Become a Boomer Entrepreneur: Working on Your Passion!
I'm about to discuss a passion of mine...being a boomer entrepreneur!!
As mentioned before, in addition to being an Infopreneur, I'm also a reference librarian in Silicon Valley whose responsible for purchasing,researching, teaching, and providing programs geared towards small business. As you can guess, I'm VERY FOND of the notion of being a boomer entrepreneur! We Boomers love the freedom to pursue those passions we have, whether they're hobbies,causes, family, or adventures. Starting your own business from your passion(s) during retirement not only allows you to to work from whatever venue you'd like (for me, that would mean a home-based business, via my computer), but also brings in a little extra cash! Well folks, according to recent statistics, on the average, we're an AWFULLY healthy and intelligent lot! Employers are concerned about the impending "brain drain" that's starting to snowball down the proverbial hill. We're expected to live at least 20 to 30 years after retirement. For a lot of us, there's a distinct possibility that we may outlive our retirement financial resources, plus need more intellectual stimulation during retirement. Which brings to mind...
What DO we want ot do with the rest of our wonderful lives?? Well, from an economic standpoint, some of us may have to decide whether or not to stay retired full-time, or go back to work. "WAIT A MINUTE! I JUST GOT OUT OF THAT RAT RACE!!" I can hear you now, thinking that I've lost my natural mind! Hold on a minute! There are SO MANY options available to us for bringing in some "extra change": ~ Going back to work on a part-time basis (for your ex-employer, or a new outfit); ~ A mixture of working for pay, and go back to school, which can stimulate that camaraderie missed from your previous job, plus learn exciting new skills; ~ Go to a temp. agency that primarily focus on the 50-plus age group;
When I teach a class on business research geared towards people wanting to start a business, or, who already own a small business, I provide them many resources. Inevitably, there are people anxious to to start a lucrative, online business (an "e-business"). I'm sure that many of you (especially us boomers entering or in retirement) would perhaps like the idea of a income-generating business from the comfort of your home, either as a "side-business", or, as a full-time gig. "Wouldn't it be nice...", you may be thinking, "...to have my own business from the comfort of any PC, and still have time to pursue other passions?" Let me recommend such a company that will help you to build that business, based on your passion(s)!
They don't sell you "a bill of goods" that supposedly promises you instant wealth. They want you to learn the correct way to launch your small business. I'm sure you can tell that I'm passionate about this site, and the information that's provided to you. Why not develop an income-earning site developed around one or several of your passions? 
The list below will touch upon some GREAT sites to get those boomer entrepreneur juices flowing! There will be other pages in this site where you can glean further information on other ways to start a small business after retirement. Use these resources to enhance the best part of your life to come! Also, be sure to check out our E-Books page for great resources that you'l want to review, and purchase! ~AARP: Careers AARP knows the importance of all things boomer, and they address the issue of boomer entrepreneurs! In their "Careers" section, there's a wide variety of issues that relate to transitioning out of the job market, to diving back in! Click on the link for "Self-Employment", and you'll have a cornucopia of resources to guide you to starting your own business! ~AllFinancialMatters.com I found a reference to this great blog in a recent edition of Money Magazine. It was touted as one of the best money blogs around by the journal. A financial planner in Texas states that his blog is "a personal finance blog dedicated to discussing such topics as budgeting, asset allocation, 401K, IRA, cash flow, insurance, financial planning, portfolio management, and other areas in personal finance." I like the straightforward, no-nonsense, no-hype and no-hysteria approach that he takes on personal financial matters. This is a site worth subscribing to for keeping up on a fresh perspective on "all things financial".
~The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur.com This is an excellent site for the boomer entrepreneur! The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur is your home on the net for information and resources to keep you up to speed on building a business in the 21st Century. Well-worth the FREE online subscription! ~The Bootstrapper Blog This blog is an absolutely WONDERFUL information resource for the boomer entrepreneur, that addresses MANY small business questions! It was launched in May 2007 by the company BusinessCreditCards.com, which provides a good resource for any small business owner or self-employed individual who is searching for a better credit card. Bootstrapper is a great informational resource for any small business owner operating on a shoestring budget, and provides tips on financing, cash flow, low-cost marketing and small business loans. It also provides a subject index to the current, and the previous year's editions. I HIGHLY recommend this as a "keeper" in your bookmark arsenal!
