Here are some rules I have learned over the years that may help many of you regardless of where you are on the comfort scale. I am following all these rules to one extent or another. Some I have been successful at following, while others I am working hard to complete. I hope they help you, too.

PERSONAL REINVENTION RULES

1. KEEP WORKING! Don’t fall into the “Retirement trap” prematurely, only to find that life stops and you cannot get back on the train.
2. GET RID OF DEBT! Credit card debt, property debt, personal debt, etc. all have a damaging affect on your life at anytime. At no time is this debt more damaging than when you are in your senior years, running out of time and less possible ways to generate income.
3. REDUCE EXPENSES! Get rid of the big house, second home or property that continues to eat away at your financial base. Anything with an association fee, taxes, or upkeep maintenance will only add to your frustration after suffering loss of financial resources.
4. STAY EDUCATED! Continue your education on new technologies and advancements associated with more efficient living. Make “computer” you middle name. Learn how to communicate with your friends, family and other advisors while away from your home. If you are not computer or communication savvy, get with it. “I’m too old” or “they frighten me” are sorry excuses for avoiding what you need to be doing for yourself.
5. REMAIN INDEPENDENT! Stay living on your own for as long as possible. This does not mean avoiding being with family but it means keeping your own space and plenty of it.
6. KEEP NETWORKING! It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, if you do not develop and maintain a network of contacts, both personal and professional, you will miss the very things that will help you the most. We are not islands. Life is too short to keep inventing a new wheel when others have already created a new one and moved on. You need to stay up to date and the best way is by networking and talking.
7. AVOID PITY PARTIES! The worse thing you can do when you are being challenged is to encircle yourself with other people in trouble who are not afraid of dumping their problems on you. This is a killer! Pity parties accomplish only one thing…Misery! Misery loves company but does not love moving on. Get with positive people who are going forward.
8. TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY! Regardless of your success or failure, the tendency to look back at past mistakes or wrong decisions is only human. However, looking back and using either success or failure as a measurement for going forward is akin to driving 70 mile per hour while looking in the rear view mirror. You can see where you have been but you will never know what you are about to hit until it is too late.
9. STOP BLAMING OTHERS! Unless someone held a gun to your head when a decision was made, you cannot blame anyone else for your situation in life. While taking personal responsibility involves the ability to forget, the ability to stop blaming others involves the ability to forgive. Not forgiving is a trap and a deep hole that only gets deeper as time goes on.
10. NEVER LET AGE SLOW YOUR THINKING! Getting older has its detractors. Teenagers think twenty somethings are old. Twenty somethings think forty year olds are “stuck in a rut”. Forty year olds think sixty year olds are old fashioned. And Fifty year olds think that Seniors are “out of touch”. The truth is that age is nothing more than an attitude and it has very little to do with life at hand.

The post SENIOR REINVENTION – Rules and Guidelines appeared first on Over 60 Exchange.

Now when many my age are retiring, I decided to go into Real Estate. This is something completely unrelated to my other experiences in aviation and product marketing. Here, I am going back to school and through the learning curve within an industry that has dramatically changed. Even seasoned real estate pros are having to relearn the art of servicing their customers.

Why am I here as a “newby”?

More to come….

The post Career Change – Going into Real Estate appeared first on Over 60 Exchange.

In a study of people and how they react to “Life’s Events”, the following results provides perspective in decreasing order of impact importance.

1. Death of a spouse
2. Divorce
3. Marital Separation
4. Jail Term
5. Deat of a close family member
6. Personal injusry or illness
7. Marriage
8. Fired at work
9. Marital reconciliation
10. Retirement
11. Changes in family member’s health
12. Pregnancy
13. Sex difficulties
14. Gain of new family member
15. Business readjustment
16. Change in financial status
17. Deat of a close friend
18. Change to different line of work
19. Change in number of arguments with spouse
20. Mortgage or loan over $10,000
21. Foreclosure of mortgage or loan
22. Change in work responsibilities
23. Son or daughter leaving home
24. Trouble with in-laws
25. Outstanding personal achievement
26. Spouse begins or stops work
27. Begin or end school
28. Change in living conditions
29. Revision of personal habits
30. Trouble with boss
31. Change in work hours, conditions
32. Change in residence
33. Change in schools
34. Change in recreation
35. Change in church activities
36. Change in social activities
37. Mortgage or looan under $10,000
38. Change in sleeping habits
39. Change in number of family gatherings
40. Change in eating habits
41. Vacation
42. Christmas
43. Minor violations of the law

Looking at this, it can be seen that the first mention of anything related to money is #16 “Change in financial status”. There are items on this list that may not apply to seniors but this list does provide a good way to gauge what is important and what is not. As we grow older our personal health, ability to stay independent and our relationships with family and friends become the key drivers.

