June 2010 — “Age is NOT a disease! Women like being 50, 60 and 70. We don’t want to go back to Thirty – it was too stressful,” say, Suzanne Braun Levine, author of 50 IS THE NEW FIFTY and Eileen Williams, the founder of the FEISTY SIDE OF FIFTY blog and radio show. The two experts on women’s lives are partnering on a 10-part blog radio series based on the life lessons in Levine’s book.

“The lessons are guidelines,” Levine says, “for embracing your age, feeling positive about yourself, finding your own voice and using it.” The series will cover all aspects of women’s lives – marriage, change and crises, friendships, health, aging, work and self-reinvention in open, honest and intimate conversations.

“Our initial idea was a three-part series for the paperback publication of “50 IS THE NEW FIFTY,” says Eileen Williams, “but, we had so much fun, we decided to continue and talk about all the lessons the book.”

For information on the series, please visit:

http://feistysideoffifty.com/2010/06/15/women-over-50-age-is-not-a-disease/

JUNE 15 TOPIC:

Age is Not a Disease (15 minute program) – Listen and Share

http://bit.ly/feistysideoffitybHYbQT

JOIN SUZANNE & EILEEN FOR A 10-PART

SERIES ON “FEISTY SIDE OF FIFTY RADIO!”

The program that celebrates Baby Boomer Women who are totally transforming the spirit and style of aging!

www.blogtalkradio.com/feisty-side-of-fifty

**UPCOMING LIVE Radio Broadcasts**

(LIVE BROADCASTS – Noon EST)

June 21 YOUR MARRIAGE CAN MAKE IT (Lesson #8)

June 29 EVERY CRISIS CREATES A NEW NORMAL (Lesson #5)

July 6  YOU DO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE (Lesson #9)

July 9  ‘BOTH’ IS THE NEW ‘EITHER/OR’ (Lesson #10)

July 13 FIFTY IS THE NEW FIFTY* (Lesson #1)

Previously Recorded Broadcasts (On Demand Episodes):

June 17 NOTHING CHANGES IF NOTHING CHANGES (Lesson #2)

June 15 AGE IS NOT A DISEASE (Lesson #7)

April 9  Do Unto Yourself as You Have Been Doing Unto Others

(Lesson #6)

April 7  A “Circle of Trust Is a Must” (Lesson #4)

April 1  No Is Not a Four-Letter Word (Lesson #3)

Also, please visit:

www.feistysideoffity.com

Listen Live at 1 pm EST or Later!

About Mary Eileen Williams, M.A., NCC has twenty years combined experience as a career and life transition counselor, job search specialist, university instructor, and writer. She is a Nationally Board Certified Counselor. She is the founder of the popular blog: www.feistysideoffifty.com

LAND THE JOB YOU LOVE! 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50 (is a guide and workbook with easy-to-follow steps, that simple to understand guaranteed to produce results.

YOUNGER WOMEN ARE LOOKING AHEAD!

When she moved back from Argentina last month, Tito came with her. He didn’t enjoy the 16-hour plane ride, but he took over our apartment as soon as he arrived. We have been cat-less for a while, so he has really filled our hearts as well as our home.

My daughter took this photo the other day, which happened to be my (69th – ouch) birthday.

The program that celebrates Baby Boomer Women who are totally transforming the spirit and style of aging!

www.blogtalkradio.com/feisty-side-of-fifty

**UPCOMING LIVE Radio Broadcasts**

(LIVE BROADCASTS – Noon EST)

June 21 YOUR MARRIAGE CAN MAKE IT (Lesson #8)

June 29 EVERY CRISIS CREATES A NEW NORMAL (Lesson #5)

July 6  YOU DO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE (Lesson #9)

July 9  ‘BOTH’ IS THE NEW ‘EITHER/OR’ (Lesson #10)

July 13 FIFTY IS THE NEW FIFTY* (Lesson #1)

Previously Recorded Broadcasts (On Demand Episodes):

June 17 NOTHING CHANGES IF NOTHING CHANGES (Lesson #2)

June 15 AGE IS NOT A DISEASE (Lesson #7)

April 9  Do Unto Yourself as You Have Been Doing Unto Others

(Lesson #6)

April 7  A “Circle of Trust Is a Must” (Lesson #4)

April 1  No Is Not a Four-Letter Word (Lesson #3)

Also, please visit:

www.feistysideoffity.com

VIVMag, says: “Frankly, we’re a little tired of hearing people say things like ‘30 is the new 20’ and ‘40 is the new 30.’ So we love the title of Suzanne Braun Levine’s new book: “50 Is the New Fifty.” The first editor of Ms. magazine, Levine is no stranger to inviting a discussion on women and aging… she delivers 10 life lessons for women who are in their “second adulthood” with wisdom, honesty and humor…”

Click here to read VIVmag article.

