What's wrong with managing your personal happiness? Has the conduct of your personal life become so sacred that you cannot allow the thought of applying crass management techniques to it? Your personal happiness is directly related to the happiness of your loved ones. Shouldn't that be included in your personal management plans? If you have 'managed' to keep a marriage together, why not try to manage it to perfection?
Many managers feel management tactics should be left in the office and not applied to family or personal life. What a pity!
One of the best bits of advice for managing happiness, was in the lyrics of a popular song of decades ago, "You've got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative."
Has some employer declared your term of office completed because you have reached a certain biological age? Has this been unilaterally done despite your worthiness and energy equaling that of younger colleagues? Or, has this come about because you believe those who continue to advise you "to take it easy" at your age.
Twenty years ago when you were 45, would you have decided to abandon hope, to cease striving for improvement or to begin to have nothing of importance to say or contribute to others? Of course not! Then why should you allow society to make that decision for you twenty years later? This is the sad condition being enforced on many productive people in our society.
In Japan where the retirement age for many executives is age 55, there is a more acceptable second-career pattern. The over-55 person could be assigned as an executive in a sub-contracting firm at a lesser salary or given a position requiring much experience with fewer urgent demands. The reduction in pay is not as punishing in a society where the savings rate is high and expected needs are less demanding.
True! You may have less energy. You may not be able to put in 80-hour weeks. You may only be able to produce throughout 60 or 50-hour weeks. That's still more than the average 35 or less put in by the "me" generation. Besides, you have become more efficient, you rise earlier in the morning, you have fewer family distractions and you have the confidence derived from your greater life experiences.
When you are in your sixties and you cease employment or change a vocation people instinctively ask, "Are you enjoying retirement?" Our society's expectations are so strong it prevents people from accepting such a concept as, "I'm not retired - I'm actively engaged in another career."
If you did not heed the advice to have some fun on your way through life and you didn't schedule enough time for travel and hobbies during your younger years, you can still combine these with a vocation that gives meaning to your existence providing you are the resourceful manager you still think you are.
Change perspective by moving to a smaller community or vocation where you can become a big fish in a small pond. Create hope by still setting goals and objectives with realistic deadlines. Nothing of importance to say? Change from repeating office gossip or relaying information from others and develop more meaningful thoughts. Invest in a young entrepreneur or a new enterprise where the small investment gives the right, the privilege and credibility to consult to people who will listen.
The opportunities for remaining relevant, vibrant and active after mandatory retirement age are limitless. Unless, of course, you are strongly committed to preparing to die over the next 15 or 20 years.
Why are we tempted to say, "Don't believe everything you see or hear in the news?"
In television and radio, particularly, there are two types of personalities and delivery techniques. Have you noticed the difference between a good news person and a good commercial announcer?
The newsperson is authoritative. Facts presented are often corroborated mainly for maintaining the medium's trustworthy image. This is not always extended to the editing which selects which facts are included or excluded. The listener takes comfort knowing there are enough opinionated commentators to keep things closer to reality.
The commercial announcer is persuasive. The facts may be distorted or emphasized as much as allowed by law in the effort to cause desired actions. We are often influenced by the message despite the distortion being easier to recognize.
In the print media, display and selection can influence our opinions and reactions.
As with most media, advertisers or someone courting their favor may influence content. Investigative journalists often have a bias. Stories may originate from a press release or some other action initiated by a public relations person. Editors may manipulate content to match specific editorial campaigns. Some editorial content compares with the phenomenon where an extraordinary increase in advertising precedes a business failure. These are only some of the well-meaning attempts to slant media presentations.
"So, what is your point?" you ask.
There are many skillful practitioners in the media subtly crafting materials to shape your perceptions.
When you next read business venture announcements of accomplishments, or articles with glowing success records, take a moment to consider the source, intent and bias of the piece. Imagine what is missing. Read between the lines. Especially, when you read about a competitor being touted as a leader or a pioneer.
Then, you will avoid that feeling that you're being left behind or, worse, feeling like a loser in comparison.
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