If you're a mature aged individual keen on staying in the workforce, and you've been doubting your employability due to 'your age', then this blog is for you.

First up, let me tell you about two phone conversations I had some years ago. Co-incidentally, they were from two business people in exactly the same industry. And they called out of the blue within a couple of weeks of each other.

What was REALLY fascinating was ...

They both spoke about the same industry-wide free giveaway promotional campaign their two businesses were involved in, yet the two men gave two totally different versions on the worth of the promotion.

The first said the promotion was a complete and dismal failure, that he was losing money from it, and that people who came off it just wanted the freebies. The second man said it was the BEST promotion ever, that the people who got the free offers were eager to upgrade to very profitable purchases, and that he couldn't wait to do it again the next year.

Same industry. Same business type. Same economic conditions. Yet one business was booming. The other losing money. The only difference by my assessment was their BELIEF in themselves. Interesting isn't it, the power of perception? Particularly perception about ourselves. Let me give you another fascinating example ...

In my consulting with business owners, when a client would insist that a certain product or service just wouldn't sell, or that it had to be discounted to be sold, or that they couldn't possibly convert better than 3 out of 10 enquiries to a sale, I'd put this challenge to them: "If I could find you the world's BEST salesperson and brought him or her into your business for a month, do you think THAT person could improve your 'conversion rate' of enquiries to sales and not resort to discounting?"

The answer would invariably be, "Well, sure, if I had the best salesperson in the world, that'd be different."

The penny would drop for them that the question wasn't about a 'dud' product. Rather, the question was about 'dud' training, a 'dud' attitude in the salespeople, or more to the point, a 'dud' attitude in the owner themselves! It was this holding them back from achieving the outcome they wanted, not the product. Can you see where I'm going with this? It's all about mindset.

OK, what about the 'too old to get work' mindset? ... Let me give YOU a challenge on that. Picture this scene.

I've lined up a job interview for an 'old gentleman' of 60 for a particular sales and promotions job. Yes, a sixty year old! Now, I suspect you're thinking, "Isn't that too old, really, for that sort of position?"

Well, what I didn't mention was that this gentleman I've lined up for the interview is Sir Richard Branson. Would a potential employer tell HIM he was too old? What about getting a job for someone around 80? ... Rupert Murdoch ... born in 1931. Is HE too old? What about Hilary Clinton? Or June Dally Watkins. Or Ita Buttrose? Or Dick Smith? I could go on.

It is NOT their age that matters. It is their experience. Their ability to sum up a situation and come up with solutions, based on years of experience at the coalface. And their belief in themselves.

Hmmm, is this sounding a bit like YOU? Don't YOU have the ability to sum up a situation and come up with solutions? Don't YOU have years of experience at the coalface?

Let's be clear. It isn't about age at all. It's your belief in yourself and your abilities. And OF COURSE, your bearing and demeanour. How you see YOU.

Let's face it, if you think old ... if you don't keep yourself relatively fit, if you don't radiate energy, have a spring in your step and a sparkle in your eye, pride in your appearance, and confidence in your abilities, then it doesn't matter if you're 65 or 25, your chances of getting work opportunities will be seriously dimminished. But your age it's NOT. Just the opposite. Your age is your ASSET.

Yes, there are skills you must learn ... to prepare, promote, present, package and even price yourself for mature age consulting or for the workplace. And our course - "How to Build Your SELF-EMPLOYED CONSULTANT Business" covers all that and more if you're interested. But either way, please don't believe that you're too old to get the work you want, based on your experience. With the right belief systems, your journey has just begun!!

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