VIVMag, the first all digital magazine for women, offers insights, advice and authentic stories to inspire and motivate women in their quest for a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Many of their members’ stories are featured online in the “VIV Moment” section – A point in your life when everything clicked and you discover something new about yourself.”

Visit VIVMag to learn more…

Celebrate “Fifty Is the New Fifty” at the JCC in Manhattan, Tuesday, May 11!

AN EVENING OF INSIGHTS, FUN, LAUGHTER AND WISDOM!

There are so many programs for Women 40+and for Seniors at the JCC in Manhattan. It is one of the liveliest communities in Manhattan. I am always happy to be part of it. I am delighted to be celebrating the release of the paperback edition of my book there on Tuesday, May 11th – with old friends and new.
Join us!
Tuesday, May 11
@ 7PM, JCC in Manhattan
The JCC in Manhattan
 334 Amsterdam Avenue (at 76th Street)
New York, NY 10023
Tel: 646-505-5708 
($15/$20 JFOFIF0050)
To register for the event, click here JJC in Manhattan {insert the long link}

TOPIC
Fifty Is the New Fifty: 10 Life Lessons 
for Women in Second Adulthood
It is fabulous to be 50, sexy to be 60, and superb
to be 70! Women are redefining these
as some of their best years yet. Join Suzanne
Braun Levine as she shares anecdotes and insights,
as well as the collective wisdom of women on the
front lines of ‘second adulthood’ – a new generation
of women who feel good about themselves.
Contact: Steffi Pfalz

Program Director for 39+ and Program Associate
 HYPERLINK spfalz@jccmanhattan.org

For information on programs at the JCC in Manhattan, visit: www.jccmanhattan.org

By Mary Eileen Williams, M.A., NCC

If you’re over fifty and looking for work, you probably have a slew of preconceived notions about how bad the job market is for older applicants. You are also likely to have a number of concerns and questions that need to be addressed.

In the course of my twenty years of experience as a career counselor and job search specialist, I’ve counseled thousands of midlife career changers and jobseekers and—believe me—I’ve heard it all. Here are a few of the typical concerns that surface:

I’m too old to be competitive in today’s youth-oriented marketplace.
I haven’t updated my resume in over fifteen years and have no idea what they’re looking for now.
I realize I’ve got skills but I’m not sure how to name them or be able to speak to any of my accomplishments at work. I did my job and did it well, but I don’t know how to market myself. In fact, I don’t like tooting my own horn.
I don’t have a college degree.
My technical skills aren’t that up-to-date.
How can I interview with someone who’s in his or her thirties?

And making matters even more discouraging, seemingly everywhere we turn, the job market is described with words such as “bleak,” “slow to recover,” and “with limited prospects.” This, we’re told, is especially true for the older applicant.

There’s no doubt about it—ageism is alive and well in this country. However, if you’re a jobseeker who is over fifty, you probably remember the phrase we used to say in our youth with such smug conviction: “Don’t trust anyone over thirty!” We can’t deny that boomers coined the phrase “generation gap,” so ageism is far from new.

Regardless, there are certain key strategies you can use that will highlight your age and experience, and make you more attractive to potential employers. Now, I’m not suggesting we delude ourselves with pie-in-the-sky fantasies and wishful thinking. What I am suggesting is that we take a deep breath and get some perspective:

The media knows bad news sells so that’s just what they spin: bad news on just about everything.
The figures they cite are drawn from generalities and take no account of the personal drive, focus, and energy an individual puts into his/her job search.
Certain industries and occupations are far more welcoming to older applicants than others. Why not concentrate your search on fields that appreciate the knowledge that age and experience provide?

If it looks like an employer will not appreciate the experience you bring, move on! Do NOT waste your valuable energy seeking possibilities that are limited at best. Even if you are hired, they’re not likely to afford you opportunities for growth within the organization. Move forward and place your energy and focus on new opportunities where your experience will be welcomed (and appreciated!).
Determine the potential age-related objections an employer might hold regarding you as a candidate—do something about them (if needed) and create a list of ways you can overcome these objections.
Turn your age into an advantage.

Yes, there’s no doubt about it—age truly can be an advantage! So now let’s turn to ways that you, as an older applicant, have it all over those young whippersnappers:

You have market knowledge and a skill set gained over years of experience.
You have an extensive network of clients, customers, coworkers, and colleagues developed over a lifetime career.
You are likely to be more flexible and can present yourself as a full-time employee or as a consultant.
You are not necessarily assertively climbing the corporate ladder so you won’t pose a threat to the more aggressive up-and-comers.
You have the knowledge and ability to mentor younger workers and teach them valuable techniques and tools that translate into ongoing success for the organization.
You have life skills gained over years of experience dealing with people. You know the importance of being responsible, showing up on time, following through to complete assigned tasks, managing emotions at work, and being a contributing team member.
The workforce is aging. Workers over fifty represent one of the fastest growing labor groups in the country and you fit right in. The cost of replacing experienced workers can be as much as half their annual salary, so companies are recognizing that recruiting and retaining workers over fifty is sound business practice.

