There are a lot of things about getting old that are not so great. You cannot do many of things that you used to do as quickly or easily. In spite of that I am pleased to still be mowing my yard with a push mower and walking the beaches of North Carolina.
My wife has forbidden me to use the chain saw down in the ravine behind our Virginia mountain home. That was actually really hard work so I do not miss it. I do miss all those Saturday mornings when our late Lab, Chester, and I would work trails on the mountain behind our home. Chester would sleep in the shade while I worked away with my weed whip.
I am also not supposed to climb around and work on the roof with a ladder. That another thing I do not miss.
Beyond that life continues, I will be doing some biking now that we have warmed up. I am looking forward to kayaking and some swimming this summer. I am especially excited about getting out and fishing in our skiff in Bogue Inlet.
In spite of all the recreation, I no longer consider myself retired. I am busy most of the time either writing, taking pictures, or working with real estate clients. I am getting ready to take on some additional technology sales responsibilities. I am looking forward to working some new opportunities.
Yet I have set goal to put another 100 hours on my boat this summer.
Age does provide you with some perspective. You learn that your self worth is more than just the job that you have. It is important to have some other goals. By the time you reach your fifties in the business world, you have also learned to roll with the punches.
Real estate is a very time intensive business, but I have managed to carve out a role where I am comfortable. Still over the last few years, it has been very hard to make significant money as a new agent without a lot of local contacts.
This year I have focused on working smarter. I have gotten to the point that I am picking and choosing my real estate clients. I have learned from experience that some people will use up all your time if you let them. On the flip side, the same people are often reluctant to sign an agency agreement with you. If someone is not serious about buying a home, I am just satisfying their curiosity. My time when I am not playing is money.
Working hard enough to be successful without neglecting the rest of your life is something you can face in any career. When I took up real estate, I promised myself that I would not let it take over my life like Apple Computer did. So far it has not consumed me.
I still manage time for our granddaughter, fishing, photography, and writing for pleasure. Sometimes I find it challenging to find time to write for pleasure. When I have a deadline over my head and need to churn out an article for which I will be paid, I have to get it done before I move forward.
Last night I caught up with most of my commitments so I have taken the time tonight to sit down and write about something that interests me.
Though I am not going to dig deep tonight, one of the things that puzzles me the most is why businesses are so resistant to older employees?
There are many people out there like myself with great skills who would like nothing better than to contribute to the success of another firm. Many of us have worked in Fortune 500 companies and start-up firms. We know how to work long hours, and we are still capable of doing it.
There are a number of us who are just as computer literate as any young people, and some of us who know more than most young people.
Yet anyone over 55 will tell you that the response you get when looking for a job makes you wonder if the companies are the ones without a pulse. It is frustrating to be ignored just because you are over fifty.
I guess that I am glad to have my writing and real estate to keep me busy. Adding some technology sales to the mix will be a lot of fun. Doing something new always gets the creative juices flowing. It is almost as much fun as going for a walk on the beach.
