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December Round-up of Small Business Boomers Posts

Mary Emma Allen — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:00:14 +0000

Winter image: sxc.hu

At the end of each month, I present a round-up of five posts that have been popular or have generated interest at Small Business Boomers.

Here are 5 for December:

Develop a Business of Remembering Those Who Will Be Forgotten

Boomers, Take Care of Your Appearance

Christmas Cookie Journal – A Business Idea?

Preserving Family Memories as a Business

Online Shopping Appeals to Boomers & Those With Health Issues

Did you have a favorite post for December?

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Merry Christmas from Small Business Boomers

Mary Emma Allen — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 06:00:49 +0000

Image: sxc.hu

May you have a joyous Christmas Day and much success, health and happiness in 2010.

From Small Business Boomers!

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Develop a Business of Remembering Those Who Will Be Forgotten

Mary Emma Allen — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:00:13 +0000

In my family writing workshops (an offshoot of one of my small businesses), I often mention the importance of writing about the people in our lives who will be forgotten if we don’t do something about it.

Memories image: sxc.hu

I consider my aunt, who was divorced and had no children, my uncle who was a bachelor, my brother who died young, and two other aunts and uncles who had no children.

Who in our family will remember them if I don’t write their stories, collect their memorabilia, and pass this along to my family?

I thought of this again when I read the following in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency: “His life [the main character's father] was unrecorded; who is there to write down the lives of ordinary people?”

Yes, he is a fictional character in a book, but Mma Ramotswe does write about him and how he helped shape her life and made it possible for her to establish her detective agency.

Are you recording the lives of the people in your life? Not necessarily for publication, but for your family.

Now can you think a step further and consider developing this into a business whereby you can do it for other people or at least help them?

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Boomers, Take Care of Your Appearance

Mary Emma Allen — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:46:04 +0000

Often when we reach a “certain age,” we’re considered old and incapable, rather than mature and wise. Part of this can be dispelled by taking care of our appearance so we appear professional and capable.

Even when we operate an online business, we’ll feel better and sound better if we crawl out of our jammies, do our hair, shave (if a man) and put on make-up (if a lady). We don’t need to dress like a teen to give the impression of being younger, but dress as though we care about ourselves, our business and our appearance. Thus we don’t give the impression of being feeble and forgetful.

It’s easier to give into aches and pains, which sometimes seem more numerous as the years advance. But by looking our best, we tend to feel our best. We have more energy in our voices and our step.

Think about whom you’d want to do business with.

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Online Business Ideal for Bad Weather

Mary Emma Allen — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:10:41 +0000

Online businesses are ideal for boomers who live in areas of extremes in weather. When you may not want to go outside into heat, cold and storms, being able to conduct your business inside your home fits in nicely.

Snow rages outside, but I can still write and post.
I can communicate with business colleagues and customers.
I can receive orders.
I can conduct online workshops.
I can conduct Skype or ooVooo workshops and consultations.

What other advantages of businesses conducted entirely or partially online for boomers?

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Christmas Cookie Journal…a Business Idea?

Mary Emma Allen — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:07:17 +0000

Many Boomers are stirring up cookies during these days before Christmas. They may be making them with grandchildren, by themselves, or for cookie exchanges.

Christmas cookies image: sxc.hu

Cookie making usually brings back memories of these sessions in our childhood, with our children, with community groups, or with the entire family. We may pull out recipes used throughout the generations. We may try new recipes.

All of these activities create memories, especially if you take photos to accompany the cookie making sessions. One of my favorite photos shows my then 2-year old daughter and me making cookies at the kitchen table.

So…why not start a Christmas Cookie Journal with photos, memories, current activities and recipes? Then you can make copies for other family members.

Or…you could develop this into a business and create Christmas Cookie Journals for others.

Have any of you done this? Either for yourselves or as a business?

