| Myth One: Work leads to retirement | | | | The historical view of work is that work should be |
| This is the biggest myth of all. First of all, most people | | | | hard, not enjoyed, and not even something one might |
| simply can no longer afford to stop working. Even for | | | | be good at. This notion has stayed with us. Even |
| those who do stop working soon they find their lives | | | | career counselors today will nudge people into jobs |
| are filled with too much leisure time. Not too long after | | | | and careers which the market wants. This is the |
| a feeling of wanting to make a greater difference in | | | | wrong approach. First you must start with work which |
| the world will emerge. For most of us it is the question | | | | you enjoy and then build a market around you. I had a |
| how can I keep working? It seems now organizations | | | | client once who loved to build model airplanes. For sure, |
| are hiring the youngest workers at the lowest price | | | | the world didn't rush to his doorstep. Also, he had a |
| they can get. Just looking around it seems those over | | | | family to support and bills to pay. Fast forward 3 years |
| 40 seem to get pushed out sooner than later. | | | | later he owns a model airplane hobby store, rents out |
| Take Control | | | | the store to Boy Scout groups for adventure days, |
| After 40, it is mandatory to take control of one's life | | | | and many related activities which bring in income he |
| and work. First, only those who truly don't love their | | | | needs. Is he rich by society standards? Probably not, |
| work want to retire. Otherwise why would anyone | | | | but he pays his bills and he might live longer. Are you |
| want to stop doing what they love? Our society sends | | | | working in an area you don't enjoy? It is time to |
| a strong message for planning for retirement. Despite | | | | change - no excuses! |
| this it is mandatory to take responsibility for finding | | | | Myth Four: Work is for only making money |
| work which last a lifetime. | | | | I hear this one all the time. Work after forty has nothing |
| Money magazine | | | | to do with making money at a deep level. Work has to |
| Just this month Money magazine stressed that now | | | | do with feelings of self worth, contribution, deep |
| was the time to increase the retirement saving. Sure, | | | | happiness, and a sense that your life matters. Also, |
| so others can make money at your expense. This | | | | work has the opportunity to pay your bills and living |
| advice is very misleading and irresponsible I can add. | | | | expenses. It is a nice combination. |
| This is like telling people they should save more for | | | | One should never confuse work and money. The best |
| when they die. When you do what you love there is | | | | work is when it feels voluntary and the worse work is |
| no reason to ever stop working. So why save for | | | | when it feels obligatory. Of course, one needs to |
| death? | | | | make money but the question is how to make money |
| Our education system | | | | and live a life which feels fulfilling. There are many |
| Our education system throughout high school, college, | | | | ways to make money. The more important question is |
| and later adult education rarely teaches us how to | | | | what will you make money at and where will it lead |
| discover and do the work you love forever. What can | | | | you? If the answer is retirement, time to change |
| be more important? | | | | direction. |
| What happens when you don't retire? | | | | Myth Five: A resume is necessary and sufficient |
| You start to place a new emphasis on living, especially | | | | It is necessary only because the shallow way we |
| in the present. You are able to make more choices, | | | | have approached work in our education and thinking. |
| take more risks and have more courage with your life | | | | The resume covers only an external view of what |
| and work. Don't fall for the retirement message, its | | | | you have done. This form doesn't cover your dreams, |
| outdated and no longer useful. | | | | plans, goals, and deep desires when it comes to work. |
| Myth Two: Do work which you are good at | | | | At least the Vita (usually reserved for college |
| After 40, for many people the work we are good at in | | | | professors) gives one the opportunity to discuss what |
| many cases no longer brings the same joy as 15 or 20 | | | | they are most proud of along with current and planned |
| years ago. You are not same person at 40 or 50 as | | | | activities. More important is to develop another |
| you were at 20 or 30. Much has changed. In many | | | | document. This is your future biography. I suggest that |
| cases this same work no longer provides passion, | | | | you write in second person describing the life you wish |
| meaning and fulfillment. | | | | to live focused around the work you want to do. 2-3 |
| However, there is a tendency to continue to do work | | | | years is a good timeframe. Then you will see the gap |
| which we are good at even if we are no longer | | | | and the way how to close it. At least now by the time |
| interested. This is a strategy to retirement and quick | | | | you write a resume, it will truly reflect the direction you |
| death. The best way to prolong life is to live fully each | | | | most want to take. The resume is necessary but it is |
| and every day doing work which makes a difference | | | | not sufficient. |
| to you. That will impact others in a good way as well. | | | | I'll do anything! |
| After 40 it is much better to focus around your deep | | | | Recently a man in the audience of a recent talk said |
| interests and then learn how to do it. I hear stories all | | | | with arms crossed, ''I have been out of work for |
| the time from clients, I would love to do this but I don't | | | | several years and at this point I'll do anything''. |
| have the skills. But it turns out that what you are | | | | This is not a good strategy for work. Better to take |
| interested in the most you can learn quickly and can | | | | down time and figure out your life's plan around work |
| be good at. Do you find yourself working in areas | | | | and then pursue it vs. wasting away time applying for |
| which others are proud of and you are good at but no | | | | just jobs. Don't fall into the top 5 myths for yourself. |
| longer interested in? It is time to change. | | | | AS a result your life will be fuller, happier, and more |
| Myth Three: Work is not something to be enjoyed | | | | coherent. I'll be cheering you on as you go! |