Will you be as Fortunate finding a Second Career?

In 1981, Albany Life ran this ad in the newspaper portraying a gun wielding young actor, who would later go on to become the President of the United States of America. His name was Ronald Reagen and was the oldest President ever to assume office at the age of 69 years, 236 days!

This is an awesome but rare example on how fortune can smile at you at such a later stage in life. But does it hold true for all of us? Could we get as lucky as him?

Courtesy: Lowe Howard - Spink Agency 1981

The Advertisement itself was also quite in your face, It played on your late career challenges such as ageing, retirement at 55 (back then) and how quickly your fortunes might disappear.

I especially found this a chilling as 35 years down the road and we're still stuck with same or even more hassles here!

No matter how long your service, no matter how high your position, you could be out of your job....The company car will disappear. The expense account will disappear. The health insurance will disappear. Sadly your mortgage won't.

There are ones who own assets (house, car, kids) and are stuck with it and then you have the other lot — younger ones that is — who are finding their way into the new world but probably may changed jobs every 2 years throughout their career!

Quite a dilemma for industries when economy continues to hang in a prolonged comatose state showing little signs of improvement.

Jobs — current and future — are under attack!

So companies are continue to do the work they have always done. Get efficient by fixing the bottom line, which means fire massively! These jobs are being lost to technology, outsourcing, digital and we are already dreading the next wave — yes, you guessed it right — robots and machines.

Going back to school does not help either since they stop are stuck with education and trainings that apply to the past and not the future. Finding entry level jobs is really a huge challenge for young college graduates and older employees are being talked into early retirement.

Age and wisdom: Does anybody care anymore?

Every discussion you have with another person has almost always got something to do with your career. Whether it is about moving up, across, within or even out of your organization, you want to do something that both excites you and keeps you relevant. But does the corporate world think the same way about you when you're just a number on a large list? Especially when you are over 50?

I was talking to a CTO of one of the world's largest global technology firm and we were discussing about his CEO who is about to retire who is currently in his mid sixties. We then pondered why shareholders were so nervous on his exit and media all so mad about the future of the firm and working overtime to figure out the next CEO.

But wait a minute, why don't we just abolish this whole retirement thing. Why couldn't he stay till he's 90 or even older? Why can't we all?

I thought the idea is/was brilliant. I do realise that you can't apply it to all professions where physical labor takes a toll on your body but a lot of these knowledge jobs could very well be done through the internet, no?

So you can retain talent, find ways to compensate your employees and have enough to hire young folks as well. It is possible, just take a look at Warren Buffet, Larry Ellison, Bill Gates and even the (late) founder of McKinsey, Marvin Bower who till his last days was involved with the firm. He died at the young age of 98!

If they can do it, so can you, right?

Finding fortune - What else can you do?

But we are back to discussion as to what does it mean to regular Joe's and Jane's like you and I. It almost seems as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel. But I do believe that there are few things we can do and I can assure you that it is possible. Irrespective of age!

I wrote a detailed article a few months ago on how you can recalibrate your own fortune in the midst of this mass job destruction. To download the high-resolution jobs matrix, please get it from my website here. Here's a quick summary:

• Change your current job into the future job others still can't see yet. It's you who has to create the new job, not the industry.
• Emerging Social Technologies are very accessible and easy to learn: Just go online, if you don't have internet ask someone else in friends and family to help out. Don't settle till you've found something.
• Networking is key: Meet people and talk to a lot of people.
• Be open to new things - you will learn new stuff for sure.

And finally be brave. After all, fortune favours the brave!