Boomers Thought - You Too, Can Be Great

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."

~ Mark Twain ~

Who Is Packing Your Parachute?

WHO IS PACKING YOUR PARACHUTE?

A stone-age hunter tracked a set of paw prints through the grass
lands. He eventually came upon the largest and most ferocious
looking saber-toothed tiger he had ever seen. The animal was
recently killed and a small man stood beside it.

Amazed, he asked: "Did you kill that?"

"Yes."

"How could a little guy like you put down a huge beast like that?"

"I killed it with my club," the man replied.

"Wow!" the astonished hunter exclaimed. "How big is your club?"

The man thought for a moment. "I guess there are about 30 of us."

We may not be hunting saber-toothed tiger, but we all need some help
to get through this life. We need people who are ready to assist.
People who will encourage, teach, challenge, support and watch out
for us. One of the best metaphors I know for such people comes from
Charlie Plumb, a public speaker and retired naval officer.

After Plumb graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, he flew jets in
Vietnam. He was shot down by a surface-to-air missile after 75
combat missions. He ejected and parachuted into the jungle. The
Vietcong captured him and held him prisoner for six years in North
Vietnam. Today, Plumb lectures on lessons learned from that
experience.

He likes to tell the story of a day when he and his wife were
sitting in a restaurant and a man at another table approached them.
"You're Plumb!" the man said. "You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from
the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked the former pilot.

"I packed your parachute!" he said. Plumb gasped in surprise. The
man pumped his hand and continued, "I guess it worked!"

Plumb assured him it did. "If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't
be here today."

The pilot couldn't sleep that night, thinking about the stranger. He
wondered how many times he might have seen him on the ship and not
spoken because he was a fighter pilot and the man who packed his
chute was "just a sailor." He thought of the many hours the sailor
had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the carrier,
carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute,
holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.

When Plumb lectures, he often asks his audience, "Who's packing your
parachute?" He is asking: who is watching out for you? Can you
identify the people who have packed your parachute over the years
and those who are packing it today?

I think of a music teacher who taught me that it was not enough for
me to learn the instrument. I must also have fun with it. Ever
since, music has been a source of supreme joy for me.

I think of a school teacher who, after listening to a reading of a
short story I performed before the class, described the impact of
that story on him. That day I fell in love with story-telling and
understood the important role stories can play in a person's life.

I think of a young woman who believed in me and instilled within me
a life-long belief in myself.

I can think of many people who have packed my parachute. In their
own way, each helped me land a little more safely. Some have been
true teachers for me, some have been compassionate healers, and some
have put me in touch with deep, spiritual values. They influenced me
more than they ever knew.

Who is packing your parachute? And just as important, whose
parachutes are you packing? Who looks up to you? Who may depend on
you for courage or encouragement? For understanding or guidance?

To those who have packed my parachute over the years, I am indebted.

For those who are packing it yet today, I give thanks.

And to those whose parachutes I am packing, I promise to do my best.

  ~ Steve Goodier ~

Boomers Thought - Creativity

"Creativity makes you unique...uniqueness makes you
indispensable...indispensable people have no competition."

~ Jim Edwards ~
Internet Marketer / Entrepreneur

Boomers Thought - Potential

"More important than achieving your goals is pursuing your potential."

  ~ Mark Sanborn, Motivational Speaker ~

Boomers Thought - Dreams & Age

"Don't put an age limit on your dreams."

  ~ Dara Torres ~
     American Swimmer / 5-Time Olympian

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Boomers Thought - Wind & Sails

"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."

  ~ Bertha Calloway ~

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Boomers Thought - Accept

"When you accept yourself, the whole world accepts you."

  ~ Lao Tzu ~
     Ancient Chinese Philosopher

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Boomers Thought - Life

"Life is adventure, not predicament."

  ~ James Broughton, 1913-1999 ~
     American Poet, Filmmaker and Teacher

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Boomers Thought - Tomorrow

"You can't have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about
yesterday all the time."

  ~ Charles F. Kettering ~

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Boomers Thought - First a Dream

"Nothing happens unless first a dream."

  ~ Carl Sandburg ~

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Boomers Thought - The Best Gifts

"Deep down inside we know
that the best gifts
don't come from catalogs
or shopping malls.

They don't come in brightly-colored packages
or fancy envelopes
and they're not sitting under a tree somewhere...
The best gifts come from the heart.

