Gen Plus

This coming weekend presents a GREAT opportunity — to get some excellent info and YOUR questions answered.  For those of you who don’t know, I’m heading to Detroit this weekend for the NAIAS…THE auto show of shows.  Invited by General Motors, I’ll have access to the behind-the-scenes type of info that car buffs drool over.  General Motors HAS to make a good showing…the future of their part in the auto industry is critical.  I’ve always been a GM fan, because I’m a bigger car kind of person — I like mini-vans and crossovers, and for my money, no one does truck bodies better than the American automakers.  But for the Boomer and 50 Plusser…don’t you want to know what (or if) car makers are really thinking about your needs and wants?  I know what mine are and the types of questions I want to ask…but what about your questions?  Either add them as a comment to this post, or email me at wspiegel@genplususa.com and I’ll do my best to get them answered.  I’ll be doing a three-day review of the show, and I have the chance to set up interviews with experts, but I’d like to meet with the experts that you want to hear from.  So send your thoughts, comments and questions.  I’ll do ya proud.

January 5th, 2009 | Category: NAIAS 2009, Reviews | Leave a comment

Every few weeks I get a very good question from a reader that gives me pause.  This came in today:

Last year you very generously took the time to reply to a response I had …[which]… contained the following advice, “The industries that seem to be more open to 50 plussers are: education (private and public), finance (banks, mortgage companies…but they are in a bit of trouble themselves), retail, customer service, engineering, healthcare (and any business that is somehow connected with healthcare), security (like homeland security), transportation and freight. Most important is to focus on small businesses (less than $100 million revenue annually) who will be more likely to want to invest in their workers and hope to retain them.”
Have the dramatic events in the past year changed that advice excluding finance and mortgage companies of course :)?”

Not only is this a great question, but speaks to shifts that are taking place around the world — in the US, China, Canada, Europe.  Almost all economies have been adversely affected by the economic meltdown that started in the US.  Yes.  The dramatic events of the past year have severely impacted all industry.  What we are seeing is massive layoffs in industry across the board with obvious areas (finance, auto, construction) being hard hit.  This past holiday season, in the US, retailers held off hiring for any Christmas rush until final moments, not knowing whether or not this would be their last holiday season. 

I’ve spoken with my network of friends, relatives, associates, business colleagues and the word is the same.  Everyone is cutting back, regardless of industry.  Consultant contracts are not being renewed unless there is a specific project on the line.  Manufacturing is deadly slow, with designers, sellers and buyers hoping to hold jobs in the New Year.  Inflation is on the horizon and people are worried about the price of eggs, milk, sugar, flour and rice…our staples. 

So where can one look for work?  Those of you that follow me regularly, know that I’ve put the Gen Plus job bank on hiatus, because in this market, no employer is going to be specifically searching for the 50 plus worker.  In fact, competition will be even fiercer, requiring every job seeker to be as creative as possible in job search.  Doom and gloom aside, there are still jobs out there.  The question is how to find them.  If you think like an employer, will you be investing dollars in advertising for open positions on job boards right now?  Not likely (except for Craig’s List and corporate account holders with Monster or Careerbuilder).  But even if you find an advertised job on a job board, you’ll have a ton of competition to get your resume noticed. 

Tough times call for tough measures, which means going back to basics.  People that are finding employment right now are doing so through their network, their connections, relatives, friends, old business associates, community organizations.  And that is what you have to do.  The industry itself is not as important right now as who you know in which company.  I still vote for small business, because a small business owner is more nimble and if they need someone to fill a position, they will happily meet with someone who knows someone who knows someone. 

That means making use of all networking tools — old and new.  Attend Chamber of Commerce meetings, connect with groups through your churches and synagogues, join trade associations.  Go to free events and meet new people.  Online, make sure you are using LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to stay connected and in touch with friends and business associates. 

According  to the November 2008 Labor Statistics report there was not any particular field or industry that had a positive report.  December’s report comes out next Friday, so it will be painfully interesting to see how December finished out the year.  I’m always one to find a silver lining — my hope is that years of networking will pay off for the 50 plus demographic, that those of you with a good business idea or service to offer will be able to create your own work, that Obama’s call for 3 million jobs will create place for 50 plussers who desperately need the employment.

January 4th, 2009 | Category: Careers for Women, Finding a Job at 50 Plus, Where the Jobs Are | Comments (4)

One of my New Year’s resolutions has something to do with dating and finding a life partner.  Coincidentally (or is it?), just got my copy of September Songs: The Good News About Marriage in the Later Years, by journalist Maggie Scarf (you may know her bestseller Intimate Partners).  And I can’t wait to read it.  Her new book is about long marriages as couples age and offers a view of their lives that is has been called insightful and surprising (and positive).  Because people are living so much longer, not only are marriages lasting longer, but for those of us, like me, who stay more single than coupled, there is hope…for a second…or third stage of life marriage. 

