Do the Children of Black Baby Boomers Lack Motivation to Carry the Torch

This post was inspired by an article I read in the Buffalo News .

The article in the Buffalo News was titled: Black community suffers when no one steps up to keep businesses running. The article focused on a 71-year-old black man who cashed in his life savings to start his own business 41-years ago. Now he wants to retire but there's no one around to take over. His grown children, according to the article,are turned off by the long hours and the responsibilities so they don't want to carry the torch. The business owner now fears his worst nightmare: his business will fold.

The article further states the absence of succession plans to carry black-owned businesses into the next generation is a national problem with far-reaching implications. The phenomenon derails economic momentum, preventing a transfer and accumulation of wealth, and it can confine black communities to lingering poverty. It erodes the hard-fought gains of the previous generation, handicapping and forcing the next generation of entrepreneurs to start their ventures from scratch.

So what happened? Why is it that the children of black baby boomers lack the desire to follow in their parents footsteps---especially if their parents have laid out a clear path for them? Do the children of black boomers also feel a sense of entitlement as their white counter-parts?

Or perhaps it's OUR FAULT? According to the National Black Chamber of Commerce, only 15 percent of the nation's 2.1 million black-owned companies have identified and groomed successors. Have we not taught our children enough about the value of owning your own business and what it means to hand it down to the next generation?

Perhaps it's a combination of both.

AARP and Baby Boomer Men are on Fire

Who says men are the only ones who can have "eye candy?"

Imagine my pleasant surprise when I saw who was gracing the cover of the summer edition of AARP magazine....none other than DENZEL WASHINGTON! So what if it's only a picture. It still looks good enough to drive any baby boomer woman crazy and he is definitely EYE CANDY (no disrespect to his lovely wife Pauletta).

Denzel is one of 21 baby boomer men who are honored in the June/July issue of AARP the Magazine in its first ever “Men on Fire” list. Blazing with soul, style, and sex appeal, these 21 men are a hot mix of lovers, thinkers, and rebels.

The “Men on Fire” list includes a handsome assortment of men, including actors Colin Firth, Antonio Banderas, Liam Neeson and Samuel Jackson, musicians Yo- Yo Ma and Jon Bon Jovi.

“Our readers understand that sex appeal is ageless, so we thought a feature on the sexiest men over 50 would be a great way to kick off summer, ” said Nancy Perry Graham, editor-in-chief of AARP The Magazine. She's got that right!

Personally, I'm glad to see more lists like this coming out to honor our baby boomer men. Boomer Diva Nation was the FIRST to do it in 2010

Although the AARP Magaine doesn't come out until Thursday, May 24, you can check out the online version NOW at www.aarp.org/magazine.

Nearly Half of Baby Boomers May Die Without a Will

Remember that old saying: "Up the creek without a paddle." Well, it appears some baby boomers may be swimming in the deep end of the pool when it comes to leaving a last Will and Testament.

According to RocketLawyer.com, nearly half of Americans are taking a big risk with their family's future by not having a Will. When it comes to protecting digital assets (Facebook account, online photos, passwords), 63 percent of respondents say they don't know what happens to their digital assets when they die.

Sixty-one percent say they don't believe its important to provide for a pet in a Will.

If you die without a last will (known as dying "intestate"), the state will decide how your property is distributed. In community property states, this means that your community property will be given to your spouse (or domestic partner in some states.)

According to legalzoom.com, any property that is not given to your spouse will be distributed to the following people, in this order:

Your children, or if they are not alive, their children
Your parents
Your brothers and sisters or, if they are not alive, their children
Your grandparents or, if they are not alive, their children (i.e., your uncles and aunts)
The children of your deceased spouse
Any relatives of your deceased spouse
The state of your legal residence

Baby Boomers Restaurant Closes Its Doors But Needs No Bailout

After more than seven years in business, the restaurant in Des Moines, IA made famous by President Barack Obama has officially closed its doors.

The restaurant, known as Baby Boomers, became a huge hit with the community and the nation after candidate Barrack Obama named their chocolate chip cookies his favorite during his first presidential campaign.

He even asked for them in Iowa City during a campaign stop last week.

The owner says if it wasn't for Barack Obama, he probably would've closed up shop a long time ago. He said the President and First Family boosted business at Baby Boomers more than he could have ever dreamed.

The owners said they will continue to make their signature cookies but now they can also live a little.

Okay Mr. President, do you and the First Lady like to read because I've got a couple of books for sale.

Baby Boomers Being Bullied in the Workplace

According to a recent article by AARP.org, more and more employees over the age of 50 are being bullied in the workplace. Taunts like “stupid old woman,” “too old to keep up,” and “You should just retire,” are being hurled at by bosses, co-workers and even customers.

Just how bad is it? A 2011 survey by CareerBuilder found that 29 percent of workers age 55 and older said they’d been bullied on the job, compared with 25 percent for the 35-44 group.


Think about your own behavior. When was the last time you complained about how slow someone "older" was when it came to helping you?


The AARP offers some tips of how you can fight back against workplace bullying:


Write it down. Keep track of what was said or done and who was present.

Do your homework. Research state and federal legal options.

Talk to an attorney. Look for internal company policies (for example, zero tolerance of harassment or violence) that may have been violated.

Compile numbers. Gather data about the economic impact that the bullying behavior has on the company.

Update your résumé. You may have to find a new job. It can’t hurt to start searching.


For more information on bullying in the workplace, check out the complete article by AARP:
http://www.aarp.org/work/on-the-job/info-03-2012/workplace-bullying.1.html

How to Cure an Aging Baby Boomer Voice

Cosmetic surgery has allowed some baby boomers to turn back the aging clock. Now there's apparently a treatment that will keep your voice from aging.

An increasing number of patients are seeking help from the University of North Carolina Voice Center and other medical facilities.

Dr. Robert Buckmire, a UNC otolaryngologist says a person recorded at age 30 and again at age 70 will sound noticeably different because of the diminished bulk of the vocal cords. Lung capacity also tends to diminish with passing years, leading to a weaker voice. Sometimes a singer or speaker will produce a breathy sound through vocal cords that aren’t closing properly.

Changes in the brain can bring tremors and other signs of aging.

TIPS FOR PRESERVING SPEECH FOR A LIFETIME

According the National Center for Voice and Speech, most behaviors recommended for general health also keep people’s voices in good shape.

The research and teaching organization adds the following tips:

—Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day to maintain hydration.

—Support the voice from abdominal muscles when speaking or singing.

—Avoid “vocally abusive” activities such as yelling, screaming, coughing and throat-clearing.

—Warm up the voice before using it.

—Don’t talk or sing at unnatural pitches.

—Stay away from over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, which thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding of the vocal folds.

—Drinks including caffeine and alcohol remove moisture from your system and should each be counteracted with an equal-sized glass of water.

FYI: An otolaryngolgist is a surgeon who diagnoses and treats disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck.

Baby Boomers Needed for Migraine Study

If you're one of those people who suffer from migrane headaches, you may be interested in participating in an online study that may (or may not) give you some relief.

Quincy Bioscience is now enrolling participants in a migraine trial to evaluate a safe and natural supplement. There is no cost to participate and no travel is required. All participation is completed online.

Call 877 359-6197 to learn more.

The Online Migraine Trial is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study that is conducted online using migraine assessment surveys. All study supplies are shipped directly to participants. The trial will last 90 days. HOPE Trials is the research arm of Quincy Bioscience and has pioneered a form of trial research called ‘patient reported outcomes’ testing. You can read about their work here: http://www.centerwatch.com/news-online/article/917/site-less-pi-less-trials.