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10,000 Days: A Call to Arms for the Baby Boom Generation
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Do you feel like your best years are ahead of you? What will you do with them? When asked, many people at the end of their lives wished they’d found a “purpose to my life”. David Mills, producer and writer for CBS 5’s Weekend Early Edition in northern California did the math when he turned 50 to discover he most likely had 10,000 days left. Wanting to live life to the fullest, he committed to writing a book to inspire and cajole the boomer generation to get off their duffs to make a difference in the world.
What compelled you to write 10,000 Days: A Call to Arms for the Baby Boom Generation?
I decided to write this book shortly after my 50th birthday. I began to think about the next 30 years and what I wanted to do. Thirty years didn’t seem like that long of time, but when I did the math and discovered it was more than 10,000 days, I realized there was a lot that could be accomplished in that time frame. If I did one thing, no matter how small, every day, I could accomplish 10,000 things.
Was it something you’d been thinking about for a long time, or did it just come to you one day?
I would say the inspiration probably bubbled for only a few days, maybe a week, before the focus of the book became clear. At first, “10,000 Days” was going to be more of a personal story, but after I interviewed several other Baby Boomers, I realized it needed to be written in broader strokes and for my entire generation
What has been the reaction to the book?
The reaction has been quite favorable. For many, the book crystallizes feelings that have been churning in their soul. It helps them figure out the nagging feeling that has been tugging at them the past few years.
Who are the people that are most interested in it?
Baby Boomers are obviously the target audience and they are the ones most interested in it. I have had some members of Generation X and Generation Y buy it for their parents because they felt it would strike a chord with their mother or father. Younger folks also are curious what Baby Boomers will do the next 30 years, so there is some interest in that regard. I believe the book cuts across all socioeconomic lines. I think Baby Boomers across the board are wondering what they should do with their next 30 years.
What are the 2-3 key points you want people to take away from the book?
I think the key point is I want Baby Boomers to realize this is the most productive and exciting part of their life. We are still a motivated, active generation that now has a half-century of experience and knowledge under our belts. We need to acknowledge there are many things we have not done well and have not accomplished. However, we are a large generation with some financial resources and some extra free time and we can do a lot of good over the next 10,000 days.
Have you heard stories of how the book has helped people get involved? Would you share an example?
A mother of one of my daughter’s friends told her that the book changed her entire outlook for the next 30 years. A college friend and her husband read the book and were motivated to record the music c-d they had talked about doing for more than a decade.
What else would you like to share about the book?
I think “10,000 Days” not only explains to Baby Boomers how important the next 30 years are, it also lays out an action plan. Much of the book’s recommendations are things people can do in their everyday lives. You don’t need a national organization or a rally of thousands of people to have an impact.
David Mills blog is at http://david-mills.blogspot.com/ Purchase10,000 Days: A Call To Arms For The Baby Boom
Generation
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