Everyone wants long term success. But it is elusive for most.

Long term success is dependent on knowing where you are now and where you are headed. Then closing the gap. Frequently. Continuously.  Whether it’s your business, your career or your life at home., it’s easy to get off track, lose touch or get buried under. Without a true sense of where you are in the moment, it is impossible to realize your dreams or be a leader in your field.

Re-calibrate your profound knowledge

The only way we can take 100% responsibility for sustaining our success is to keep re-calibrating-in every aspect of our lives and organizations.

Key to successful recalibration is to acquire what my dear departed mentor, Dr. W. Edwards Deming, coined as Profound Knowledge. This umbrella phrase emphasizes understanding change and how to measure it, being aware of emerging trends and shifts, and learning how to apply this knowledge to leading and sustaining long term success.

Bottom line: If we don’t acquire Profound Knowledge we cannot know how to prepare for and leverage coming change, thus how to sustain our success long term.

Understanding change means understanding shifts in our personal world as well as tracking trends that capsize us, overtake us, or cause us to flounder.

Learning the Hard Way

Unfortunately one of my Gen X male clients learned this the hard way. A rising star in his field and recently married, he was planning far a great future for his kids, tons of time for fun and all the trappings of success. As if out of the blue, the rug got pulled out from under him. His “Happy Homemaker” wife fled, saying I’m out of here!

Somewhere along the way there was a breakdown or perhaps many small fissures below the surface. Had they been recalibrating an checking in with each other, communicating the truth of what was so for each of them…perhaps they could have saved their marriage…or at least ended it with love, grace, and forgiveness.

Even in the most secure relationships, unexpected change happens to ruffle our plans. A recently returned to work mother of teenage kids reported that her new career is now going gangbusters and she no longer worries about the empty-nest . But, the new ripple in her life is that her once very successful husband, in his late 40’s, now faces an unknown future. Surprised by the shifts in his industry, “suddenly” he and his business partner are facing the probability of closing their doors. What once appeared to be the sure path to their dreams, is no crumbling beneath them.

Change is inevitable. If you can learn what Profound Knowledge is and apply it you can avoid these same pitfalls and NOT LEARN THE HARD WAY!

What steps are you going to take to future cast your long term success?

I’ve talked before about presence, what it is and why it’s important to develop, (see “Unwrapping Your Presence”). The first steps in developing this presence are asking the right questions, then opening yourself up to listening to the answers from the visionary voice inside you. These answers (or more and better questions) might come from within, but they can also come from messengers and symbols in your outer world that resonate with that voice. The important thing is that you open up as many conduits for that voice, for these messengers and symbols, as you possibly can, preferably with guidance from other visionaries. (Read more about this in “Stop, Look, and Listen.”)

This process is holistic, bringing together your body, soul, and mind in synchronicity. Presence is itself visceral. It isn’t a head trip but a physical embodiment of your Soul Speak. Even the visionary within resides in your body, connecting soul with its vessel. When you start hearing that voice and seeing messengers and symbols all around you, don’t be surprised if you feel the truth of what you’re receiving deep in your belly. There’s a reason for the saying “I feel it in my gut.”

That’s the inner feminine rising within you, the intuitive wisdom that your visionary voice embodies. Women and men have this aspect, but in women, it’s closer to the surface and often easier to access. But the inner masculine plays a role in this process as well, supporting the inner feminine, again for both women and men. (For more information about these aspects and archetypes, see Carl Jung.) As you work on asking the right questions and opening your soul and body to the answers, to that visionary voice, you can take the next step and start opening up your mind, gathering the knowledge that will feed the insight you gain.

Begin doing your homework, the research in the outer world that your inner world needs to process for you to ultimately make your vision reality. If you are focusing on your career or business, research the market, emerging trends, new business models and practices, technology, visionary leaders and companies, and gaps in what the world needs that business has yet to fulfill, or fulfill adequately.

If you are focusing on reinventing retirement, research what others are doing and where, flexible arrangements with companies or nonprofits that enable you to focus your energy and time the way you want, or entrepreneurial opportunities that would enable you to fulfill your soul’s purpose and make a difference, while still making a profit.

