Paige Power

  An argument for post career entrepreneurialism If you conduct an internet search about becoming an entrepreneur you will definitely see a lot of nay saying posts about the rigors of business ownership. It's true Starting a business can be extremely challenging. Many people fail. I’ve failed. But consider this-you have the benefit of years of experience, time and you as a mature adult reflect ing on your purpose versus being focused on the needs of a growing family. As a person who is either already retired or approaching retirement you can decide if your endeavor is primarily an exercise in earning, or an exercise in joy, or a combination of both. Clearly I’m making a few presumptions. Firstly, that you are in a position that includes some income from retirement accounts, savings accounts, social security and investments. If you must work to earn, beginning a business without an income is a mistake. Only take on entrepreneurial efforts if you can manage with the resources...

  “ Everything popular is wrong”, so said Oscar Wilde. I believe Oscar was right. Consider what is popular in the United States right now- The most popular vehicle in America is the Ford F Series truck. Currently a new Ford F-150 is around $45,000. That’s a lot for a vehicle; especially of you are like most Ford F-150 owners I see when I drive, that is with an empty truck bed. Why buy a truck if you never haul anything? I suggest you can buy an economy car for your commute that will be more affordable to drive, offer more affordable maintenance, and be easier to park on the street. Over a five year period you can save up to $4,475 on gas alone. Of course the car costs less too. The most popular handbag according to an internet search, which could also be the most money making bag, is The Birkin Bag, which costs on average $20,000. That’s a lot of cash for a hand bag. Makes me wonder what the ladies are hauling to justify the price tag. I don’t use a hand bag. I have a phone case...

  For many of us we dream of the day we can hang up our work clothes and swap them out with beach wear. The reality is that most of us won’t make the most of our post career time. As I mentioned in a previous post , retirement is full of obstacles for many. Lack of funds comes to mind, but also the challenge of filling eight to twelve hours each day with something more than wandering from room to room wondering why you came in there in the first place. Imagine differently Imagine differently. Can visualize yourself with a fulfilling second act career that engages your mind, forces you to learn something new, and connects you with a dynamic social community that is fun and appealing? Originally when I realized I would never retire, I was motivated by the need to earn well into my seventies or eighties. That was based on my understanding that I would lose money by stopping working at 50 so I could travel the world. I was not in a position to do both - travel extensively and reti...

  Over the fourth of July celebrations this week my neighbor set his house on fire. My understanding of the circumstance is that he put used legal fireworks into a garbage can and left the garbage can in his garage. I didn’t get the story first hand, so I wasn’t able to ask him why he didn’t douse the fireworks with water before putting them into the garbage, or why he didn’t wait until morning to clean up, or why he didn’t leave the garbage can outside over night. But I’m sure he’s asking himself all these questions and more. The fire completely destroyed his house as well it burned two other houses, one immediately next door and one behind his home. No one was injured. I started thinking about how difficult it will be for him and his wife to carry on over the next few months. Their cars are totaled. How will they get to work? Will his home insurance pay for rental cars? From what I can tell all their personal belongings are destroyed. What will they wear to work? Do th...