Retirement isn’t that far away
But if you’re a boomer, as I am, you’ve been working for a long time now. Retirement is either just around the corner, or even a little bit in the rear view mirror. But most of us aren’t ready to go gently into that good night and retire. We still have the energy, the drive and the capacity to produce. We’re too young to retire! But the Gen Xers are coming up behind and can’t wait to show us the door so they have the opportunity to move up. Can’t blame ‘em, really; our hanging on is gumming up the works.
And really, after 30 or 40 years, are you still as fired up about your career as you were 10 or 15 years ago? Or as much as that bright-eyed kid wanting to move into your slot? Didn’t think so. Me either.
So now what?
I’ve been thinking about the next third of my life and what I want it to look like. You probably have, too. Some people my age are looking at it and they’re scared to death. They don’t know how they’ll occupy their time. They don’t have enough money saved up after getting pounded in the meltdown in 2008. Boomer retirement savings statistics don’t look good. The Wall Street Journal did a survey not too long ago and found that the average boomer retirement portfolio would provide only $9,129 in annual income. I’m thinking that isn’t quite enough for most of us to live on, even with Social Security. Those folks are looking down the road to retirement and are nervous.
Some of us, though, are looking forward to it.
We have a plan in place that will let us continue to earn a real income instead of hoping that Social Security and our 401(k) don’t run out. A way to use the skills we’ve developed over the last 30 years to stay relevant, connected and productive. A way to help those Gen Xers get ready for their own next third, and to do it with more freedom and flexibility than most of us had during our careers. That something is Network Marketing, or MLM.
Boomer Retirement and MLM
I know, I know… you’ve probably passed on a Network Marketing business before. I did. Several times. You can read a little about that here. But Network Marketing today isn’t the Amway guy knocking on your door selling soap on a Saturday morning. It isn’t a garage full of water filters or asking your friends to a special meeting that you can’t tell them anything about until they get there. It’s grown up a lot over the last couple decades, just like you have.
And at the same time, several other things have changed as well.
30 is the new 40
Yeah, I’m not talking age here; I’m talking time on job. With the changes that have taken place in the economy over the last 10 years, a full-time job isn’t what it used to be and there are more people working multiple part-time jobs than ever before. Lots of 40 hour per week jobs have given way to 30 hour per week jobs. Real wages have gone up by just 4% since 1973. The job market just isn’t as friendly a place as it was when we started out.
On top of this, the social contract that existed just prior to our entering the job market has gone away. There is no such thing as job security anymore. Companies will cut back, outsource and automate every job they can in order to minimize expenses. Their allegiance is to short term profit and stock price movement, not to you.
On the plus side
While these changes haven’t treated workers very well, the advancement in cheap computers and internet connectivity has created opportunities for work to not be tied to a desk. Working from home or from anywhere is now possible for many and has made the Network Marketing industry much more interesting. A laptop, an internet connection and a phone are all you really need to run your business.
Better yet, your current skill sets, that you’ve taken decades to develop, will help you build a strong and growing Network Marketing business.
For example, you’ve been hiring and developing teams for years. That’s what the Network Marketing business is all about: developing a team of people who are pulling in the same direction in order to move a lot of product to the consumer. Sound familiar? Except with Network Marketing, YOU get to choose who you work with. You don’t have to put up with sour, negative people or people who don’t want to work. You choose.
Which means you get to work with people you really like and care about. People with whom you want to invest time and energy.
Create your own boomer retirement community
This staying connected and being part of something is essential as we get into the next third of our lives. The fantastic book, Younger Next Year, devotes several chapters to the notion that we need to be connected and involved to be healthy. That it is one of the most important things we can do to maintain our health in the next third of our lives. Network Marketing gives you a means to do that and to make a significant income. Income, geographic freedom and the means to be connected to a positive group of people on whom you can make a profoundly positive influence. Sounds like a pretty good deal.
I’d encourage you to take look. I’ve decided that it’s the perfect vehicle for me to drive into the next third of my life. If you want, you’re welcome to come along for the ride. Hit me up in comments or drop me an email if you want to talk about it.
Did this help you? If so, I’d appreciate it if you’d post a comment below and share it on Facebook.
Steve Norris’ blog
Skype: norris.steve
steve@stevenorris.biz
