When media icon Barbara Walters passed away in December, I was taken by how her death impacted me. Walters was a pioneer in the world of broadcast journalism for women and for men as well. She didn’t just break the glass ceiling, she totally changed the way we look at it.
Walters was a role model for me as I began interviewing people in 1982, when it certainly wasn’t the norm or fashionable especially for women and for my subject matter, which was positive people, positive living, positive business and now positive aging.
I watched Walters over the years. Her style, her influence and her depth really motivated me. When you are a pioneer, you are blazing a new trail that many don’t understand. Pioneers pave the way with a lot of trial and error, and a lot of grit.
I am in the minority in my career pursuits and passion at my age, but I won’t be for long because in the next decades, with advances in medicine and technology, more people will continue to work past the age of 65.
As I look at my career, with all of the ups and downs of being a trailblazer and an entrepreneur, I’ve been very fortunate to meet many amazing role models.
Here are 10 suggestions for those of us in our “prime time” staying at work and in our careers:
• Find those role models at any age. Find people with passion, energy and curiosity.
They can be people in your field or anyone who inspires you. Read about them and learn about their methods and strategies.
• Debunk those myths about aging and stay current with technology. In 2010, the Pew Foundation reported that only 43% of people 65 and over used the internet; that number grew to 75% in 2021. Computer use is growing fastest in the over-65 population.
• Learn new skills in the workplace. As practices and methods change and new ones are developed, we need to adapt to new technology and innovations.
• Be resilient with those physical, mental and emotional challenges. We may have to make adaptations to the way we did things before, as the strength of our abilities may change.
• Prepare for the loss of friends, family and colleagues. Honor those memories and learnings and use them as a beacon of light so that you can continue to move forward.
• Be a mentor. You have so much experience from everything you’ve been through. Find someone who’s hungry to learn. It’s a great gift to mentor for both the student and the teacher.
• Understand that all of our experiences, both positive and negative, add to the richness of our lives. As you move forward in your work endeavors, keep doing what works and use the mistakes as lessons. One of the greatest gifts in our older adult years is the experience and wisdom we have gained.
• Take financial risks in your work/career that are within your comfort zone. Keep your reserves so that you can enjoy your work without excess concern. Security and safety are some of our basic needs.
• Keep your goals reasonable and manageable. Short-term goals are best while keeping in mind your overall mission.
• Stay current in your field. New innovations are always in development. Implementing those that work for you can bring dividends to your company or organization.
More businesses, companies and organizations are beginning to recognize and seek out those of us in prime time for ideas, new ways of doing things and as a sounding board. And as long as we are here, we have an opportunity to learn, contribute, grow and enjoy our lives.
Patricia Raskin is an award-winning radio producer and owner of Raskin Resources Productions. She hosts and co-produced the 13-part Positive Aging Podcast series co-produced by Rhode Island PBS. She was a recipient of a Providence Business News Leaders & Achievers Award in 2020.