And these are just a few of the pluses you bring. Your attitude about your viability as a candidate and your potential for finding work underscores everything you do. Anyone actively seeking employment needs to project an aura of energy, enthusiasm, knowledge, and confidence. This is especially true for those of us with a few years under our belts. Some of the more unkind stereotypes have us being “old,” “tired,” “unenthusiastic,” and “technologically inept.” So let’s get out there and prove them wrong!

Mary Eileen Williams, M.A., NCC, has twenty years of combined experience as a career and life transition counselor, job search specialist, university instructor, and writer. As a Nationally Board Certified Counselor with a Master’s Degree in Career Development, she specializes in working with job seekers in midlife and showing them the latest techniques for landing a job in the 21st Century. Mary Eileen is the host of the popular blog and radio show “Feisty Side of Fifty” www.feistysideofifty.com.

LAND THE JOB YOU LOVE: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50

To order from Amazon: http://bit.ly/8xi4Oo

“FIFTY IS THE NEW FIFTY” -
For Immediate Release from Plume Books
We are ALL at the height of our Power!

“Well the first thing I want to say about Fifty is the New Fifty, is that it’s not the whole title. The whole title is 50 is the New Fifty, 60 is the new Sixty and 70 is the New Seventy…and who cares about birthdays anyway. The best thing is that we are all at the height of our power, and we feel that this is the most exciting time.”
-Suzanne Braun Levine

“I was told being mostly a model and an actress that growing old was going to be very difficult for me, so I was bracing myself. Instead I found that with age what continued to grow was a certain lightness, and a certain pleasure and freedom, and it was wonderful to read Fifty is the New Fifty and see that a lot of women feel that.”
- Isabella Rossellini

“I love where I am, it’s so liberating, I love being 50. When there’s a crisis you just kind of breathe right through it. It feels really good.”
- Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-MD)

“I want to say to everybody at More magazine and to women who are afraid to mention their age or talk about age, and to the celebrities who want to be on the cover, but don’t want to talk about their age: ’You guys are going there whether you like it or not!’”
- Lesley Jane Seymour

“I’m especially grateful to Suzanne for the overall title of Fifty is the New Fifty, because it’s like the Zen message of aging, ‘We are where we are.’ And, I’m also grateful to her for expanding her title – I’m 75. The good news is I can still do what I’ve always done. But, the bad news is I think I’m immortal which then causes me to plan very poorly.”
-Gloria Steinem

___________________________________________

From the moment she took her “first step” backward off a ninety-foot cliff in an Outward Bound Program, to fulfill a personal mission and reconnect with her inner Tomboy at fifty, Suzanne Braun Levine has invented her own second adulthood.  Her declaration: “Fifty is the New Fifty it is not the new Thirty,” on the opening page of FIFTY IS THE NEW FIFTY: 10 Life Lessons for Women in Second Adulthood (Now Available in Paperback/ Plume/ April 2010) celebrates the confidence and camaraderie of women fifty, sixty and seventy who are happy where they are and would not want to turn the clock back.

FIFTY IS THE NEW FIFTY and her previous book Inventing The Rest of Our Lives have defined and inspired a generation of women. “Our bond is common experience and the honesty with which we share it,” says Levine.

As women become the largest sector of the work force and the major breadwinners in many households, their roles are changing and new role models are emerging. Women in Second Adulthood – 37 million strong and growing are becoming each other’s ‘horizontal role models’, taking charge of their life, work and relationships.

What is important about second adulthood, Levine has found is that “the range of things we learn about ourselves – our bodies, our brains, our relationships and our approach to the world -  is as wide as it was when we were adolescents.” It is a stage filled with questioning what’s next, a quest for mastery and authenticity, and wondering ‘Who is this person saying NO’ with confidence and a new bravado. Levine describes this questioning period – the Fertile Void - with exuberance and candor.

FIFTY IS THE NEW FIFTY: 10 Life Lessons for Women in Second Adulthood reads like a conversation among women friends – a circle of trust – who are generous, brave, funny, wise, and engaged in claiming their empowerment. Whether, it is rolling with the punches of a crisis (recovering from a divorce or cancer), seeing risks as opportunities, saying ‘No’ (“No, I won’t make cupcakes!”), questioning the meaning of work or putting themselves at the top of their ‘To Do List,’ Levine has captured the details of women’s changing lives. And, she has transformed their lives and her own into life lessons grounded in the experiences of women on the front lines of this new stage.

