| A growing number of us can now expect to live | | | | I know of a friend who after a 30-year career |
| close to or past 100 years, so 50 has become | | | | as a journalist found his work shifting from |
| midlife. Today instead of approaching | | | | working on articles to working with |
| midlife with the obligations of work and | | | | administrators. The bureaucratic and |
| family, baby boomers are looking to a second | | | | political hassles that came with the job of |
| half they pretty much design as they wish. | | | | editor of a consumer magazine were no longer |
| For many of them, the results don't look much | | | | what he wanted. |
| like what their parents and grandparents | | | | |
| called retirement. | | | | Figuring there was a good chance he'd live to |
| | | | 90 or beyond, he started thinking about what |
| Whether because of layoffs or because they're | | | | he wanted to do with the next third of his |
| weary of their jobs, many are considering new | | | | life. Luckily he'd developed a passion for |
| possibilities for their post-50 years and | | | | pottery in his 40's and the more he did it, |
| that includes starting a business of their | | | | the more he liked it. So when offered a |
| own. Many of these business endeavors | | | | chance to retire early at 63, he jumped at |
| combine their passions and talents into a | | | | the chance to turn his hobby into a second |
| revenue-producing career. This marriage fits | | | | career. |
| their goals in ways a salaried job rarely | | | | |
| could. Some work full-time, but some work | | | | His biggest challenge was to find ways to |
| part of a day, week, month, or year. Many | | | | market his work, and he found doing studio |
| are pursuing work similar to what they did | | | | sales several times a year worked for him. |
| when employed, while others are staking out | | | | He and his wife purchased a 20-acre home in |
| entirely new careers. | | | | Virginia, and remodeled a four-stall barn |
| | | | into a studio workshop and living quarters. |
| The obstacles that post-50s face in starting | | | | Three years later, between the studio sales, |
| a business are not substantially different | | | | galleries that carry his work, annual crafts |
| from those anyone else faces when becoming | | | | shows, his Web site and some great publicity |
| self-employed. Without exception, most | | | | his business is growing well. |
| consider their age as an advantage in | | | | |
| communicating credibility to clients and | | | | Best of all he loves what he does and |
| customers. | | | | envisions doing it until they carry him out. |
| | | | He sees no reason for not having another |
| What a difference from the ageism experienced | | | | 30-year career after his first. More and more |
| by so many on the job! No wonder the U.S. | | | | "old gray mares" are following the same path. |
| Small Business Administration is finding the | | | | So if you're nearing or are 50, you are |
| ages of start-up entrepreneurs is trending | | | | coming up to bat in the second inning of your |
| older. | | | | life. Why not hit it out of the park! |
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