Baby Boomers - Most Influential Generation Ever? | Lifestyle

Baby Boomers - Most Influential Generation Ever?

by TimBlair

After World War II, soldiers came home from war, the economy was very strong, the future looked bright, so it time to start a family. And wow, they sure did. In the next 18 years, 1946-1964 over 75 million children were born in the United States, alone. They were affectionately given the name Baby Boomers. There has never been a full explanation as to why, but it may have been because of the baby boom that occurred right after the war. As this group grew up, they created industries and impacted every industry that they chose. And they chose them as one. If one Boomer thought something was a good idea, almost en mass, they all did. It was as if they were all internally connected some how.

The post WW II years were an interesting time in the world. In the United States, we had just won a war, the economy was good, life was improving and there were hundreds of thousands of soldiers coming home with a newfound freedom and the desire to start a family. And that they did. In the years of 1946 - 1964 children were springing up in households across America. The interest in having the proverbial 2.5 children, a white picket fenced home and a couple pets, flourished. This group has had more impact on the worlds economy than any before it and likely any to follow. Why?

The baby food industry was the first to be positively affected by this incredible growth. Gerber Baby Foods was well into its 4th decade when all of a sudden they were selling over 2 million jars of food... Every day! As this group got stronger and a little older, they found their way into Toy stores and with some interesting, yet silly toys had sales that skyrocketed. In the 1950's, it was the hula hoop, Frisbee and Barbie dolls, that became the Slinky, silly toy, unless you live in house with stairs, and GI Joe. All of these toys sold like crazy and it was only because more and more Baby Boomers were finding them.

Products like the Hula Hoop, the Frisbee, all of the Mattel toys and the Slinky, the dumbest toy in history, especially if you live in a house with no stairs! All of these industries flourished, because of the ongoing demand of the Baby Boomers. And it just got crazier after that. After several bankruptcies, Walt Disney finally figured it out and created Disneyland, millions and millions came and came again, he finally made it. Why? This group determined very early on, that they wanted to do, to see and to have everything. And they did.

As the Boomers grew up, they literally created the need for fast food. McDonalds, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken stores were all over the place. There was so much to do, that these kids wanted things and they wanted them quickly. These places were also great gathering locations and you would hundreds and sometimes thousands of kids just quietly, yes quietly, hanging out, sharing stories of their daily activities. This was huge. But they needed and wanted more.

This does not even consider the impact they had on the music industry. As they reached their mid-teens, more records, more concerts, more tapes were sold than ever before. If you wanted to be a success, sing and play songs about the changes that the Baby Boomers were inflicting on the world and you had a number 1 hit. Think Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys.

There is no doubt that this generation of folks wanted money. They work hard and deserve it. But, as they are now in gaining on being in their 60's, things are changing some. Many of them are sick of working in corporate America. Many of them started very late in setting up their retirement, so there is a greater need to work longer. Remember, this is a creative group. So, if they have not saved enough money to retire, they have decided to live longer! It makes perfect sense. Health Clubs and Nutrition companies are having their best sales in their history. More people are working out than ever before.

So, they just flat out decided that they would live longer. No problem. This is the largest reason the Health Club sales are at their highest point in history. Nutrition companies are thriving because 75 million Americans have decided that growing old can be controlled. And with their typical motivation, it probably can. So, we are now seeing more executives working into the 60's and 70's and this is only the first stage of Boomers to hit this age bracket. It is likely that we will see some of these people holding prestigious corporate positions well into their 80's, if they are as good as they have been so far.

It is quite apparent that retiring is not high on the priority list. However, working more for themselves and their families actually is growing. Some of this is economically driven, but it is also because there is a sense of recreating things as they were when the Baby Boomers were just that, Babies. There is a growing movement to try to simplify things a little. Money is still a prime motivator, but more time at home seems fun again. Many of these parents worked so hard that they missed a lot of their children growing up and it has finally sunk in that this was a bad thing. So, more family time. More time with friends. And more time planning for what is next.

Many of this group are actually seeking ways to make life more like it was when they were children. That is kind of an interesting thought. The life that they made for themselves and their families may have been rewarding on many levels, but all in all, controlling your life, instead of your life controlling you, may not be such a bad thing. So, be on the lookout for the 1st Baby Boomer to be running his company at age 120, while working at home, so he can be closer to his family and assure that his/her support system, lift support, that is, stays close by. Some people will just never get it!

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

Following world trends and how they are affected, one looks to the Baby Boomers, so where are they now and what are they doing? For one thing purchasing super sassy Callaway Golf Bag .