EP – 50 New roles

Our Monthly One on One

“I’m in a place in my life where I get offered parts that I didn’t get offered before – fathers and uncles and grandfathers and so on. And it took me a long time to get to that place, but I’m glad because it opens up new territory.” – Christopher Walken

The episode is a one on one conversation with me and you. In this conversation, I discuss how we are taking on new roles even at our age, and this is a good thing. Men heading into their “grandpa years” should be looking to take on new roles.

Regardless of your age, when taking on a new role, we should all be looking to do the following:

Seek Support

Talk to other experts and those who have held the position longer than you have. Seeking out support is a two-part exercise. We want to get ahold of experts who can tell and show us how this new role should or can function. Two, we need our network to beware of what we are doing and what new roles we are taking on to support us and, most importantly, encourage us as we grow through learning our new role.

Get More Education

Just because we have seen a lot and experienced a lot to this point in our lives does not mean that we should stop learning. When you hit your middle-age years, some would say that learning is something you only do on an “as needed” basis. I say, though, that learning should be part of your everyday life. The Cool Grandpas that I know are always learning. Indeed, education is critical for new roles, like Scout Master, Assistant Baseball Coach, or even the lead shift supervisor at the local food pantry. For example, you may never have had to work with non-paid volunteers. How do you keep non-paid people engaged and showing up every time with their “A game”? I bet there is a book, a podcast, or course on leading volunteers.

Rebrand Yourself

We all have a brand. It is what people think about you, how they have labeled you. To be fair as well, it is what we also think of ourselves. When we take on new roles, we have a great chance to “rebrand” ourselves. If you have not been very outgoing in the past but you volunteer to run intake processing functions of the local food pantry, you will need to stretch yourself to become more outgoing. Taking on a new role is a great chance to educate your family and friends about your new role and help them start to think of you differently. YOU can help them see the shift in yourself and the growth you are undertaking and, as a result, change your brand.

What new roles are you taking on? Where are some areas where you are growing and increasing your knowledge through formal or informal education? How are you changing your brand? Are you directing that brand change, or are circumstances creating a defacto brand?

Please shoot me an email and tell me what roles you are taking on and what changes you are making in your life. You can reach me at [email protected]

Affiliate Links

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Adulting 101

Affiliate Links

These are links to products and services that I highly recommend AND use. I do get a percentage of the purchases you make.

More than GrandMore Than Grand is an excellent resource for new grandparents AND parents. Listeners of The Cool Grandpa Podcast enjoy 10% off any fantastic products that More Than Grand provides by entering COOLGRANDPA10 at checkout. To visit More Than Grand, click HERE.

Intentional Grandfathering MasterclassGrandfathers have a unique and meaningful role to play in grandchildren’s development, yet they often find themselves behind the scenes, on the sidelines, or less engaged than they’d like to be. This masterclass delivers a playbook for helping grandfathers level up their influence and impact. Listeners to The Cool Grandpa Podcast can receive 40% off this course by using Cool40 at checkout.

Grandparents academyFounded in 2011 by Aaron Larsen as a way to honor his grandparents, GrandparentsAcademy.com is the world’s first and only online academy dedicated to helping grandparents grow meaningful relationships and rich legacies with their loved ones.

My Grandpa’s Grandpa

When it is time for bed, Charlie’s grandpa tucks Charlie in. Charlie asks his grandpa many questions about his grandpa’s grandpa. Charlie’s grandpa shares a magical moment as he introduces Charlie to his great-grandpa through fun memories.

 

This is my children’s book, created to entertain and inspire conversations about other family members that the children may not have had the opportunity to meet.

 

 

If you prefer an eBook, you can download the Kindle version by clicking on this LINK.

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