Hope this helps some of you facing key challenges.

The post As We Grow Older – Keeping a Proper Perspective on Problems appeared first on Over 60 Exchange.

Here’s some background. Nowhere else in the world, even after adding all other countries together, will the creativity and inventiveness of the United States be equaled. At no time in human history, has so much progress been made than during the years since the United States constitution was enacted in 1776. During this relatively short period of time the amount of inventions and advances in mankind dwarf all previous history eras.

I am desperate today because we are facing an unprecedented decline in human productivity and creative thinking while at the same time we are facing serious global economic challenges. It is like the world is hell bent on reversing the advances made during the past 233 years, which have resulted from the unbridled thinking and creativity that comes from free enterprise and capitalist system economics. In the United States where free enterprise has shined like no other place in the world, government encroachment into free enterprise decision-making is threatening to dismantle the entire economic system.

I am desperate because free enterprise allows for real advances in technologies, manufacturing, and medicines based on people who recognize a great need and who are also desperate to find a solution to meet that need. These people become inspired to find success because this system allows significant reward for those who take the risks. The free enterprise system, like none other, allows this type of need and solution relationship to grow and prosper. I am desperate because this system appears to be faltering and losing its momentum based on all the wrong reasons. On the other hand, I am inspired to find ways of using this situation to promote ideas and innovation that are positive. I want to turn my desperation into inspiration.

Many of you will argue that I am over reacting to the current global recession and that like past recessions you think we will come out of it better than ever before. You will argue that the free enterprise system is too unregulated and needs more control. Some of you will even argue that people who use this system to reach real success must also share the rewards with others who do not contribute, and that somehow being successful is bad or in some people’s eyes “evil”. Some will accuse me of being negative or unrealistic and argue that changes for more control in an unfettered system are a natural evolution for insuring fairness to all. Baloney! One only needs to look at the former Soviet Union or the present day North Korea, Iran and Venezuela to see the folly of such thinking.

Look, I feel desperate because the economic engine that has driven America’s unprecedented success for its entire history and, which has been the leading example for most developing nations to follow, is coasting to a halt. The economic engine behind America is small business. Small business creates seventy eight percent of all new jobs in the United States that collectively equals ninety seven percent of the country’s Gross National product (GNP). I am naturally a positive minded person but I am finding it easier to be negative as we see the results of what happens when financial controls and government giveaways favor big corporations and labor unions over the needs of small business. Compounding my feeling is the government’s creation of a new national debt burden unlike anything ever experienced. This debt burden on future generations will be crippling and force future generations to be born into a form of “pre-ordained servitude” to government.

Now, what I share with you next may surprise you. Even though I am finding it easier to be negative, I have made a conscious decision not to be negative. As a matter of fact, negativity is the last thing in my mind. On the contrary I feel very positive even at the same time I am also feeling extremely desperate.

Now, that I have you scratching your head and thinking that Bob has lost it, let me eliminate the confusion and put your mind at ease. In today’s challenging times it is very easy to start hand wringing, thinking “chicken little” thoughts about the sky falling and spouting “the end is near” words. Yet, it is exactly in these times that history has repeatedly shown that during periods of the greatest change comes the periods of the greatest opportunities. It is during these periods that innovation, inventiveness and creative thinking are at their highest intensity. There is an old saying that “from desperation comes inspiration.” Well, I am desperate and I am very inspired!

Just research the majority of new ideas that created a new business or in many cases a whole new industry. They all came from a thinking process that was attempting to solve a key problem or fill a critical need. Thomas Edison made over 10,000 attempts at creating the light bulb before he succeeded. Henry Ford was desperate to create the automobile and was inspired to create the first real mass production assembly line. Desperation can come in many forms. It can be individual or it can be a group of people. It can be a population segment or it can be a whole country. When the United States entered World War II the entire country was desperate but then it became inspired and mobilized to win. Right now, we are living in desperate times. Right now, we are living in desperate times. People everywhere are looking for solutions to solve their personal challenges. Some in this process will think in broader terms than just for themselves; they will think about finding solutions that will have application on a wider scale which will affect many others seeking the same solutions. This type of thinking is what has given us new modern life altering devices and processes. This is the thinking that has advanced civilization and from which whole new economic engines and industries have evolved.

