Generation Reinvention 30: Boomers and The Big Shift to a New Life Stage

On October 11, 2011

Do you believe in the existence of a life stage called adolescence? Almost everyone reading this will concur that a unique developmental period exists between childhood and adulthood associated with the teen years. Yet this word did not exist in the 19th century and only became part of the lexicon in 1904.

Conceived by G. Stanley Hall, a pioneer in the field of psychology, adolescence is not a given of the human condition but rather a social construction. Hall made up the name and created its meaning, which society has since elaborated with more meaning. Economic implications have been momentous.

Hall’s ideas influenced the development of high school, child labor laws, and eventually popular culture in the form of, for example, a hit television series called Happy Days. Adolescence completely changed society’s understanding and expectations for a period of life that didn’t exist before the beginning of the last century.

Marc Freedman, author of The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage beyond Midlife, eloquently argues that it is now time for society and culture to embrace a new life stage between middle age and old age.

This shift is a “pull not only toward a new phase of work but toward a different kind of life and a new set of priorities.”

In this important program, we discuss with Marc Freedman what he means by The Big Shift, implications for this new social conception — an analog for adolescence — and how Boomers can make the shift happen on their timetable.

Marc Freedman is CEO and founder of Civic Ventures, a think tank on Boomers, work and social purpose. He spearheaded creation of Experience Corps, now one of America’s largest nonprofit national service programs engaging people over 55, and The Purpose Prize, which annually provides five $100,000 prizes to social innovators in the second half of life.

Freedman was described by The New York Times as “the voice of aging baby boomers who are eschewing retirement for … meaningful and sustaining work later in life,” while The Wall Street Journal stated, “In the past decade, Mr. Freedman has emerged as a leading voice in discussions nationwide about the changing face of retirement.”

Thanks to our listeners for joining this show. Post your comments and questions on my Facebook page: facebook.com/BrentGreenDenver or you can follow me and send direct messages to me on Twitter: @BoomerMarketing. My blog, this month beginning its sixth year, presents a continuing conversation about the Boomer future: http://boomers.typepad.com. Tell your friends and colleagues about a worldwide Boomer revolution, discussed here weekly, called Generation Reinvention.

CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW TO CHECK OUT MARC FREEDMAN BOOKS IN AMAZON