"Whether because of layoffs or a desire for a new challenge, older people are becoming entrepreneurs at an increasing rate."

It's becoming clear that for many in the US, the coronavirus pandemic has presented an immense challenge, and opened up a variety of opportunities. For those over 50, these opportunities seem to manifest as new entrepreneurial endeavors. 

"While the coronavirus pandemic is causing many older workers who have lost jobs, or who have been offered early retirement severance packages, to decide to leave the workforce, others like Mr. Summers are shifting to entrepreneurship."

By rehoning skills developed over careers, focusing on creating value, and learning new things, many older Americans are finding entrepreneurship to be a liberating experience, and are able to find new autonomy, despite the challenges of COVID-19.

Thomas Friedman provides us with a sobering yet optimistic prediction for the future, in the face of COVID-19 shifts, and the changes that were coming regardless.

All industries, education styles, and communities are already facing seismic shifts in how they operate, and for many of us, this appears to be a terrifying but temporary setback. Friedman suggests, however, that the change was already coming.

"When we emerge from this corona crisis, we’re going to be greeted with one of the most profound eras of...creative destruction ever — which this pandemic is both accelerating and disguising."

See how the pandemic is hastening the need for adaptability that was already well on its way, and how we can ride out the storm of ambiguity to new horizons.

Every day we are inundated with stories of retooling our workforce, learning new skills, and the need to be adaptable at every turn. The World Economic Forum has identified the top ten skills that the world will need, as well as the trends we need to be aware of as we wade into an era of constant learning and unlearning.

"Unlearning can be a one-shot deal or a daily practice. It can help you become open to new skills, experiences, behaviors, and knowledge. Although you can’t physiologically unlearn anything–literally erase existing neural pathways–you can create the equivalent of a mental attic and put a sign on the door that reads, 'Things I know no longer so.' Then you can shift your focus to the edge of what you knew and transition from managing your knowledge to participating in the flow. Here’s how."

"Unlearning doesn’t require you to toss out all your accumulated experiences or presume previous know-how will keep you from success. Rather, it asks that you stay open to different ways of getting things done."

Read on to learn about the deceptively simple skill of learning, unlearning, and relearning. This is as important as ever in an age where the future becomes increasingly uncertain. 

Originating from the work of Albert Ellis, the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) model is designed to help patients "identify self-defeating thoughts and feelings, challenge the rationality of those feelings, and replace them with healthier, more productive beliefs." 

While you may not be a therapist or have access to one trained in this model, the learning we can create from such a framework is incredibly valuable. Many of us do not realize the impact our negative self-talk can have not just on ourselves, but how we relate to the world. In turn, a pattern of negative belief can create the situations we believe to be true, manifesting themselves in myriad destructive ways. 

We believe that reframing our personal narratives can create a path towards a better, more fulfilling life. See how the tools used in REBT may benefit you, and unlock your potential for greatness.