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Boomer Social Sites
In July 2006 when we spoke with Cool Friend Robin Wolaner, she told us she was working on a new venture but all she would tell us was that it was an Internet product. Well, seems she's started a boomer social site called tbd.com. As in To Be Determined. According to a New York Times article about her site and other social sites for the older crowd, she came up with the idea "when I was sitting around with friends and we said, 'We're not going to hang out at the AARP site. What is there for us?'"
The To Be Determined name makes sense for the boomer cohort as well. According to research in Marti Barletta's latest book, PrimeTime Women™ (see most recent interview with Marti here), 59 percent of women 50 to 70 years old feel that their greatest achievements are still ahead of them. So, yes, their lives are still to be determined.
We send our best wishes for success to Robin and the rest of her team at TeeBeeDee.
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Erik, thanks so much for this note. It means a lot. I am happy to come back to tompeters.com any time and talk about TeeBeeDee.
Posted by Robin Wolaner at September 13, 2007 6:37 PM
You know there is a part of me that really applauds this and a part of me is a little saddened by increasing the gap between the generations.
Posted by PaulH at September 14, 2007 6:36 AM
Agree Paul - many Boomers have been fitness crazed for decades & with a bit of wrinkle reduction - look like they are in their early 30's ... and they have a 20-something mindsets so they avoid Boomerville & gravitate toward suites like "LifeExtension" - below.
Posted by John at September 14, 2007 8:07 AM
I’ve come across many very old ‘20 somethings’ and I know very many ‘young 75 year olds’ … and my greatest teacher is my 2 year old grandson... We should surely be aiming for removal of artificial labels based solely on chronology. I am sure Robin is not advocating ‘separation’ at all :-)
Posted by Trevor Gay at September 14, 2007 9:01 AM
Don't understimate Boomer Power. Americans tend to discount any generation older than themselves. It's a very immature stance.
As a speaker and coach, I am in the trenches with many high power corporate Boomer women...and watch out! They are not putting up with the status quo. They are accomplishing amazing things. Professionally, personally and philanthropically
I am seeing it on a daily basis. Thanks for sharing it!
Posted by Eli Davidson at September 14, 2007 11:30 AM
Earlier known as The Boomer Destination (TEE BEE DEE)this approachable-looking site is gradually finding ways for boomers to connect and create more fun and value together....a savvy team with a slippery path to find what captivates us boomers
Posted by Kare Anderson at September 14, 2007 3:39 PM
Great project, I can't connect with the name though, its a bit involved and requires and explanation to all first time users, and even then I don't know how sticky it will prove. Good luck though!
Posted by AndrewC at September 20, 2007 2:31 AM