Embracing Change: How a 76-Year-Old Built a Career by Learning New Technology
When one young woman took a typing class at the age of 14, she had no idea she was preparing for a lifetime of technological shifts. That simple class became the foundation for a career that would span several decades and require constant learning.
After finishing college, she spent many years working in office support roles. She served as a secretary, an office manager, and eventually an executive assistant. Throughout these years, she had to adapt as office equipment evolved. She moved from using manual typewriters to electric ones, and eventually to early computer systems. This hands-on experience helped her get comfortable with new tools, even when they felt unfamiliar at first.
While these office jobs paid the bills, they were not always exciting or challenging. However, as a single mother raising three children, she had very little free time to look for a new career path. She kept her focus on her family until her youngest child became a teenager, which finally gave her the time to try something new.
Entering the Digital Age
As the internet grew, more and more businesses wanted to have their own websites to reach customers. Seeing an opportunity, she decided to take a class on website design and management because she thought it sounded like a fun creative outlet.
She did very well in the class. Her previous experience with computer programs gave her a head start, and her fast typing skills were a major advantage. Although learning web development languages was challenging, she enjoyed pushing her technical abilities further. After completing the course, she learned how to network with local business owners and started her own freelance web design company.
Adapting to Constant Shifts
Over the next two decades, the technology used to build websites changed rapidly. To keep her business running, she had to continuously learn new tools and systems. If she had refused to adapt, her business would not have survived.
These technological changes did not just affect how websites were built. They also changed how small businesses advertised their services. Traditional advertisements in paper phone books were quickly replaced by online social media posts. To help her clients succeed, she had to master these new marketing platforms first.
Even with her experience, adapting was not always easy. For a long time, she resisted using text messages on her mobile phone. However, she realized her children rarely answered her phone calls and would only reply to texts. Soon, her business clients also began using text messages to communicate. She realized that texting was a necessary tool for both her personal and professional life.
Exploring New Creative Projects
A decade ago, she decided to start a local community television show as a side project. This new venture required her to learn an entirely new set of skills. She had to operate advanced video cameras and learn how to use video editing software.
Fortunately, her years of experience in web design made the transition to video editing much easier. Just like web design, video technology continued to change rapidly over the next dozen years, requiring her to keep learning and updating her methods.
The Importance of Lifelong Learning
Through all of these experiences, she learned that change is a normal part of life. To stay active and engaged, a person must be willing to grow. She believes that older adults can remain highly capable and connected to the modern world, but they must be willing to accept new technology rather than fight to keep things the same.
Although learning new skills can feel more difficult as people get older, research suggests that mental exercise helps keep the mind sharp. Today, at 76 years old, she travels around her state and shares her experiences on social media. She attributes her active lifestyle to her willingness to embrace technology throughout her life.
Here are a few key lessons from her journey with technology:
- Starting early: Basic skills like typing can form the foundation for future tech learning.
- Staying flexible: Adapting to new communication methods, like texting and social media, is essential for staying connected with family and clients.
- Continuing education: Taking classes and learning new software can open up new career opportunities at any stage of life.
- Keeping active: Challenging the brain with new technical skills helps maintain mental sharpness in later years.