Sometimes ideas collide in your head. This post is the result of such a collision in my head. Seth Godin wrote two posts to his blog that I happened to read one after the other. For some reason, my mind blended them together, inspiring this post to you on Smarter Small Business Blog.

Here are the links to Seth's two posts. You can read them for yourself. Now let me share what they produced for me.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2013/09/scuff-proof-shoes.html

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2013/09/qa-tribes-and-the-reality-of-worldview.html

Early Adopter Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs Have the Scuffed Shoe Worldview 

In writing about his book Tribes, Seth says:

It is easy to gloss over the key points of the book, because for some, it's frightening to realize that each of us has the ability to find and lead like minded people to make real and powerful change that matters. Lead, not manage. Like-minded, as opposed to converting those who have no connection to us, to each other or to our goals.

One of Seth's favorite passages from Tribes, he tells us is:

• People don't believe what you tell them.
• They rarely believe what you show them.
• They often believe what their friends tell them.
• They always believe what they tell themselves.

He concludes that it is important to find the best way to join the conversation that is already taking place in the minds and hearts of your tribe. It is my hope that you will join the discussion here on Smarter Small Business Blog to share what is in your mind and in your heart.

Where does the Scuffed Shoe Part Come In?

Seth says...There are two ways to make your shoes scuff proof:

1. You can invest in a chemical process that involves an impermeable shine and be of high alert to avoid anything that might be damaging to that shine
or

2. You can wear well-worn, authentic shoes that are already scuffed.  When we know and understand you and your brand, warts and all, it's really unlikely that a new scuff is going to change our opinion of who you are and what you do.

So, my take is that it is time for us early adopters to talk, accepting our scuffs and all. We must accept that not all baby boomers want the same encore career that we have selected. We must also accept that some baby boomers want to retire.  But we must go beyond talking. My favorite quote of the week is:

The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs.  -Vance Havner b.1901

If you are ready to share your entrepreneurial mindset and to learn from the mindset of others, join our list.
My Baby Boomer Business Dream.

Brought to you by Shallie Bey, Founder - Smarter Small Business Blog
 ~ The Business Dream Weaver

Aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneur Here Is The Key To Retirement Success (This Is Water)

Aspiring Baby Boomer Entrepreneur Here Is The Key To Retirement Success (This Is Water)

As baby boomers, we face a new stage of life as we approach retirement. For years you and I dreamed of this moment as the great time of our life. As it becomes closer to reality, we face fear that it may not be a dream, but a nightmare filled with boredom, routine, and petty frustration. Embracing that fear may be our salvation. Embracing that fear may be the foundation for our dreams to be realized.

You do still want to live your dream, don't you? I know I do!

The key is AWARENESS...being able to see what is going on around us. Successful entrepreneurship is based upon awareness.Our competitive advantage as baby boomers just may be that we can see the things going on around us in a unique perspective that allows us to invest in ourselves, meaning our lives, and the lives of those around us.

In the past week, an eight year old commencement speech dealing with boredom, routine, and petty frustration has suddenly gone viral. It is called This Is Water. In the speech, David Foster Wallace points out that we are like the fish who live in water and never realize it is there. We live in a world where we are surrounded by boredom, routine, and petty frustration. We sense it but are not truly aware of it. But the opportunity is in becoming aware.

The opportunity to solve a problem for a market at a profit is the holy grail of entrepreneurship. That is made possible by being aware of the problem and the solution that no one else sees. This is water. Dealing with boredom, routine, and petty frustration is the essence of life. Helping people overcome these is the key to entrepreneurial success.

I can't tell you why that speech suddenly became a runaway success.I can tell you that it points to the path of success.Watch the video. Become aware of the water around us.

Choose to begin using the water to your advantage. This is Water...the key to your retirement success.

If you would like more information on developing that entrepreneurial mindset, please sign up to be on our Smarter Small Business Blog mailing list. We will share with you more information on the resources that will help you build your entrepreneurial mindset in a smarter way. Just click this link: http://mybabyboomerbusinessdream.weebly.com/
Then give us your name and e-mail. There is no obligation and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Brought to you by Shallie Bey -- The Business Dream Weaver

Shallie

Follow Shallie Bey on Twitter