I’m a Lucky Duck
Yesterday I celebrated my 60th year of being 5 feet above.
I am off making poor life choices in Key West as this blog is posting. Not all my friends have had the same privilege. So I never lose sight of how precious life is, and how fun it can be.
A lot of the fun comes from embracing change and adapting.
I am a boomer. The very tail end.
I’m seeing some chatter on social about boomers not embracing the digital world. Not to be confused with Boomer - https://www.boomer.com/client-stories, which it was on LinkedIn.
The degradation is in particular directed at white, republican, male boomers (WRMBs), but us chicas are not immune to it. Some is warranted of course, but I want to point out that many boomers simply don’t act their perceived age!
Some are not only embracing change, they are leading the charge. Many of us were the first to use computers and we lived through DOS (in the basement of York University at 4am, in tears, just trying to get the code correct to simply start the damn machine - not that that was me or anything…). If we could push through DOS we can adopt almost anything.
So even if the stereotype is occasionally bang on, let’s consider that it’s not always generations that divide, but change resistance that divides.
Here’s my reply to the LinkedIn discussion started by Blake Oliver, of Earmark, on a WRMB being the vision of a typical one.
“Proud boomer weighing in here.
I’m seeing some comments about ageism - perhaps I’m oblivious as I also have rarely felt suppressed or judged as a woman - but I’m jumping in anywho…
I don’t mind the adjective. I think adjectives are valuable in reminding whatever-you-identify-as, to not be be typical of. To own the good of it and to rise above the not-so-good-but-maybe-some-truth-in-them stereotypes.
scott scarano, ea 🥶😈 and I have a podcast on this topic coming up. On how I am moving into 60 next month - which would be considered old by many - but that it doesn’t impact my love of change and technology, learning new tricks - or hearing how I could “not be a dick” like the boomer at the heart of this conversation. I’m just sorry it’s not ‘till May (by which time I will be collecting my Canada Pension Plan, so truly a boomer) since it seems to be pretty darn relevant to this thread.
If you are insulted by advice based on an adjective that you identify with, give full consideration to if you deserve it.
Here’s a quick blog, that speaks to learning from what others think about us rather than getting defensive.
https://saasy.coach/blog-sassy/i-believe-we-should-care-what-others-think-of-us”
If you read only one sentence of my reply, let it be this one.
“If you are insulted by advice based on an adjective that you identify with, give full consideration to if you deserve it.”
Strive to prove the stereotypes wrong.
I was called over in the lobby of the hotel at Scaling New Heights last October by what I would have thought was the typical WRMB.
Boy oh boy, was I wrong.
He had been in my session that afternoon and was eager to chat about 5-Star clients and boundaries and new ways of creating content. He defied my first impression and it was a fun discussion. I hope to see him again sometime and see how the change in his firm is playing out.
I have younger friends who simply won’t adapt to change. They state emphatically they hate - yes hate - new technology. I have one who loved the experience of my online scheduler but then directly told me not to talk to her about setting one up for her business.
She subscribes to my newsletter, by the way, and will nod about this (also she’s in Key West with me right now so I’m in shit by the pool for mentioning her…)
She runs a kick-ass show, and will agree the inertia to change due to current success is real
My son (he’s soon to be 28) would love if most tech went away. He’s adapting but certainly not loving it.
He’d have a flip phone if he could
He is a framer and his company just went on QuickBooks Time - to say he’s not impressed would be true
At least he’s grudgingly giving it a go
He is kind of diggin’ direct deposit now, even though he swore he would always go to a teller cause he loved the relationship of them - but only kind of digging…
(Fun side note - his fiance is a cloud bookkeeper and LOVES change & new tech)
My mother-in-law, at 89 years old took up the Ukulele (try spelling that without Grammarly…). She was a concert pianist (who isn’t) and also at 89 started taking piano lessons so she could play the likes of The Eagles and Elton John. This was all fun new stuff to her. She always dressed well, had her charm in full swing and went through life exclaiming “isn’t this fun”.
She loved change
She defied the stereotypes
Whatever you identify with, embrace what’s great about it.
What do I love about being a boomer?
I don’t need to feel guilty about working less
Actually, a great thing about achieving milestones is you can pretty much dump guilt
The Hubs and I love to make fun of our age - we have given ourselves seniors’ names
Harold and Edna, for when we are doing slow moe road trippy things and no longer rushing to get anywhere
Seniors’ discounts and CPP! Hello!!
Because I have embraced change, tech is doing magical things in the background for my business, so we can do fun seniors’ things (and some not-so-typical seniors’ things) in the foreground.
The hardest part - if you embrace change mightily - is actually deciding what you want to do when you grow up. No matter your age.
The possibilities are endless if you see the joy in new challenges - it’s paring down that’s the tough part!
Word of the week
The Oxford English Dictionary added the word “adulting.” It’s often used by young people when they talk about doing tasks that are essential to every-day life – like cooking meals, buying insurance, or paying taxes.
I use it quite a bit myself - with disdain of course.
Sociable
- said in your head in a loud sing-songy voice
Twyla Verhelst of Freshbooks, the always lovely, super amazing community builder wanted to know how you measure your success. Which is so key. Understanding your why should be at the root of all your decisions.
Rewind is reminding us not to run around unprotected. Back your shit up (my words not theirs).
In my Facebook Group, The Workflow Wateringhole, I shared a photo of a project client using a pic she took of my she-shed office as her Zoom background. Fun.
Join Your Peers Here
I’ve not a lot coming up. Because I took a month off in the Fall, have been keeping a low profile since and now I’m on my #60thBirthdayRoadtrip. I’ve been completely lacking in commitment to a schedule.
Big win for being a boomer!
But I do have a few things in the pipe to check out here. I’m super hyped on live events and can’t wait to see peeps IRL!
What’s Cooking?
Interesting veggie facts.
I eat a ton of veggies. I start at breakfast and I go all day chomping on them.
But not all veggies are good veggies in high quantity - some should be eaten in moderation, and some should be cooked rather than consumed raw for full benefit.
Eaten in moderation, because they are so darn full of sugar.
Corn - essentially it’s rented sugar cause you don’t really digest it either (insert Fat Bastard quote here)
Peas (bet that surprised you, right?!)
Beets
Carrots
Cook ‘em to get the most out of them. But not too much…
Tomatoes - releases cancer fighting antioxidants
Cruciferous such as cauliflower and broccoli - releases indole that fights off pre-cancerous cells
Carrots - releases anti-inflammatory compounds
Bell peppers - allows more nutrient absorption
And I’ll fight ya if you consider potatoes a veggie…
“You can’t veg all day if you don’t start in the morning.”
Joyfully yours, Kellie :-}
::Shameless Call To Action::
I sell bookkeeping templates, standard operating process handbooks and client guides.
PS: Admitting your age - if you are my age - in a technology-driven world where I earn a solid part of my living promoting and teaching the tech could be considered a bit of a buzz-kill for my image. But I’m so convinced that defying the rotten parts of the stereotypes of who you are or identify as, is indeed super powerful and I’m proud to let the world know that I’m sliding into 60 full speed and changing hard into 4th gear.
PPS: I know conferences and accommodations are not for the faint of wallet, but if you can swing staying at the blocked hotel you will not regret it. The hotel lobby is where so many magical connections happen!
