What Is A PE Knowledgepreneur?

I am PE (post employed) and a knowledgepreneur (one who has lived long enough to have gained insight, expertise in a chosen field, and has gained a Master's in Life Experience.

The question is what does a PE knowledgepreneur do?

It was March and my birthday was coming up and I was feeling depressed. I don't get depressed very often. It seems such a waste of time. But, occasionally I do, so I have to grasp myself by the nape of the neck and make myself get up and do something - anything. I went to the public library to browse through the books.

I usually have some genre in mind when I go to the library but this time I was just walking up and down the aisles getting a crick in my neck from leaning sideways to read the titles on the spines.

It isn't possible to be curious and interested and depressed all at the same time.

I found a book - The Silver Pen by Alan N. Canton; a book that should be required reading for every senior or retired person (in my opinion.)

Excerpt:

Let’s Retire the Words “Senior Citizen”

The Silver Pen defines a new term for older people. Instead of “senior citizens” this educated, active and knowledgeable group are referred to as being “post employed” or PE for short. PEs come from all walks of life. They were professionals. They worked in services. They were in sales. Teachers, civil servants, factory workers, clerks, as well as the millions who worked in volunteer positions, are all PEs. Also included are the millions of women who raised families (these too were jobs, but without pay.)

I love words. Words are powerful. Knowledge is power. Knowledge banishes loneliness, bitterness, bigotry, and all manner of societal ills. The words PE and knowledgepreneur intrigue me.

Some words get under my skin. Social Security used to be called "old-age pension." A person who received a Social Security check was called an "old-age pensioner", a British term. I abhor the disrespectful "old lady" for Mom or "my old man" for Dad.

Retiree isn't so bad, just so – well – final. Like there's nothing left for me to do.

Therein lays my problem, if problem I have; I will not go gently into the night. I will not settle for second best. I will work daily to improve whatever I'm doing. Moving from the category of retirement to PE knowledgepreneur fires the imagination and energizes me.

I read in the AARP magazine not long ago that more and more employers are hiring our age group. Or, at least letting the seniors work longer.

My brother, who worked as a guard for many years in a minimum security correctional facility, worked until he was 71. He has some funny as well as tragic stories to tell. I have a friend who retired, then went back as a volunteer and after a year or so, she was hired back part-time (all the hours she wanted.)

Employers want our experience, the AARP article said. There is no limit on age. Regardless of the field we were in, there is a market for our experiences. The Silver Pen explains in detail how to write these articles.

If you'd rather not do the actual writing, find a ghost writer. They are abundant. Or, perhaps you can be the "ghost" and write for someone else. Write in different genres and use as many pen names as you wish.

Recently I read an article at Hubpages.com concerning older people still in the workplace. The young lady didn't have a problem with the "elderly" working a long time, but some of those people had been there longer than she had been alive. She acknowledged that they had a lot of experience, but she thought they needed to give way to younger people.

It seems that the elderly at her workplace are preventing someone younger from getting a job. Her parting remark was, "Retire already!"

I do understand her viewpoint. I am not criticizing. I applaud our differences. This world would be a boring place without differing opinions.

It does seem to be a conundrum. There is no easy answer. To play the blame game is pointless and a waste of time and energy.

But – there may be at least a partial solution. I believe that our primary reason for being on this earth is to help our fellow man. And, it seems that Alan Canton has had one solution since the mid-nineties and many of us (I) didn't know about it.

He did tell me that he planned a re-write of the book at some point. Some of the resources may be outdated, although I'm not at all sure of that, but the gold found in the primary principles of the book won't ever go out of style.

The Silver Pen is not the answer to all the problems of the jobless. But for those of us who are already retired (or thinking about it) and want to keep our minds sharp, create a rich environment for ourselves, our families and friends, and make a little extra income (or a lot) this just may be the answer we have been looking for.

The Silver Pen: Starting a Profitable Writing Business From a Lifetime of Experience—A Guide for Older People, by Alan N. Canton (ISBN 1-883422-11-6, 380p, 6×9 trade paper, $22.95, LC 95-79412, 1996)

Audience: Retired people, baby boomers with retired parents

“Writing is an activity guaranteed to keep one mentally fit,” says Alan Canton, the author of The Silver Pen: Starting a Profitable Writing Business From a Lifetime of Experience & A Guide For Older People. The author maintains that writing is made to order for older people. These are people who have tons of experience, knowledge and expertise. How can they use this knowledge to best advantage? How can they “be part of the action” without working? “Writing,” says Canton.

