From Mixed Tapes to Multiple Income Streams: The Gen X Guide to Never Really Retiring

Picture this: It's 1989, and I'm hunched over my dual-cassette boom box, crafting the perfect mixtape. My Marlboro Reds within arm's reach (priorities, am I right?), meticulously timing each song transition like some audio architect. Little did I know I was actually preparing for something way bigger than impressing that cute girl in study hall.

Fast forward to today (see what I did there?), and I'm using those same skills to orchestrate something totally different: telling the traditional retirement model to kiss my Gen X ass.

And guess what?

Looks like the mainstream media is finally catching up to what we've known all along. According to Newsweek (yeah, they're still around), America's older workers are giving the finger to the old retirement playbook faster than bands ditched guitar solos when grunge hit.

And they’re not the only ones, here’s a few other recent headlines:

“40% of Gen Xers Are Considering Starting a Business for One Big Reason” - MSN
“Gen X’s Ticket to Financial Security During Retirement? Entrepreneurship” - Inc.

Sweet! Let's dig in...

The Big Shift (Or How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Hustle)

Remember when "retirement" meant getting a gold watch, a pension, and being sent off to die of boredom in Florida?

Yeah, me neither.

Today's numbers tell a different story, and it ain't pretty (like that time I thought acid-washed jeans and a fanny pack was a good look):

• 40M Americans over 50 are still working (that's us, by the way)

• 22M of them will face involuntary job separation (corporate-speak for "you're too old and expensive")

• The average 401(k) balance for Gen Xers is about as impressive as my first demo tape

But here's the thing...

Instead of crying about it (ok, maybe I did a little - but only while listening to The Cure), we're doing what we've always done: adapting and giving a middle finger to the status quo.

Hell, we're the generation that survived 19 different jobs (speaking from experience here), the death of hair metal, and the rise of reality TV. We got this.

The New Retirement Mixtape (Side A)

Remember how a good mixtape needed different vibes? That's exactly what we're doing with retirement. Here's what's on our A-side:

Track 1: The Side Hustle Symphony

While I was stuck in my cubicle drafting mechanical parts, I was learning to build websites and run Google ads. Now? I'm pulling in multiple income streams that would make my old boss's head spin. And I'm not alone - we're all out here building digital empires between Netflix binges.

Track 2: The Digital Transformation Remix

Remember programming your VCR to record MTV's Headbangers Ball? That same tech adaptability is our superpower now. We're taking our decades of experience and combining it with new tools faster than you can say "AI revolution."

Track 3: The Experience Mashup

All those years of dealing with office politics, impossible deadlines, and soul-crushing meetings? They weren't wasted. We're turning that knowledge into consulting gigs, online courses, and side businesses that actually make money.

The B-Side: Why It's Working

Here's what the suits don't get - we're not interested in their version of retirement. We're treating it like a volume knob, not an on/off switch. Some days you crank it up, others you dial it back. That's the beauty of being your own boss.

The Money Track

Let's break it down like a Chili Peppers bass line:

Traditional Retirement = One-Hit Wonder

Gen X Retirement = Greatest Hits Album with Bonus Tracks

I went from making $25 an hour as a cubicle jockey to earning $93 an hour as a marketing freelancer.

Now I'm pulling in six figures doing things I love doing and I'm working less than ever. That's not retirement - that's freedom.

The Final Track

Just like those mixtapes we spent hours perfecting (admit it, you included at least one power ballad), we're creating something unique here. We're mixing traditional elements with new approaches, creating transitions that work for us, and most importantly, staying in control of our own playlist.

The result? A retirement revolution that's as uniquely Gen X as our collection of concert t-shirts (which I still wear, thank you very much).

Look, we might not have everything figured out yet, but we're getting there. And unlike our parents' generation, we're not waiting until 65 to start living life on our terms.

Here’s how I built a one-person business at 50 starting with just blogs and newsletters.

Music Project Update

Last time we talked, I told you about how I’m getting back into music.

Well, since then, I’ve played my first show in 10 years.

If you are curious to see how things are going, you can check out the YouTube video I did documenting the experience.

Check it out…

There ya go. If you want to follow along, be sure to subscribe to my channel so we can do this together!

Stay hungry, my friends. 🤘

Corey