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Some Boomers Proud of Social Media Ignorance

Mary Emma Allen — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:00:20 +0000

Social networking, blogging, and a knowledge of the “new” technology is imperative to advancing one’s small business, especially if it’s Internet based. More and more Boomers are uilizing computers, shopping on the Internet, using them for communication and to promote their businesses.

Image: sxc.hu

If they do have a business, they’re discovering it’s becoming difficult to operate efficiently and effectively without being involved with social media.

Even so, there are some Boomers who seem proud that they’re social media ignorant. That may be fine for some people, but generally even communication with family will be more frequent if one does explore e-mail, instant messaging, and features like Facebook.

If Boomers are volunteering, in political, social, religious, and community organizations, they’ll find that these groups are becoming involved with the Internet world. So you may need to be more “techie” informed. In the political field, social media has become imperative. A major factor in Obama’s election to the US Presidency (whether you approve of him or not) was the use of blogging and social media, whereas his opponents were way behind in reaching the public in that way.

Many senior centers offer classes to enable Boomers and Seniors to learn more about computers, e-mail, blogging, and social media. You may find adult education classes in this topic. er Our local library has offered classes. I taught one there on blogging and how to set up a blog, whether for personal use and/or a small business.

How has the Internet and social media helped you with your small business? How has it changed your life?

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Preserving Family Memories as a Business

Mary Emma Allen — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:08:16 +0000

Scrapbooking image: sxc.hu

Many Boomers are at a stage where family memories have great meaning.

They also are into scrapbooking and journaling. They often are caregivers for parents or relatives and find themselves saving those persons’ memories for children, grandchildren and future generations.

They realize, as Mma Ramotswe did, in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, about her father: His life was unrecorded; who is there to write down the lives of ordinary people?

There are members of my family, who have died without children or spouse or anyone to record their lives. If I don’t do it, who will? Will they be simply a statistic in future years when I’m not here to share memories about them?

This may occur to other Boomers, who want to preserve family members. They may desire to preserve memories. You can help them!

Sell scrapbooking and journaling supplies
Conduct classes on scrapbooking and journaling.
Show them how to record family stories and their memories.
Assist them with research
Do research for them.
Make these memory books for them.

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“Think Happy” in Your Life & Business

Mary Emma Allen — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:00:38 +0000

In my substitute teaching world, I had a student ask me my favorite word. I thought a moment, then said, “Happy.” (She went on to ask my favorite color, number, and name and said she liked to ask questions.)

Think Happy image: sxc.hu

However, later I wondered why I responded with “Happy.” For the rest of the day I found myself trying to think “Happy,” whenever something challenging occurred.Our days, I’ve realized over the years, can be as happy or as miserable as we want to make them. There are some things we can’t change. There are some things that do make us sad and discouraged. But do we have to stay there…in our lives and business?It’s not easy to turn ourselves around. However, why not focus on the mantra, “Think Happy” instead of “Think Sad?” Think of how we can make others happy. How can we, through our business, encourage and help others, provide them with a service or product that will fill their needs and help with their life?Perhaps we can encourage them to “Think Happy,” too. How about you?

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Pearl Harbor Day – December 7

Mary Emma Allen — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:00:32 +0000

Those in the Baby Boomer category were born just after World War II ended.

Flag image: sxc.hu

The older Boomers probably remember their parents and grandparents talking about this era. Many may have relatives who fought in the war and those at home who contributed to the war effort in some form.December 7 was a tragic day that capitulated the United States into the war and led to a frantic fight for freedom. Men like my Uncle Al, were proud to have played a role in the war. He saved his dress uniform and requested he be buried in it. He wanted his medals pinned on his jacket. At his funeral a flag was draped over his casket, which later was folded and handed to my mom, his surviving sibling.My family has that flag. Mother gave it to me before she died and said, “Take care of Uncle Al’s flag.” It’s a symbol of him and all the others who helped keep our country free…the parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and friends of boomers.Let us remember this day and all it stands for.

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