Staying Young, Staying Competitive

In my practice, I work with persons of all ages. It's fun and I get to learn from all of them. Recently, with some of the Boomers I've worked with, the conversation has been about "staying young" and "staying competitive." The question posed to me last week by a 54-year-old female executive was this:  What are some things I can do to make myself seem younger? Having thought about it for a while, here are some things you might try to make yourself seem younger if that's important to you:

1. Act young, vibrant, and energetic. You don't have to act like you're worn out, tired, exhausted, and ready for a nap, even though you might be.

2. Choose words that don't date you. By that I mean, stay away from lines like back in the day or when I was a kid, or young pup, or little whippersnapper.

3. Look in the mirror. What do you see? What, if anything, can you do about it if you don't like what you see?

4. Females, enlist the services of a make-up specialist if you desire an updated, fresh look. If you don't have funds to do that, ask a friend, family member, or colleague for some ideas.

5. Hire a professional image consultant to give you some tips on how to revamp your wardrobe, image, brand, or look. Follow through on ideas that make sense to you (and your pocketbook).

6. Exercise and try to get yourself in better physical shape. Personally, I'm no spring chicken : - ) and I'll never see sample size 4. And that's OK; when I do work out, I feel better. It's that simple.

7. Go through your clothes closet. Anything that's old and doesn't have some huge emotional significance, ask yourself...can I part with this? do I even fit into this? will I ever wear this again? (I cannot part with the shoes I wore on my wedding day; they are permanent closet keepers, along with the dress, etc.)

8. Take a good look at your teeth; are they dull, yellow, or unattractive? If so, check with your dentist to see what, if anything, you can do to achieve a whiter, brighter smile, if you so desire.

9. Consider your eye apparel. Does your eye wear look current, or is it the same pair of glasses you wore in the 20th century? Visit your local eye care center and inquire about 21st century options.

10. Learn something new in the realm of computers and technology. Take a class on how to use a computer; get an e-mail address; learn the basics and proceed from there. Then you can share with others what you do know versus what you don't.

What strategies have you incorporated to keep yourself looking good, feeling good, regardless of your age?

posted by: billiesucher

Comments

[Job Match Now]

I think this article raises a larger question which is the nation's obsession with age. Sure, older employees are wondering how to look and act younger, but younger people fresh out of college are wondering how to appear more experienced so they may land a better job. There's a disconnect there that's worthy of addressing in the national spotlight; what is more valuable, the energy of youth or the wisdom of age?

[Francois]

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[billiesucher]

"There's a disconnect there that's worthy of addressing in the national spotlight; what is more valuable, the energy of youth or the wisdom of age?"

JobMatchNow, your words above have the makings of a blog post...how about it? : - )