This is the thinking that we need, now! Call your government representative and demand that you want support for people with new ideas; you want support for people who start new businesses. You want support for creating new private sector jobs that historically come from small, not big business. Tell your government representative that it is a fairy tale to believe that big business can shape an economic upturn. Let your representative know that the answer is small business and that the process of fertilizing a new idea with free flowing credit, reduced government regulation, lower taxes and support for the free enterprise system is the solution to fixing the economy. Remember, all big business was at one time a small business. They all started from an idea in somebody’s mind. Everything we can think of that was created by a human started from an idea in somebody’s mind.

Now, you know why I am desperate and gravely concerned for finding ideas that can make a difference. I am inspired and I urge you all to become inspired to start your own search for that one idea, a positive life altering idea that can change your life and the world we live in. Now is the time!

The post Is Being Desperate the Answer? appeared first on Over 60 Exchange.

The Stockdale Paradox I’m a big believer in having a positive mental attitude (PMA). But, I’m, amazed at how many people pooh-pooh the idea of PMA.

Perhaps what makes people skeptical is that some of those who THINK they have a positive attitude really are living in another world. They have a “Pollyanna Attitude”. They aren’t thinking positively; they’re simply avoiding the truth. They have their head in the sand, and they refuse to acknowledge their problems and obstacles.

In doing so, they avoid reality and obfuscate their ability to achieve their best.

In Jim Collins’ book, “Good to Great”, he writes about something they call The Stockdale Paradox. Admiral Stockdale (retired) was known for his unique perspective on addressing difficult situations.

It goes like this: Retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties. AND at the same time, confront the most brutal facts of your current reality—whatever they might be.

I can’t think of a more balanced and positive outlook.

Action Point – Make sure you’re being positive as well as realistic. Be honest with yourself about where you’re being positive and where you might simply be ducking the truth. By employing the Stockdale approach, you’ll be a positive person with your eyes wide open.

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Michael Angier is founder and CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer) of SuccessNet–a support network helping people and businesses grow and prosper. Get their free Resource Book ($27 value) of products, services and tools for running your business more effectively. And most of the over 150 resources are FREE to access and use.
http://SuccessNetResources.com
http://SuccessNet.org

The post Are Your Eyes Wide Open? appeared first on Over 60 Exchange.

I found an interesting company based in Reno, Nevada. The company’s name is Mariah Power. They produce a small wind turbine called the “Windspire” that they claim can reduce home electricity bills by 20% to 30%. It is also eligible for a 30% tax credit.
Here is where I get real excited. What if whole communities installed a Windspire behind each home and each homeowner not only saved money but also participated in any income from excess electricity that could be sold back to the power company?
Now, this is something to think about!

In summary, I am not advocating that wind, solar or other “green” alternatives can replace all our electrical needs but I do believe that becoming more independent on an individual basis is the future.

The post WIND POWER! appeared first on Over 60 Exchange.

Your “Win List” and your “Significant Accomplishments List”

It seems to be human nature to remember the things we messed up more than we do the things we did well. Most of us tend to focus on what’s wrong rather than on what’s right.

Even people with positive attitudes fall into the trap of discounting their successes and inflating their failings.

The fact is, we’re being programmed all the time, and most of it isn’t helpful. Problems, negative news, complaints and criticisms get more of our attention than accomplishments, good news and compliments.

The wise person understands this and takes charge of his or her programming. They use affirmations, they visualize and they listen to good tapes and read good books. They hang out with positive, supportive people.

I urge you to incorporate two lists into your life—lists you maintain and review. Use these lists to help you stay focused
on what works instead of spending so much time and energy on what doesn’t.

These two lists are: your “Win List” and your “Significant Accomplishments List”.

One of the things my Diamond Team is beginning to document are their accomplishments. This helps them to increase their focus on their progress and help theIr members of the team be more motivated and inspired.

My team is just getting started and already their progress is substantial.

I highly suggest that you start YOUR Win List today. Begin tracking all the good things that happen to you, the things you fix and vercome, the goals achieved, new clarities, etc.

The Significant Accomplishments List is important, too. It may take awhile to recollect all the things you’ve achieved and list them for easy—and hopefully, often—review.

It’s human nature to discount the value of what we’ve done—especially when it didn’t seem that hard for us. But even if it didn’t require a lot of struggle on your part, it’s still a good thing to put it on the Significant Accomplishment List.

Action Point: Get started today building your Significant Accomplishments List and your Win List. Review them often. Bask in the good things you’ve drawn into your life. Watch your attitude improve and your accomplishments increase.

What we focus on expands, so let’s focus on the right things. Building and using these two lists will do just that for you.

