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By Marian Banker On August 26, 2011No CommentsThe theme for yesterday’s Evening Cafe (Facing Age-Related Changes) was “exit strategy”. It was a great starting place for our small gathering to delve into the areas we are looking at as options going forward.
Harriet has already made a commitment to her new business, which incorporates a lot of what she already knew from her experience in grant writing, fund raising and working with non-profits. Jean is on the brink of taking a new direction in her life. She has a passion for color, color analysis and therapy and has even obtained a certificate in it. Her challenge is how to make money building a business around something she loves. And Irene has a million great ideas and needs to sort them out according to what will motivate her long term and where she’ll be able to make money most easily.
Exit strategy for all of us means finding a way to continue to thrive despite the challenges we face at this age.
Several resources which can be helpful for us, and others our age, were mentioned. Here’s the ones I made note of.
Coming of Age, http://comingofage.org
The Transition Network, http://thetransitionnetwork.org
PESID, People Empowering Seniors Independence & Dignity, http://www.meetup.com/PESID-people-empowering-seniors-independence-dignity/.
It seemed like there was some very good possible synergy that came out of our discussion. I do hope you will follow-up with each other. You just never know what might develop.
In September our Morning Café will take place on Monday, September 12th from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Our theme for this meeting will be “relationships”. The web page can be viewed at http://www.primestrategies.com/age-related_changes.htm. And the next Evening Café will be Thursday, September 22nd, 7 – 8:30 p.m. The planned theme for this one will be “love and sex”. Make note of these on your calendar and plan to attend if you can.
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By Marian Banker On June 13, 2011
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Our theme for this month’s Morning Café was “challenges of the 60+ entrepreneur”. Following are some of what was expressed at the meeting.
- The need for new ways to use assets, perhaps even moving into other areas or markets
- How to build a business using old assets in a new way
- Happy to be working in a non-corporate environment
- The desire or need to spend less time on business – more on personal
- Interest in additional resources for those 60+
- The desire to do something that would be a meaningful contribution to others.
We also opened the subject of “exit strategy”, both in terms of business and personal. At this point in life, it’s not just about building or maintaining a business, it’s also about how you want to eventually leave the business…and your life. Lots to consider, so that will be the theme for the next Morning Café on Monday, July 11th, 10 – 11:30 a.m. An invitation will be going out later this month, but you can reserve your seat now by sending an RSVP.
This month’s Evening Café is scheduled for Thursday, June 23rd, 7 – 8:30 (new time) and will be held at Irene Ankner’s loft, which is located at 123 E. 54th St., #2C (corner of Lex). Our theme for this meeting is “body image”. This is where we’ll talk about all those face and body changes we’re seeing that we’re not liking too much. If you’d like to attend, it’s a good idea to let me know now. This one will be popular.
Before I go I’m sharing a few resources and groups I’m aware of that you might like to know about.
Transition Network, http://www.thetransitionnetwork.org/Default.aspx
Encore (careers) http://www.encore.org/
Seniors for Living, http://www.seniorsforliving.com/?gclid=CKjBxtbCpKkCFQbc4Aodvl4DtA&
Vibrant Nation, http://www.vibrantnation.com/
If you know of any others please forward to me and I will pass them along.
By Marian Banker On May 26, 2011
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What a great discussion we had last night at the May Evening Cafe! This was the second monthly Evening Cafe on Age-Related Changes & Setting New Priorities.
The theme for this meeting was the “sense of loss”. While the circumstances were different for each of us there was a commonality of feelings. The loss of valuable relationships was the main underlying theme. Whether through death or illness of a loved one, the loss is felt deeply and we each will need to compensate in some fashion. That’s totally normal. The objective is to make the compensation as positive as possible in order maintain a sense of control in our own lives. Mary shared some of the things she is doing and is an inspiration for us all.
I know how hard it is to experience loss because I’ve been through it too. What I have learned and have come to embrace is that change and loss are an inevitable part of life. Without sounding too philosophical, I find it has helped me to identify areas of my life that could be developed. I have come a long way from being that burnt-out workaholic trying to make up for losses in my life. My business is on a new path with those in their “platinum years”, I have love in my life again, and I’ve expanded my inner circle to include wonderful people like you. I feel blessed and honored.
I always encourage group members to follow-up with anyone from the group if they are so inclined. That’s part of what the Café’s are about…making new friends, sharing experiences and offering support.
Irene Ankner has graciously offered her loft (123 E. 54th St., #2C) for our next Evening Café which will be Thursday, June 23rd at a new time, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Our theme will be “body image”. And please plan to join us for our June 6th Morning Café from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. That will be at our regular location, the Bluebell Café, 293 Third Ave. The theme for June 6th will be “challenges of the 60+ entrepreneur”. Please send your RSVP now for either of those to marian@primestrategies.com with the Subject as the Cafe and the date.
By Marian Banker On July 12, 2010
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I recently was presented with a situation where a business owner had hired her father in the position of CFO. At the time the father had just retired from another business and had the skill set that was needed in the daughter’s business. The fact that there had been a long-standing negative relationship between the two was pushed aside in an attempt to be expedient, and with the thought that perhaps this might improve the personal relationship between them. As you might imagine, the father had done things his way for years and was not really open to taking orders from his daughter.
So the negative relationship was continuing, now on a business basis as well. When questioned in any fashion the father threatened to retire again, but the daughter still needed the help, so they’d have a discussion and reach what she thought was agreement. But, of course, the father went back to doing things as he saw fit, rather than letting her take the lead. She found this lack of control very draining on her emotionally and physically. But she still needed someone to function as CFO.
After discussing it with me she realized she really needed to find someone who would be willing to work WITH her and follow her lead. Her plan is to bring on a consultant to function as temporary CFO. If he/she works out the person will become permanent. Over the next 30 days she will actively seek a replacement for her father and tell her father that she is accepting his retirement. She expects to get some flack and more negativity, but she has realized that her father will never change (cannot change) and she needs to take back control of her business.
Too often I see business owners putting up with employees, often parents, who are non-productive or counterproductive. Sometimes a work-around can be made. I have one client whose father handed over the business to her but remained in the business. Because he functions mostly as an ambassador he is not blocking productivity. In this case it’s good for the parent and the business, but think long and hard before agreeing to have a family member in your business, especially a parent. Make sure they are not holding you hostage in your own business.
Do you have an interesting story to share about child-parent business relationships?
