Just Over 50 and Not Dead Yet

Rebel Rebel, Sounds Just Over 50...Never Mind the Sex Pistols

While walking around the Trade Show floor, I suddenly stopped when I caught sight of the Union Jack and a crew wearing the famous/infamous 'God Save The Queen' T-Shirt restamped with a ' God Save the Screen / Rebel Rebel' punk flavored logo.

It was smack right raising the point I am making with Just Over 50.

If you were a Pistols, Clash, Ramones or in a more artsy than gutsy way Talking Heads or Television in 77 or 78 you are now clocking in as a 45 to 55 year gal or guy.

Not that I will use Rebel Rebel anytime soon since they produce videos and short films which is out of my realm.

Good branding though.

Just Shy of 18 Hours before 'Just Over 50 and Not Dead Yet' the Panel

You spend months toying with an idea, putting it up for vote and after a long process have a chance to turn it into reality.
In my case, even though I had hosted a number of speakers and discussions in my few years at the helm of the Northern New Jersey group of Company of Friends (Fast Company's readers network), I did not realized fully what I set myself up for when I committed to offer this topic for South by Southwest Interactive.
I don't think it would have gone so far if it had been all inspiration and no perspiration.
For those of you who cannot attend, you are welcome to ask questions Online.
I plan on continuing the voyage after the 1 hour session.
After all it would be silly to address online participation (of early boomers in our case) and let the conversation die after a one hour live session.
I am grateful to Janet, David, Rhea and Ted for agreeing to get aboard this ship.
We will make it worth your time for those of you who join us. The Just Over 50 and Not dead Yet takes off at 11:30 am and lands at 12:30 pm, Saturday, March 8.

'Rattled' at 50, On March 4, Debra Galant gives birth to 'Fear and Yoga in New Jersey'

If there is someone who can prove that the online world is not populated only by 20 somethings, the forever young Debra Galant proves that it is never too late to do anything you wanna do.

She founded Baristanet a few years back but her proudest achievement might be the publication of her first novel Rattled after a number of literary therapy sessions.
In one of these chance encounters, I met her on the New York bound train on my way to the Gambero Rosso tasting.
She was going to meet her publisher for a brainstorming session the day before the release, March 4, of her second opus titled Fear and Yoga in New Jersey. Will Johnny Depp be in the film adaptation?
To get back to our conversation, I found out for the first time that her first book was published just as she turned 50.

You can read Fear and Yoga in New Jersey First Chapter for Free before heading to the bookstore or your favorite online book source.

Merde! as they say in France.

'The older you get, the less time you want to spend doing stuff for money' (Richard Price)

There is be a sense once you pass 50, that time is fleeting .
Novelist Richard Price (all of 58) called by Charles McGrath a Sleepy-Eyed Writer, Wandedrin Byzanthium echoes that by stating that 'the older you get, the less time you want to spend doing stuff for money'.

If I Can Market to Me, I Can Market to any Cynic (Janet Greenlee)

Having been in one marketing discipline or other all my life, I'm pretty jaded.  And private.  Or so I thought.
I've also been very involved in understanding the "boomer" dynamics most of my boomer adult life -- yes, we're the demographic tier that we were calling mid-youth a while back.
The moniker varies -- we are also called collectors, students, "matures."  Yeah, whatever, we're aging so we're in a wonderful state of denial. 
It's this denial I can connect with and relish for as long as possible until I get the occasional reminder from my physical being (that's also called defiance of my mental being.) 

So, what has this to do with marketing to those of us over 50?
I AGREE with the new mandate to tune into the boomer's life phase for marketing implications.
In our quest to re-define age, to push the boundaries … it has completely changed our segmentation. We are not going by the books. 
We are rewriting the rules … and not always so gracefully.

So, of course the online, digital world makes more and more sense. We are seekers of new information that will help us either prolong or enjoy a quality of life.
It's no wonder 8 out of 10 boomers are indeed on line and the Internet now rivals the television as a preferred source of information (and gaining daily.)

The top boomer financial concern, by far, is affording retirement and then the rising health care costs.  And we are gaining in our confidence that we CAN keep up with technology.
We, will not be left completely in the dust, but we will participate on our terms and typically with passion and true thought applied.

Yes, I can market to myself now.  I get me.  And I'm enjoying the sell -- I'm downloading music.  I'm going to those virtual meetings.  I'm trying to solve battles with hot flashes. I'm horribly short on my retirement fund and trying to figure out some options.  All from the internet.  All still private (until now.)

See you at SXSW

Friday morning musings by Janet Greenlee

Thanks Janet!

The 'What's Next, Boomer Business Summit', March 26, Washington DC

I never spoke to Mary Furlong but it seems that many of the topics that her What's Next Boomer Business Summit in Washington DC on March 26 will echo those we will touch upon in our 'Just Over 50' panel at South by Southwest on March 8.

Itching to Pitch : 'How to Start an Over 50 Baseball Team' (via ehow)

Rather than play golf or go bowling, you are one of these early boomers itching to pitch another game, Joe Rivera offers is guide on How to start an over 50 baseball team on ehow.

Something to work on for the spring maybe!

Not just provocative, 'Just Over 50...' means thanks for being alive

When I put the 'Just Over 50 and Not Dead Yet' label on this subject, it was not meant to be just provocative.
It was also a way to express how grateful I am to be alive and kicking.
My father passed away before he was 50 so I am thankful for being here.

Fade to Grey, 'The Graying of the Greens' (via CT Green Scene)

Connecticut blog CT Green Scene report on The Graying of the Greens and what the environmental groups do to attract fresh blood with networking events such as Green Drinks.

A Day at the Office with Nick Cave...Just Over 50 this year

I would put Nick Cave in the same sphere as Tom Waits for the stories and cast of characters he creates.
The man is Just Over 50 and opens his office if not his soul to Simon Hattenstone (The Guardian) for an Old Nick interview. The father of 7 year old twin boys tells us that "he doesn't take drugs, he doesn't drink, he doesn't even smoke. In one way, he says, life is no longer worth living; in others, he says, it has never been better".

Related: Prince, Madonna Turn 50