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Michael Angier is founder and CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer) of SuccessNet.org and helps people and businesses grow and prosper. By being a Diamond Club Member of SuccessNet you can expect to reach new heights of achievement by creating the support structure you need to accomplish your objectives.
http://SuccessNetDiamonds.com
http://SuccessNet.org

The post Forget Your Failings—Focus on Your Feats appeared first on Over 60 Exchange.

There’s an old adage that goes like this: to avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing. If you want to get ahead in the world, you’ll have to do all three. So you should expect to be criticized.

The key is to discern what is helpful criticism (most isn’t) and what you need to shrug off.

The ability to be unflappable in the face of criticism requires a healthy self esteem, self confidence and a tough outer shell. I call it having a thick skin and a soft heart. The trick is to never mix up the two.

If you’re never being criticized, judged or disparaged in any way, you’re likely not doing all that much and you probably need to move up a few notches on the “Go-for-it-Scale’.

All criticism should be listened to, but not all of it is valid.

A friend of mine used to say, “If one person calls you a horse, well that’s just an opinion. If two people call you a horse, you may want to stop and think about it. If three people call you a horse, you may want to start shopping for a saddle.”

Action Point: If you trust the source—or you’re getting the same criticism from several people—consider the validity and take corrective action when it’s warranted. If it’s not, thank the person for sharing, and forget about it.

Recognize that everyone has their opinion and that you don’t always have to defend yours. “Let the dogs bark; the caravan moves on.”

—————————
Michael Angier is founder and CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer) of SuccessNet–a support network helping people and
businesses grow and prosper. Get their free Resource Book ($27 value) of products, services and tools for running your business
more effectively. And most of the over 150 resources are FREE to access and use.
http://SuccessNetResources.com
http://SuccessNet.org

The post Criticism appeared first on Over 60 Exchange.

Here’s a quick rundown of most of the things that keep one from achieving the success they seek. If you’re not accomplishing your goals or not reaching them as easily or as quickly as you think you should, use this as a check-list to see where you might be missing out.

1. Not Knowing What You Really Want.  Mark Twain said he could teach anyone how to get what they want; he just couldn’t find anyone who truly knew what they wanted. I agree. Most people don’t know what it is they really want to achieve. They often know what they don’t want, but then that’s where their focus and energy goes—to what they don’t want.

Being unclear on what you want is one of the biggest stumbling blocks to success. Paul Meyer says if you’re not achieving the success you desire, it’s simply because your objectives are not clearly defined. Your goals need to be written, specific and measurable. When you talk to others about your goal(s), they should be able to understand it quickly.

2. Lack of Focus. You can be clear on your goal, but if you don’t stay focused, if you take on too much (have too many or conflicting goals), if you fill your life with busy things or operate inconsistently, you will likely fail.

Focus creates power. A river’s might is harnessed by a dam and focused into electrical energy. Some people say you can achieve everything you want. I don’t believe that. But I do believe you can achieve anything you want—with the right focus.

3. Not Enough Reasons. This one is often overlooked. Reasons come first, answers come second. If you have strong enough reasons, you can accomplish anything you desire.

Significant success demands passion. When your why is strong enough, the how will come. And your desire will sustain you when the challenges and obstacles come your way.

4. Distractions. All too often we’re distracted by other things. Some are outside of our control. Stuff happens. People do things. Events take place. At other times, we become distracted by our own choosing. I call it BSO Syndrome—Bright and Shiny Objects. You begin one goal or project and then start chasing after another.

Sometimes your “great” ideas can work against you. Your next “big idea” can be the enemy of your current project.

We encourage people to work on no more than three major objectives—ones that can have almost daily action toward their achievement. Focus and discipline is needed here (see Number 2 and number 10).

5. Lack of Belief—in Yourself and/or in Your Goal. This is often related to worthiness, but there’s more to it. You need to believe in yourself and in the creative process. Winners expect to win. A shortage of belief causes many people to give up or never begin in the first place. In many cases, it causes one to take shortcuts that sabotage their success.

Many people simply don’t feel worthy of success. This is a tough one. I can tell you it’s based on an erroneous belief, but you have to get that for yourself. Read the books. Listen to the tapes. Hang out with people who can help you see your highest and best. You deserve to be successful. There is no reason for you not to have what you want unless you ignore the principles of success.

6. Deficient Knowledge. A worthy goal usually requires learning new things. Buckminster Fuller said, “You can’t learn less.” Perhaps you’re not sure what it is you need to learn in order to get where you want to go. Find out. But don’t let lack of knowledge keep you from starting. If you wait until you know it all, you’ll never begin. Start from where you are and build the bridge as you walk on it.

