Do you long to leave the rat race? Step off the treadmill? Jump off the merry-go-round? Jettison out of the squirrel cage? Pick any image that fits; they all add up to the same thing. After 20, 30, or even 40 years of trading time for money and lining someone else’s pockets with profit, most of us are more than ready for a life in which we can wake up when we want to, stop answering to someone else, leave the commute behind, and generally take our lives back. Some enterprising Boomers re-define retirement by deciding to leave the rat race and work online from home.

Let’s face it; for the most part we Boomers aren’t going to “retire” in the same ways our parents did. That is, 65 on the dot; gold watch; pension; mortgage burning; long-awaited world or RV travel; increased volunteerism, blah, blah, blah. Nope–none of that for us. We are the work-a-holic generation (and proud of it? Hmmm…). At the very least we are aiming at age 72 to eek every possible penny out of our Social Security benefits while they are still available. (Sorry kids.) But even that seems like a pipe dream to many of us these days.

What’s worse, many pensions and retirement fund accounts that have been accumulating in more or less the right direction for decades have seen recent losses so extreme that long-awaited retirement plans are getting pushed back to the gray zone on the calendar called “when things turn around.”

But there is another option that is becoming increasingly popular-and for good reason. Many mid-to-late career entrepreneurs are redefining retirement by choosing to make a living online from home as an alternative to continuing on their all-consuming 50-60 hour/week jobs. This new breed of career and life-design adventurers–sometimes called “Boomer-preneurs”–are daring to design the lives they have long envisioned for their “post employment” years, by combining new methods of income generation with time and location freedom. Brilliant!

If you like the sound of that, ask yourself these things:

◊ “Do I have a clear vision and purpose for the next chapter of my life?” It is necessary to have a vision of what you want your life to look like as well as what you want to leave behind. Spend some time getting clear about that if you haven’t already.

◊ “Am I open-minded about learning new things?” Openness and eagerness to acquire new skills and understanding are critical success factors, as Boomer-prenuers must be willing to learn, practice, and hone new skill sets in order to succeed as entrepreneurs in a world that has changed a lot in the last quarter century. It is also important to seek out business opportunities that are chock full of training and support. It is important that you don’t overspend your budget while you are still getting your legs under you.

◊ “Am I willing–while I am still employed in my regular job–to set aside 8-10 hours/week to get something else going?” What you need to do is build a sturdy bridge to get you from “here to there.” If you can dedicate more time, you may be able to build that bridge more quickly; less time, and you can still build it, but it may take longer. Plan accordingly.

◊ “Am I prepared to make a monetary investment at the offset, (from modest to ample, depending on my ability and resourcefulness) to secure a solid business model and platform that will support my success?” As with the time commitment, (above) the more you can put in up front, the more quickly you may realize the profits needed to fully retire from your current job. The less you are able to invest up front, the longer it may take. The goal, however, can still be achieved over time. Again, plan accordingly.

Consider your responses. Tweak the ones that need more thought and action. Look at your options and start envisioning the change you desire in your life. That change may be nearer than you think!

Be amazed and amazing!

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Thia Hamilton, Ph.D., has created her own successful home based Internet Marketing business after “retiring” from 30 years of leadership and management in the nonprofit sector. In her long and rewarding career, Thia has been mentor, advocate, friend, and career coach to thousands of individuals (mostly women) struggling to overcome huge obstacles in order to live prosperous and empowered lives.

She has carried this new passion to help people succeed into her business and is always interested in meeting others who dare to cut their own paths.

Still scaling the Internet-marketing learning curve, or struggling to get a new online business off the ground? Take Thia’s online Tools For Success survey and qualify for a complimentary 30-minute phone “workout and fitness evaluation” with this Personal Trainer for Internet Marketing Newbies. Learn more about Thia too.