The 2006 Boomer Venture Summit

On June 20th, Mary Furlong and The Leavey School of Business will be presenting The 2006 Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit:

We invite you to join us for an exciting one-day program consisting of leaders across a wide range of industries. They all have one thing in common – they invest in or serve the 40+ boomer consumer.

And they're not kidding. This from U.S. News and World Report:

In addition, a CGC analysis of government data shows that those 55 to 64 and older represent one of the fastest-growing groups of self-employed workers. Some 1.8 million American workers ages 55 to 64 are self-employed outside of agriculture, up 29 percent from 2000, according to the Labor Department. The number of do-it-yourselfers 65 and older has grown 18 percent to 756,000. And boomers 45 to 54 years old make up more than a quarter of the nation's 9.6 million self-employed. Overall, boomers and older entrepreneurs now account for 54 percent of self-employed workers, up from 48.5 percent in 2000.

There are always bolts of adrenaline bouncing off the walls at these gatherings (I was there in 2004). That's because of the rousing give and take between the venture capitalists and entrepreneurs roaming around—along with the excitement of The $10,000 Boomer Business Plan Competition.

If I were a cheesy copywriter I'd say this: The $10,000 Boomer Business Plan Competition is the Survivor of business plan competitions! Instead, I'll just say this: The $10,000 Boomer Business Plan Competition the American Idol of Business Plan Competitions!

Here's the press release. Mary told me that the event is close to a sellout—so if you want to go, hurry up and register.

Boomer Project's New Rules Conference

The Boomer Project is putting together the "New Rules" conference in Atlanta next month (June 23, 2006).

Their very smart move: Along with marketing, advertising, and demographic folk, two people in the media are presenting - Marc Middleton of Growing Bolder and Nancy Fernandez Mills of Boomers! TV.

These two pioneers developing new content for Boomers share their trials and tribulations on attracting advertisers and sponsors. Plus, they'll tell us their secrets on creating "sticky" content to appeal to Boomers today.

It's not just about marketing and advertising anymore. The Boomer Project knows this, I've been saying it for years, so has media expert Jon Currie, aging guru Ken Dychtwald, and others.

Active Lives Defy Aging

Got an email last week from Bill Glauber of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

"... A Marquette University professor mentioned your book with its intriguing title. I'm working on a piece (about) Baby Boomers feeling young…"

Bill and I chatted for thirty minutes or so. And he talked to a bunch of others — all with insightful comments:

Active Lives Defy Aging
Generation redefines society's expectations for growing older

Thanks to Professor Jean M. Grow for the referral.

NAHB Building for Boomers 50+ Housing Symposium

I'm back from Phoenix after speaking at the NAHB 50+ Housing Symposium.

During my two days there I met and chatted with about fifty people, including Janis Ehlers of The Ehlers Group, Tracy Lux of Trace Marketing (we're talking the dueling Queens of the 50+ Housing Market), and Steve Wattenbarger and Ross Jones of Wattenbarger Architects PLLC (no cookie-cutter blueprints in their booth).

My good friend and partner John Migliaccio opened up the session with a rousing, fact-filled, very funny presentation. When it was my turn, I felt like a folk singer following The Who.

And I was sick as a dog. Had been for four or five days. Mentioning this to the attendees garnered some sympathy. And I had the luxury of being able to suck on a lollipop the whole time to keep my throat lubricated - a great prop.

Although I was wobbly, it went very well. Certainly much better than I thought it would. We were running late, and over half the people stayed an extra fifteen minutes (cutting into their hors d'oeuvre and drink time) to hear my complete presentation.

About a dozen people collared me afterwards and were very gracious with their comments. Some had read my book. I especially liked hearing that my frenetic, ten-minute 'history of advertising' section had an impact. I like doing it, and think it's important.

One of the joys of being in advertising is that you get to immerse yourself in products, services, and other industries. Speaking at these non-marketing specific conventions, symposiums, and conferences is always worthwhile because I end up learning more than everybody else.

Eons and Eons

There's now more going on over at Jeff Taylor's Eons. And here's a new press release:

Eons Invites a 50+ Generation of Boomers and Seniors to Be Proud, Be Loud About Their Age

I'm not sure I need to be proud and loud about my age. I'm perfectly happy with it, minus some aches and pains.

Let me think about this…

I should be proud that I've yet to get a fatal disease or die in an accident? (I guess all the Baby Boomers who've croaked should be ashamed of themselves.)

I hope I can dredge up a few things a bit more worthy to be proud of. If I can't, I'm in big trouble. (And if I start screaming from rooftops about being proud about simply being alive, please lure me down -- and lock me in my room until this psychotic episode is over.)

And there's a contest:

Eons Launches the "How Old Are You?" Challenge to Push Past Social Taboos, to Inspire People to Pursue Their Dreams

Well, that certainly sounds nice. But what are these dreams? Or at least what are the ones the web site and Mr. Taylor (in the press release) find to be worthwhile accomplishments and goals?

Investing in a village and renovating a floating classroom sound pretty good to me. And there's nothing wrong with doing other, more fun things.

The problem is that I'd have a hard time feeling 'proud' that I sailed on the QE2 or bought a villa in Spain. I might enjoy them a lot - and there's nothing wrong with that. If you have the money, great.

However, these types of activities and purchases are nothing new, nothing particularly inspiring, nothing that uniquely defines this generation, or redefines the ages we are. If you need to be 'inspired' to book a cabin on a cruise ship, are 'proud' that you did, and feel the need to be 'loud' about it — get thee to a therapist. Fast.

And Baby Boomers certainly don't need any help pushing past social taboos. For better or for worse, it's a big part of what we've been doing for the last four and a half decades. We won't be stopping anytime soon. No motivation required.

Maybe it's those 'seniors' who need help. But I'm not so sure. They seem to be pretty motivated, don't need a 'push.' Some might.

Jeff Taylor is an interesting, nutty, very bright fellow. Monster.com is a wonderful, helpful mega-monster.

Eons has lots of potential. I just wonder if they should skew it more towards altruistic pursuits, especially since one of their key branding concepts is 'Proud.' At the moment (or at least after snooping around the site and reading the press release), it seems as if it's mostly fun and games and contests - with a few serious pursuits thrown in.

That's how I would advise him. A less cheesy approach.

Maybe make it a big, splashy, commercial Civic Ventures.

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(I'll be hopping off the blogging bandwagon for a week or so. Will be in Phoenix for a presentation at The National Association of Homebuilders Building for Boomers and Beyond Symposium.)