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Table of Contents
Cool Career #113: Civil
Celebrant
Facilitator Training
Update
Social Security is 70!
Gray is Good: Skill Sets
in Demand
Cool Career #113:
Civil Celebrant
Here's a new but rapidly growing
profession that we believe has huge potential as a 'retirement'
career. Celebrancy
got its start in Australia about 25 years ago and is widely accepted
there. It is becoming established in the United States. Celebrants
co-create and
officiate at personalized ceremonies such as weddings, marriages,
commitments, renewal of vows, baby welcomings and adoptions, coming
of age, step-family tributes, new dwellings, birthdays, graduations,
survivor tributes, job transitions, memorials, funerals/end of life
tributes, divorce, special achievements and civic and corporate
events. Celebrants are drawn from many disciplines, but maturity and
an appreciation for life's passages are clearly an advantage. A
typical fee for a wedding, which covers in-depth interview, creation
of a customized script, and performance of the ceremony itself, runs
between $600 and 800. Do the math . . . and the marketing. Read
more about celebrancy here:
http://www.2young2retire.com/GerryFierst.htm
and
http://www.celebrantusa.com/training.html
Facilitator
Training Update
The Too Young to Retire book study guide,
which is still available to coaches free of charge, has evolved into
a six-week 2young2retire facilitator training which leads to
certification in the 2young2retire method. Typical candidates for
the training are life and career coaches and other career
professionals who wish to focus on the 50 and older population,
helping them to get clear about their choices for the future.
Graduates of the program will have a process, a workbook, a
community, a marketing plan, and continued support, while earning an
important credential.
In two weeks, we will be graduating our
first group of 2young2retire certified facilitators. The next
trainings begin Tuesday, September 27, at 9 am and I pm (EDT). The
course is a series of six weekly teleclasses, take home assignments,
plus email and marketing support. For more information and/or to
register, go to http://www.2young2retire.com/facilitatorform.html
Additional questions or for course outline, email howard@2young2retire.com
No Hammocks, No Garden Tools (We love testimonials!)
Both
Marie and I appreciated the 2y2r teleclass. The diversity of the
group, the variety of personal witness, the range of expertise and
the convenience made it just the ticket for active adopters!
Making [Too Young to Retire: 101 Ways to Start the Rest of Your
Life] available at the onset was invaluable. One decision
we have made [is] to run for National Office in the Catholic
Engaged Encounter movement. EE is a faith-based movement to
prepare young engaged adults for the life-long commitment to
marriage. We had not considered this move, being some 40 years
removed, [and] full of doubts as to our relevance. Then we
revisited the chapter about 'maturities gift' and realized our
almost 40 years of marital experience was indeed a resource to
share.
So,
no hammocks and garden tools!
Bob and Marie
In
the 2young2retire course, I was made to think about the direction I
REALLY want to go. It gave me the determination to take one spot of
time each day to begin to do the things I really want to do, e.g. 10
minutes for my writing. Secondly, [I learned] how to deal with money,
especially the 'Credit Fix.' I would recommend the book and the
course to my friends.
Eleanor Adkins
POTPOURRI
A journalist friend wants to interview entrepreneurs in their
50s who have turned a hobby or passion into a commercial success
or high-profile volunteer assignment that has gained public attention.
If you, or someone you know fits the description, email
marika@2young2retire.com
or howard@2young2retire.com
You could be famous by Friday.
Social Security turns 70 this
Sunday. To date, this most successful of government programs has
paid approximately $8.4 trillion in benefits to nearly 200 million
people. Since it was created in 1935, it has raised the living
standards of millions of older people, including our parents and
grandparents, and it will continue to provide benefits in the
future, as long as we do our share. Very simply, if you are able to
work and contribute to Social Security, it is in your best interests
to do so, possibly even while you are receiving benefits. Don't be
fooled by those scary statistics. Use your good health, education
and smarts and help keep Social Security going for the next
generations. That's what we do, both of us.
Many
experts predict that in just five years over one-third of the
workforce will be over the age of 50. The Herman Group has been on
the case. Quoting Elaine Chao, US Secretary of Labor, "Nowhere
is the case stronger for tapping the strengths of older workers than
with employers facing the skills gap. Everywhere I go, employers
tell me they are having difficulty finding workers with the right
skill sets for the jobs they have to offer." Since January
2001, the biggest job growth has been among those 55 and older, with
3.2 million new workers from that group, according to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Older workers can fill employers' needs
and will be in high demand during the balance of this decade.and
beyond. Http://hermangroup.com
You wrote us . . .
Hi
Marika and Howard,
Thanks for your website, newsletter
service, and all of your information. Your book, which I have
bought, is giving me much food for thought. It's become my
reader each evening before I go to sleep. It's easy to read,
well written, and full of models to follow, wit and wisdom. I'm
reading slowly, digesting, and formulating some paths I'd like to
consider pursuing. Your book is providing me a map for thought
and action. I have no firm answers yet about what I'll do in about
10 months when I
leave my classroom for the last time, but I
just wanted to express my gratitude to both of you for all that
you're doing.
Steve Berwager
Hanover, PA
Thanks for
the health tips. Im one of those seniors who finds delight in
exercise, natural fresh food and the out-of-doors. Because of
that, we need to be vigilant of the state of our environment.
I believe that its degradation is very associated with the epidemic
of cancers and auto-immune disease.
Freyda Zell
Dear Howard,
Thank
you for your insightful presentation at the PMA conference. You have
a terrific vision for the future. Have your heard of the
grandmother hypothesis? As I'm sure you already know, historically
speaking, a decent body of research suggests that grandmothers are
the reason for human culture, mobility, and extended childhood. One
of my dreams is to create products that facilitate grandparents as
primary keepers of family culture and mentors of children.
Dr.
Cindy Dormer
Hold That Thought for Kids: Capturing Precious
Memories through Fun Questions, Images, and Conversations.
http://www.holdkids.com
cynthiadormer@msn.com
Thanks
Marika for continuing to email these "gems" of insight and
helpful encouragement. I'm planning to retire in Jan., 2006, BUT
not to quit working, only to adjust my pace and balance my work
hours to something less than I've been putting in over the
years...I'll plan to do many more activities with my somewhat
younger wife, and to invest some time in getting back into golf,
tennis and yes my continued commitment to lifting weights at my
gym...:) Keep those motivating articles coming ...
That's
just what we aim to do! Until next time, stay well, make it new,
make it better.
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