If you are seeking to make changes in your personal life—a move, a renewed focus on relationships, more travel, or more time and energy devoted to new or neglected meaningful pursuits—research places, social opportunities, logistics, and personal growth resources (such as this blog!). For all of the above and more, consider what skills you will need to learn and develop to make the most of whatever opportunities you will eventually pursue.

Now is not the time to draw definite conclusions or make decisions. Not just yet. The purpose of this information gathering is to give your visionary something to work with and to fine-tune the messengers and symbols you receive. Continue the inner work of asking questions and developing conduits for your visionary voice. By consciously getting your inner feminine and inner masculine to work together, you are on the path to creating a future that works—for yourself, your community, your world.

What knowledge do you need to gather to feed your visionary voice?

We expect retirement to bring various freedoms, like the financial freedom to do everything you had to put aside raising children and working all those years. But, do our expectations always paint a clear picture of reality?

Depending on your freedom of time and financial planning, retiring can be an enjoyable and fulfilling time of your life, but for many people it is filled with financial uncertainty along with feeling purposeless and lost.

What are the Pros to Retiring?

As mentioned above, retiring can be a wonderful time in your life. You need to make sure that you plan for years in advance. Neglecting your long-term financial status could leave you in a tough spot when it comes time to retire.

If you’re married, this can be a great opportunity to grow with your spouse. Being able to reconnect with your spouse and invest in your relationship in a way that was not always possible when you were busy working.

Retirement can also be a time to develop a sense of purpose. You can invest time in things you had long wanted to. Whether that is taking up a new hobby, writing that book you always wanted to write, or learning a new skill. For many people retiring can be a new chapter in life to learn and explore yourself.

What are the Cons of Retiring?

For some, retirement can be filled with grief and lack of purpose. Many adults feel retirement marks the beginning of old age and redundancy. This can lead to feelings of stagnation and depression.

You are susceptible to loss of drive and motivation for productivity. This lack of productivity can lead to boredom or restlessness. People who are used to having a fast-paced job and lifestyle can feel frustrated at the slow pace of retirement, making it difficult to relax.

Dealing with a Lack of Purpose During Retirement

It can be tough to navigate life once retirement comes around. You may start feeling uneasy and don’t know what to do with yourself. There are many options that can help people figure out what to do with their retirement.

This could mean joining a painting class or going to a book club. It is important to stay active and to engage your brain by doing things that require you to be creative and problem solve.

Some options for staying active could include tennis, yoga, swimming, or daily walks. If you’re prone to restlessness and need to relax, meditation is an excellent option that also engaging your brain.

Retirement is an adjustment, but if viewed with the right attitude it can be a great chapter in your life. You may even find yourself being more productive than when you were working full time.

A Guest Post by Alexis Schaffer

Alexis Schaffer is a former ballet instructor and aspiring nurse. In her free time she teaches yoga and writes for various online publications. She’s also the proud dog mom of a beagle named Dobby.

You will have the opportunity to examine the hottest topic on the minds of leading CSAs and newbies alike.

Join me to kick-start a unique conversation on how to turn what keeps CSAs like you up at night into assets for the Longevity Economy.

Insights gained will become the foundation for developing and implementing effective, innovative – yes, even visionary, new approaches.

Leading GeroFuturist best-selling author, firecracker speaker, game changer, and thought leader on the Longevity Economy, 40+ market, the business of aging, and ageless aging. A world-class trusted advisor, Master Certified Coach and expert authority, Karen boldly advocates for the new story of our age.  Karen guides go-getter entrepreneurs, trailblazers, and visionary leaders to their niche in the global business of aging while evolving their role in response to this new narrative. Karen is an in-demand speaker known for dynamic presentations and a remarkable gift for captivating any audience!

Contact Information: http://www.karensands.com/ | 203-266-1100 | Karen@KarenSands.com| https://www.linkedin.com/in/karensands/

Books:http://www.karensands.com/store/
The Ageless Way
The Ageless Way – A Companion Journal/Workbook
The Greatness Challenge
Gray is the New Green
Visionaries Have Wrinkles
Visionaries Have Wrinkles Reflections Journal
Visionaries Have Wrinkles Reflections Card Deck
Ageless Reinvention (Releasing 2018-2019)
Mastering Reinvention for Midlife & Beyond – (Re-releasing 2018-2019)

Your Next Chapter

Life is supposed to be full of milestones. Things like graduation, getting married, buying a house, a new job or the birth of a child. Every self-help book that I have read recently, asks the question- what is your next move? The audiobooks that I listen to are challenging me to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. This type of action will propel me to the next level of my career, lifestyle or whatever the new thing that I aspire to.

