June 25, 2018

You’re Never Too Old to Learn New Things and Fulfill New Challenges

By Eloise Graham

Last year, 2017, 50+ Lifestyles celebrated its 30th anniversary of publication. This month, I celebrate my 10th anniversary of being affiliated with 50+ Lifestyles. It has been a rewarding, learning and invigorating experience. It has proven to me that one is never too old to learn and embrace new things, to face and fulfill new challenges. Let me tell you my story.

In the spring of 2008, my husband Jim and I were looking for that retirement job/investment that would be a source of enjoyment and livelihood in our Golden Years. Jim came across an ad for the sale of 50+ Lifestyles from its owner, Russ Myers. Russ had started this senior publication in 1987, but he was now ready to pass the baton on to someone new. Jim had previously met Russ and was familiar with the magazine. Jim had majored in broadcast journalism with a strong emphasis on the journalism aspect. He had thirty years experience in sales. so he was excited about this new adventure. I, on the other hand, had only a limited grasp of writing; maybe a couple of creative classes in college and some theater. I also figured I would have a hard time selling ice to someone in the tropics or fur-lined clothing to people in Greenland. So he would do the writing and selling, and I would do the editing, billing, and bookkeeping.

That alone was a challenge in itself. By the year 2008, almost every aspect of the magazine was done online. I had very limited computer knowledge. It would be safe to say I had none! So we got our first home computer, and I set out to learn by trial and error. It was fun. I had a lot of help from Russ as to the way he ran things and from a very patient layout designer who explained many things to me. Like when forwarding emails to her with attachments, I needed to make sure the attachment was still there. Jim was amazed that I learned as fast as I did and would shower me with compliments. Within a few months we were quite a team and actually felt like we knew what we were doing, enjoying our new adventure.

Then in July of 2009, Jim passed away, and I had the entire business to run. I was now doing the writing, something entirely new for me. I was doing the selling, again something entirely new to me.

A little over a year later, I dissolved my LLC and formed a new one with three gentlemen that had worked with Jim in various ways. They wanted to help take the heavy workload off of my shoulders. Two years ago, they sold their holdings in the LLC to Roby and Kari Smith. so I have seen many changes in the past 10 years.

If 20 years ago you had told me that in 10 to 12 years I would be writing articles for a magazine, interviewing people, selling advertisements and distributing publications, I would have asked you what galaxy you had just come from. I have really enjoyed this new phase and the many interesting people I have had the opportunity to meet. So, to go back to the
beginning – one is never too old to learn and embrace new things, to face and fulfill new challenges.

Happy 10th Anniversary to me!

Filed Under: Personal Growth

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