Many mature age individuals love to work. Many more have untapped potential, strong ambition and a fire burning in their belly. We're living much longer, much healthier lives.
Yet we live in a culture that worships youth – or at least the appearance of it – and the nasty by-product of that obsession is a society that has become blatantly ageist. The less than young are made to feel inadequate and the common wisdom is that if you haven't made it by mid life, you never will.
Workers stay in "safe" if uninspiring positions rather than risk rejection in a hostile job market. Retrenchment at 55 often means early and involuntary retirement. Job hunters of a certain age send out dozens of resumes that are met with little or no response. Insufficient superannuation funds and the dependent children of many older parents add further pressure.
Of course we can't blame "them" for everything. Many mid lifers and baby boomers play a huge part in their own dilemma. Change is occurring at a staggering and unprecedented rate and to ignore it or fall too far behind is to risk becoming obsolete.
Late bloomers need to adopt a path of continual change and get comfortable with being uncomfortable and do something new every day. Listen to current music, try a new cuisine, walk a different route. Seek out new experiences and cultivate a thirst for life. Accept that education is now a life long process – pursue it passionately and update your skills, never stop. Embrace new technology. Embrace new technology. Embrace new technology. Yes…I said it three times.
The good news is that the tide is turning. The employers that have taken a short term view will need to do a rethink of massive proportions in view of predicted labour shortages. We're now looking like an increasingly attractive proposition. With 4.1 million baby boomers making decisions around retirement in the next 10 years, the government is pushing programs to encourage mature age recruitment and raising awareness of conscious and unconscious bias and age discrimination.
And we're starting to see a rise in mature age role models working happily and breaking down stereotypes – just a few that spring to mind are Gerry Harvey 75, Queen Elizabeth 89, Clint Eastwood 85, Rupert Murdoch 84, Madonna 56, Mick Jagger 72.
Richard Branson turned 65 last month. I read a great quote from him recently:
"Many people do not find their true calling until later in life...older employees who have learned how to inspire and lead people, and how to remain persistent and optimistic despite changes in circumstances, will have an edge. Senior entrepreneurs can bring the best of both worlds to new ventures: experience and the contagious enthusiasm of a youthful mindset. Remain flexible and look around yourself for inspiration, and you may soon find that you're onto a winning idea."
I couldn't have said it better myself.