They come when we look at each other
REALLY look at each other
and say 'You mean a lot to me'
or 'I'm so glad you're a part of my life.'

A gift like that
will never go out of style
or be forgotten
or be returned for a different size.

A gift like that can change the world."

  ~ Ron Atchison ~

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Boomers Thought - If You Just Look

"If you just look at all that already exists in your life, all that you already have: unlimited air to breathe, ample lighting to see, music to hear, books to read, stars to dream by, trees to gaze at, floors to dance on, friends to cavort with, enemies to befriend, strangers to meet, woods to walk through, beaches to comb, rocks to scale, rains to
cleanse you, rivers to float you, animals to comfort you, you do have to admit, there's more of it than you could ever, ever, ever spend."

(But try anyway)

  ~ Mike Dooley, a.k.a 'The Universe' ~
     Inspirational Speaker, Author and Friend

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Boomers Thought - Strength

"Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop
your strength. When you go through hardship and decide not to
surrender, that is strength."

  ~ Arnold Schwarzenegger ~

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Boomers Thought - "I Will"

"The most important thing in life is to stop saying 'I wish' and start
saying 'I will.' Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilities as
probabilities."

  ~ David Coperfield ~

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Boomers Thought - Live Your Dreams

"Always, always, always, live your dreams!"
                        
  ~ Jim Donovan, author ~

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Boomers Thought - Inner Spirit

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.  It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.  We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

  ~ Albert Schweitzer ~

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Boomers Thought - Learning

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.
Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young."

~ Henry Ford ~

BoomersTips

Boomers Thought - The Best Gifts

"Deep down inside we know
that the best gifts
don't come from catalogs
or shopping malls.

They don't come in brightly-colored packages
or fancy envelopes
and they're not sitting under a tree somewhere...
The best gifts come from the heart.

They come when we look at each other
REALLY look at each other
and say 'You mean a lot to me'
or 'I'm so glad you're a part of my life.'

A gift like that
will never go out of style
or be forgotten
or be returned for a different size.

A gift like that can change the world."

  ~ Ron Atchison ~

BoomersTips

Baby Boomer Option: Become an Online Entrepreneur

Hey, Boomer...maybe it's time to put your professional skills, life experience and passionate interests to use as an online entrepreneur...just like these everyday people did! Each one started with no internet marketing experience...and no "tech" knowledge...yet their highly successful web sites now rank in the top 1% to 3% of all internet searches:

• 17-year old Canadian student Nori Evoy now earns thousands of dollars each month as a result of an idea she got from a family vacation to the Caribbean island of Anguilla.
• Dentist John Burch of Mountain View, California found a way to attract thousands of potential patients & product customers after becoming frustrated with traditional newspaper ads and yellow page listings.
• Michelle Schill, an Alberta hair stylist, is now a very successful work-at-home mom who markets her hair styling tips globally to 1,500 website visitors daily.
• Jim Nelson of the U.S.A. turned his juggling hobby into a lucrative online product and information business.
• Scots Fiona McCardle & Jim Andrew transformed themselves from struggling knitwear designers to acclaimed rental agents for dream properties all over the world.
• Canadian Judd Burdon greatly expanded his limited seasonal asphalt business into a much-in-demand year-round consulting / sales activity, with hundreds of new clients...including the U.S. Army.
• Shaun Fawcett, a former government bureaucrat, now uses his administrative skills to create & publish writing-help ebooks, while earning a very handsome online income.

Here are several online success stories...see how these individuals changed their lives within a matter of months.

Boomers Tips

Top 10 U.S. Travel Destinations for 2007

Travel web site TripAdvisor has announced Anna Maria, Florida as its number 1 U.S. travel destination for 2007. The list of Top 10 Destinations was based upon analysis of several criteria, including user search activity and individual message postings.

Windward Oahu's Kailua was ranked number 2 in the study.

TripAdvisor's "TravelCast" Top 10 Destinations for 2007:

1. Anna Maria, Florida.
2. Kailua, Oahu
3. Siesta Key, Florida
4. Macon, Georgia
5. Breckinridge, Colorado
6. Millinocket, Maine
7. Vail, Colorado
8. Bishop, California
9. Franklin, Tennessee
10. Eureka, California

Boomers Tips

Boomers Thought - Attitude

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company ...a church ...a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past ...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.

We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ...I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes."