~Employment Network for Retired Government Experts This quote from ENRGE's website sums up their purpose well: "ENRGE was created to serve all American men and women who have dedicated their careers to government service and who choose to remain productive in their respective professions or fields of expertise after retirement...This private and secure ENRGE website serves as a platform for individual resume and business interest postings. Only retired government (federal, state, and local) employees and those government employees who are within 12 months of a scheduled retirement date may utilize this free service." ~ ExperienceWorks.org Experience Works is a great website especially geared towards low-income boomers and older seniors. Their mission is to search for outstanding employers and older workers looking for all levels of employment. They cover all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. ~Inc.com: The Daily Resource for Entrepreneurs Inc.com is the website for Inc. magazine. The site delivers advice, tools, and services to help current and "budding" boomer entrepreneurs to start, run, and grow their businesses more successfully. You'll find information and advice covering virtually every business and management task, including marketing, sales, finding capital, managing people, and a lot more. It includes an archive to the magazine, an exclusive area dedicated to the Inc. 500, and detailed information on Inc-sponsored events. ~JMJ Information Services: Market Research and Information Products for Your Business I would like to introduce a company to you that’s dedicated to the growth and marketing of small business owners. It’s called JMJ Information Services, and yes…I am the owner! My company is an information consulting and market research company. I perform customized business research and create value-added information marketing products to promote and grow your business. If you’ve seen one of my e-booklets advertised on this site's page, "Financial Calculators", then you get an idea of a booklet that can be specifically created for your business. I’ve been in the information research business for many years, and I’m also currently a Reference Librarian with a Silicon Valley-based public library. Having worked for IBM and other IT corporations, I understand the importance of reliable business and competitive intelligence research, as well as information products for a business to thrive and succeed! Please feel free to contact me at: joan@jmjinfo.com for your business’ informational needs! My motto is: What an excellent site for Boomer entrepreneurs in particular, and the overall public in general! MyOwnBusiness.org is best summed up by its mission statement: The Mission of My Own Business, Inc. as a non-profit organization is to educate entrepreneurs by providing free coursework to foster success and prevent and mitigate human suffering and economic losses arising from preventable mistakes. Our objectives include: 1. Maintain a viable, growing organization by developing, producing implementing, updating and marketing our educational offerings through multiple delivery channels. 2. Fulfill a widespread, ongoing and important role in making the world a better place by nurturing successful entrepreneurs. 3. Nurture and expand our collaborations with schools, community services organizations, the SBA, World Bank, SCORE, State Department and our other respected collaborators. 4. Expand our multi-channeled and expanding delivery systems including the Internet, classrooms, newsletters and textbooks. By all means, bookmark this site, and pass it along to your friends! The Boomer entrepreneur may not only want to start a home-based business or another small business from your passion(s). RetiredBrains.com is a job-listing and resume-posting site for us "seasoned" workers and retirees looking for jobs and volunteer opportunities. ~RetirementJobs.com RetirementJobs.com is a website devoted finding the best-suited to older workers and match them with "active, productive, conscientious, mature adults seeking a job or project that matches their lifestyle". Whether you are here seeking to supplement your income, discover a new challenge, or finding a venue to get out and meet people, or any other reason for that matter, RetirementJobs.com welcomes you! ~SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives What a fabulous resource for not only boomer entrepreneurs, but ALL entrepreneurs! This is one of the few resources that I highly recommend in the small business research class that I teach. They're America's premier source of FREE and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs!. Their volunteers are working or retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders who share their wisdom and lessons learned in business. I highly recommend using this resource for your entrepreneurial needs! ~SCORE's Resources for 50-Plus Entrepreneurs SCORE provides a great blog fo the boomer entrepreneur! This blog provides small business marketing strategies and motivation to help the boomer entrepreneur build a business in the 21st century. Great web resources are also included!