Some really great reviews, but more than that, I’m particularly delighted to find a book written for this demographic.  Scarf interviews couples that have been together for decades and I am very curious to find out how they see marriage’s evolution through the years (Scarf refers to this time as the “bonus” years.)

I’ll let you know what gems I discover.

January 2nd, 2009 | Category: Products By and For 50 Plus, Reviews | Comments (2)

Every time I write something that is mildly inflammatory or oppositional, I always like to see how many subscribers unsubscribe and how many readers decide that they will become a subscriber.  This happened with ANY article I wrote that criticized Sarah Palin throughout the election campaign and up to the meth-related arrest of her future son-in-law’s mom.  Every time I voiced support for Obama, there would be another flurry of activity.  And I’m expecting a flurry of subscribe/unsubscribe activity following today’s post. 

The past few week there have been snippets in the news on the rockets and missiles being lobbed into Israel from the Hamas (terrorist organization)-run Gaza strip.  Now that Israel is striking back in order to protect it’s DEMOCRACY, in a tiny, tiny little country, smaller than the size of  New Jersey (would fit 8 times into Florida), there are world protests, CNN coverage (always as anti-semitic/anti-Israel as it can push the envelope) and so much anger against Israel.  I just don’t get it. 

If a terrorist group were sitting in New Jersey, lobbing missiles within a few miles of Manhattan, I’m pretty sure the US would do something.  This is no longer the days of throwing rocks (which were boulders, by the way…thrown off rooftops to crush vehicles).  This is the day of launching powerful, smuggled missiles, by a terrorist group that has sworn to destroy Israel. 

Who opens their eyes to the documented fact that Hamas PLANTS missiles and rockets in populated areas in order to  use innocent civilions and hospitals and schools as shields for their weapons.  And acknowledges that heavy weaponery being funnelled in (or rather tunnelled in) from Iran and via underground tunnels in Egypt.  This is not a war between Israel and the Gaza.  It is a test of the war that is coming between Iran and the US and that is being staged in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, is responding to 100 missiles landing in Israel just yesterday.  He will likely hit back until the anti-Israel missile strikes stop.    If a bully continued to push, hurt and hit my child and my child could not stop it, if my intervention did not help, then I would pull out ALL stops and bring in the principal and even campus police if needed. 

To see the playing field closer up, I prefer the Debka File for local middle east reporting. 

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that Hamas still has some 6,000 missiles in its armory, of which some hundred are the high-grade Iran-made Grad Kayusha rockets.

Their range of up to 40 km enables them to target three-quarters of a million Israelis and five major southern towns. This stock survives after Israel wiped out 45% of the Hamas missile arsenal and most of its heavy 120mm mortars in three days of massive air strikes.

At the firing level maintained by Hamas Monday, Dec. 29 – roughly 100 missiles and rockets hit Israeli locations – the Palestinian group can keep going for another 60 days - if its stocks remain hidden underground.

To alter this equation, the armored and infantry forces concentrated around the Gaza Strip will have to intervene.

No one wants any innocents to perish — not in Israel and not in Gaza.  But there is so much more to understand than the sound bites that shape popular opinion.

December 30th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (2)

I’ve noticed a change over the past week.  It may be because people are forcing themselves into a level of holiday spirit, or perhaps because the human spirit always tries to rise, even in the face of troubled times…but I’m sensing positive vibes.  Is it just me? 

There have actually been some “slow” news days, with some “good” news being shared.  Even bloggers are moving to music away from politics (well, literally on TGB, but I liked the imagery) and tweeters are twittering with social media mania, while FaceBookers are connecting with anyone and everyone they ever knew.  Is it because New Year’s resolutions are on the horizon?  A chance for a clean slate and a fresh start in 2009?  Or is it because the Winter Solstice has just passed us by and minute by minute our days are getting sunnier and longer as  we move through winter and into spring?

To help you lift your spirits and get your resolutions ready, here are a few Top Ten lists that you might enjoy.

The first is the most common Top Ten resolutions for the New Year.

A user-friendly top Ten “Green” List, for a concerted effort to get on the Obama green initiatives.

And my favorite, the one I think we should all get in step with, is the Scientists’ Top Ten Resolutions for 2009.

Feel free to add in your own if you want!

