| If you became a butcher, baker or candlestick | | | | variety of dog training tips: and [ |
| maker because that's what you always wanted | | | | 5. Freelance Commercial Writer. If you enjoy |
| to be, you are in the minority. Many of us find | | | | writing and can think strategically, you could be |
| ourselves in an occupation without fully | | | | ready to launch yourself in a career that offers a |
| understanding how it "happened" to us. We | | | | great lifestyle and the chance to earn an excellent |
| needed to make a living, of course, but we may | | | | income (say $50-125 an hour). "Given the vast |
| also have been influenced by family expectations | | | | array and volume of commercial work out there, |
| or pressure, issues of self-esteem, or what the | | | | for many, it’s simply a matter of |
| guidance counselor said. That was then. Now, you | | | | re-directing past career experience into a |
| can join the hoards of people 50 and older who | | | | profitable writing direction – one that often |
| are swelling the ranks of new entrepreneurs, now | | | | zooms right past [age] 60s and beyond," says |
| 5.6 million and growing. Here, from Too Young to | | | | Peter Bowerman, author of The Well-Fed Writer, |
| Retire: 101 Ways to Start the Rest of Your Life, | | | | Back for Seconds, and an award-winning e-zine, |
| and current research, are ten picks that capitalize | | | | THE WELL-FED E-PUB. Check out his article |
| on the qualities you, as a mature person, bring to | | | | specifically for the 50+ at Packed with profiles |
| the table: great people skills, resilience, experience | | | | and good ideas. |
| -- life and work -- and a perspective that only | | | | 6. Lifestyle Entrepreneur (mystery shopper, |
| comes with years. These opportunities are | | | | survey taker and/or car tester). We know of |
| perfect for the 50+ entrepreneur because: | | | | people who cobble together a pretty interesting |
| * You can launch them in the evening or on the | | | | livelihood with a potpourri of part-time jobs. You |
| weekend, even while you are still employed | | | | need plenty of initiative, enjoy being on the go, |
| * You can begin from a home office which means | | | | and a reliable car to get you around. One of the |
| low overhead. According to home-based business | | | | best 'gap' opportunities, but for some, the |
| guru and author, Paul Edwards, most can be | | | | freedom to set your own timetable and earning |
| launched for under $5,000 | | | | potential is addictive. Read this: [ Here are some |
| * None demands years of training, in fact, you | | | | more thoughts from Mark Hendricks, Career |
| might be able to leverage your past business | | | | Journal's Lifestyle Entrepreneur columnist: [ |
| experience or build on a hobby or avocation | | | | 7. Minister. Do you have a calling to work with |
| * Lots of flexibility about how and when you | | | | people on the spiritual dimension of their lives? |
| work -- one of the most desired qualities for | | | | Can you see yourself officiating at various rites of |
| second careers | | | | passage, joyful like weddings and baptisms, and |
| 1. Antique/Collectibles Restoration. Take a hint | | | | not so, like memorial services? The Universal Life |
| from the success of Ebay, which began life as a | | | | Church, Modesto, California makes it possible, |
| collectibles auction site, and the popularity of PBS' | | | | absolutely free. You do need to check on state |
| Antiques Road Show. Nostalgia for the handmade | | | | requirements, however. For a good overview of |
| quality of the past has many people scouring their | | | | the subject, |
| attics, and those of their parents, and roadside | | | | 8. Motivational Speaker. Do you love to encourage |
| flea markets for that neglected gem to restore | | | | people to achieve their potential? Do you enjoy |
| to its former glory. Enter the professional restorer | | | | speaking before an audience? Put these together |
| (also chair re-caning expert) -- you. | | | | and you could have what it takes to be a |
| 2. Bakery, especially Artisan Bread Baking. Here's | | | | motivation speaker. Master the art of speaking -- |
| another back-to-the-future move (and | | | | both getting over the anxiety of public speaking |
| movement) that could pay off handsomely. A | | | | and honing your favorite topics -- by joining your |
| friend of ours -- she grew up in the bakery | | | | local chapter of Toastmasters International, Read |
| business -- gets her baking done before dawn in | | | | Alan Weiss' book, Money Talks! How to Make a |
| the kitchen of a neighborhood restaurant, and sells | | | | Million as a Speaker. |
| her artisan breads to a local gourmet shop. Her | | | | 9. Professional Organizer. One of the outcomes of |
| new business is going so well, she could be looking | | | | our consumer culture is too much stuff, too little |
| for some real estate of her own before long. | | | | time or space to deal with it. A professional |
| Today, there is a growing demand for well-made | | | | organizer is trained in working with clients to tame |
| food that takes skill and time. Read more about | | | | their particular form of chaos, whether it is the |
| the Slow Food movement here: and | | | | office drowning in mountains of files or the home, |
| 3. Coach (Life, Executive, Transition, Career). As | | | | with closets and storage areas bursting at the |
| you may know, coaching is a partnership between | | | | seams. If you love a challenge like this, and enjoy |
| a client and a trained coach to identify and work | | | | working with people, this could be the business |
| toward the client's goals. The career of coaching | | | | opportunity for you. Get credentialed with the |
| attracts many mid-life and older career changers | | | | National Association of Professional Organizers, |
| for the simple reason that all your previous | | | | print up some cards and start prospecting for |
| education and work experience is applicable to | | | | clients. Just $29 buys you an introduction: [ |
| coaching your clients. For example, if you've been | | | | 10. Virtual Assistants (VAs). A small |
| an executive yourself, you bring a perspective to | | | | business-to-business service that is growing by |
| your coaching that other executives would find | | | | leaps and bounds, virtual assistants provide |
| attractive. Similarly, if your background is in the | | | | administrative support and other specialized |
| arts, you are are likely to attract others who | | | | services 'virtually' via fax, phone, computer and |
| share your experience. Your previous work | | | | the Internet. Many get started during high seasons |
| environment may also provide you with a client | | | | and go on the sign longer contracts for their |
| base, at least when you are starting out. Coach | | | | services. See International Virtual Assistant |
| training has kept pace with the growth of the | | | | Association at for general information. If you have |
| profession and today you have many programs | | | | equipment and skills and are ready to roll, check |
| accredited by the International Coaching | | | | out for actual jobs. |
| Federation to choose from. | | | | How many entrepreneurs-in-the-making |
| 4. Dog Grooming (also Walking, Training). If you | | | | procrastinate the time away. Don't be one of |
| love dogs, you are not alone. A little market | | | | them. As Mark Twain said: Twenty years from |
| research of the pet department at your local | | | | now, you will be more disappointed by the things |
| supermarket should convince you of the growth | | | | you didn’t do than the ones you did do. So |
| potential of this business. You can test it on a | | | | throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe |
| house call basis before investing in bricks and | | | | harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. |
| mortar. Need a list of upcoming seminars on a | | | | Explore. Dream. Discover. |