Once he suggested this, I leapt at the opportunity to make it work.

How did you prepare Kronos for your transition to part time work?

[Maroney] The conversation with my boss continued as we discussed how to structure my team and their work beyond my transition. My planned departure gave us plenty of time to revisit the mission of the team, realign resources, and identify and develop my successor. We decided on an internal successor by mid-2016.

Once that decision was made, I began to involve her in any strategic decisions (hiring, for instance) that would have ramifications for her beyond my departure. I told my direct reports a little more than a year in advance, and the broader organizational announcement was made about 3 months in advance of my transition.

What would you say has been the easiest part about the transition?

[Maroney] Because we had plenty of time to plan the transition, I feel very good about the personal and professional impacts of my departure from my former day job. I have so much confidence in my successor and she was nothing but gracious during the last few months of 2017 by which time she was already doing the job with me on the sidelines as an advisor as necessary. Also, because I am still a part time employee of Kronos, she knows I’m easy to find if she needs my help.

On the flip side, what’s been the most challenging?

[Maroney] Because this change is still new, I’m still figuring out how to best organize my time. After almost 40 years of full time employment that included raising two children, extensive traveling, and long commutes, it’s hard for me to fully comprehend that I have so much more free time. I’ll be working 15-20 hours a week most weeks. I’m trying to stop feeling guilty when I go for a walk or run an errand in the middle of the day.

Last question. Now that you’re not working full time, what are you doing with that extra time?

[Maroney] First up is a major item from my bucket list – to visit Japan. My husband and I are taking a two-week tour of Tokyo and Kyoto later this month.

I am doing more of the things that have always been important, but always took a back seat. As a result, I’m spending more of my time cooking and going to the gym. I’m doing more of my fair share of walking the dog. I’ve been quilting for 20 years, and am looking forward to developing my artistic skills more deeply in this area of my life. I’m reading more – with the goal of reading a book every week in 2018. We moved to a new town within the last year, and I plan to increase my volunteerism here. Lastly, I have time to spend with my husband doing nothing but enjoying each other’s company.

I want to extend a HUGE thanks to Joyce for sharing her story. There were two big takeaways for me: 1) Don’t make the assumption that the company is ready to usher you out the door at the first mention of retirement. And 2) Successful planning can create a win for both the employee and organization.