The phrase “midlife crisis” for many brings to mind clichéd images of men quitting their unfulfilling jobs and leaving their wives to ride off into the sunset with younger women in their shiny new sports cars. Since the term was first coined, much attention has been paid to this psychological phase of life, yet even today, that attention seems to focus almost exclusively on men.
The Difference between Reinventing and Rearranging
When a room in your home doesn’t serve you—the space doesn’t work for how you use the room; the furniture is too big, too small, too inappropriate for the task; and the overall atmosphere is too closed, too open, too shabby, too stressful—you have a couple of options. You can rearrange the furniture, maybe throw […]
It's Never Too Late
Sometimes rock bottom is the best foundation for building something incredible. Chris Gardner, 57, the homeless man who transformed his life and made millions, is a shining example of this. His story is told in his autobiography and the movie based on it, The Pursuit of Happyness.
You Are Here . . . Now What?
Many of you are probably familiar with Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which is typically depicted as a pyramid (shown below), with our most fundamental needs for food, water, security, love, and so on forming the foundational rows of the pyramid. Without these basic reptilian needs met, Maslow theorized, we would not be motivated to […]
Positive Aging
I’m an aging junkie. No doubt about it. And proud of it! I turned 69 on Monday, and it’s no accident that I’ve just returned from the Sixth Annual Positive Aging Conference, sponsored by the prestigious Fielding Graduate University of Santa Barbara, California, and I’m now attending the highly regarded Boomer Summit, presented by Mary […]
The Generation Ahead
I have discussed the importance of strengthening and creating intergenerational relationships, but usually, I’m talking about the relationships between boomers and the younger generations, the X’s and the millennials. One important connection, however, for boomer women in particular, is with the generation of matures, those women who are in their 70s and 80s right now, many of the first feminists who are also among the first to transition from work to “retirement” and to benefit from our increasing longevity.
Fewer Regrets, More Happiness Post-50
Never look back unless you are planning to go that way. ―Henry David Thoreau You have no doubt heard the phrase, “No one on their deathbed regrets not having worked more.” The point is clearly to remind us to focus on what matters. But are we truly motivated by a fear of regret? Research […]
Talking Ourselves out of Success
On Thursday, I wrote about women’s increasing economic and professional power as well as the backlash from the patriarchy in the form of assaults on women’s rights and bodies and a resurgence of the old boy’s club in corporate America. The answer is to bypass the current system. How, you ask? We must recognize that […]
How Being Successful Can Save the Planet
Women are increasing their power all over the world, and the world is profiting from it. A recent McKinsey survey showed an increase in profits in emerging markets for 34 percent of companies who’d made empowering women a priority. According to Catalyst, companies with women board members outperform those with all-male boards by 42% to […]
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
I was as excited as anyone when Marissa Mayer was hired as CEO of Yahoo while in the third trimester of her pregnancy. I don’t think it ever occurred to anyone that this woman would not advocate for a family-friendly workplace at a minimum. So of course, I was also as shocked as anyone to […]
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