What do you want to do "when you grow up"?

Yup...that's right, I'm asking you what you want to do when you grow up. If you've heard any of the new AARP advertising, you've seen numerous Baby Boomers making statements about what they want to do when they grow up.

You hear things like, "When I grow up I want to own my own restaurant." "I want to write a novel." "I want to build affordable housing." And, many more options.

Many of us give up on our dreams as we get older. But I maintain, like AARP, that we are never done growing--and that we CAN accomplish our dreams no matter what the number is on your birthday cake!

Remember what Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now, you'll be much more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the things that you did do." (I believe that will be just as true five or ten years from now.)

I'm a living and breathing example of a Baby Boomer accomplishing a version of her dream. In high school, my dream was to be a teacher. I began college studying business education and English with the goal of teaching. But, life happened. And, at age 19, I got married and quit college after two years. I did go back and finish my degree several years later. But, by that time, I was working in the corporate world and business education became business administration. English became business communication. However, now, although I'm not working in a classroom teaching young people, I most certainly am doing many of those very things that drew me to the teaching profession. I'm coaching, training, mentoring and working with others to help them achieve their goals--and their dreams. If I can do it, so can you!

"At what age did you give up on your dreams? Is it time now to take them back?" What DO you want to do when you grown up?

I'd love to hear from Baby Boomers who are accomplishing their long-held dreams--or who would like to explore options and opportunities that might allow them to do just that! Please comment and let me know if you've taken back your dreams and are now living your passion.

At 2Young2Retire-MN, we help people 50+ reinvent themselves, reignite their passions, reposition themselves and focus on what's most important to them. They explore options and opportunities--and realize that the skills, knowledge and experience they bring to the table are unique and special--and begin to really believe in themselves and what they can accomplish! And, that gives them the attitude they need to do incredible things in the next phase of their lives!

Contact us at lindam@2young2retire-mn.com or call 952-895-1013.

It's that time of year!

It's January...the time of year for making resolutions (and maybe breaking them!) and for setting goals. Goal-setting is a scary thing...after all, WHAT IF I FAIL? I say, GREAT! (No, I'm not completely crazy!) I say this because if I don't fail, I probably haven't set my goals high enough. And, often failing is just a step along the way to success!

Even if we do set goals and follow that by planning how we're going to reach those goals, sometimes we stop there. Without action, we cannot and will not achieve those goals. Things often look great on paper, but when it comes time to take action, maybe not so much!

Here's the other thing about plans. Once they're on paper, they aren't cast in stone. Your plan document should be considered fluid. Set your goals and make your plan; however, if when you move to action it's clear that plan isn't going to work, then change your plan. That's absolutely OK! Just don't stop. Doing nothing will guarantee you will not succeed.

Harvey MacKay, author of "Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive," also does a column in the Minneapolis Star Tribune called Outswimming the Sharks. In a recent column he talked about setting goals. His steps reflect my approach: dream, set goals, take incremental steps that give you small wins along the way. His moral is: Winners make goals; losers make excuses.

My motto is: Dream big...then don't quit! After all, dreams lead to goals, goals lead to plans and plans lead to actions. And, that is how we succeed!

Dr. Robert Schuller describes four types of people:

• Copouts--set no goals, make no decisions
• Holdouts--dream big, but let fear hold them back
• Dropouts--dream; set goals and start to make dreams come true; then, when it gets tough, they quit
• All-outs--want to be, NEED to be and WILL BE the stars; they never quit and will be the inspiration for others to succeed.

Be an all-out. Set goals; make your plan and take action!

At 2Young2Retire-MN, our goal is to help you succeed. By helping you step out of the box you may have yourself in; by asking--and getting answers to--questions you may not have even thought of; and, by focusing on what's really important to you, we'll work with you to set goals and put together a plan to achieve them. You'll take action even before you've completed the program.

Get the plan in place for YOUR NEXT PHASE--and make it the best phase of your life! Contact me at 952-895-1013 or via http://www.2young2retire-mn.com/. Or, just send me an email at lindam@2young2retire-mn.com and let's complete your puzzle together.

Out with the old; in with the new!

It's that time of year when we reflect on what we accomplished (or didn't accomplish) during the past year and set our goals for the coming year. What will your goals be?

Have you been doing the same things over and over and expecting different results? Often people get stuck in a rut because they've done the same type of job for most or all of their careers. Maybe you aren't happy, but you figure "it's too late to change now." Well...that just isn't true! In fact, that may be what is holding you back! That is the most common mistake identified in a recent Met Life Mature Market Institute Survey. People often assume that they have lots of experience and have done this kind of work forever, so they should be "good to go." Hmmmmm...not so fast!

There are several reasons you may want to step back and consider your options. You may be burning out in this career. Maybe you're doing it because it's comfortable and it's what you know; but, the passion isn't there any more and you're going through the motions rather than living your life on purpose! There are very likely things you absolutely LOVE about what you've always done and that you are passionate about. Maybe you can build an "encore career" around those things--and, really begin to be excited about life again? Wouldn't that be fun?! To have balance; to be excited about what you do again; and, to truly live your life ON PURPOSE--and, with passion! WOW!

I'm sure you're thinking that all sounds great, but is it realistic? (Yes, it is!) You're also probably thinking I would have no idea how to go about making a change like that. But, it may not be as hard as you think. In just a few sessions, the 2Young2Retire course helps individuals identify the questions they need to ask and answer; find their passions; set their goals--and, develop a plan and take action to begin accomplishing those goals--even before the course is finished.

So, if you are wondering "what's next," or, in transition or considering retirement you may want to take action now to start living YOUR life on purpose. Find out what questions you should be getting answers to, find your passion, set your goals and create your plan to get there. Make 2010 YOUR YEAR!

Contact me at lindam@2young2retire-mn.com or call 952-895-1013 to discuss how we can work together to complete your puzzle!