You're Never Too Old To Do Something New

Whether you are young - or old - have you ever asked yourself this question?

What am I going to be doing when I get old?

I know my answer. I'm saying right now, loud and clear: no rocking chair for me. No lack of direction or purpose. No boredom.

Life has too much to offer for me - or anyone else - to settle for less.

But, am I able to do something new, something radically different?

Maybe you're not "old". After all, old is a relative term. Some people are old at fifty. Some I know are still young at eighty.

Sure, their bodies may say otherwise, but they have all the right attributes of the young.

Enthusiasm. Zest for life. Rich, meaningful relationships. Loving families.

These folks are active participants in life, not just observers. They know they still have something to offer the world, and they do it.

One woman I know is past 80, but you would hardly believe it. She has spent her life in professions dealing with people's needs, and for many years she has been a strong public voice for the aged.

The other day at work, my radio was on and I heard a familiar voice. It was Margaret (not her real name), answering a media person's question about a current issue relating to the elderly among us.

Margaret still appears occasionally before state legislative committees. offering her vast experience and expert testimony.

No rocking chair for Margaret. No boredom either.

But there is one thing . . . one concern all people, be they Margaret or someone else, have regarding their later years.

Will I have enough to live on when I can no longer work for a living?

Social security is a marginal support, at best. Company pensions are a vanishing breed. Stock investing returns? Good luck!

The fact is, most people don't plan very well for their old age. They start saving too late, or simply don't - or can't - save much at all. Saving just doesn't rank high on their list of priorities.

When they finally wake up, it's already late in the game. How will they manage?

On the other hand, years of living often yield a rich harvest of expertise and wisdom. Like my good friend, Margaret, they know something, and they know they know it. And they like to share it.

What if there was a way for people to share their expertise, or their passion, with the world and at the same time receive some monetary reward for their output?

There is a way, and you don't have to be old (or young) to do it. You can continue on, and read my personal experience. Or you can jump to this webpage to see how retirees are doing it.

Now let me get a little personal here for a few minutes.

I am not old, although I am past 60. I have had, and still have, a full rich life. My wife and I raised five children, and now we are enjoying our first grandchild (the first of many?).

I have had my own plaster and drywall repair/renovation business for over 35 years. I like working with my hands, and I like serving the public. Living as I do in a small city, I have gotten to meet and know lots of folks. Word of mouth drives the majority of my business.

Early on, my wife Alice and I decided together that she would be a full time at home mom, and I would be the one to go out each day and "slay the twin dragons of umemployment and poverty".

I enjoy running a successful business that has earned us a decent living, although we are far from "financially secure".

Like many people, I was not very concerned in our early years together about building a financial future for our advanced years.

When I did become serious, I tried out various sideline business ideas. I set up a woodworking shop, where I spent my available free time, limited as it was, turning out a variety of woodcraft objects and trying to sell them at craft fairs.

I paid for my tools, that was about it. When our kids got older, we needed more space, and so my shop became another bedroom.

I tried investing. Was that ever an education! The stock market giveth, the stock market taketh away. While I still have some investments, they are never really going to support us when we get older.

I have always been intrigued by the idea of passive income. You know, income generated that comes to roost in your bank account 24/7, whether you are awake or sleeping, working or vacationing.

Who wouldn't like some of that?

Multilevel marketing pitches this idea, but let's face it, most people do not succeed in MLM. If you own an oil well or two, or a bunch of nice rental properties, yeah - you know what passive income is. Sweet!

For most of us, though, passive income makes for pleasant daydreams. The reality remains pretty elusive.

Well . . . almost. There is a way, although it certainly is no get rich quick scheme.

Years ago, I self-published a little 8 1/2 by 11 booklet, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF PLASTER REPAIR, and sold it through the mail.

I took out small classified ads in national magazines offering free information. When people mailed me, I sent them a little sales package I created extolling the benefits of my book.

It was a good booklet, and the information was genuine, useful stuff. My problem was, I could not generate enough inquiries via the expensive ads to cover my ad costs, let alone my publishing costs. And forget about profits.

So I shelved the idea. I liked doing the whole thing and wondered if someday I might figure out a way to make it work.

And then came the internet. I didn't know a thing about computers. Didn't need one, I said, and wasn't interested in getting one anytime soon.

But . . . people change. Friends got computers. My kids kept badgering me. I became intrigued, eventually, and I got my first computer. I learned about email and how to surf the internet.

Hey, this was fun. But, frustrating too. The computer and I were like oil and water - we weren't very compatible. I am a slow learner with some things.

With the previous video, you have a glimpse into my attitude a few years ago.

But I AM learning. I am building this website, fun but frustrating at times. E-commerce is booming across the world, and I would like to get a little bit of the pie myself.

So far (March '06), I have not been in any rush to install a money-making device or two yet (though I will, of course) Early '07, no longer true. I am happy to offer quality information based on my many years of experience with old plaster and pleased that people are spending time reading my webpages.

I get pleasure out of cleaning up people's old plaster, and I get pleasure out of telling folks about ways to do for themselves.

But . . . I am also greatly pleased with this software program I am using to do market research and build this website, pleased that even a computer dork like me can make something valuable with it.

So, I just have to tell you folks about it. Yes, I know, you didn't come to this website to read about ecommerce, or home businesses. So I won't be offended if you decide to exit right now.

But, please, before you go, consider this.

Polls show that up to 70% of people are interested in having their own business. Perhaps you are in that 70%. What I am saying is, there is a do-able way to build something meaningful and ultimately quite lucrative, online and at home.

Young or old, this is really do-able. Not only retirees, but anyone - including work at home moms - can take advantage of this.

This tool I am using is making good on its promise to me. The moment I found the program, I was intrigued, thrilled and challenged. I just knew, computer challenged as I was, that I could make this work.

So, I chose my area, my niche, and put together this site that I am really pleased with -- and I'm just getting started, mind you! I have a lot to learn and much more I want to do with this site.

In building this business, I have been inspired by the examples of others like me who are already successful, whose businesses just grow and grow. Each year is better than the one before.

I am going to show you, so you can see for yourself, their case studies, and see what is possible! You can look without obligation of any kind, and no one will call.

A nice video tour is available also.

If you want an adventure of a lifetime, I encourage you -- do this. Whether you are young or old, you can prepare yourself for a future you will be proud to live in.

Life rewards those who are proactive. Even when you are making up for lost time!

Wishing you every success,

Edwin Brown

Case Studies

_____________________________________________________________

Take the video tour

___________________________________________________________

Return from Website Builder to Home Page