The ‘lessons’ in the book are a distillation of interviews with individual women, callers to radio shows, and her many lecturer appearances for groups like the Transition Network  and her own circle of trust.  She compares the ‘truths’ of this on-going conversation  with women to those shared by mothers who find themselves on adjoining benches at a playground – tidbits of advice and commiserating about body changes, sleepless nights, and ultimately leading up to a rousing tide of knowing laughter. Recognizing the importance of friendship is part of a recalibration of ‘What Matters Most’ to women in second adulthood. Whether it is dealing with the loss of a friend or sharing the simple companionship of like-minded women which Levine says, “gives us courage, reduces stress, and is the best problem-solving environment there is, and the laughter women generate together is the elixir of life.”

“My hope is this book is like a welcome message in a bottle for women sent to them by a circle of trust, a circle that continues to grow and evolve,” says Levine. “We all have a lot more to share and I will be along on the journey to chronicle our every step.”

About Suzanne Braun Levine
Suzanne Braun Levine is a writer, editor and nationally recognized authority on women and family issues, and media. She’s chronicled and fostered change in women’s lives as the first editor of Ms. magazine and today as a contributing editor of More magazine. She is a lecturer, appears frequently on television, and is an advisor to several women’s and media groups, and organizations dealing with midlife issues. She defined a new stage of life – Women in Second Adulthood – and reports on the ongoing changes in women’s lives in her books and on her website.

Questions for Suzanne Braun Levine

What is the ‘Good News’ about being Fifty, Sixty, Seventy?
Women in Second Adulthood don’t want to be younger. They don’t buy into, “Fifty is the New Thirty!” and are happy where they are!

This is new stage is exhilarating. It is defined by change, the urge to bring new elements into the mix of our lives, to revise our established lifestyle, and most important, we feel empowered and confident that we can cope with whatever comes.

And, this is ‘Good News’ not only for my generation but also for younger women because they now have role models for what is possible after 50!

What is the ‘Bad News’ if there is any? What hasn’t changed enough?
Two things haven’t changed near enough. One is the burden of caregiving that falls upon women of all ages without any support from the society we live in. The other is ageism. It is very hard to convince yourself that you are as happy and fulfilled as you feel when the world around you is blowing you off. We have to make sure that we don’t make things worse by buying into the youth obsession.

Which of the 10 Lessons in the book was the hardest for you? The easiest?
The most difficult – and I think men will never understand how hard it is for women – was Lesson #4 – “No is not a Four-Letter Word.” Saying ‘No’ is extremely difficult for women. But now, I am constantly surprised how little trauma happens when I say No. I always thought the world would come to an end and everybody would hate me.  I realized that most of the time it’s accepted as the natural order of things – you say, no, you say, yes – sometimes they come after you, but the nice thing about being this age is you feel like you can take it.

I don’t know about easiest, but the corollary to Saying No is “Do Unto Yourself as You Have Been Doing Unto Others” Lesson #6. Women are taught to be selfless, but once you start to say ‘No’ you find out what you need and want to do.

How do you gather the life stories that you use throughout the book?
Writing books about my life and women in second adulthood gives me an excuse to butt in to people’s lives. I eavesdrop on conversations; I ask impertinent questions of women I meet; I ask very personal questions of my friends. And I use my network and the Internet to find women with experiences to share.  I am amazed and touched by how forthright, funny, and smart we all are.

How has your life changed since you began writing about women in Second Adulthood?
In figuring out what is going on for our generation of women, I have figured out a lot about the confusion, fear, and expectations that hit me as I entered this new stage of life – the part I call the ‘Fertile Void.’  It has also been exhilarating gaining insight into my life from hundreds of other women, dozens of experts, and some of the smartest writers and researchers.

And, by writing about it I have found my own voice for the first time in my life. I had always been an editor and so at first it was difficult for me put my [own story into my writing], but my editor convinced me. The more I realized that I had things to say, the more I was anxious to say them, and the prouder I was of having said them. Putting my ideas and myself out there was, in fact, the biggest risk.

Are you writing another book on Second Adulthood? What will you be exploring next?

My next book is about – get ready for this – LOVE!  The more I learn about how we are getting to know ourselves and how we are redefining women’s experience, the more I am aware of changes we are making in the way we love, whom we love, and how we define intimacy, devotion, passion, and commitment. I am encountering wonderful stories that I am sure will surprise and delight women – those who have read my other books and those who are beginning to question the changes they are experiencing.

For Interviews, please contact:

Buy the book from PenguinGroup.com

FIFTY IS THE NEW FIFTY:
Ten Life Lessons for Women in Second Adulthood
By Suzanne Braun Levine
Author of Inventing the Rest of Our Lives