THE SENIOR CHRONICLES

WHY ARE MY FINANCES IMPORTANT?

3/16/2016

In our last post, we addressed the need to establish a starting point for our journey. We recognize that in planning our future it is necessary to establish where we are in our lives today. Our first step asks us to examine certain aspects of our lives. We look at how old we live which has been discussed in a prior post. We will also evaluate our financial situation, health (physical and mental), values and goals.
   This post will discuss why we think it imperative to acknowledge where we stand financially. Let us begin by stating that this is not judgmental. How successful one has been is not our concern. Lost opportunities are not to be bemoaned here. Our concern is where you stand financially today. Our part is to help you understand why it is important to make this evaluation.
   A quick example might help. For years and years I had it in the back of my mind that I would like to retire living six months of each year in Ireland. I had this idyllic picture of my hanging around a small Irish village composing wonderful things on my laptop. Sounded great to me. I am going to set aside other considerations such as four wonderful children, three grandchildren, a number of close friends that would be absent during my stays in Ireland.
   I needed to ask if I could afford to maintain two residences, one in Ireland and the other in Iowa. I looked at where I stood fiscally and came to the conclusion that I could not afford to pursue the dream at this time. The necessary asset base and income flow was not available. Understanding this, I didn't expend my energy and time pursuing an idea that was not to come to fruition. I was able, though, to plan other pursuits including vacations to Ireland and many other destinations that are of interest to me.
   My disappointment at not establishing a second residence in Ireland in effect opened up many other, and perhaps better, options for my future. If I hadn't taken a serious look at my financial condition prior to taking further steps, I would have not only wasted my time and energy but also would have increased my disappointment when I realized my plans could not be realized.

Barney Connolly
[email protected]

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WHERE AM I TODAY?

3/9/2016

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   As we start our journey we ask ourselves where we are today in our lives. We recognize that a shift has taken place as our lives are no longer constrained by expectations of employers, parents, children, etc. but are open to new pursuits and adventures that we choose for ourselves. A great opportunity coupled with a great responsibility.
   My question is where do I begin? About a year ago I was going to visit my college roommate whom I had no seen in 43 years. I live in Des Moines, Iowa and he lives in Greenville, South Carolina. I decided I would like to drive as opposed to flying to Greenville for our reunion. Never having been to Greenville I knew I needed to map out the route I would follow. In order to do this, it was necessary to determine my starting point. To use Mapquest or any such service I had to know where I was as I began my road trip. No map or service providing driving directions would get me to my destination without y knowing where I was commencing my journey.
   We found it just as necessary as we begin this new phase of our lives to know where we are today. Odyssey provides a method to do just that. We examine our financial condition, health, values and goals to help each of us understand where we stand and how each of these elements affects the choices we make for our future. This is not a judgmental exercise. There is no good or bad, right or wrong, success or failure. This is merely recognizing where we, as individuals, are as we begin the process of charting our path forward.

Barney Connolly
[email protected]

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A NEW BEGINNING!

3/2/2016

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   We thought it appropriate at this time to bring our program and its principals to you. Three people will be contributing to this blog. Barney Connolly and Jim Baker the Co-Founders of Odyssey and Eric Schurr the Director of Business Development. We will list our name and e-mail address at the end of each post to enable any reader to correspond directly to the author of a post privately if one chooses as opposed to a comment which would be open to public view.
   Though this blog has been in existence for some time, this is a new beginning. Our website, www.odysseywise.com, has been redesigned and contains much information that we hope you review and find useful in your journey. Our book, Odyssey: An Epic Journey, is nearing publication and shortly will be able to be purchased through our website. Information regarding workshops, videos and webinars will be posted on the website so please add your name to our mailing list to receive our updates in a timely fashion.
   Now a little about Odyssey. Odyssey is a program for those near or at their retirement who would like to have a fulfilling life. One filled with opportunity and meaning. We designed Odyssey when we realized the "boomer generation", once the target of media and marketing concerns, has been largely ignored by the very concerns that have for years sought to influence and impact it. We believe that any change in the status of the seniors of the world would have to start with the members of the "boomer generation" and not by trying to change the perceptions of the business world or society in general.
   In response, we developed a program designed to enable individuals to examine themselves, to deconstruct certain aspects of their lives and to reconstruct their lives to promote better and more fulfilling lives. As stated above, the program consists of a book, workshops, videos and webinars designed to maximize the benefits one receives from the program. We will provide links in this blog to articles, programs and blogs that we think might be of interest to you.
   Odyssey is an eight step program that can be completed by an individual who has purchased the book. Workshops, videos and webinars are available for those wanting a deeper and more thorough Odyssey experience.. We further hope in the near future to have personal coaching sessions for those desiring the same.
   The posts for the next eight months will review and investigate one of our eight steps each month. We hope that you join our mailing list to follow this exciting time as Odyssey rolls out to the public. You can be among the first to become part of our journey.

