1.“True success is retiring to do nothing. Being successful means accumulating enough so you have to do nothing.”

2.“At 65 I’m no longer capable of working. I’m too old.”

3.“When I retire, I should start winding down. Take it easy”

4.“I want to retire while I am still healthy so I can stay healthy.”

Truths about retirement 1.In 1930’s Roosevelt created Social Security to provide a pension workers 65 and older. This was to create openings for younger workers by removing seniors from work force during Depression when there were large numbers unemployed.

It was not created from basis that 65 year olds and older were unable to work. We need creativity of older people even more today, creativity creates jobs. Older people need to stay in work world.

2.Generally, we are healthier than ever have been before. A recent cover of AARP, a magazine for people over 50, announced: “Sixty is new Thirty.” Immunizations, medications, health knowledge and education, have made a huge difference.

3.Our longevity has increased. A 65 yr old man can expect to live until age 82, while a 65 yr old woman can expect to live until age 85. If you are in your 40s, and follow traditional model of retirement, you will likely be retired a minimum of one quarter of your life.

Those living to a hundred have increased. The 1960 census listed about 3000 centenarians. Today, centenarians are estimated at 70,000 and some are predicting 4.2 million by middle of century. If you are 50, you could be one of 4.2 million!

4.Winding down leads to poor health. People who study aging describe Use it or Lose it phenomenon. We keep our health by using it, we need to be active physically, mentally, emotionally or we will wind down. Studies have shown 90 year olds being capable of increasing muscle mass and tone moving from wheelchairs to being independent again.

And good news is: It is never too late to start!! Physically, mentally, emotionally, we have capacity to grow at any age.

America, on other hand, was built on self-reinvention, and today’s economy demands it. Those born before 1946 are less likely to have changed careers or even worked for more than one employer during their lifetimes.

Today, many employees outlive lifespan of companies they work for, and average worker can now expect to have at least three or more careers, with up to six different positions within each of those careers.

Hardly a week goes by without hearing of corporate takeovers, mergers and corporate downsizing. As a result, thousands of seasoned employees are facing burnout from increased responsibilities or being laid-off and replaced with younger, lower-paid employees. Many are looking for a different means of earning a livelihood.

For first time in history, employees must learn to manage themselves and take responsibility for their own employment. Even word “career” is taking on new meaning, as a new generation of employees is moving in and out of multiple careers during their lifetimes.

Keep in mind that a career change is not same as job advancement within a specific career. Most are either lateral or a step down in income until you gain experience and expertise in your new career. Be prepared to downsize your lifestyle.

Think of choosing a new career as an opportunity to bring a fresh outlook and revitalization to your life, as new experiences will stimulate your thought processes.

The most importance part of selecting a new career is also most obvious, . . . deciding on what you want to do. Often this is a natural offshoot of a previous occupation(s). Reinventing yourself often involves a unique merging of your old talents with your new skill set.