06 June 2006

Jack La Lanne & Chuck

I was a guest on Geezer Radio this week. It's a rollicking podcast with gifted media veterans Dudley Carpenter and Marty Davis.

I'd been listening to the show for a few weeks - and knew I'd have to ramp it up. These guys were quick, sharp, funny.

What I wasn't prepared for was Jack La Lanne. At ninety-two years old he was quicker, sharper, and funnier than us snot-nosed kids (and we were pretty good).

Dudley and Marty and Geezer Radio. They'll all be on the air soon and no doubt syndicated.

Streaming Audio

Download the podcast

04 June 2006

Judge Judy: "You're still relevant!"

Judge Judy is on a rampage (as if she ever isn't):
During a recent appearance on "Larry King Live," outspoken television court Judge Judy Sheindlin sounded the coming battle cry of her Baby Boomer generation: "I am still relevant!" … The judge scolded Madison Avenue marketers for ignoring legions of aging Boomers like her.
I think I'll submit a case. We need a class action suit: Baby Boomers vs. Media/Advertising Agencies/Advertisers. Which is the guilty party? They all pass the buck. Or is it collusion?

And Judy's the Judge: "DO YOU THINK I HAVE 'STUPID' TATTOOED ON MY FOREHEAD??? TELL ME THE TRUTH!!!"

She'll get to the bottom of it - and find out who's really responsible for ignoring Baby Boomers.

26 May 2006

My Warm Milk and Nap

My thanks to the staff of Axcess News for this inspiring piece about Baby Boomers:
Baby boomers are a generation like no other. Socially conscious, revolutionary and taboo-shattering, these Americans continue to challenge the status quo, even as the first wave enters their "golden years." The Boomer legacy will leave behind a distinct set of values, but most notably inspiring, inviting, informing and spirited lives. For them and generations to follow, a new life begins at 50. Boomers are showing America how to live without restraints, armed with the confidence to look into the future and to continue building fulfilling lives.
NBC4.com (District of Columbia) has a revealing piece about what Baby Boomers plan on doing with the rest of their lives:
"Our studies show that one in four boomers indicated that they want to do something completely different," she (Emily Allen, AARP) said. "We're certainly seeing trends, particularly as we begin to look at different industries. We are seeing people are taking a look at kind of nontraditional industries, such as the transportation industry, changing from the corporate world in to a nonprofit world, going from corporate world in to education."
Another survey reveals Baby Boomers are planning to live, not retire:
"Money is not the sole motivating factor behind Baby Boomers working into retirement. They instead see work as a way to stay challenged and mentally active and sustain a link to the community they have been a part of for most of their lives…"
Leading the way are Boomer women - this according to recent research by AARP:
Many of those interviewed for this study say growing older is not only better than expected, but can be a positive time of life with new rewards. They report being happier now, experiencing freedom to be themselves, pursue dreams and do things they have always wanted to do.
As far as doing fun things, here are a couple of Baby Boomers having blasts with their podcasts:
Geezer Radio is a one-hour weekly show featuring news, banter, interviews, and bits with a humorous bite.
I'm getting tired just reading about all this stuff. So media and advertisers, please go away. Don't bother me. Time for my warm milk and nap.

14 May 2006

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.

10 May 2006

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.