Safe Travels and Happy Thanksgiving

Taking a vacation day to stay out of Seattle’s Wednesday afternoon traffic horror show. Starting my holiday weekend early. 

I am grateful for my wonderful family, fellow volunteers, talented co-workers, and all my friends who keep me engaged and interested in our world. Thank you all.

Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving with family and loved ones. Enjoy good meals, conversation, and remembering old friends who can’t be with us. Then safe trips home.

"Always direct your thoughts to those truths that will give you confidence, hope, joy, love, thanksgiving, and turn away your mind from those that inspire you with fear, sadness, depression." - Bertrand Wilbertforce

Thanksgiving and Holidays

Relax. Everyone has made an effort to be there. The hosts have really worked hard to welcome you and everyone. It is stressful. Smile and greet everyone.

People are there you don’t know. You are likely nervous, so are they. Welcome everybody assuming best intentions.

No one has changed since last time. Everyone still has their annoying habits. Including you. But we have all learned from living one more year.

Politics are a minefield. Nobody has the same views on everything. Expect them to support other candidates or positions. You are not there to convert them to your views. Besides no one has all the right answers.

We gather to celebrate. Those who made it this year, those who can’t come, and remembering those no longer with us. Sharing success and failures, children, and another year of life. 

Success formula for gatherings - Relax, Tolerate, Celebrate and Enjoy

Preventing Dementia

New study by University of Michigan shows most people do not understand their risk of dementia, nor best ways to prevent it. Not understanding the risk, they may not make the best choices. 

First reasonably assess your health. If you are in very good or excellent health, you have lowered your risk substantially. People in fair to poor mental health have the highest risk, however mental health by itself has low causality. 

What can you do to lower your risk of dementia? Research has shown that regular exercise, a good diet, limiting alcohol and not smoking make dementia less likely. If you have chronic health problems like diabetes, take care of them. Surprising only ~5% of people ask their doctors during visits or physicals what to do to prevent dementia.

Vitamins and supplements have not been shown to help (I do take them). There are claims for mental exercises like puzzles. There is stronger evidence for playing chess, taking a class or reading about unfamiliar subjects. 

Social activities and exercise like walking are valuable boosting attitude and health. See “Counting Little Wins” how to keep active and healthy mindsets.

Dementia is personal to me. There are no proven cures. My grandfather had Alzheimer’s ~6 years, my father had dementia symptoms 1.5 years after strokes, and my wife’s mother has dementia for the last 8 years. Seeing their struggles and downward trajectory are why sharing this information. Reasonable prevention will improve your and your family’s life.

Links to study and article below:

Perception of Dementia Risk and Preventive Actions Among US Adults Aged 50 to 64 Years

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2753774

Americans don’t understand the dementia risk they face - MarketWatch

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/americans-dont-understand-the-dementia-risk-they-face-2019-11-15?mod=MW_story_top_stories

Counting Little Wins

https://problem1solver.blogspot.com/2019/07/counting-little-wins.html

Old Age is Made Up

MIT AgeLab punched holes in the accepted viewpoint of aging:

·      The 50-plus population controls 83% of household wealth in the US.

·      Account for $7.6 trillion in spending, more than those under 50.

·      Over 50 outspend online 2:1. 

·      73% of 65-plus population is online, and half own smartphones.

·      Only 35% of people 75 or older consider themselves “old”.

Why should they consider themselves old? Older individuals are generally healthier than generations past. They remain engaged and relevant.

·      50-plus business leaders start twice as many successful companies as ~30 YO business leaders. 

·      Sister-in-law’s 83 YO father takes care of 100 acres and started new hobby woodworking 2-3 years ago. (getting really good)

·      Her 81 YO mom takes care of horses and mucks the stalls after 2 hip replacements.

·      Uncle celebrated 85^th birthday leaving New Jersey for Arizona senior basketball tournament with his team. 

·      Komo news interviewed 2 women celebrating their 104^th birthdays. Each walks separately over a mile daily around Ballard, WA.

Business seems stuck in outdated narratives. Advertising focuses on the 18-24 and 25-34 age groups, which have less money to spend. Half of long time jobholders are pushed out before they planned to retire. Many older workers have to fight outright ageism to prove their value. They are not considered for hiring, new assignments, or promotions.

Research does not confirm these beliefs. BMW experiments show: 

·      Productivity improves when work teams are intergenerational.

·      Age-diverse teams do better at problem-solving and generating ideas.

·      Older workers mentor and serve as role models.

These expectations are from 19^th century beliefs that the old run out of “Vital Energy”, like a worn out battery. Sex and manual labor were both considered to be especially draining. Science has disproven these theories.

These beliefs affect your careers and businesses. Have overheard HR discussions about the aging workers problem - people in their mid 30s and 40s. Despite record low unemployment and a skills shortage, these ageist beliefs persist.

Successful leaders need to provide better products and services for age diverse consumers. They need to lead teams with diverse cultures, backgrounds and ages. How can you start addressing these opportunities for your business?

“Old age” is made up—and this concept is hurting everyone 

MIT Technology Review

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/614155/old-age-is-made-upand-this-concept-is-hurting-everyone/

Happy birthday to you, Madelyne and Kay

https://komonews.com/news/erics-heroes/erics-heroes-walking-is-the-fountain-of-youth-for-pair-of-104-year-old-women

Business is Not the Bad Guy

It’s a cliché in Hollywood movies where the businessman is evil. Dabney Coleman as a tyrannical, sexist boss in 9 to 5 comes to mind. When is the last movie you saw where the business owner was the hero? Not since Gung Ho about American workers working for Japanese ownership can I remember one movie.

Politician’s blame all your problems on business (or the other party). Truth is governments run on money generated by businesses. Governments don’t create wealth, governments tax it. 

Making more revenues than expenses is hard work, and people take risks to create businesses. They invest, spend their time, and often fail at businesses before they succeed. Most businesses fail in the first 5 years. Even when they succeed, family wealth is usually gone by the 3^rd generation. 

We need businesses - small, medium, large and international - to create growth and have jobs for people. People and their businesses built the United States. Most of us work for a company and our salaries come from the businesses. 

Gig workers are their own businesses. Was more difficult self-employed than as an employee. You do everything - sell, perform, administrative, taxes. Or you hire help when you can afford it.

Businesses are at their heart people serving people. Not faceless others. Support businesses, don’t blame businesses.