Barney Connolly
[email protected]

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How Old Do You Live?

11/17/2015

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I thought it might be a good idea to explain in greater detail what we at Odyssey are trying to do. What we are addressing is the time in life when a shift has taken place. The shift occurs when we are at or near retirement, our kids have grown and left the nest or life just seems to have passed us by. In other words, we are starting to be referred to as seniors, elderly or passed our prime. The words don't matter that much. We are considering a time in life when people assume we don't have nearly as much to offer and that we should either relocate to a retirement community or at least understand that we are no longer the ones running the show. We are in a sense considered excess baggage, an after-thought.

We at Odyssey understand that the Boomer generation is no longer the darling of commercial concerns or marketing interests. We were once but no longer. The problem is that we spend more, buy more on line, travel more, purchase more new cars and control the great majority of the income and wealth in this country and many others. Yet we are not considered a viable market for business concerns to consider how to approach us.

Our society in general, including government, considers us a burden on society. We are considered non-contributing and receivers rather than givers. Problem is that these beliefs do not match today's facts.

What does Odyssey propose to do about this. We don't plan on changing the minds of society or the government. We are not calling for protests or marches on Washington. What we are doing is asking individuals to take a look at their own lives. Our question is not "How old are you?" when the question should be "How old do you live?". This is a personal journey we propose. One which asks you to examine certain aspects of your life to see what is holding you back from living a full and satisfying life. It is a program that is action based. It consists of eight steps that are designed for you to deconstruct certain areas of your life, examine those areas and reconstruct your life in a way that is satisfying to you. You are the key here. We are not our to meet the expectations of anyone, kids, society or the government.

Our hope is that if enough Boomers become active, involved, happy and satisfied with their lives, society and the government will begin to take note that we have something to offer and that we are not to be ignored or considered a burden on society. Marches and protests won't accomplish much but living good and satisfying lives will.

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STEP ONE-HOW OLD DO YOU LIVE?

9/14/2015

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We begin this journey with a question "How old do you live?" Please note that we are not asking how old you are. We think that as we face this new stage of our lives it is important to examine certain elements of our lives that affect our lives. We recognize that a shift has taken place in our lives. We might be retired or no longer working full time. Our kids are not living at home and are hopefully out on their own doing well. Our families no longer look to us as the ones having the answers or the "go to" person when problems or dilemas arise. We are no longer looked on by the business world as the generation of importance. So, we realize that our position in society has changed. So have our lives. Our lives up until this point have been largely controlled by outside forces. Bosses to answer to, children to raise and care for, duties and obligations that are to be met to satisfy the needs and wants of others.

We now find ourselves in a position where the expectations, demands and constraints from outside sources have been eliminated or greatly diminished. A change that allows us to shift our emphasis from meeting the demands and expectations of others to meeting the expectations that we have of ourselves. Quite a change. So what are we to do? We think that it is necessary as a beginning to examine various aspects of our lives to understand where we are right now. We don't worry about the past and its successes and failures. Our interest is where we are now. Our first step asks that we examine our health and our finances. We are not judging here but believe it is mandatory that we honestly appraise our health (mental and physical) and finances if we are to move forward in our lives in a meaningful way.

We will also examine whose values we are living by. Are they the values adopted by us in our youth as imposed by our teachers, parents or peers? Are they values we really hold dear to our hearts or just ones that sound good. Are we conforming to what "society" thinks should be our values? We also will look at our goals, interests and passions. Our first question is do we have any? Are we short changing ourselves by not developing any goals, interests and passions of our own.

So, the first step in our program involves self-examination to determine where we stand in a number of areas of our lives. I think that in this quest it is good to consider a question asked by the great Satchel Paige: "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are

