TransformingYourCareerTransformingYourself

  In May 2025 Ian Carter was laid off from Microsoft. Since then he's been doing what more job searchers are embracing: Sharing their hunt for work on platforms such as LinkedIn and BusinessInsder. The LinkedIn share generated more than 100,000 impressions. Yes, interviews came as well as interest from recruiters. But, as yet no job offer. He's considering not renewing his lease in Redmond, Washington and moving back with family. The BusinessInsider outreach is very recent. Therefore, there's no telling what they could yield. Will Carter land a job before the October 20th end of his lease. And stay put in that lifestyle? Sharing about the now-very challening process of finding what is thought of as a "job" is commonplace. That's obvious in the proliferation of the LinkedIn banner "Open to Work." But much of that is feeling-based: Here I am sad, in this pickle.  Very little constitutes a strategic pitch about how you can create value for an employer...

  October 10, 2025, a very bad Friday.  Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that that China was getting very "hostile." The administration was considering a massive boost in tariffs applied to China. Investors, including we in BoomerVille, lost $2 trillion in the stock market. How we dread the opening of the market tomorrow. Will there be many more "bad days?" Or. all bad days, for a long time? Sure, we all know the market eventually recovers. It certainly did after the Crash on Monday October 19, 1987. But we Boomers were young enough to absorb that, not panic and see our investments resume growth.  Now, we don't have the time to wait it out. Meanwhile, if our nest egg is depleted how will we fund our lives into our 90s? It's a shock that Diane Keaton died "so young." That is, age 79.  In coaching I am observing more over-65 becoming solopreneurs . That is a strategy to defer dipping into their investments. Income from working self-employed is com...

 In public relations, ranging from looking for a job or pitching to a prospect, there was an old saying: Sure, provide ideas. That's necessary to demonstrate everything from that you know your stuff to being innovative. But, don't give away the store. Along the way we learned how to steer the conversation from the prospect's determination to pick our brains to moving the needle to their hiring us. Currently in the iffy economy with fewer good jobs that's not so easy. Typical is this post on Reddit - Public Relations :  " ... in my third interview ... and the company just asked me to develop a 6-month integrated strategy covering executive thought leadership, media relations, and social presence. This isn’t a hypothetical case study — they want a real, detailed plan with slides, a sample editorial calendar, content concepts, and media strategy. It feels like the kind of work a team would spend weeks on." Of course, the feedback on this professional anonymous pl...

  It shouldn't be a newsflash that the trades, including plumbers, are using AI. That extends from administrative work and marketing to research and hands-on problem solving. Housecalls Pro found that 40% of those coming to service our hot water heaters and air conditioners and clean our houses rely on some form of AI. That includes ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro. The time saved and the improvement of results such as in marketing are boosting revenue. Sometimes that's to the point that business owners can expand their enterprise. The formal coverage of this in Yahoo Finance i ndicates no jobs look like they'll be eliminated, though. At least not yet. But there is a red flag in the comments:  " ChatGPT will fuel DIYers ..." The  average cost per hour  for a plumber ranges from $45 to $150. The average service call is between $125 and $450. Isn't it in our financial self-interest to learn our way around the plumbing and more. Maybe ...

  It's in the public interest. That could be how the plaintiff bar, lawmakers and activists move the needle in activating or threatening to leverage public nuisance law against much of social media.  That had been a homerun against tobacco. The 1998 settlement was for $206 billion for the first 25 years of the agreement. In addition, consciousness was raised about the dangers of smoking. The lead paint state class actions didn't pan out so well. The one win was in California.  Oxycodone did better. In the process the marketing manipulation tactics had been exposed.  Now, political publication The Hill  says it: Social media can be the "Next Tobacco." As with tobacco, what's being contended is that social media is addictive. It's alleged that the algorithms are structured to unleash intense anger.  "Like nicotine, rage triggers something we can’t resist: dopamine. We are dopes for dopamine."  Usually in America action happens in response to. That is,...

