| Eight Ways to Get off The Couch

Eight Ways to Get off The Couch

20/10/2008 by: RP

A few days back I published a popular pieces on Seniors and Retirees making a living on line. On the same site that hosted the inspiration for that article I found an excellent article about getting grandma and grandpa off the sofa. I think this bears further reading, whether you happen to be grandma or grandpa or you are children/grandchildren worried about the oldster’s future.

First of all, sitting around on the couch is bad for health and longevity, but in addition it can be financially and emotionally rewarding to stop being “old and useless” and to start taking action to empower your life and help others.

Here are some highlights I thought were very appropriate:

1. Raining Opportunity: Here in Southeast Asia where I live (I am an American who lives in the Philippines for family, fun and profit reasons) it’s very common to see people sheltering from the sun with conventional umbrellas. Many times I admit to going out without an umbrella when the sun is shining because I’m stubborn and lazy and a conventional “bumbershoot” is unwieldy and blocks my view. Here’s the details on a lady who lost her husband due to skin cancer … my condolences. Rather than adopt the usual, “oh I am a poor widow” stance and wait to see what the government might or might not do for her, she has built a company that designers and manufactures chic “anti-UV umbrellas”. What a “cool” idea, literally. Making a profit, helping others and helping herself as a side benefit.

2. It Takes a Village: Not everyone is hurting for money in their retirement. But many are hurting for something to give them a meaning in life and and keep them off the sofa. Here’s an amazing retired doctor who refuses to sit n the sofa and has instead built a health care network in 8 countries, with more on the way. Instead of whining about how much Medicare pays you, can you imagine how it feels to actually become Medicare to people who so desperately need it?

3. Cashing in on Camelids: Virtually anywhere in the world you can find stories about seniors and their pets. Even people in nursing homes who are profoundly affected by conditions like Alzheimer’s respond to the therapeutic affects of animals. So, why not plan your retirement from the git-go around animals that you care for. It certainly beats watching endless TV tripe and trivia. Along the way you just may stumble upon monetary as well as emotional profits as this couple with their alpacas have done.

4. Storytelling Success: Here’s a story that points up in the real world what I have long been telling you here … no matter what you retired from your knowledge is valuable and marketable. Here’s an Eighty-one-year-young fellow who formerly ran a retail store. Of course he could keep doing the same thing on line, but that maybe wouldn’t be retirement. So, he wrote the story of his retail success. People no pay to buy the story in book stores and publishers want more. Your knowledge 9yes yours dear reader) is valuable. Capitalize on it!

5. Internet Faith: Is your faith important to you? or some other belief that you hold dear? Here’s a lady who realized what she knew and what she wanted others to know … and she has built something that will endure even beyond her years … and can empower her retirement as well. The beauty of the Internet is, it puts you in touch with people all over the world and with a little guidance and direction, they build your content for you.

6. Real Estate Surfing 101: Do you have access to, or can you gain access to unique information? here’s a good example of building a profitable venture out of what is already there … scraps on the floor so to speak. Ever notice how when you search for information you get all sorts of irrelevant ‘hits’ aside from what you really wanted? Instead of searching for a niche’, build you own.

7. Pottery Passions: So what was your career? Superintendent of Schools? Honest enough and a needed position but frankly, a bit boring to me, and what can you do with that after retirement? teach others how to be a school superintendent? Ho hum. This fellow didn’t bother. He was always passionate about Native American art and now he sells it … along the way empowering his own retirement, making others aware of the culture and helping bring beauty to their lives. Boring? Hardly! Follow your heart.

8. Snapshots of Products: One of the beauties of making money online that I have found is, it really doesn’t matter who you are, where you live or what your physical condition is. Here’s a couple who were interested in travel and very active and then an accident took away one partner’s mobility. It happens you know, you can empower yourself now, or regret later. Because they took the time to get internet literate and learn to effectively use a digital camera they now make a living online and enjoy life rather than wishing, hoping and lobbying for yet another grudging handout.

OK, there’s a pretty good read on how to get off the couch and back into life. If you are a senior or retiree trying to make your life meaningful and empower your own retirement, let me know … I have more stories. If you have already taken steps to make money online or off-line in retirement, why not drop me a line and let me feature you? (just go to my secure, spam-free contact page.

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