Do I want to sell my house and move to Dubai? Do I want to spend a week in the woods with nothing but a tent, ax and a camp stove? Heck no. I don’t think these drastic changes in my lifestyle will push me up the preverbal ladder of life.

What if there is no next chapter? What if there is no ladder of life to climb? What if you are living and breathing your next chapter at this very minute?

Stop living for the future. Stop buying into the nonsense that you need to have three years experience before you can apply for that job that you are more than qualified for. Stop telling yourself that you will finish your degree when your children are in school. Stop thinking that you can’t possibility sing in the choir because you haven’t practiced enough.

You are writing your life story in the here and now.
Your next chapter is here and now. Your next chapter is what you do and the decisions you make every day. Waiting for something big may not make you take those small daily steps that are part of your everyday story. Everyday stories add up to a full chapter. Full chapters add up to a very interesting and engaging book.

Enjoy your story in the here and now.

Your Next Chapter is Now

About the Author

Jan has been working in senior living for over 22 years. She has learned throughout her career that everyone needs encouragement. Everyone has a story and it is never too late to make a fresh start. Her blog janwieder.com is full of encouraging stories.

In 2017 surveys showed a large majority of Boomers planning to continue working past retirement age, some by necessity and some by design. But now we can see signs of economic recovery with over 50 percent of Boomers born in 1946 saying they are now fully retired.

Does this mean that Boomers are headed for “Retirement as usual”? I highly doubt it. All this means is that necessity is becoming less of a driving force, enabling more and more of us to design the Third and Fourth Age of our lives.

As more and more employers recognize the need to capitalize on their experienced workforce before losing them, we should see an increasing emphasis on flexible work arrangements—part-time work, consulting, and job sharing, just to name a few. This in turn will provide more visible options for Boomers to consider beyond the false dichotomy of retiring or not retiring.

Forward-thinking companies have already begun this shift, but far too many are not looking past their own noses and preparing now for the coming wave of Boomers making pivotal choices about how to design their lives. For many businesses, the planning for a changing workforce won’t happen until the sheer numbers of Boomers on the precipice of leaving reach a critical mass.

This is a huge mistake for these businesses, of course, but this lack of foresight does not have to extend to the rest of us.

We all have the opportunity, no matter our age or stage, to design our futures starting today. You don’t have to wait for your company to provide options for you. Now is the time to develop your own game plan, to think BIG about the next stage of your life, and to then create your own options to make that big vision happen.

This may mean going to your employer and laying out your plans and what you need from them to make those plans happen in ways that are advantageous for both of you. Or this may mean laying out a succession and exit strategy that takes you into your own business, your chance to combine profit and purpose, to make a living and a difference while enjoying more flexibility to work where and when you want.

I suspect that future surveys of Boomers will demonstrate far more variety in working arrangements as well as many more Boomerpreneurs on the horizon. This will be not only a result of economic recovery but also a stimulus toward economic growth and sustainable success for individuals, our nation, and the planet.

Have you figured out What’s Next for you as you head into your Third or Fourth Age?

However, from the vibrating heart of our dissipating structures comes the promise of our true greatness: a greatness of awareness and action that will change the world. From the midst of the evolving Great Transition, we leave the Great Recession and the uplifting Obama era behind us as we enter an unknown, unchartered new cycle of populism and extreme radicalism ripping our valued democratic tenets to shreds and putting each of us on the line.  This Great Shift demands that we each unlock our potential for greatness which lives in each of us, and we are being called to make a difference. That is the premise of The Greatness Challenge, in which I offer a template for embracing and embodying our unique Signature Greatness DNA^SM to unleash our personal and collective greatness.

The Greatness Challenge is a manifesto for the growing wave of us who want to add value in all we do and who are being called to personal and collective evolution—from dentists to doctors, executives to engineers, artists to teachers and visionary leaders and futurists who are looking to redesign their lives so that every moment counts . . . for those of you who seek work that not only fills your bank accounts but your “values” bank as you yearn to do well doing good . . . for leaders who seek a pathway to visionary leadership, so the impact you have is of the greatest benefit for all.