Seniors4Hire.org is a U.S.-wide online Career Center and "the #1 place on the Internet for businesses that value a diverse workforce to actively recruit folks in the U.S. 50 and older including retirees and senior citizens looking for a job and/or other ways to earn money". Membership is free for job seekers 50 and older. ~SiteSell.com As mentioned above, SiteSell.com is a great company for anyone to have as a provider of tools to create an online business. At the cost of roughly one U.S. dollar a day, SiteSell is used all over the world. Its "no-nonsense" take-your-time approach goes against the grain of other "get rich in a hurry" companies. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you peruse this site, and take advantage of the 30-day trial offer...you'll be pleased! ~SBA: Small Business Administration (U.S.) This is THE site for all things small business! As a boomer entrepreneur, this is an essential site. The SBA was created to help Americans start, build and grow businesses. They have an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. They offer a wide array of services and information that will help to start a home-based business, a "brick-and-mortar" storfront, or a corporation. Bookmark this as a core tool for your business needs.
Brought to you by Smart Money magazine, this site is chocked full of great resources for the boomer entrepreneur! It has articles and tips for: best practices, marketing, technology, capital, taxes, and benefits. Plus, it offers Smart Money.TV online with short, on-point news and tips for you to listen to online. Bookmark this one as a definite keeper! ~StartupNation.com This site is another one of my favorites that I recommend in my class. It's "by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs", and has a wealth of informational resources and membership available to you for free! You'll find easy-to-follow, practical information to start and grow your own successful business. All of this is provided at no charge. Great site...worth bookmarking!
~ The Super Affiliate Handbook As a boomer entrepreneur, I'm the first one to cast a doubtful eye on ANYTHING that crosses my e-mail's path, that even remotely looks like a "get- rich- quick" gimmick. Being a librarian, I have to scrutinize personal finance and entrepreneurial material to potentially purchase for our readers. Being a boomer entrepreneur, I am constantly on the lookout for quality material that will help readers to focus on the type of business that they either want to do, or that might fit their idea of the "perfect" business to start. Many entrepreneurs love the idea of possibly working from home (with the price of gas these days, who wouldn't?), and balancing their life between doing a job they love, and spending quality time focusing on family, friends and hobbies, especially during retirement. The freedom to "choose your own work hours", and calling the shots is considered not only the "American Dream", but also a GLOBAL one too! The Internet has made that possible for many folks, and not just those who are computer-savvy. I ran across a book that intrigued me so much, that I reviewed it...and decided to buy it for myself! The title is, "The Super Affiliate Handbook: How I Made $436,797 in One Year Selling Other People's Stuff Online" by affiliate guru, Rosalind Gardner. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to start an Internet affiliate business! What is an affiliate program, you might ask? In a nutshell, affiliate marketing is an arrangement between an online merchant and affiliate (you), in which the affiliate earns a commission for generating sales, leads and/or clicks for the merchant's web site. Affiliates have the potential to earn significant money, if done correctly. And, it's relatively cheap to start! I invite you to review this ebook, by clicking on the link below. I hope that you, too, become a super Internet affiliate marketer!
~SurveyScout: Where We Pay For Your Opinion "Did you know everyday companies pay big bucks to people like you and me just to know what we are thinking? It's true! They are desperate to understand how you think and shop and why you buy certain products because this helps companies improve their products, and they in turn they pay YOU good money for your opinion. They Need You! Right now, (they) have hundreds of market research firms looking for survey takers. If you are a housewife, a stay-at-home mom, a student, retired, working full time, or just looking to make some extra cash, SurveyScout is your ticket to fun, easy money."
~Wall Street Journal's Center for Entrepreneurs What a great site from America's leading business newspaper! For the Boomer entrepreneur, the Wall Street Journal online has devoted a page to the small business owner, with tools and tips (as well as those wonderful WSJ articles!), that are sure to keep a boomer entrepreneur on top of things! 
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