Why Won't These Damn Baby Boomers Retire Already?

Better Question...Why Should They Step Aside for YOU?

Would you tell Miranda Priestly to step aside? At your own risk!

Much has been written about the selfish Baby Boomers who are still clinging to their high-powered, fancy, and privileged positions - while the rest of us are stuck on the same rung of the corporate ladder for eons - and greying ourselves now! We lament that we are toiling away for naught in our primes.

Meet Art. Art is a multi-millionaire stock broker for a prominent national financial services firm in sunny Los Angeles. Art has all the trappings of his profession - a coastal pad off idyllic Redondo Beach, luxury cars, and a financial portfolio to allow him to retire comfortably for the rest of his days on this mortal coil. Art certainly has worked hard to enjoy a lengthy and “early” retirement should he desire to play with his toys. And why not? Art is careening toward 90-years-old! If not now, when?

However, instead of golfing in the morning, lunching beachside in Malibu, and having sunset dinners from his oceanside terrace at night - enjoying the largesse of his labor - Art still wakes with the roosters, leaves his wife, and pulls 40-hour workweeks as he has done for decades. A good friend of mine, Nelly, who worked for Art, once hoped he would turn his client books over to her when he EVENTUALLY retired. Then, after years of dubious bonuses and lackluster raises, Nelly can FINALLY profit immensely from the business she helped him build through the years. It was a very logical assumption for Nelly to make, as she’d seen other colleagues in her situation inherit their stock brokers’ clients upon their retirement. Moreover, Art was 72 - and looked every bit of it. Surely, Art would tire of the daily grind, want to spend more time with loved ones, and more importantly - GET OUT OF THE F’N Way!

Sadly, this was a sobering reminder about assumptions. In the blink of an eye, Art turned 75, then 80, followed by 85. Worse, there was nary a discussion about Nelly taking over Art’s business one day, the business Nelly tirelessly worked to grow and fortify. Rightfully, Nelly took her future into her own hands and left the firm to pursue other endeavors. It’s a good thing she did because Art is STILL working to THIS very day in the same role and will probably be working at his desk on his eventual LAST day.

Boomers, Get Out Of The Way

As the Baby Boomer generation started to hit the traditional American retirement age, many business observers expected this generation to go “gently into the night” on a cacophony of Carnival Cruises - while leaving the plum “C-suite” corporate executive positions for the next generations to occupy. This never materialized and still hasn’t in many realms. 74-year-old Meryl Streep is still taking more than her share of Golden Globes, 65-year-old Madonna is still touring internationally and making gazillions, and the nearly 80-year-old Vince McMahon had to be pulled away kicking and screaming from WWE Creative, after 40 years of booking dominance.

Baby Boomer Reality Check

REALITY CHECK # 1 - We Were Naive

Those of us who haven’t achieved what I call a “luxury career” or even their mundane career goals, don’t know what it’s like to finally achieve our career aspirations. I know I don’t. These fortunate souls are living and enjoying their dreams to the utmost while being in a position to reap the financial, status, and power rewards. When you look at it from that perspective, why give that up, if you don’t have to?

REALITY CHECK #2 - We Were Narcissistic

From the last “analog” generation to the present, it’s an open secret how society has increasingly weaned itself to be more self-obsessed, self-absorbed, and self-involved with our navel-gazing. Not only are we the center of OUR world, but we think we are the center of THE world!

Have we ever stopped to consider, “Why should the Baby Boomers give up jobs they have worked their whole careers to get into, just to be shoved aside for nameless, assuming STRANGERS to devour the spoils, when the prosperity and perks one has chased after all their professional lives - are at their peak?” I didn’t. I just wanted all the Boomers blocking my career ascension to turn 65, collect their Ben Gay from their offices, and piss off to their Laz-E-Boy recliners to watch reruns of The Golden Girls.

REALITY CHECK #3 - We Will Do The Same

If I am ever blessed enough to realize any of my career passions, I am going to cling to them as long as vitality allows. You will too. Such is the cycle of professional life. This is one of those areas where you can’t hate the player, just hate the game! Conclusion

If you are not in a position to carve your own lane as a business owner or be self-employed in some capacity, resenting those old goats who are enjoying their green pastures - is not going to help you get to your promised land! It’s time to wander off the plantation to go on YOUR great journey for your pot of gold.

Where's Your Pot of Gold?