Marsha Temlock directed our attention of how quickly new generation has changed the attitude toward jobs, how quickly 25 year olds understand necessity do not stay at one job but to move quickly with opportunity to move up. Unlike baby boomers who were trained to stick with the first good job and be loyal to the employer company, a new generation is job shifting or job-hopping so to speak. Kids see it as “job re-invention”, as a good thing.

May be it is a good thing. Tom Friedman in his book “the World is Flat” reminds us that technology, globalization and emerging competition with giants like India and China, are changing the world of jobs in “top-notch speed”. Unless the American young generation will be prepared to reinvent themselves to meet new challenges, they are going to wind up second class citizens in the future world market.

Not just young people but boomers are also started to feel the speed of changes. They are more healthier, more educated and more “ high achievers” then any generation before.

Many boomers have decided to take early retirement to pursue other carrier options. Temlock cited one study reporting that nearly 70% of soon- to- be- retirees plan to work after their retirement. The American Express Retirement Services disclosed that about 24% of today’s retiree income comes from part time employment.

Reinvention of jobs at any age requires creativity. Retirees-to-be plan to help their spouses in their business and work out schedule between grandchildren and health clubs. Upon retirement people plan to be busier and happier.

At any age we need to see not what person you are now, but who you want to become.

We need to keep this message not only for ourselves, but to our children if we want them to succeed in increasingly competitive world.

Reference: Marsha A. Temlock Reinvention at any Age. Suburban Women-North Shore