To be one of the first to hear about The Greatness Challenge when it releases join us in the Secret Facebook Group here.

by Downing Van Buren, Learn How

With technology advancing at such a breakneck pace it’s easy to feel outdated, out of the loop, or left behind. It seems every day phones and computers get faster and more complicated. Maybe you’ve felt it’s just not worth trying to learn how to use the latest technology tools.

We at Learn How disagree. Technology has so many benefits, that instead of being a hurdle it can actually be a great tool to help you “flip the age paradigm on its head” and really “rock your age” as Karen puts it so well.

Here are three ways technology can help you rock your age and thrive:

Knowledge

With an internet connection, you have access to almost ALL of human knowledge. You can learn anything you want. Need to learn some new skills to thrive in your career? How about that hobby you’ve always wanted to pursue but didn’t know where or how to start? It’s all available. Not knowing how to do something isn’t a valid excuse for not reaching your full potential. Technology allows you access to knowledge and information that will help you live to your full potential and purpose.

Networking

Technology brings people together. With email, live video chat services, and social media, connecting with others has never been easier. Collaborating with people on different continents is now common practice for many. Companies and brands are using these services to connect with consumers and influencers more than ever before, and you can use these same services to your advantage. Learning how to use this technology will open your world to new ideas and new resources to help you on your journey.

Efficiency

Finally, technology has simplified much of the mundane tasks of life. Buying an airline ticket, managing finances, creating a business plan, managing a project schedule, shopping, even learning a new language have all been simplified through computer and cell phone apps. And the best part is, most of them are free. Learning how to use some of these apps will save you time, as well as increase your results.

Technology can seem hard to learn at first, but once you learn some basics, it becomes more intuitive and easy. That is why we founded Learn How. After noticing the trouble our parents and grandparents had doing simple tasks on their phones and tablets, we knew we could help. At Learn How we create simple step by step videos on how to use technology.

Our videos are short, easy to understand, and include on screen guides so you can follow along yourself. Learning technology can seem difficult, but with a little direction and practice it will soon become second nature. Here’s an example of the Magnifier tool for the iPhone that many people don’t even know they have!

So, instead of fearing technology, it’s time to take control and use it as a tool to help you thrive and really rock your age.

Questions for thought:

What are you going to do today to make technology a tool instead of a hurdle?

What technology tools could help you accomplish a goal you are pursuing right now?
Downing Van Buren is a content writer for “Learn How”, a group of four friends who are doing their best to help others learn how to use technology to improve their lifestyle.  We are focused on providing the best instructions, tips, and tricks in short concise videos that are easy to follow and understand.

If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito.

-Anita Roddick

We are not here merely to make a living. We are here to enrich the world.

-Woodrow Wilson

Whether you are extraordinary at something, or everything, I bet you strive to be the best in whatever you do. Or at least you want to believe that of yourself. (if you don’t, why not?)

You’re inspired by people who add value to life and work.

In fact, if all of us were to add value all the time, it would be nirvana on this plant.

Oh well. Not yet. I keep envisioning it and working towards it anyways.

It works both ways. If we want to receive value, then we must also add value.

When we do, you get far more returned than we ever dreamed possible. So what does this have to do with riding? More than we dreamed possible. So what does this have to do with riding a dead horse? It’s pretty simple really. If we get stuck riding dead horses, we cant possibly be contributing to the optimal value. And if we aren’t, then we can’t even get onto the Trail of Greatness.

The time is ripe for those who want take a went to leap in every aspect of their life. Go from Doing Great to Leading with Greatness.

Greatness is resident with each of us.  Each moment is the opportunity for greatness.

For all too many of us, we miss these moments because we are sound asleep with the TV running, the ping of the incoming emails…a new lullaby… and the cell phone on 24/7.

We all have to wake ourselves up now and again.

The surest way to do that is to ask yourself if you are always adding value.  Or are you riding a dead horse?

Most of us, me included, have had times in our lives where we found ourselves riding a dead horse or two. So, it’s critical for both outstanding performance and having a great life that we take a hard look at our current conditions- ask ourselves if we need to ride a new horse or just change saddles. And then we need to consciously renew our vows with our life and how we lead it.