December 27th, 2008 | Tags: Green, New Year's, Resolutions | Category: Going Green, Things to Ponder | Comments (2)

My day is done. I’ve caught a bit of a cold and I’ve read up on the NAIAS show in Detroit (maybe I’ll finally learn how it can cost $700 to change a fuel pump in LA…) and now, with laundry folded and kleenex in hand, I decided to once again tackle adding a shopping cart to the website. I have to admit, that I’m a bit defeated. I cannot, for the life of me, get the Word Press e-commerce plug in to work for me. So I’ve given up on that for the moment. (I will do more research, because I can’t stand it when I can’t understand something like this!) AND I tried the Agoura shopping cart that comes with BlueHost (where I’m hosted) and, while I’ve figured out how to add products to the cart, I can’t (also for the life of me) figure out how to get the application to show on my website. So…I’m giving up on that, too.

I didn’t want to use Google checkout, because it was more limited, but I think for the sake of expediency, I’m going to have to look at that next. When I figure it out, I’ll let you know!!! I’m sure I should have something running by…well…2009!

December 25th, 2008 | Category: Building the Gen Plus website | Comments (1)

I just received the best holiday present, ever!  Shortly before the auto industry bailout was approved, I was invited by GM, along with a small group of other bloggers, to attend the North American International Auto Show in Detroit…in early January. 

Even though, after leaving Montreal for LA, I swore I’d never set foot in sub-zero temperatures again, I will brave the chill for the thrill of attending this show.  Possibly the most prestigious auto show in the world,  as in invited guest, I’ll have the opportunity to meet with engineers and designers and get an insider’s view of GM’s future.  I cannot wait.  I’ll be giving more details as I find out more, but if you have specific issues or questions that you’d like me to address, please let me know…either by comment or via email to: wspiegel@genplususa.com

I want to know what GMs view is of the Boomer and 50 plus consumer, what vehicles are being targeted to them, what green initiatives will be coming out and where they see the American industry going from this point forward.  In the past, I’ve looked at electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles (the Axon), and green initiatives.  So I’m very intrigued!

Send me your questions and I’ll be blogging from the show if I have reception on my Blackberry Storm/Verizon and/or at the very least each night, with lots of followup info after the show. 

Just FYI, there will be 7000 media at the 3 day press event prior to the public show which anticipates 700,000 guests!  I’ve got my warm coat…now to find some fashionable walking boot/shoes…in LA!!!  Ayay.

December 24th, 2008 | Category: Going Green, NAIAS 2009 | Comments (3)

While this can be a hard time of year for a lot of people, I just happen to love the holiday season.  I celebrate Chanukah and there is something about lighting the menorah that brings hope and love to mind.  A friend of mine created a beautiful placemat to go under the menorah (www.MenorahMate.com) and the blessings are on the mat, so our little family gathered round and read all the blessings together.  We had to huddle so we could all read together, whereas we usually say the prayers from around the table.  Intentional or not, the family hug just felt really good.

Even though I don’t celebrate Christmas, I like the good spirit that surfaces in so many people (it probably helps that  I don’t have to deal with the crowds in the shops)  and I just love the parties, joining other families for Christmas dinners (and I’ve gone to midnight mass a few times over the years), and oh…the food and the cookies and the reasons to stop and spend time with family and friends. 

And while I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s Eve, because of the pressure of having a boyfriend, or husband or partner (…and I always seem to be in a dating wormhole around the holidays)…  since I’ve had my daughter, there is nothing I like more than watching the ball drop in NY and then cuddling up with my getting-bigger-all-the-time-little-girl. 

So before we all tear off into the frenzy of the holidays, I’d like to wish you, my friends, and family, and all the readers who have become my online “family” a very happy holiday season.  You are all in my heart.  Thanks for your interest and support all year long.

December 23rd, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I had never joined in on the Twitter frenzy for no reason other than I was busy with LinkedIn and Facebook, my blog, my life, my work…etc.  But I’m now a Twitter fan and discovering how to create my own Twitter frenzy. 

So, I’m inviting readers to join in. 

Twitter is an aggregate updater.  That means that you can funnel many of the web parts of yourself into one Twitter page.  There you can follow all sorts of people that interest you and they can also follow you. 

As I post this blog, an excerpt of it will appear on my Twitter page.  To get a Twitter page (and anyone can have one), just head over to www.Twitter.com and sign up for a free account.  You’ll get your own page (mine is www.twitter.com/genplus and if you head over there, you’ll see my personal updates and my blog feed.  If you click on the word “follow” that is under my picture, then you become a “follower” and I will feel very flattered that you are so interested! 

On your “Home” page, you’ll see the snippets from everyone you are following.  It’s a fun and different way to add to your own network.  Not everyone you follow will decide to follow you (so, I may be following Rachel Maddow’s blog, but she isn’t following mine…or at least not yet!)

Head on over, try it out.  Lots of Boomers and 50 Plussers on Twitter.

December 22nd, 2008 | Category: Building the Gen Plus website | Leave a comment