Silver is the New Black

Résumé du livre

This thesis offers an illumination of a new world intended to inspire all those age 65 and over who are seeking a path in a new professional stage of life. Will the Boomer cohort be able to secure their ability to earn a living in the new professional frontier over age 65 of their life course by winning over societal norms and corporate perceptions of their human capital value? Or will this vigorous cohort that invented the 24/7 work environment valuing youth over know-how and experience be beaten by the systems and culture they have defined? The purpose of this thesis is to identify how Boomers over age 65 who want or need to continue working can extend the value of their human capital within the broader professional culture in corporate America. Through a literature review and synthesis, I found that currently Boomers' expectations and corporate America's recognition of their value are out of sync as experienced through ageism practices and unemployment trends. By looking at the overarching value set of the Boomer cohort as a whole throughout their entire life course, a deeper insight to what Boomers' individual values are comes into focus. The Boomer cohort's driving need for meaning and legacy becomes the foundation upon which to build and assert the value of their human capital in corporate America. The conclusion from the research and synthesis conducted in writing this thesis is that Boomers must innovate their way into vocation-centric wisdom roles in a win-win arrangement with corporate America. Through these actions, Boomers have the best opportunity to overcome ageism in the work environment and pass on a professional legacy for their children that values their inherent human capital over prejudices. The new professional frontier is an opportunity for Boomers to define this life transition as one of generativity, specifically for creating legacy based on vocation-centric lifestyle. Through intentional pathways of wisdom roles and entrepreneurship, Boomers can restore value of their human capital in corporate America.