Vol 1 Iss 2

This past week I traveled to Louisiana to lead my workshop "Create Your New Life" and I must admit I had a blast. Not only was it interesting to meet new people, but I reconnected with family members in a new way.

One cousin, a retired teacher, has returend to school to work on a Masters degree in Liberal Arts. What struck me is how different he is now that in his retirement he has taken on a different project. I asked him what was next for him, and he was very vague. My sense is that he wants to keep his options open.

I invited him to join my NEW Retirement Planning teleclasses. If you are looking at retirement in the next 5 years or less, please see the details listed under Upcoming Events. Many people plan more thoroughly for their 2-week vacation than for their 30-year retirement! (By the way, this is NOT about money!)

On a more personal note, I'm pleased to announce the birth of my second grandson on Jan. 6. He is, I am CERTAIN, the most beautiful child ever born. And I am completely unbiased....

As always, I welcome feedback and eagerly await your comments!

Too Old ~ Too Young?

When looking to change careers, or to engineer a major lifestyle transition, a major roadblock is perception of age.

People naturally associate age with traits such as physical condition, mental acuity, flexibility, or maturity level. But how valid is that really? What if age is a misperception and not indicative of anything related to success?

Wow, that would really free up people to do what they love.

Let's take a closer look. If you were to go to a bank with a willingness and ability to pay, do you think you would be denied a loan based on your age? You know as well as I do that an eighteen year old could be given a million dollar loan and an 85 year old could get a 30 year mortgage. Age doesn't matter there. The bank places a higher value on character than age.

When you believe that you won't succeed because you are too old or too young and don't have direct evidence to support it, then age is an internal barrier for you.

If it were truly an external barrier, you would have direct evidence to support it. Do you have evidence that your age is a barrier to creating a life of purpose and fulfillment in your chosen career? Possibly, much of what you have determined as truth is hand-me-down stories that don't include all the facts.

Spend some time investigating your dream without considering your age. Consider, instead, your skills, your personality, your likes and dislikes, and your values. There are many, many examples of people that have moved forward without giving their age a thought. You can too.

Working with a coach can help you uncover your obstacles and get you moving more quickly than doing it on your own. Contact me for your free consultation to how hiring a coach can help you Move Forward!

He had driven half the night

From far down San Joaquin

Though Mariposa, up the

Dangerous Mountain roads,

And pulled in at eight a.m.

With his big truckload of hay

With winch and ropes and hooks

We stacked the bales up clean

To splintery redwood rafters

High in the dark, flecks of alfalfa

Whirling though the shingle-cracks of light,

Itch of haydust in the

sweaty shirt and shoes.

At lunchtime under Black oak

Out in the hot corral,

--The old mare nosing lunchpails,

Grasshoppers crackling in the weeds--

"I'm sixty-eight" he said,

"I first bucked hay when I was seventeen.

I thought, that day I started,

I sure would hate to do this all my life.

And dammit, that's just what

I've gone and done."

Examing your own beliefs is the first step toward minimizing age bias. As long as you perceive that you are too old or too young, you will convey that message subconsciously and others will respond accordingly.

It's also necessary to recognize that others have the same misperceptions. Things you can do to minimize their perception of your age are:

~Eliminate references to time on your resume. Use relevant information to justify your achievements, not a laundry list of everything you've ever done.

~Examine your dress, hairstyle and lifestyle. You have 3 minutes to make a good first impression. Dress stylishly if you think you're too old, if you think you're too young, dress conservatively. You want to convey predictability and a respect for traditions.

~Behave in a way that projects positively. If you think you're too old, add energy to your step, smile with your eyes, and sit with your body back in your seat so you don't look stooped with age. If you think you're too young, use old world manners: sit only after you've been invited to, maintain eye contact and be matter-of-fact. You want to project professionalism.

~Watch your language. If you think you're too old, avoid using backward looking phrases such as "in my experience," instead use phrases based on the present such as "one solution might be," or "have you considered...". If you think you're too young, use complete complex sentences rather than fragments and ask specific questions that show you've done your homework. You're trying to convey thoughtfulness and maturity.

Let me know how it goes for you!

The average age of retirement in the U.S. is 57 years old. People are retiring at a younger age and in better health than ever before.

Years ago, retirement was seen as an ending. Today, especially with adequate planning, it can be a time that brings enrichment, personal fulfillment and renewal.

Though much attention has been paid to planning for your financial retirement, little attention has been focused on what you will DO in retirement. These classes are designed to help you shed light on retirement planning for your individual circumstances.

For dates, times, costs, and to register, please visit http://www.Forward Momentum.com

Work provides more than income, it also provides structure to your day and a social network. Learn what your work provides and ways to replace those functions in retirement.

Wouldn't it be nice to know ahead of time what to expect? In this class we will look at the potential trouble spots and how to plan for them ahead of time.

People do all kinds of things in their retirement. In this class you will learn some of the most common paths taken and consider ways to learn which directio would fulfill you.

A four-week class designed to help you take the first steps toward comprehensive retirement planning. You will take the on-line assessment, Retirement Success Profile (RSP), created by Richard Johnson, Ph.D. and review the 15 universal factors for retirement success.

Week 1 - Using your results from the RSP, we will review the scores and identify your focus areas and strengths.

Week 2 _ Discussion of factors 1 - 5

Week 3 - Discussion of factors 6 - 10

Week 4 - Discussio of factors 11 - 15

In each discussion, you will have the opportunity to learn how that factor impacts your life and how to make decisions now that will prepare you for your New Retirement.

Learn the process of discovering your next career step whether it's a different job or a brand new career. We'll look at defining what work suits you best, look at various job search strategies, and develop action plans. You'll learn how to research and approach the companies you'll be happiest working for and how to network to find that company.

Presented through School District 50 - Westminster

Southwest Adams County

Jan 27 and Feb 3, 2004

To register, call 303-427-3935,

or visit the Adult Education Office at 7300 Lowell Blvd., Denver

office hours: 7:30 am to 3:30 pm

You are free to use material from Moving Forward! in whole or in part, as long as you include complete attribution, including a live web site link. Please also notify me where the material will appear. The attribution should read:

"By Debra DeVilbiss, CPCC, of Forward Momentum, LLC. Please visit Debra's website at http://www.ForwardMomentum.com for additional articles and resources on creating your right livelihood."

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