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ODYSSEY:AN EPIC JOURNEY

5/4/2015

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We thought it was time to introduce Odyssey to our readers. Odyssey is a program designed for those near or at their retirement who would like to have a fulfilling life. One filled with opportunity and meaning. We designed Odyssey upon realizing that the "boomer generation" once the target of media and marketing concerns has been largely ignored recently by the very concerns that have for years sought to influence and impact. Upon careful examination, we realized that any change in the status of the seniors of the world would have to start with the members of the "boomer generation" and not by trying to change the perceptions of the business world or society in general.
So what we did was develop a program designed to enable individuals to examine themselves to deconstruct certain areas of their lives and to reconstruct those areas to promote a better, more fulfilling life. We have written a book that is nearing publication as it is currently in editing. We also put on workshops and retreats based upon our program for those interested in maximizing the benefits received from the program. Odyssey further consults with businesses regarding the attitudes and perceptions of their sales and marketing divisions as to doing business with seniors.
Odyssey is an eight step program that can be done by an individual who has purchased our book or in a group at a retreat or workshop. Over the next couple of weeks, I will review each of the eight steps in a blog post(s). Some steps will require some breakdown of its elements and will take more than one post to adequately convey its meaning accurately. We hope that you have enough interest to follow our posts and learn more about this wonderful and insightful program.
Our website for Odyssey is currently being redesigned so I will not at this time ask you to view the same. I will change this position once it is complete. We would like to hear any comments you might have regarding this program currently or as we move through the process.

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ARE YOU GENUINE?

4/13/2015

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I read an article the other day setting forth some ideas on how to determine if others are genuine people. As I read the article I thought it would be a good idea to determine if I would be considered a genuine person or not as measured by the traits set forth in the article. I have listed the characteristics below thinking it might be something for all of us to consider.

1. One who doesn't seek attention and is secure in who they are. If I am continually seeking the attention of others I must be doing it for a reason.
2. Not overly concerned with being liked. Not needing to manipulate who he/she is in an effort to impress others.
3. One who is comfortable in his/her own skin. Accepting who one really is.
4. One who does what he/she says and says what they mean. Does one keep their commitments?
5. One who doesn't need a lot of stuff. One's value isn't measured by material possessions.
6. One who is not thin skinned. Doesn't take himself/herself too seriously.
7. Not too modest or too boastful.
8. One who is consistent and predictable.
9. One who practices what they preach and is not self-righteous.

That is the list. I found it an interesting exercise in determining who I am and how I might seem to others.

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TEN ATTITUDES TO IMPROVE YOUR BOOMER YEARS!

3/23/2015

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One of the goals of the writers of this blog is to bring to boomers, seniors if you will, ideas and practices that if implemented might improve the quality of their lives. We review many websites, blogs and other electronic media looking for ideas to bring to our readers. One of the sources we use on a regular basis is to read Entrepreneur on-line magazine. It is a business site containing many posts and short articles by numerous people directed at business with an emphasis on those who are entrepreneurs. We often find the advice and suggestions very helpful not just for entrepreneurs but also for people who are interested in improving the quality of their lives.
I came upon a post recently by Sherrie Campbell, who is a contributor to Entrepreneur, that I found contained some great ideas for anyone not just business people. It is entitled Ten Mindsets To Improve Your Business. I have taken her points and adapted them to something I think is valuable for seniors seeking to expand their horizons. I am listing the ideas below:
1. Choose courage over fear. Venture into the unknown beyond what you think you are capable of doing. Don't be foolish here but you can determine that it is ok to step outside your comfort zone.
2. Believe in yourself. A positive attitude toward yourself starts you on the path to success.
3. Choose good company. Surround yourself with people who are positive and goal oriented. Negative and toxic influences hold you back from achieving your goals.
4. Choose your own goals. Selecting your own goals motivate you to a greater degree and have a greater impact on your life.
5. Have a purpose and vision for your life. Write it down and it becomes more real in your life.
6. Accept the challenges that are part of your life. Facing your challenges enhances growth and defines your direction.
7. Be discerning. Mindfulness and focus help to keep you on track. They keep you moving in your desired direction and help to eliminate the need to go back and clean up your mistakes.
8. Take risks. Evaluate situations and take risks when warranted. We have no guarantees but if you never risk it limits your growth and your chance of success.
9. Do what you love. Pursue your passion. Pursuing what you are passionate about helps fit your life into who you really are. This is a benefit to you and those around you.
10. Express gratitude. Real gratitude is expressed not just felt. Stop complaining and feeling sorry that life didn't turn out as you hoped. Appreciate all that life has given you and be a benefit to you, your family and your community.
The above are attitudes and mindsets that we have found helpful in improving our lives. We do hope that you are able to see the benefit of them and start to implement them into your lives.

