Before They Tell You, "You're a Dime a Dozen"

 It's the soul-wrenching confession I hear from my coaching/tarot-reading clients who are 60 years of age or older: "I just want to be able to 'hang in there.'" 

Never was that easy. Several years ago ProPublica documented that 1) The majority of professionals over-50 years of age will be forced out of their line of work and 2) If they are fortunate enough to land new jobs only 10% will receive comparable compensation.

The recent intersection of several developments in the work world has worsened the situation for aging white-collars. To use that cliche, yes, it's been a perfect storm. The colliding factors include:

Employers are demanding more time, effort and accomplishments from all employees. Hovering over that is the assumption that older workers aren't up to those demands. 

Stepped-up embrace of automation, especially generative AI. Proficiency in those technologies is increasingly mandated. Again, there is the assumption that older workers haven't "kept up." The burden is on them to broadcast that particular skill base. 

Downsizing of knowledge work jobs. This could be a long-term trend. If you lose your job in management consulting you may not be able to get back in. Businesses are no longer in the market for theory and long reports. I advise job applicants to cut to the chase and hammer: "This is what I can do for you and do it better, more affordably and faster than the others seeking the opportunity."

Not looking the part. The reality is that aging per se is not experienced as attractive. Also liabilities are overweight, not being fit, hair loss and simply not being up to date with fashion trends. Part of the part is staying in the zone of current pop culture. No one wants to hear about how much you enjoyed the "Mary Tyler Moore Show." 

That's the bad news. 

The good news is that there is an emerged generation of 60 and older who have managed to do a reset. That is, instead of stuggling to hang in there, they have added runway to how they can earn a good living. 

*************************************

Here are the very human touchpoints in that:

Once among the top 10 lawyers in America, John Tarantino, while still keeping his hand in practicing law, launched a fresh professional identity. That's as a global inspirational speaker. Tarantino kicked his transformation off with his TedTalk "Redemption Stories.  That in itself has had 23 million views. Recently his address in Belfast was "THINK Manifestation." 

In his second round as CEO of Disney Bob Iger pulled off becoming a leader in the radically changed media landscape. Initially he stumbled before he got the hang of it, including in the all-important task of messaging.

Recently Melinda French Gates shifted to operating on a political platform. Without being a part of the Bill Gates brand she could have become irrelevant.

On Octoter 20th of this month, Kamala Harris will be 60. Even before that she took on the aura of a powerhouse in-control leader.

As showcased in this interview on Law, Distrupted, chair of law firm Paul Weiss Brad Karp outlines the dramatic strategic reset. To set that in play and continue the momentum Karp himself has rebranded. 

*******************************************************

Those who haven't created new space for themselves set themselves up for humiliation, as well as being less and less in demand. 

That doesn't always mean a career change. In this article in O'Dwyer Public Relations I discuss how difficult career change can be. Disruption can happen within the same path. Also, I explain the freelancing option for the older professional in this award-winning podcast.

When runway has run out there's retraining through certificate and licensing programs, in knowledge work, hands-on personal services and the trades. You can also experiment with turning a hobby, gig or small business into the main attraction. 

Don't expect any of this to be easy. That's why you reach out for mentoring and old-fashioned cheerleading from those in your corner. 

We all know that for a long time now content-creation has been a shrinking in demand and growing in supply. In my final days in that niche I had been told, "You're a dime a dozen." 

Three years ago I phased out of 90% of that career path and eventually transformed sidelines in intuitive coaching/tarot reading into a successful boutique. But, come on, letting go is hard to do. Only last week I finally ended doing a column for a retail publication. That shook me up. After all for decades that had been the only real success I had known. In my corner have been both Tarantino and Karp. 

It's the soul-wrenching confession I hear from my coaching/tarot-reading clients who are 60 years of age or older: "I just want to be able to 'hang in there.'" 

Never was that easy. Several years ago ProPublica documented that 1) The majority of professionals over-50 years of age will be forced out of their line of work and 2) If they are fortunate enough to land new jobs only 10% will receive comparable compensation.

The recent intersection of several developments in the work world has worsened the situation for aging white-collars. To use that cliche, yes, it's been a perfect storm. The colliding factors include:

Employers are demanding more time, effort and accomplishments from all employees. Hovering over that is the assumption that older workers aren't up to those demands. 

Stepped-up embrace of automation, especially generative AI. Proficiency in those technologies is increasingly mandated. Again, there is the assumption that older workers haven't "kept up." The burden is on them to broadcast that particular skill base. 

Downsizing of knowledge work jobs. This could be a long-term trend. If you lose your job in management consulting you may not be able to get back in. Businesses are no longer in the market for theory and long reports. I advise job applicants to cut to the chase and hammer: "This is what I can do for you and do it better, more affordably and faster than the others seeking the opportunity."

Not looking the part. The reality is that aging per se is not experienced as attractive. Also liabilities are overweight, not being fit, hair loss and simply not being up to date with fashion trends. Part of the part is staying in the zone of current pop culture. No one wants to hear about how much you enjoyed the "Mary Tyler Moore Show." 

That's the bad news. 

The good news is that there is an emerged generation of 60 and older who have managed to do a reset. That is, instead of stuggling to hang in there, they have added runway to how they can earn a good living. 

*************************************

Here are the very human touchpoints in that:

Once among the top 10 lawyers in America, John Tarantino, while still keeping his hand in practicing law, launched a fresh professional identity. That's as a global inspirational speaker. Tarantino kicked his transformation off with his TedTalk "Redemption Stories.  That in itself has had 23 million views. Recently his address in Belfast was "THINK Manifestation." 

In his second round as CEO of Disney Bob Iger pulled off becoming a leader in the radically changed media landscape. Initially he stumbled before he got the hang of it, including in the all-important task of messaging.

Recently Melinda French Gates shifted to operating on a political platform. Without being a part of the Bill Gates brand she could have become irrelevant.

On Octoter 20th of this month, Kamala Harris will be 60. Even before that she took on the aura of a powerhouse in-control leader.

As showcased in this interview on Law, Distrupted, chair of law firm Paul Weiss Brad Karp outlines the dramatic strategic reset. To set that in play and continue the momentum Karp himself has rebranded. 

*******************************************************

Those who haven't created new space for themselves set themselves up for humiliation, as well as being less and less in demand. 

That doesn't always mean a career change. In this article in O'Dwyer Public Relations I discuss how difficult career change can be. Disruption can happen within the same path. Also, I explain the freelancing option for the older professional in this award-winning podcast.

When runway has run out there's retraining through certificate and licensing programs, in knowledge work, hands-on personal services and the trades. You can also experiment with turning a hobby, gig or small business into the main attraction. 

Don't expect any of this to be easy. That's why you reach out for mentoring and old-fashioned cheerleading from those in your corner. 

We all know that for a long time now content-creation has been a shrinking in demand and growing in supply. In my final days in that niche I had been told, "You're a dime a dozen." 

Three years ago I phased out of 90% of that career path and eventually transformed sidelines in intuitive coaching/tarot reading into a successful boutique. But, come on, letting go is hard to do. Only last week I finally ended doing a column for a retail publication. That shook me up. After all for decades that had been the only real success I had known. In my corner have been both Tarantino and Karp. 

Jane Genova * Tarot Card Reader * Intuitive Coach * Medium.

Opening Yourself to Inner Peace, Self-Love and New Success

Deep Listening and Compassion.

For an appointment, please contact janegenova374@gmail.com or text/phone 203-468-8579.