“Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I’m sixty four”
~ Paul McCartney (composed when he was 24 years old)
Seniors always carry two things in their pockets: photos of their grandchildren and random dog-eared clippings of the news they think is important. The older we get the easier it is to forget. So if you want to get retirees to engage in a conversation about reforming social security or the health care system there is only one way to do it, have them look at the pictures of their grandchildren while discussing the relevant issues.
Picture by Kevin Trotman
For most older people when they’re looking at their grand kids they can’t bring themselves to ask the youngsters to sacrifice for them. It just goes against everything that comes with being a parent or grandparent-we do what we have to so our offspring can have better lives not the other way around. When Social Security was created in 1935, the average adult didn’t live long enough to collect benefits. Today, they’ve twenty years left to live and they plan on living them to their fullest.-That’s a lot of purchasing power for services, health and even starting 2nd careers.
Some people look at older Americans and see a monolithic population. Based on the age group of our senior population we need to view and market to them differently. If you don’t understand the differences you won’t know how to reach them, pitch them or convince them. The differences can be grouped as follows:
• The Greatest Generation (born before 1929).
They may not remember the worst of the depression but they new hard times in the late 1930’s and knew the great depression.
• The War Kids (born 1929—1939).
This was the generation that was old enough to live through the hardship of war, but they missed about everything else. They missed the great depression and were out of the house before their parents bought their first TV. They also were out of college before Elvis and the rise of Rock‘n’Roll.
• The Newly Retired (1939-1946).
This is the first wave of the Baby Boomer Generation that populates this group a bit older, a bit more traditional and conservative. They were part of the 60’s and the sexual revolution, they invested in stocks and real estate were riding high and are now screwed. They are working to supplement their income in retirement and view the next 20 years of their lives a a career change. They are the best educated and motivated to build a new career.
Success Tips
This newly retired generation of baby boomers is a gold mine to marketers They are still likely to remodel their homes; they still have an average of two leased vehicles; they will still sign petitions and vote; they are likely to play the lottery; they would invest in a home business as a 2nd career; they’re likely to take a long vacation; they will spend more money than all their children – combined. Take these items and market to this generation this business
Tags: 60's Generation, Baby Boomers, Home Based Business, Paul McCartney, Senior Citizens, Social Security, The great depression, The Greatest Generation
