Beat Age Discrimination

Just recently I found a good website for the 50+ crowd called Eons. Basically, it’s a Facebook type site, where you sign-up and fill out a profile, maybe upload a picture of yourself, and make new friends by joining “groups”. In my opinion, the “groups” feature is the best thing about it as it’s where you meet people who have the same interest as you.

So after I joined I went about joining all the groups that had anything to do with online business. Within each group there is a place to post messages and members of the group can reply, which is great since it allows interaction, discussion, and debate. In one of the groups, the newest and most responded to messages was titled “Age Discrimination” and since it was the most recent, I started reading.

Oh my, was I taken aback. There was response after response with each person talking about how they had been discriminated against. I was aghast, if not stupefied, I actually had no idea that age discrimination was reality. I’ve heard the words, I understand why and how it can happen, I even know quite a few people who are horrified with the fact that they could be let go from their jobs because it would be so hard to find another job, but honestly, I’ve never seen it happen. The company I work for has recently hired quite a few people over 50 and upwards of 60 years old. I can’t imagine a company would actually pass on the opportunity to have people in their workforce who are so experienced. But then again, maybe I’m lucky to be working where I work.

Since reading those messages on Eons I’ve had some time to think and I’m quite sure age discrimination exists. However, you really can’t be sure. You have to consider that maybe those who cry age discrimination are truly not the best candidates for the job. Maybe their skills aren’t up to date for the job they’re applying for or maybe it shows that their ambition is languishing, you never know. If the applicant is now claiming age discrimination, maybe that person is prone to “playing the victim” and the interviewer picks up on that. After all, for every person that’s hired there are many job applicants and not only do the older ones get denied the position, right?

All I know is if you own your own business, you will never have to worry about age discrimination. There was one positive post on that message thread and it was by a person who does freelance writing. All her sales and correspondence occurs on the internet where people can’t see how she looks. In her experience, age has never been an issue, it never even comes up in discussions. So what does that tell you? Maybe, just maybe, as we age, owning an internet business is a good choice? And maybe, just maybe, we should start upgrading our computer and internet skills so we can start an internet business? What do you think? Could I be on to something?

If my grandfather who was taking computer classes in his EIGHTIES can do it, so can you. You can utilize the years while you’re still in the workforce to learn the skills you need and to start your business. Work that needs to be done to maintain a website can usually be done from your home computer in the evenings and weekends while you maintain your day job. If you still have time in the workforce, you could conceivably build a nice business that would provide you a nice income by your planned retirement date. Actually, building a profitable business on the internet in your spare time is not only possible but a very reasonable goal.

Internet marketing is a skill once learned can be used to promote and sell anything on the internet. What are your interests? What do you like to spend time doing? What are you good at? On the internet, you can find a niche for almost anything of interest. I’ve even heard talk of a website that sells tumbleweeds, and it’s VERY profitable. Can you believe that? You are blessed to be born in a time where doing business can be done from anywhere in the world with anyone in the world. Take a look at your blessings and don’t let them go to waste. If building a business on the internet is one of your goals, it’s one less “discrimination” you will have to deal with.

One of my favorite authors is Dan Miller. He has written a most wonderful book called “No More Mondays” that discusses work options for fulfilling your dreams. He also has a great newsletter, blog, and podcast at his website www.48days.com. Check it out for motivation about getting started on fulfilling your dream of working doing what you love.

Cheers!

Reba

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