Tightrope: Retirees, put your experience to work
USA Today, February 2nd, 2010
Hi, Gladys, I'm 73 years young and I need
to make money to supplement my Social Security. I would like to try
selling the fire extinguishers that you talked about in your book. I
think I can sell them at flea markets and maybe even set up a table at
conferences at my local convention center. I need you to supply the
name and address of the manufacturer so that I can buy them wholesale.
— Don
Yes, my teenage entrepreneurial life started out
selling all sorts of different things including fire extinguishers.
That was more than 40 years ago. I don't remember the company name or
where they were located. What I do know is that there are more
opportunities today for earning money than were available 40 years ago.
More and more seniors are entering the small
business world in order to supplement their income. And for that the
world is, or should be grateful. In the past our seniors took all of
their valuable knowledge, wisdom and know-how into retirement with
them. The economic situation of today has allowed the knowledge and
wisdom gained by those of us over 50 to remain active and lets us share
our know-how with the younger generation.
I regularly encounter folks who have taken the
knowledge they've acquired and put it to economic use. Let me share a
some of their stories with you. Hopefully you will be inspired and get
an idea or two for yourself.
I walk daily in a park near my home. On those
walks I often run into a couple, both in their mid-70s. When the cost
of living exceeded their fixed income they decided that the best answer
was to start a business. Both loved animals. They had three dogs as
pets and knew plenty about their care requirements. With that in mind
they started a "doggie daycare service." Dog lovers brought their pets
to them for care during the day instead of leaving the dogs locked up
in the house while they went to work. Their service also extends to
vacationing families that don't want to place their beloved animals in
a kennel. The couple walks the park every day with about 10 dogs on
leashes. According to them, they realize a substantial income as a
result of their service.
Read more of this article.Working in Retirement: Many companies are specifically looking to hire retirees. Let NewRetirement.com help you find these companies and other opportunities should you wish to continue working.