As we get older depression is a major problem.  It can be an individual problem or a problem because a spouse suffers from it.  In this case, it’s my mother-in-law.  She is in her mid-80’s and recently broke her ankle.  That in itself is difficult at that age, but it cascades into a host of other issue, not the least of which is the possibility that she might have to leave her house and move into a retirement community.  Because she may have to make some major life changes that she does not want to do and she cannot see a way around them, she is somewhat depressed.  Her depression spills over onto my sister-in-law, the closest in proximity to my mother-in-law, and to my wife, the oldest sister.

This vicarious depression is not as troubling as getting the real thing.  I write a small column for a major daily newspaper and some of the comments that come my way show me that there are a number of people out there, mostly me and mostly elderly, who don’t have much productive to do with their lives.  It’s depressing to think that commenting on a minor mistake I made anyone’s time.  Well, to each their own.

This leads me to wonder, with all the boomer minds coming off line in the next years, what purposeful occupation can people take up.  For me, daily purpose is important.  Without one for an extented period, I think many people, including me, would become depressed. 

My question to you is “How is society going to re-tool to provide a meaningful existence for the Baby Boom population as they retire?”  Looking at it another way might be, “How can we keep Baby Boomers in the work place longer?”

Let me know how you feel.

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Although I don’t usually comment on politics in this blog, I’m always interested in what’s going on in the political world. Chris Erb (from Doing Biz Abroad) and I have been asked to comment on the most influential politician in the world today. The person we thought was most interesting is certainly Vladimir Putin, who in December was named Person of the Year by TIME magazine.

I’m not sure it’s correct to use the term “Baby Boomer” to describe someone not born in the U.S., but his age (birthdate October 7, 1952) places him square in the era of current president Bush and the Clintons. At 55, he is certainly primed to be in a leadership position in Russia for many years. He is an extremely popular man in Russia.

In a radio broadcast in October of 1939, Winston Churchill said, I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.”

That thought is still true today. On the one hand, Putin has initiated many projects for the improvement of Russian society and the economy, with major initiatives in health care, housing, education and agriculture, and he has reformed the judiciary. A stable Russia is certainly not a bad thing for the world. On the other hand, he has stifled free speech and rigged and cancelled elections. Sounds like a return to the old Russia we remember.

Max Hastings in the Daily Mail called him the “new Tsar” and “Stalin’s spiritual heir.”
Putin says he is creating a “sovereign democracy” which sounds like an oxymoron to me.

(The choice of Putin as Person of the Year has been criticized by many, including Garry Kasparov, who reminds us that Hitler was named TIME Man of the Year in 1939.)

The word is “influential.” Hitler is my choice for “most influential” person of the 20th century. And Putin is shaping up to be an influential politician in the 21st.

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I’ve just finished reading Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. While I may not agree with all of the ideas put forth in the book, among the things that resonated in me was the sense of professional integrity. Here’s a quote from the protagonist, Howard Roark:

“But you see, I have, let’s say, sixty years to live. Most of that time will be spent working. I’ve chosen the work I want to do. If I find no joy in it, then I’m only condemning myself to sixty years of torture. And I can find the joy only if I do my work in the best way possible to me. But the best is a matter of standards–and I set my own standards. I inherit nothing. I stand at the end of no tradition. I may, perhaps, stand at the beginning of one.”

Overall, the book made me ask myself if I feel any joy or respect for what I do. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a clear vision of what they want, but often finds himself/herself in the company of naysayers. Here are some aspects of the professional life that the book touches on:

Norms and traditions. Just because everyone is doing something in the same way, it doesn’t mean that it’s the only way to do it. It doesn’t mean that it’s the best way to do it, either. If you have your own way of doing or seeing things, and you truly believe in your vision, you should pursue it. Wondering what others will think or say about you is a waste of time. After all, most of us have this irrational need to please those we do not even like, those who don’t even know us or what we have to offer.

Wealth and status. These two things are something that should not be a primary concern, if you really want to push forward with the work that you believe in. Sometimes, your most ingenious, creative ideas aren’t necessarily the most financially viable or the most practical. But does this make them any less important? Of course not.

Self-respect. Most people turn to others for recognition of their good work. While it does feel good to be rewarded, don’t let that be the only way you take pride in what you do. If you truly respect yourself and your work, no one can take that away from you. In fact, how can you expect others to respect your work if you don’t respect it yourself?

Joy in the act of working. Do you look forward to your workday, knowing that you will do something that brings you such great joy? While not everyone is lucky to have that, at the very least we should avoid work that makes us feel angry or hopeless. Or we should make attempts to discover what kind of work does make us happy. This way, our work will be part of living, rather than just survival.

How do you feel about your work? Do you feel a sense of joy when your day begins and a sense of accomplishment when it ends?

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