~ Charles Swindoll ~

Boomers Tips

Boomer Bosses: 10 Reasons to Hire Veterans

Would you like to upgrade your workforce with proven thinkers and doers who work well under pressure and consistently "go the extra mile?" If so, here are 10 great reasons to hire veterans:

• Quick Learning Curve - Veterans are proven when it comes to learning new skills and concepts. They also bring an array of identifiable and transferable skills to your civilian workforce.
• Strong Leadership - Military personnel are trained to lead by example. They are very adept at operating efficiently within any organization's chain-of-command -- utilizing proper direction, delegation, motivation and inspiration.
• Outstanding Teamwork - Veterans truly understand the importance of individual and group efforts in achieving common goals and objectives. Many have functioned in environments where lives depended upon close teamwork.
• Action and Diversity Inclusion - Veterans are used to achieving outstanding results while working effectively with men and women of all ethnic, religious, economic and geographic backgrounds.
• Top Performance Under Pressure - Former officers and enlisted personnel are very experienced in working with tight schedules and maximizing limited resources. They are masters at prioritizing tasks and producing results on time, especially under stressful conditions.
• Adherence to Policies and Procedures - Persons with military backgrounds have a unique respect for the policies, procedures and rules governing any organization. They readily accept and promote existing standards.
• Adaptation to New Technologies - Veterans have adjusted to ever-changing technologies while in the service, making them very adaptable to changes in the civilian sector.
• Honesty and Integrity - Veterans have a track record of proven integrity. Most of them have also been afforded security clearances, requiring stringent background checks.
• Health and Safety Conscious - Having had extensive training, veterans are very aware of health and safety protocols for themselves and others. Such a background significantly protects employees, property and materials. Many of them also participate in personal physical fitness programs on a daily basis.
• Success Over Adversity - Most veterans have proven themselves time and again in mission-critical situations, often under very trying conditions -- requiring superb discipline, endurance, stamina and flexibility.

Along these same lines, a recent study by recruiting firm Korn/Ferry International indicated that top executives with prior military experience performed better and lasted longer in their subsequent civilian positions.

Two great resources for both employers and veterans are Military.com's Veteran Career Network and HireVetsFirst.

~ Boomers Tips ~

Boomers Thought - Happiness

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude."

~ Denis Waitley ~
Motivational Speaker

Boomers Tips

Boomers Thought - Predict Your Future

"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

~ Unknown ~

BoomersTips

Real Estate: 10 Best Cities for 2006

According to real estate author Mark Nash ( "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home"), investors and home buyers should consider the following cities in 2006:

• Atlanta, Georgia
• Austin, Texas
• Boise, Idaho
• Dallas, Texas
• Houston, Texas
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Phoenix, Arizona
• San Antonio, Texas
• Seattle, Washington
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Read more here...

www.BoomersTips.com

Baby Boomer Facts and Trends

America's Baby Boomer generation is nearly twice the size of any before it. Boomers have been everyday heroes in remaking our society. Doing things their way, they have been the driving force for gradual change from accepted norms. "Leading Edge" Boomers are now turning 60. Don't expect them to simply "retire" as did their parents and grandparents.

Boomer Data from Various Studies

• There are 77 million U.S. Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964
• Every 7 seconds another Boomer will be turning 60 for the next 18 years
• Boomers tend to feel 10 to 15 years younger than their actual age
• They define themselves by feelings of youthfulness & optimism
• Most do not view retirement as a time to suddenly withdraw from working life
• 70 is the average age most plan to stop working
• Retirement is seen as a chance to redefine work on their terms
• Most expect to live at least two decades after turning 60
• 66 percent ages 51-59 plan to stay "mentally active" by working into retirement
• 49 percent will work to earn money
• 1 in 4 ages 51-59 have already attended next-career training sessions
• 60 percent ages 51-70 have taken steps toward a new line of work in retirement
• Boomers excelled for 5 decades without the internet, yet have quickly embraced it
• Many plan to create new careers based upon their interests

Here's one way to start that new career and turn your knowledge into profits...and check out these success stories...

~ Boomers Tips ~

Employers Bending to Keep Boomers Working

A significant trend is emerging as one of America's 77 million Baby Boomers will be turning 60 every 7 seconds for the next 18 years: employers are finding ways to keep them on the job longer -- effectively countering thoughts of retirement. In many cases, this is a win-win scenario for both parties.