For many of us, our families are not in a position to spend much time with us; they shouldn't feel guilty for this. My family is incredible, but not all families are, for whatever reason.

For as long as I am able I shall hold myself responsible for my emotional well-being and happiness. The day may come when I cannot do that. That bridge will be crossed when and if we come to it. The Slver Pen offers me a way of staying current, of growth, and keeping my mind sharp.

I have a horror of becoming a clingy, needy old lady, always frowning and whining; of becoming someone who is completely dependent on my family. Barring a physical ailment which would incapacitate me, I can do something for myself.

Do not mistake me. I am not making light of anyone's plight. I am saying that for just as long as I can put two coherent thoughts together, design and piece a quilt top, or better yet, teach a grandchild how to sew, provide a listening ear to a friend, I will feel that I'm giving back. I want to pass it forward.

We seniors can help ourselves and others in a variety of ways. Writing is one way of staying current in a fast-paced world. There are many interesting avenues open to us. We don't stop living when we retire.

I don't mind being retired from a "real" business and I don't mind being a great-grandmother (it's simply the greatest thing on earth to hold and nurture a grand-child, to watch them grow.) I love it and them.

Let's face it. These aren't my children, much as I love them. They have lives beyond me. They are going places I can't and shouldn't go. I will go with them as far as I can, but the torch has been passed.

I gave my children wings. They will teach their children to fly. We are a very close family and because we're close, we are free. They will record their own journeys and their journeys are merely sequels to mine.

In this age of technology my family and I keep in touch on a daily basis through email, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, text messages and my blog.

When I need a real, honest-to-goodness hug, or want to swim with the grandkids, or for no reason at all, I jump in my truck and drive down the Interstate and visit a couple of days – or 14.

I know how to build my own computer and have done so. It is something I'm interested in. I like technology. I like books better. I'm learning that I love to write.

The Silver Pen has given me options that I didn't know about. I will keep my own hours; control what I do and when and how I do it. I am entering a different field. I am Post Employed (PE) and hold the position of Knowledgepreneur.

We are the experts. Our knowledge will benefit many people in many fields. We provide proof of what works and what needs to change. Younger people offer inspiration and fresh perspective. It's a win-win situation.

Some would have us docilely enter into a well-researched, carefully crafted niche. I will never shuffle in gently. When it comes my time to leave this life I want to be able to say, "What a ride!"

I wanted to rant about the "uselessness" some older people sometimes feel, myself included, although I don't feel that way very often; it's such a waste of time. I wanted to whine, rant, and frown and wallow.

Instead, I found a gem of a book that describes me since I have retired. It told me what I needed to know. This is not a book report. This is about finding a new direction when we are ready to retire. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Alan N. Canton for his work, The Silver Pen.

http://www.adams-blake.com/wpab/booklist/pen

Express written permission granted for use of all quotes, excerpts, and terms. All rights reserved.

The book is reasonably priced and well written. I recommend it highly. I was lucky enough to find a library copy in very good condition. I now own "The Silver Pen." I have it on my desk and plan to use it as a reference as well as encouragement. I encourage you to buy it. Please check the website for current pricing. At the time of this writing, the information is correct. Having seen and read it I can say that it's worth its weight in gold.

To purchase The Silver Pen, send a check for $22.95+$4 (shipping), CA add $1.78 for tax, to Adams-Blake Publishing, 8041 Sierra Street, Suite 101, Fair Oaks, CA 95628. To order by phone, call 1-800-368-ADAM (Tel/Fax (916) 962-9296). VISA, MC, AMEX accepted.

Disclaimer: No monetary gain was received for this article and this is not an advertisement. I wrote this to give readers an opportunity to become acquainted with the author and publishers of The Silver Pen and felt that it would reach more people if I published it in Hub Pages rather than a personal blog. This article in no way reflects the opinions or position held by anyone other than myself. Any inadvertent mistakes are my own. The author had no prior knowledge that I would write about his book except to grant me written permission to use any part of his book in my hub.