  UDATE: Heartburn in BoomerVille Dow Jones Industrial Average Index Index: DJI Compare 45,596.64 USD ▼  -761.78 (-1.64%) today October 10, 3:28 PM EDT  ·  Market Open Dow Jones Industrial Average DJI: ^DJI 45,861.70 -496.72  (-1.07%) As of Fri. Oct 10, 2025 12:15 PM EDT · Free Realtime Quote (USD) · Market open Full chart

 "Davos" used to be shorthand for the pricey prestigious global networking winter event in Switzerland. Sponsored by the World Economic Forum it was covered before, during and after by media.  Bob Dilenschneider, who operated public affairs boutiques in New York and Chicago, brought his own press relations person Dick Kosmicki to handle that media action. It was widely known that Bob would do Davos and that enhanced his branding.  Even being invited to deliver a presentation was certainly a career booster. The Edelman firm made it its business to journey to Davos annually to feature its research on trust. Celebrities gave motivational talks about doing good.  Now that image of Davos has darkened. Being associated with it could be a negative. That kicked off with the investigation of WEF founder Klaus Schwab . Although he was cleared a cloud seemed to hover. After all, the mission of WEF is noble: "The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Publ...

How long will the shutdown go on? How broadly will its internal moving parts be affected and how? What are the law firm's major practices? All of those factors are creating the opportunities and yet another set of challenges (2025 has been a year of turmoil) for large law firms.  If you understand business lots of this is obvious. For example, practices and general services which would have an uptick in demand could be restructuring, bankruptcy and crisis advisory. Dentons, which had established an advisory arm, could thrive. Those firms which are highly diversified won't have to start sweating yet. Where the business of Big Law could begin being impacted negatively is detailed by sources on my networks and ChatGPT. Those include: Setback for recovery of M&A. Potential deals could be put back on hold. Not-busy-enough associates could become even slower in billing.  Foot-dragging in prospects willing to close on new business. Uncertainty is increasing rapidly. That's t...

  Despite the government shutdown, our Social Security checks were deposited in our banks today. The Dow opened in positive territory.  And for some of us solopreneurs our enterprises, which had slowed down in the summer, are picking up new business. Dow Jones Industrial Average DJI: ^DJI 46,674.00 +71.02  (+0.15%) As of Wed. Oct 8, 2025 9:31 AM EDT · Free Realtime Quote (USD) · Market open

 The concern is 2026. The World Trade Organization just came out with a downbeat forecast for the global economy in 2026. Yes, predicted is a worldwide economic slowdown.  So, where to find hope? Read my Substack column. Meanwhile, our nest eggs are holding up. Dow is up almost 73 points. Thrown off your game, maybe the first time since you started working? You made all the right moves and then the world moved in another direction. Intuitive Coaching. Special expertise with transitions, reskilling and aging. Psychic/tarot readings, upon request. Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova (Text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com ). Yes, test out the chemistry. Zero risk.

  It's almost 7 PM ET. Futures ticked just a bit higher. But there's a long night still ahead and anything can happen to influence the movement of markets. Thrown off your game, maybe the first time since you started working? You made all the right moves and then the world moved in another direction. Intuitive Coaching. Special expertise with transitions, reskilling and aging. Psychic/tarot readings, upon request. Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova (Text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com ). Yes, test out the chemistry. Zero risk.

Dow Jones Industrial Average Index Index: DJI Compare 46,969.94 USD ▲  +450.22 (+0.97%) today October 3, 10:44 AM EDT   ·   Market Open   And, it got even better: Dow Jones Industrial Average Index Index: DJI Compare 47,032.63 USD ▲  +512.91 (+1.10%) today October 3, 12:21 PM EDT  ·  Market Open

  We boomers are more and more our nest egg, which for some is primarily in equities. So far, even as the stock market decouples from the iffy economy, we've been doing okay. Actually, better than okay. But the government shutdown and what else that could generate have us downright scared. At about 7:15 AM ET futures are down about 200 points. Meanwhile, it's increasingly difficult to land paid work. I've stopped taking on as clients those who want to unretire. Most are too far behind in the technology required to even apply for jobs. Also usually they don't get why in the current labor market that those advanced degrees have to be deleted from a resume, unless directly related to the task. Deletion isn't unethical since a resume is a marketing document. For those determined to work for income, the solution could be to start up a small enterprise. Solopreneurs are succeeding. Just find a gap in what people need/want, then supply an affordable convenient solution.  ...