Zoomers Are Zooming- 3 Ways the Baby Boomers Are Reinventing

I just returned from the National Speakers Association conference and the Keynote that stood out for me was the one by Ken Dychtwald.

Ken is the author of, A New Purpose a book about how Baby Boomers are redefining success and purpose in their new phase of life.

The key points I took from Ken’s presentation were:

1. Baby Boomers are a demographic to be reckoned with- still the largest demographic in North American society.

2. Business opportunities are available for those who can adapt products and services to the new ageless baby boomer mentality.

3. Inspired Baby Boomers are reinventing, redefining and as sales guru Jim Cathcart says, “re-booming”.

In Ken’s presentation he showed commercials and clips aimed at the baby boomers desire to keep going, to set new goals and set higher goals. Ken gave the example of an 88 year old who was running marathons and winning because of his age category.

I suspect the age categories for marathons, triathlons and other challenging sports are going to become crowded as more and more Zoomers (baby boomers who refuse to age) sign up for adventurous activities.

Dychtwald provided an inspirational look into the future for Baby Boomers- he posits that life is just beginning for Boomers and that instead of retiring they are re-inspiring.

In my research and experience in working with multi-generational groups there are 3 ways I am seeing Zoomers reinventing:

1. Zoomers are going back to school- a recent client of mine has retired from her government job after 35 years of service and is going back to school to complete her PhD. She wants to teach at the college and university level and is re-inspired to live out the next phase of her life.

2. My very own husband Reg recently left his high paying corporate job to take a year off and to buy a business. His boss and co-workers could not understand why he would leave security for the unknown. Reg’s response was that he could not delay or put off what he really wanted to do- he wants the next phase of his life to include more freedom and choice.

3. A Boomer friend of mine recently had a baby at the age of 44. She wants the next phase of her life to be about family and raising a child. She has had massive success as an entrepreneur but wants more family and balance in her life.

A message to Gen X and Y- Zoomers are not going anywhere!

The good news is that we can create ways to provide services and products to this large market and we can all benefit.