Vibrant Baby Boomers Take On New Challenges and Start Second Careers
More at Second careers are new horizon for vibrant Staten Island baby boomers.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -After holding leadership positions at various independent schools for more than 35 years, Diane Hulse retired as head of school at Staten Island Academy in 2012
From Top left Clockwise: Diane Hulse retired as head of Staten Island Academy in 2012 and launched a consulting business, Hulse Leadership Development. John Amodio retired in February from TD bank after 25 years in the banking industry. He now works part-time for SCORE. Sallyann Bartels retired from National Grid in 2011 after 35 years, and is now the membership coordinator for the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. Dean L. Balsamini, director of The Small Business Development Center (SBDC), formerly worked at AT&T for 35 years.Staten Island Advance photos
But at age 63, Ms. Hulse wasn't quite ready for a retirement lifestyle sitting by a pool in an active adult community. Instead, she wanted a new challenge, so she tapped the strengths from her former career in education, went back to college for a second master's degree in organizational dynamics and launched a consulting business, Hulse Leadership Development.
She is one of a growing number of baby boomers who have chosen to have "encore careers."
"There are a million of us baby boomers who aren't ready to sit on the porch. We're not ready to completely eliminate work, but we want a different experience," said Ms. Hulse, who coaches leaders at various organizations, including Project Hospitality and Community Health Center of Richmond.
"Baby boomers today are a healthier generation. We are going to live longer. We also have more opportunities today. My parent's generation was isolated; they didn't have access to the world news and the technology we have today," she added.
A GROWING TREND
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people continuing to work past retirement age is growing. Labor force participation for New York City residents age 65 and over in 2009 was 14.7 percent. By 2012 it had risen to 15.5 percent, said Martin Kohli, chief regional economist for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nationally, the employment rates for people age 65 and older were 17.2 percent and 18.5 percent respectively in 2009 and 2012, he said.
Baby boomers say there are various reasons, including the desire to stay active, for launching a new career after completing an already successful one.
"I know from my experience that having my brain active is essential to my emotional health," said Ms. Hulse, a former Staten Islander now living in Manhattan.
OTHER MOTIVATION
In addition, many baby boomers launch encore careers in an effort to maintain their income level and lifestyle.
"I stayed home for four months, and said, 'this is not me.' I need to talk to people and I could become a shopaholic. So there was no money coming in other than my pension and I found myself always shopping," said Sallyann Bartels, 61, who retired from National Grid in 2011 after 35 years
This is truly motivational to see retirees creating new dreams and goals and going after them. It makes you stop and wonder what's stoping you from creating and going after your dreams?
More Reading:
Denora B.
No comments:
Post a Comment