man-o-pause

Search For Meaning | Manspurpose.com Web Launch

This day has been almost four years in coming. Man-o-pause is the precursor to my new site, Search For Meaning.

When Man-o-pause.com ranked #1 on Google out of 88,000,000 pages for the term, "man's purpose in life," I knew I was on to something. It helped that I'm skilled in search engine optimization (SEO), which is my day job, but still...

I bought the domain, www.manspurpose.com, not quite knowing what I would do with it. As traffic continued to build on this site, I realized that I was meeting a need. Almost 125,000 visitors have stopped by, reading 180,000+ pages of content collectively.

For your readership and following, I'm eternally grateful.

Over time however, I became more and more interested in talking about the deeper meaning of life.

While understanding one's midlife crisis can indeed be a path toward transformation, I believe that the state of the world demands deeper spiritual connection not only to the family of man, but also to the planet.

World events have created a "crisis of opportunity." Man-o-pause is a bridge to this new site, Search For Meaning. It is not for everyone. But

If you're looking to broaden your consciousness, then this site is for you.

If you want to experience creative flight, then this site's for you.

 If you strive toward the Future with a flaming heart, then this site's for you.

If you're seeking your Soul purpose, then this site's for you.

You can subscribe to newsletter updates by inserting your email address in the sign up box on the upper left of this page. Or visit the site and sign up there.

Midlife Job Loss: 5 Tips to Bouncing Back

Losing a job at any age can be a trying period. This is especially true during midlife, when you likely have many financial obligations to meet. It can also be very difficult to leave a job that you held for a number of years. You have not only developed a level of expertise, but also must sever long-held relationships.

Following are five tips for bouncing back after midlife job loss. Follow them, and you can begin a new career search with a more positive outlook.

No. 1 - Allow time to grieve. It is natural to go through some period of grieving, but don’t extend it too long. If your career has defined you, it is particularly difficult to be without a job. It can lead to a loss of self-worth and self-confidence. However, keep in mind that job loss is not personal, in most cases. It often arises from a company’s financial difficulties, due either to restructuring or lost revenue. While you will certainly grieve the loss of your job, you also must accept your situation. Keep at the forefront of your mind all the benefits that you will bring to a new employer in terms of skills, abilities and knowledge. This will improve your outlook and enable you jump start the job search process.

No. 2 - Get your finances in order. You will need to review your financial circumstances, including how much savings you have, as well as what you can expect from your employer in terms of severance pay and outplacement services. You can also research how much you may be eligible to receive through your local unemployment office. Unemployment benefits typically last for a six-month period. You also want to be sure you have continued health insurance through a COBRA program, which allows you to purchase health insurance at reduced costs at a group rate. If necessary, you can always take a temporary job while performing a search for new employment.

Your 'So-called' Mid Life Career Crisis

Let’s face facts, the world of work is much different today than it used to be. Back in the day, you got a job when you were a young man, and you stuck with that job the rest of your life. These days, young people are predicted to take on at least seven different significant jobs during their working years. But, young people aren’t the only ones wading their way through the strange currents of our new way of working. More and more men entering middle age are finding themselves looking for a new job, either voluntarily or involuntarily, and it’s scaring the hell out of them.

If you find yourself in this difficult position you may feel like an old man playing a young man’s game. But with the right attitude and approach, you can re-enter the job market with a position superior to your last, diving into the second half of your working life with a level of excitement and realistic optimism only time and experience can afford you.

Accept Who You Are

Now, the first step toward taking full advantage of your midlife career opportunities lies in accepting the fact that you aren’t a young man anymore. Instead of trying to act like a fresh-faced cadet looking to discover their way in the world for the first time, approach potential employers by highlighting your maturity and the many benefits it provides. Unlike a recent graduate, a mature man brings stability, security, tenacity and a treasure chest of hard-won lessons to the table.  Any employer worth working for understands the value of such intangibles.

Men's Guide to Pinterest

via www.blueglass.com

For social media marketers, this is an interesting article on attracting the male demographic to the latest greatest social network: Pinterest. The author details the current dearth of male participation and presents an outline for getting more guys to "pin" your content. Includes worthy case studies too, such as Playboy, Audi, Men's Health and Guyism, a site of which I was unaware.

A Mint of Manly Things - Gentlemint

If Pinterest is too girly for you, try Genlemint.

via gentlemint.com

It's true; men are simpler than women

via pinterest.com

Thanks to Michael Gray aka @thegraywolf