Anne Marie Cummings

Don’t waste time doing things you can delegate.

 

Anne Marie is the author of the book entitled “Baby Boomer Bonding; Luxurious Life without Breaking the Bank” Her book is not like most retirement books that focus on the financial side of retirement; Baby Boomer Bonding is something very different. This book focuses on life (and how to live it!) after retirement. It encourages physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being and improvements and helps the reader set goals to achieve a better life. It also touches on how Co-housing can provide support and companionship without having to live in a retirement/nursing home.

After retiring from a 30-year career in technology sales Anne Marie went on a journey to reinvent herself and determine how to live a meaningful life in retirement. Her years of research and over 50 interviews with many of the leading authorities on retirement led her to the realization that most people are fearful of this final act of life and don’t get the joy out of this time that they should. She discovered that there are three main areas of concern for people as they retire; 1. How will I get mental stimulation and stay relevant; 2. How will I stay strong physically and avoid the dreaded nursing home; and 3. How will I live a good life and maintain my financial security until death. These concerns are address in detail in her book “Baby Boomer Bonding”.

Where did the idea for your book come from?

When I went to visit my paternal grandmother in her nursing home, I often reflected on the life she had previously lived and wondered how she must be feeling, living in a home where she wasn’t the hostess and the belle of the ball. I couldn’t help feel that her final years would have been more satisfying for her if she were able to live in her own home versus a nursing home. I wondered if she’d had the full-time companionship of supportive, like minded friends living with her would things have been different? I witnessed that with my maternal grandmother who lived in her own home with several of her adult children her whole life. She’d had support and companionship every day and was able to live in her own place until her death at 93.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I had a 30-year career in technology sales and it was a very intense career but I learned how to be very organized and efficient with my time to ensure all of my commitments were met. I use a lot of these same skills in my business today.
I wake up early and prioritize what needs to be done by me, what I can delegate to someone else and what can be removed from my list of things to do. I then prepare for any meetings I have that day to ensure the most is made of the time I have with the people I am meeting with. I then execute upon my “To Do” with focus to ensure the desired outcome is realized.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I am a very creative person who thinks outside the box. My ideas are generally pretty unique and often hard for black and white thinkers to understand so I have to use examples to help bring my ideas to life.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I am happy that our government is trying to help seniors live in place as long as possible. They help fund things that seniors need for safety and security so they can remain in their homes as long as their health allows. The fact that Boomers are the fastest growing population excites me because my target audience are seniors.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I am focused on my goals always and annoyingly organized. I create a daily list of things I must achieve and I make sure they are all done prior to ending my day. I don’t waste time on busy work only on the things that need to be done by me.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Do more of what you love………

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

I believe in restoring abandoned heritage buildings that others believe should be torn down. I feel that when a heritage building is demolished a piece of our history is lost. This is why I only use heritage building to create Marigold Mansions

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

A list of things that must get done by me and a list of things that must get done that I can delegate. Don’t waste time doing things you can delegate or that do not matter to the end goal; I call this busy work.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Getting the word out to people by way of my book, my Meetup groups, speaking engagements to the target audience. Agreeing to speak for free to help spread the word about my business.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I selected a contractor who ended up being a fraud and did not do the work he was hired to do. I overcame it by being persistent and finding another contractor to do the work. Thankfully, I had not paid all of the money to the original contractor so I only lost time.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I think any business that helps seniors is good. I suggested to my son he start a business called Hire a Grandson after I saw him helping my Mother with her computer.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I recently spent $100 to get a proposal for my next project professionally done. It made the world of difference. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression…..go in strong when you want to get someone’s attention.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

I use Podio to communicate with my virtual assistant. It keeps things organized in one place and I don’t have to speak directly to her every day. We know what is being accomplished because we use this system.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I have read a lot of great books and attended a lot of interesting seminars; I believe in continued education always. As for books, I just finished Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur’s Soul. What I got from that book is a lot of great ideas and inspiration from successful entrepreneurs.

What is your favorite quote?

Retirement only means it is time for a new adventure

Key Learnings:

• How to Organize Yourself
• No idea is a bad idea
• Failure can be overcome
• You are never too old to start something new
• You are relevant at any age

Connect:

AnneMarieCummingsevents.com

BabyBoomerBondingBook.com