Small Business Boomers

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. 
 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 …read more

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It’s never too late to dream or set goals…and go for it!  As Boomers begin to reach retirement and Social Security age, they often give up on their dreams and feel there’s nothing to reach for in life.
However, they still can accomplish a great deal, operate a small business, influence grandchildren, travel, make new friends, develop careers and hobbies they only thought about fleetingly.  It’s time to explore the impossible!
So…make yourself a list of 100 dreams or goals you’d like to accomplish.  Some may be mundane while others are fleets of fancy.  Never mind.  Write them all down.  Then read …read more

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

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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 …read more

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

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I love author Janet Elaine Smith’s tidbits of philosophy.  This one caught my fancy and I wanted to share it with other Boomers.  When we’re frustrated about the success (or what we may perceive as lack of) in our business or our lives, we might consider what Janet said in response to someone’s comment about an exciting day in her speaking and writing life:
 
  I guess we make our own success. If we leave our lives open to opportunities…well, nobody knows what’s right around the corner.
Yes, we do need to leave our business lives open to opportunities.  Janet seems to have so many unique and exciting …read more

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Near the end of each month, I feature a round-up of 5 Small Business Boomers posts. 
 These are either ones my readers have indicated a preference for and/or ones I particularly like.
Here are 5 posts for November:
Branding Now an Important Aspect of Business
Do Baby Boomers Want Smaller Vehicles for Business & Personal Use?
Survey Says…Now’s the Time for Small Businesses
Get an ID When Giving Up Driver’s License
Take Action Every Day in Your Small Business
What was your favorite or most informative post in November at Small Business Boomers?

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Seniors and baby boomers do much of their shopping online these days. 
 It’s far different from the early era of online shopping when many were wary about giving their credit card over the Internet.  Also, many were concerned about paying shipping charges for the items they ordered.
As I surveyed the statistics and wrote the post, Seniors & Boomers Have Become Avid Online Shoppers, I wondered, “Why the change of attitude?”
Looking at my own situation and talking with others in this category, I can give the following reasons:

Convenience
Saving time
No more danger to credit card than having it disappear at a restaurant or …read more

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Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Small Business Boomer readers. 
Even if you have to work, you can still count your blessings.  One of mine is that dinner will be cooked and ready when I get home from work.  My daughter enjoys planning the meal and cooking.  So I help with clean – up and relax at some of my writing business tasks.
What are your Thanksgiving boomer blessings? 
We might be thankful, too, that Sarah Josepha Hale diligently persisted until Thanksgiving was recognized as a national holiday.  Even though we think of the first Thanksgiving as taking place in Plymouth Colony, …read more

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Sometimes our businesses don’t get off the ground floor too quickly, but that doesn’t mean we can’t continually prepare and draw upon all our experiences as we take steps forward.  I have a dream of compiling a book of my poetry.  Some poems have been published and others are still in my notebook.
I also enjoy teaching writing and poetry to youngsters and adults.  I feel I can utilize this poetry book as a teaching tool.  (I also would like to publish a book of my grandfather’s poems, some of which have appeared in publications, but not all together.)
However, as with …read more

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