7. Insufficient Skills. Most likely there are certain skill sets you lack which will hinder your progress.
Discover what these are and start today in gaining the necessary skills. Perhaps you need to learn how to effectively use a computer and the Internet. Maybe you need to up-level your communication or
time-management proficiency. Even a good attitude is a skill. Enhancing your skills is a lifelong investment that will pay you big dividends.

And if you need a skill that you don’t see yourself getting good at or enjoying, find a team member that IS good at those things and focus on what YOU’RE good at doing.

8. Not Enough Money. Most people think this is the number one reason why they haven’t achieved their dreams. They think that if they just had more money then they would be successful. But it’s rarely a
money problem—it’s usually an idea problem. With good ideas and a tenacious spirit, you can get the funding you need.

9. Low Energy. Vince Lombardi said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” In order to have the energy and stamina to win, we need to take care of our bodies. Get adequate rest, eat the right foods and refrain from careless and unsafe behavior. Our achievement is our production. Our bodies, our minds and our
intuition make up our production capacity. If we don’t properly care for ourselves, we’ll be unable to produce.

10. Inadequate or Nonexistent Support. Everyone needs help. You don’t need to go it alone. I’ve seen far too many people fail because they weren’t willing to ask for help or didn’t know where to turn in order to get it. There are always people who can help. Bring in talent and resources from others and make it a win-win situation. Align yourself with organizations that can help you succeed.

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Michael Angier is founder and CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer) of SuccessNet.org and helps people and businesses grow and prosper. By being a Diamond Club Member of SuccessNet you can expect to reach new heights of achievement by creating the support structure you need to accomplish your objectives.
http://SuccessNetDiamonds.com
http://SuccessNet.org

The post Top Ten Reasons People Don’t Achieve Their Goals appeared first on Over 60 Exchange.

By Michael Angier

One of my favorite Gary Larson cartoons is the one with the cardboard cutouts of a hillbilly family onthe lawn of their mountain shack. The caption reads: The Fake McCoys.

The term “Real McCoy” most likely comes from a railway invention by Elijah McCoy that automatically dripped oil to critical parts of the train instead of having to stop and let the oilman do it
manually.

Even though Elijah applied for and was granted a US Patent, there were many imitators. But none of them were as good as the “Real McCoy”.

How about you and your company? Are you the Real McCoy?

Or are you trying to be something you’re not? Are you trying to imitate your competition instead of being yourself?

I see far too many small companies trying to look like big companies. I see big companies doing their best to come across as a small-town company. There are old enterprises attempting to look fresh and new, while brand new ones are trying to appear well established.

All of these efforts burn up time, energy and resources. They rarely work well—if they work at all.

People like to do business with people they like. And they like people who are like themselves.
They don’t really do business with a company—they do business with the people IN that company.

Buyers today are savvy. They have more choices than ever before. And they can tell—at least at some level whether or not the company and the people in it are congruent. They seek out, resonate with and tend to be loyal to companies that are authentic.

It’s not only a good thing to do, it’s good business.

Your uniqueness and the things you’re best at doing are all part of your differentiating position. It’s who you are—your identity. It’s what people can relate to. If there’s anything false, made up or covered over, your prospects will sense it. And they won’t even be able to tell you why they didn’t buy.

As Emerson said so eloquently, “Who you are speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you say.”

The company that knows who they are, knows what they’re really good at and communicates that effectively without trying to be all things to all people —is usually way ahead of the pack.

Is it easy? No, I don’t think so. But it IS easier than trying to be something you’re not.This principle—authenticity—is the most challenging and yet perhaps the simplest of all the 10 Pillars. Much like your core values, your authentic self isn’t something to create but rather something to discover.
Be who you are—no one else is better qualified.Most people—and most organizations—have never really thought about this. It starts with realizing that this process is worthy of some introspection.

And it requires that we answer some tough questions.Who are we? Who are we being? How do
we come across? What do we stand for? What are our core values? This goes far beyond our mission and our vision. It may be based on mission/vision, but it’s more about the culture of our
organization and how that culture is showing up in our business dealings.

And this process is never complete. It demands that we get real. If we don’t, we should prepare to become real irrelevant.

If we’re diligent to the task, and honest and true to ourselves and those we serve, we can have a company that everyone will know as the Real McCoy.

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Michael Angier is founder and CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer) of SuccessNet–a support network helping people and businesses grow and prosper. Get their free Resource Book ($27 value) of products,
services and tools for running your business more effectively. And most of the over 150 resources are FREE to access and use.
http://SuccessNetResources.com
http://SuccessNet.org

The post Is Your Company The Real McCoy? appeared first on Over 60 Exchange.