The world is dramatically changing. The global population over 60 continues to grow faster than those under 60. Society needs to see this as an opportunity, not a problem.
Why? The gap today between work and death is dramatically ballooning out to anything from 30 to 50 years or more because a) we are living longer, and b) ageism is shortening our working life to as low as 45.
Add to this:
• Retirement is an increasingly unpopular term
• We feel younger and want to enjoy purposeful lives well into our 80’s and beyond.
• People in the workforce are giving professional development a higher priority over salary.
We need a total paradigm shift based on the fact of continuous development from birth to death, be it through payment or passion. Instead of the traditional ’mature then decline’ lifecycle, personal development continues for as long as health permits.
Continuous development brings with it more than accumulated experience and knowledge. Age deepens our understanding of life, of people and, most importantly, of ourselves.
This is not just to benefit people currently over 50. This is to ensure people of all ages can look forward to being a person of value and worth for life. The only change we need is in how we think.
It’s time.