The Baby Boomer generation is twice the size of any before it. Quite simply, many companies cannot afford a mass exodus of their most talented and productive workers in the next few years. Here, lost time in hiring replacements, high training costs and long learning curves are key bottom-line factors. One Atlanta-based accounting firm, Callaway Partners, employs 450 workers -- 90 percent of whom are Baby Boomers. Co-founding Partner Bruce Cox noted that Boomers are distinguished by their strong work ethic and solid integrity, priceless qualities for any organization. He also said, "they're the best workers we feel like we could imagine to put on our accounting projects."

Born between 1946 and 1964, a high proportion of Boomers are not ready to completely "hang it up," either. Surveys have shown that they expect to live at least two decades after turning 60. Approaching that milestone, many have no plans to suddenly retire to lives of pure leisure, as did their parents. Often, the desire is to phase into full retirement over several years. Research director Todd Harris of PI Worldwide fully supports flexible work schedules as a retention enticement for Boomers:

"Realizing that -- hey, maybe a Baby Boomer only wants to work 20 or 25 hours a week or wants to work every other day or only wants to work on certain projects -- having that flexibility is very important."

Not surpirsingly, many employers are now accommodating Boomers with flexible schedules and benefit packages. For example, one company lets its Boomers have Wednesday afternoons off to play golf. Others provide time for workers to assist their elderly parents.

At any rate, organizations desire to retain proven performers by keeping their work environments enjoyable, imaginative -- and even convenient.

~ BoomersTips ~

Boomers Thought - Cherish Each Hour

"Cherish each hour of this day for it can never return."

~ Og Mandino ~

www.BoomersTips.com

Baby Boomer Moms: Free Work At Home Guide

A Free Work-At-Home Guide is now available to all moms looking for the perfect mix: staying at home with their children, while still being able to start and run their own profitable home-based business.

The Guide provides all the info a mother would need to know about starting a successful business at home. The four WAHMs (Work-At-Home Moms) who wrote it assume a zero-knowledge starting point. They go from reviewing all the work-at-home options for moms and organizational tips, to the nitty-gritty how-to's of actually building a substantial income online. Pertinent, well-explained case studies are also included.

The new WHAM-IT! Masters Course is available from SiteSell, the folks who consistently help start-up entrepreneurs develop websites that rank in the top 1-3% of all internet search results. This easy-to-follow guide is perfect for:

• Moms with kids in school
• Moms with babies & toddlers at home
• Pregnant, soon-to-be moms
• Near empty-nesters, with teenagers bound for college
• Single Parents
• Military wives

To download the Free Work-At-Home Guide, Click Here.

www.BoomersTips.com

Boomers Want Cruise Ships & Adventure Travel

Cruise ships and adventure trips rank at the top of Baby Boomer travel plans according to several recent surveys.

As such, some cruise ships are now equipped with surfboard pools, rock-climbing walls, basketball courts, boxing rings, fitness centers...even ice rinks. And, of course, wireless phone and computer connections are standard elements.

Baby Boomers view travel quite differently than did their parents. A study conducted by the Association of Travel Marketing Executives provided the following Boomer marketing tips for the travel industry:

• Travel is considered a necessity, not a luxury. Boomers were involved in 268.9 million trips in 2003, more than any other group. This encompassed 43 percent of all domestic travel. A child also accompanied one-third of these travelers.
• Instant Gratification is preferred. Boomers want more things to do, with less time spent traveling from place to place. Therefore, internet access and connectivity are essential.
• Comforts are a plus. A wide array of trendy choices are appreciated, and may even be expected.
• Activity, flexibility and fun are key elements for Boomers. Educational travel is okay, if it is not packed with lectures.

Preferred travel includes adventure without great risk.

More...

www.BoomersTips.com

Second Career Test for Baby Boomers

The current edition of Newsweek Magazine provides a quick and handy test for Baby Boomers thinking of beginning new careers.

It's an easy two-part test. Part 1 consists of 10 simple "yes" or "no" questions. For example, the first one asks: "Are you thinking in terms of what you want to do in a new career and not simply in terms of what you want to leave in your current career?"

After hitting the "submit" button and receiving an indication of your readiness for a new career, Part 2 displays 10 additional questions for you to consider. The objective here is to spend some time thinking, so as to develop a list of priorities for your next job. It is then suggested that you establish three categories: Must Have, Nice to Have and Can't Have.

For those persons who may interview for new jobs, this checklist can help determine which potential job opportunity might be best for you. It can also be a valuable tool for those entrepreneurial-minded Boomers who want to start their own home-based businesses.

Test: Is It Time for a New Job?

Turn Your Knowledge into Revenue
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