What Does It Take To Be A Middle Aged Entrepreneur
In this day of internet marketing, many people are ‘branding themselves’ to identify them from the competition. All over Facebook, Twitter and other social media, people are distinguishing who they are in business. I’ve had a dickens of a time identifying ‘who I was.’ After much thought over the years I know I am a baby boomer entrepreneur…a middle aged entrepreneur!
The Reluctant, Middle Aged Entrepreneur
At first I thought of the ‘reluctant internet marketer’ because as a middle aged entrepreneur and an IT professional, I was reluctant to work the social media stuff. I worked on the computer allll day. Then at the end of the day I’d come home and ‘work’ my business by being on the computer allll night doing social media stuff. It became physically challenging and mentally overwhelming. New marketing concepts and techniques, new internet technology and fast changing social media sites were appearing for the taking. The world was changing so fast! I didn’t want to try to figure out ‘what’ Google’s algorithm was going to be today! As a middle aged entrepreneur I don’t want to have an entire conversation by texting, a definite trait of the younger generation. Then there’s building a website and blogging. Being a perfectionist, it drove me crazy worrying about how to blog and how to perfect it. I knew I was better at face-to-face presentations and interaction than all this internet stuff. Kinda goes with the middle age thing I guess. 
But with all that thinking going on, I also understood that the Internet is a ‘necessary evil’ for those of us considered a middle aged entrepreneur and not all that excited about internet marketing! With access to the millions, billions of people on the internet, someone will come along who is just like you. They will admire you and want to hang out with you, get to know you, be your friend, and eventually join you in your business ventures whether you are a business coach, trainer, or home- based business owner. If you are good at branding yourself, people will follow you and want to be with you. People want to get to know you if you are similar to them. They are more likely to ‘like’ you if you have something in common and with the internet you can help them to success and build exciting relationships all over the world.
Don’t Hesitate To Be An Internet Marketing Middle Aged Entrepreneur
So here’s the deal. If you’re middle age and thinking about entrepreneurship (any kind) step outside your comfort zone, bit the bullet and just do it! Internet marketing for business is the wave of the future. If you were fighting it like I was, you will eventually come this way. If you’re fighting it, it’s not that hard. You just have to find the right people — like you — to motivate you, guide you and lead you to the ‘light!’
What This Middle Aged Entrepreneur Did
I got with the program and found a ‘great’ mentor and learned the following:
- Internet marketing (although it’s an ever-changing process)
- How to build a website
- How to blog
- Attraction marketing
- How to be a successful, internet, middle aged entrepreneur!
Whew! What a journey it has been! And the journey is not over! Learning is constant!
Words Of Advice For The Middle Aged Entrepreneur
If you are a middle aged entrepreneur, you must get with the program and adjust or we’ll be left in the dust or not be as successful as we want to be or as we can. In my long journey to get to ‘this’ point, I missed having fellow entrepreneurs in my age-group to talk to and share the things I used to think about. So here are a few words of advice for my fellow middle aged entrepreneurs are:
- Don’t be discouraged because although you may have to learn all these things, as a middle aged entrepreneur you have patience, wisdom and experience on your side…and with that we can conquer the world!
- Search out your peers, people like you, who can guide you and help you be the successful middle aged entrepreneur you want to be.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out, ask questions and seek guidance if you need it. I’m here for you!
As we change, adjust and renew, life just keeps gets better and better.
Barbara Charles, The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur
Hi Barbara
Great post and boy do I relate to you! I too am a baby boomer entrepreneur. I though am not an IT professional. In fact when I started I was technophobic – totally. I let that be my main obstacle for way too long.
I always say to people my age if I can do it anyone can.
I love the look of your blog and a great message.
Sue
Sue Price recently posted..Pro Blog Academy – Module 3
Hey thanks Sue for the feedback on the blog and the article. I just did a complete re-model of everything and I’m still working on it. Yes even though I’m technical, there is so much more to know. Technology changes radically almost by the second so we baby boomers have to keep up!
But that’s why we’re here. We can now help other baby boomer entrepreneurs to be successful and not be afraid to get started. Talk to you soon.
Barbara great post and advice for anyone of any age. But I can identify why you would reach out like this the older we become you would think we would be bolder and we are in certain ways but also probably more reluctant to try new things with all the new technology. Thanks for sharing your journey this will make it easier for everyone to step out of the comfort zone.
Steve
Steve Shoemaker recently posted..Google Plus Basics: Hangouts For Dummies…
Hi Barbara,
Fab post – I guess I’m still resisting thinking of myself as middle aged – I turn 50 later this year.
Your advice works for anyone who needs to stay abreast of developments in their area. Statements such as “but I’ve always done it this way” are big psychological blocks to what is actually a relatively small learning curve.
Glad I found your blog!
Dee
Dee Ankary recently posted..Google Analytics and WordPress
Hi Dee! Thank you for the compliment. I was resistant to being middle aged and although I’ll be turning 56 this year, this was the first year I realized ‘the truth’ LOL! I scheduled a cruise and it said ‘over 55′ gets a special discount! WoW! Blow to the ego, but good for the pocketbook!
Anyway, you’re right about psychological blocks…and it kept me from learning as quickly as I should. Live and learn though…and now we’re on our way. Thanks again for stopping by. Talk to you soon. 
Hi Barbara. Great title! As a Baby Boomer entrepreneur, I’ve gone through the same struggles you have. I often feel out of my element, but I keep trying to learn. I am excited to be getting to know you better. I’ve been a little out of the loop this week, but next week will be better. Thank you so much for being a leader and mentor for middle-aged women. It’s an awesome calling.
All the best,
Leslie
Leslie Denning recently posted..July 4: Declare Your Independence Day
I can relate to this post. I was so lost at the beginning.I felt like I was back at school again with all I had to learn and am still learning.I am all about teaching beginners to use video which includes us Baby Boomers. We ought to talk and combine some efforts.
Beverly Monical recently posted..Talk Fusion vs.Free Video Tools
Hi Beverly. I’m the same. There was so much to learn and I was just plain reluctant because it was so overwhelming. Yes we can talk and combine some efforts. Sounds like a great idea. I’ll inbox you on facebook! Thanks for reaching out. Let’s talk for sure. Talk to you later.
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Okay first I have to say- awesome blog! Secondly, I toatlly agree that entrepreneurs are born to be entrepreners, and those of us who are of this breed tend to forget that others are not! I do think that it would be a great benefit to teach more business skills in general.. I’m not sure that entrepreneurship can be taught as it is a certain personality.
Hi Ester. First thank you for the compliment and thank you for your advice. You’re absolute right. Entrepreneurship is not a taught skill. It’s just something you have in you. And I agree business kills should be taught more. But I could do a whole blog on this topic LOL! Maybe that’s a job for an entrepreneur. See… true entrepreneurs ‘see’ an opportunity at every turn.
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Thanks Drew. Thank you for stopping by also. So glad I could help. Stop by for more posts. I’ll keep you up to date!