Whatever task we choose offering perspective, renewed passion and commitment the outcome is significant improvement in results and quality on every level.  That translates into prosperity.

Where will you start in your journey from Great to Greatness?

Karen Sands, leading GeroFuturist, is the author of 11 books including recently released, “The Ageless Way: Illuminating the New Story of Our AGE”.

What’s a GeroFuturist?

It is a unique word, and it’s because my role is unique. It really started way back in my early, early career where I became a futurist by chance. I didn’t expect it. I ended up in financial services after having been an educator and a serial entrepreneur, as many of you may have had many careers along the way, but becoming a futurist, and a futurist is not someone that reads tea leaves or crystal balls. But we are people who study trends and create alternative scenarios or stories or narratives about what the future might be in different situations. At that time, I was doing it in the business world, but I was doing it in financial services, where I ended up obviously, part of my life story arc, but I ended up in retirement services. I had to study because I was new to this world, having been an entrepreneur in a whole other world, but I had to understand, who are we serving? Why are we serving? What would it look like in the future? Well, lo and behold, by the end of my tour of duty there, which was about 10 years in corporate, I was an established futurist and a strategist as well.

So, that was the futures part, but here I was studying about the graying of the globe and the graying of America before anybody was really talking about it back then. This was back in the late ‘70s and ‘80s, all of the ‘80s, actually. But it was later, after I left corporate America that I finally made a big leap into the study of adult development and aging. I want to share the story in between here, how this kind of happened or where it started, really. When I was 28, my mom at that time was 59. I was home with one of those long, wiggly cords of a phone. Well, I was washing the dishes and my kids were the in other room watching probably Sesame Street, which some of you will remember, and the phone rang. I realized it was my mom. Now, obviously, we didn’t have a caller ID back then.

But I picked it up and I said, “Hi. Oh, hi, mom.”

And something was not quite right. I said, mom, “What’s up?”

And what she said to me on the phone,  “I have to tell you something”

I said,”Okay, what mom?”

The TV’s blaring. The water’s running.

She said, “I just drove into a tollbooth head-on.”

In that moment of being 28, my whole life switched. My whole life turned around. In that moment of time, which I’ll never, ever forget, obviously, I knew that I didn’t want to end up like her. I didn’t want to end up at 59 without a life. She hadn’t yet been out in the world fully. She had been a great mom, but she hadn’t yet realized herself, certainly. In that moment, I knew that forever on, if my life was going to be shortened by what was for her then very, very early onset Alzheimer’s, that if that was my destiny, if that was in my DNA and I would realize it, I needed to not stop now. Let nothing ever stop my voice and my give back to the world. So, that changed my entire trajectory.

I left a marriage of 14 years, a gruesome divorce, which a whole other story for another time about renewal and being a woman and what that means, and I moved on. Later on, that story stayed with me so much that when I left corporate, I went into getting a post-Master’s degree in gerontology, adult development and aging. So, by the time I kept moving up, I felt like—there’s an old myth called Sisyphus.

The guy that pushes up the hill with the rock, the boulder, and then he rolls down. He pushes it all the way to the top and rolls down. So, for a long time, I felt that way, because I was pushing this new understanding and the seeking I had about, what does it mean to be an older woman? What does it mean to be older anybody? But especially, what does it mean to be an older woman? And who are we when we’re no longer young? So, that story kept pushing and pushing me through, which we can get back to other subsets of that, but because of that, I always felt bifurcated. I was this futurist and businesswoman. I was this gerontologist, and I was this coach.

How does it all come together?

And bingo.

It came to me that really, what my destiny path has been was to bring that together, to bring the study of Boomer foresight, as I call it, and business and soul work and the future and women’s path together. So, that became GeroFuturing. The combination of the two. And I believe it is the future for many people in terms of a new career. So, I would really encourage people to move in this direction, and I can clearly show them how. So, that’s how GeroFuturist came in. What’s interesting with all the different monikers I tried over the years, that’s one everybody gets. If they don’t get what it means, they get that they need to ask what it means, and then that opens up a whole other volume of material.

That’s part of my visionary’s journey to become a Geo Futurist. I’d love to hear yours in the comments. Even just a snippet. Please share.