Generations Don’t Divide Us

Greatest

Silent

Boomer

Gen X

Millennial

Post Millennial (Need a better name people)

Grew up, live, work and church with all generations. With all the variation we all have in abilities, athletics, career, disposition, education, experiences, family, friends, geography, heritage, religious beliefs, scholarship, talents and wealth. Wonderful, interesting, different, frustrating, impossible, people first and foremost.

How can this diversity all be reduced to an age range? The theory is common experiences in our youth affect people alike. But don’t we view the same events differently? Don’t we learn and grow during our life? How can we be categorized by decades?

Studying the bible, people from over 2,000 years ago act the way we do today. Same fears and worries. Have babies changed? Don’t children still grow the same way they always have? Don’t awkward teenagers grow into amazing adults? 

More important we pay attention to people we meet than divide each other by a theory. 

People are people. We need to be acknowledged, respected, listened to and loved.

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.

Build Resilient Communities

Some days going to work is a grind. Dreary commuting. Repeatedly walking in the door. How do you avoid the negativity?

Worked a lot of places in a 40+ year career, and it is not just your company. Negativity comes at us from everywhere. This time of the year doesn't help coming to work in the dark either. Nor do I like coming off daylight savings time, just feels gloomy. 

That said, here are ways make work more rewarding for yourself and your coworkers:

Gratitude starting the morning

Have a job, people & family like/love in my life. Warm bed. Decent health. I get to work with good people. Gratitude does not have to be anything big. Faith helps. Focus on the good as groggily try and get out the door.

Laugh

Councilor I know taught stressed out financial industry people to read the comic pages before starting work. Really improved teamwork, productivity and office collaboration. I listen to radio getting dressed & driving in and find something to smile about. Fortunate to laugh at my own foibles. "Those of us who can laugh at ourselves will be endlessly entertained." – Unknown

Eat healthy and exercise

If you feel good, easier when you need to put in extra effort. A walk often improves your mood. Look around for whatever makes you happy.

Learn something 

Always learning something new, might use or will be helpful in future brings joy.

Build community around you 

Smile. Greet people. Find out how they are today. Find something in common like families, hobbies, work or sports to talk about. Does not take much time. Some people respond only after 6 month to a year, and usually shocked/pleased when the breakthrough comes. Benefit comes when working/moving all over factory & offices if can say hi to one person, am okay, and then other people will work with me.

What you feel is not unusual. These are rewarding ways I learned to stay involved, productive, and enjoy my days. I plan to work another decade before a long active retirement. Enjoy your career as well.

Fear Holding You Back?

Of course it is. We hate losses more than we love gains. Worse are the unknowns. What will they say? Failure risks our status.

Starting something new requires us to be awkward and uncomfortable. Beginning requires multiple tries, fumbling and successful repetitions to learn. Mistakes will be made. Attempts will fail. 

Do you focus more on the short term than the longer term? To learn something you need to look forward to the after. What will success look like? More opportunities. More respect. More income?

Go start. Research. Ask friends or coworkers. Read books and articles. Watch YouTube. We will applaud your efforts now and when you succeed.

T. Boone Pickens Remembered

T. Boone Pickens Remembered

How many oilmen propose wind power? The late T. Boone Pickens did in 2007.  He sold his oil business, then opened BP Capital Management hedge funds at 68. Made his first billion at 70. Working with people, adjusting to changing markets, and charity mark his life.

Later in life he reported, “I have earned $4 billion, lost $2 billion and given $1 billion away.” In his 60+ year career T Boone Pickens had many successes, failures, and life’s comebacks.

T. Boone Pickens donated $11 million to the University of Texas Center for Brain Health in 2006. He was talked into having his brain scanned. His brain lite up like a man 30 years his junior. T. Boone was always more interested in being around sharp minds interested in what was new or changing.

Forbes has an article with T. Boone Pickens' Letter To The Class Of 2018. Let’s listen to his advice:

“A fool with a plan can beat a genius with no plan.” - His Father’s

“Keep focused. When you are hunting elephants, don’t get distracted chasing rabbits.”

“Don’t fall victim to what I call the ‘ready-aim-aim-aim-aim’ syndrome. You must be willing to fire.”

“Work hard. Come early, stay late.”

“Be the eternal optimist.”

“The higher the monkey climbs a tree, the more you can see his ass.” - Be confident, yet modest.

After describing his experiences and “Booneisms” he encourages us, “Now go get ‘em!”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tboonepickens/2018/05/11/ninety-years-of-lessons-learned-t-boone-pickens-letter-to-the-class-of-2018/#3d0b57b3e3c6

Your Wealthy Future

Creating Wealth is a decades long affair. Rarely happens overnight and a quick success can backfire.

A few people win lotto. Instant riches. But a few years later you find former winners in bankruptcy court. They did not know how to keep or invest money. Only how to spend it.

Basics Matter

Spend less than you bring home. 

Save for gifts, vacations, unexpected repairs and layoffs.

Pay off credit cards every month. Losing 18+% interest hurts.

Sign up for your 401K and take the company match minimum. Saving tax deferred your taxes go down more than take home pay.

Have insurance - auto, medical, long term care, renters or homeowners, plus a personal liability policy. Not having insurance can bankrupt you.

Attitude

Fear of Missing Out cause people to pay too much, buy luxuries or take expensive vacations. No one needs a $50,000 wedding. The debt incurred will hurt your relationship.

Diversify your investments. Nobody knows what stocks or bonds will do next. Everyone makes mistakes and have setbacks. Recessions and recoveries happen. Use ETFs - roughly 35% stocks, 55% bonds and 10% precious metals & REITs. 

Drive an uncool car. Cars lose so much value so quickly. Prefer 3-6 year old cars and paying cash. My investment advisor has only owned 4 Toyotas.

Investigate and talk with experienced people before buying. FOMO leads to over paying. Good investors don’t rush decisions, nor join in speculative manias. Bubbles burst and values return to earth quickly.

Real estate is not liquid. If you need to move selling costs are nearly 10%. Don’t buy too big of a home. Make sure the location fits your future plans, then check property is in good condition.

Time

First few years little accumulates in 401K or savings. After ~5 years the returns and dividends start adding up, plus debts are getting paid off. You can see where you are going.

Your mortgage use to be higher than rents. Ten years later less than renting a 2 bedroom apartment. Plus appreciation puts you are ahead.

Learn about subjects one at a time. No one knows everything. Admit you need to know more and ask what seem like foolish questions. If a salesperson is rushing your decision, sleep on it overnight and talk with advisors before buying. 

Your Future

Wealth and savings are desirable because they give you options. Paying for education, buying a home, or investing in a business or real estate. Your future self will be grateful for early sacrifices.

“These are my principles, and if you don’t like them … well, I’ve got others.” - Groucho Marx