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BOOMER MARKETING-101

2/16/2015

16 Comments

We seem to continually return to this question of marketing to the boomer market. We hate to sound like a broken record but we too often read articles, blogs or surveys depicting how companies, their marketing departments and outside consultants are baffled by and thus continue to ignore this market. The most recent example is a Q & A regarding boomers contained in J W T Intelligence Briefing dated February 13, 2015. The session was with Marie Stafford the head of the Planning Foresight Group at JWT London, one of the largest and most successful advertising/marketing companies in the world.
What we took from the article was that companies and their marketing/advertising divisions are continuing to struggle to find a place in the hearts and minds of the boomer generation. The study centered in the UK and I would like to reference a couple of statistics mentioned in the article. These stats apply to the UK market but are just as valid in the US. Boomers aged 50 to 69 account for about 29% of the population so the numbers are impressive. This group spends more money on things such as new cars, eating and drinking outside of their home and appliances. But the real kicker is that this group controls an estimated 80% of the wealth in the UK. Certainly a group that a company would want to attract as customers.
However, it is becoming ever more apparent that companies and marketers are failing to address this group as only 5% of the advertising budgets of companies world wide are directed at this market. What is also true is that very few companies have made any dent in the market as their campaigns do not resonate with the boomers at all.
I am going to discuss briefly one element of this failure today and will do another post this week that addresses other mistakes. The one I want to examine today centers on the lack of understanding of this generation by the companies and their marketers. The boomers of today are perceived and treated as though they are the same as previous generations. This might seem understandable but it is leading to failure. The advertising/marketing divisions rarely have anyone who is a boomer as an employee or a consultant. The 20 to 30 something marketers are advising on what willor should appeal to boomers without adequate understanding with whom they are dealing. Misconceptions and assumptions peg boomers as "old". Problem is that boomers don't perceive themselves as old. This generation changed things, shook up the world to a degree as had not happened in the past. Yet they are treated by the business culture as though they should fit into this mold from prior generations and act like they are expected to act. They didn't do it in their 20's, 30's or 40's so why should they now? The answer is they won't. There is a new energy and purpose in the boomer generation that is only ignored at the peril of those trying to get their business. We will address some specifics as the week goes on in additional posts.

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SENIOR STRESS!

2/2/2015

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I have been reading a number of articles about stress and how it can adversely affect lives. Stress can be harmful to just about everyone. The articles that actually rely on scientific and/or medical studies are the ones to which I give most credence. Many others are merely trying to peddle a product which may or may not have any scientific basis to address excess stress.
One thing that repeatedly caught my attention is the fact that some stress is needed in our lives. It is the intermittent stress that compels us to act. Some degree of stress is needed for us to do what we need to do in our lives. This periodic stress is not the one that causes us health and emotional problems. Continual or unnecessary stress on a regular basis is what harms us. I have learned that excess stress can cause or be a contributing factor in high blood pressure, depression, diabetes and many more ailments.
I have found through my research that many factors can lead to continual stress in our lives. Unrealistic expectations, unfounded fears, regret concerning the past and fear of the future. There are many others too many to mention here. What I would like to discuss briefly is the "what if" thought pattern that I sometimes find myself falling into. "What if" I had saved more money? "What if" I had been more attentive to the needs of my spouse or children? "What if" my employer decides to down size the company and I am let go? "What if" I come down with a serious illness?
So, I at times find myself "what iffing" the past and/or the future. I then find myself worrying excessively, nervous, unable to eat or sleep normally. Regarding the past, I am fretting about something I cannot change. The past is past and not subject to alteration at this point. I find myself projecting into the future about things that might or might not happen and over which I have little or no control. I find that I am creating a great deal of stress concerning things that are outside of my ability to change or control. Unnecessary stress that adversely affects my health and quality of life.
The question for me then is how to avoid this damaging behavior. There are all kinds of answers. Therapists are available to help, medications are on the market that are designed to reduce our stress. When I find myself in such a sitation, I usually look within myself initially. The "what iffs" are for me normally based on regrets regarding past behaviors or fears about future events. How do I handle this mind set? I first look at the cause whether it be regret or fear. I recognize that I cannot change the past and really cannot predict the future. What I can do is live today. I can't change my failures as an employee, spouse or parent. I can be a better employee, spouse or parent today. My behaviors and thought patterns need to be aligned with reality today. I cannot establish a relationship with a child based on his/her being ten years old when they are thirty. I can be available to act, think and live in a healthy relationship based upon our ages, positions in life, needs and desires. Conversely, my "what iffs" based on fear of the future can be addressed by living my life today as best I can and doing the things I ought to do in my relationships including my employment.
I am just talking about my experience here. I encourage anyone with a condition that needs professional help to seek such assistance. My being a responsible today defeats many of the regrets and fears that have caused me stress throughout my life. I also find that gratitude for the life I have today freeing and enabling as I move through my life.

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<<Previous

LIVE WITH CONVICTION

WHY ARE MY FINANCES IMPORTANT?

WHERE AM I TODAY?

A NEW BEGINNING!

How Old Do You Live?

STEP ONE-HOW OLD DO YOU LIVE?

ODYSSEY:AN EPIC JOURNEY

ARE YOU GENUINE?

TEN ATTITUDES TO IMPROVE YOUR BOOMER YEARS!

BOOMER MARKETING-101

SENIOR STRESS!

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