Does Older Equal Dumber?

I am sure that many middle-aged persons have noticed that people treat you like you are stupid.  Does older equal dumber?   No, but it starts at home with your own kids.  All of a sudden or gradually, they start treating you like you are the child and know nothing.  I have noticed this personally with a male child.  Why does this matter?  It matters because just the opposite is actually true.   It's also true that in order to live up to your life's purpose, the second half of  life can be the ideal time.   Some of us fifty and over remain in the jobs that we have had for years.   This may be a good thing for those people.  However, if you need work and do find it, you may end up with a job that does not give you the opportunity to show your abilities.  But, of course, when you need a job, some aspects of the situation have to be ignored.  On the other hand being over fifty is a good time to finally take the plunge into self-employment.  With years of experience under your belt, self-employment can serve several purposes.  Two of which  are to give you the satisfaction of knowing that you were able to run a business and create your own job. 
Being older does in no way equal being dumber.  For those that treat your that way are just misinformed.  Older people have a lot to offer and to pass on to those younger than themselves.  Starting a business is one way to demonstrate your skills, abilities and talents.

Neighborhood or Business Opportunity?

Is where you live a neighborhood or a business opportunity?   Walking through my neighborhood with some of my neighbors and some public officials, I could see possibilities for economic development.  The right people, or those who are creative, motivated, and have a business sense will see what I saw while up close and personal in my community. 
Every neighborhood needs various services and individuals decide where and how they will get such services.  Certain kinds of services would be so convenient to access closer to home.
Lawn care,  snow removal, street cleaning, child care, car repair, or home repair businesses could be started with marketing efforts focused on neighborhoods.
Why should such business ideas be considered?
The unemployment rate is high.  A service business can be started easier due to no inventory requirement.  People in the neighborhood have the skills needed to succeed.  If not, courses in business are available.  This has the opportunity to be a win-win situation. 
There are other types of businesses than many neighborhoods can support.  Any kind of retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment options would be welcome anywhere.  What about all of the services that an aging population needs in order to survive into old age?
My main point is that for those looking for opportunities, they could look outside of their own back doors for inspiration.  Is where you live a neighborhood or a business opportunity?  Your answer depends on how well you think outside of the box.  Its time to open your back door and look outside.

Is There A Job Out There?

Some people are asking themselves, is there as job out there for me?  If someone has been without work for two years or more, how can they remain hopeful of finding work?  It seems normal to lose hope over an extended period of joblessness.   At no other point in our lifetimes, has it ever taken so many people so long time to get a job.  This is true if you are unemployed.  Someone working may have taken a long time to find work, but they may not have had as much time to devote to their job search.  For a jobless person, looking for work is their full time work. 
The problem, as I see it, is that Americans have been sold a bill of goods about work.  We were told early on that the key to our success is finding a good job.  That was fine and dandy as long as jobs were available.   But how does this belief apply when fourteen million people are out of work?
Many people need to rethink their ideas about work.  No one should be in a position of looking for work for two years or more. 
Some people: 

• return to school
• relocate    
• think of self-employment ideas.

Each person has to decide the best plan of action for themselves.  In order for our personal and collective health to improve, we all must think outside of the box.
Is there a job out there for you, your friends, or family?

Update for the soon to be released March 2013 unemployment report:

In light of the March unemployent stats, many people are getting worried about not finding work.
I have ideas of what should we should be doing differently to tackle the problem of those who have lost hope.  Although we live in a capitalistic society, we need to have flexibility when it comes to the unemployed.  If you teach a person how to fish they will be able to always have food.  People do not want handouts, they want to be productive, proud income earners.  That should be the goal that we have for all who wish to participate in the American dream.  Some attention needs to be given to solve the job crisis so that more people can take care of themselves as well as helping the economy.

Lessons From A Bad Economy

What can be learned from a bad economy?  For those who did not believe that fat meat is greasy, perhaps, now their minds have changed about how people are affected.

• Young people have to get serious about getting an education, especially while it is free.
• Challenging situations (bad credit, criminal background and long term joblessness) in your personal life may exclude your from getting a job.
• If you have a job, you need to have a plan of action in case that job ends.
• Do not rely on one source of income
• Some people (depending on challenging situations) may never work again.
• No one will help the unemployed until corporations start losing money when we can't buy their goods. 

Even though people have no control over every challenge in their lives, there is still a price to be paid in regards to employment.  The power must be taken back by the individual to determine their own future.  Get mad, then calm down and begin to think of what you can do to change your own situation.  What can we learn from a bad economy?  Life will not be going back to the way it was when jobs were plentiful.  All people have to fine tune their approach  to work.  This is what we can learn from a bad economy.