Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Helen Hirsh Spence, founder and CEO of Top Sixty Over Sixty, located in Ottawa, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are living 30 years longer than our grandparents. This is what's known as the "longevity bonus." It means we have more opportunities than ever to work, play, and contribute. As a society, however, we cling to old benchmarks. Ageism stands in our way! Top Sixty Over Sixty provides business clients the services that will help them thrive in an aging world. We have thought leaders who consult, train, coach and speak at conferences. We want to help you take advantage of your multigenerational workforce to become more productive, creative, and profitable. We also work with individuals to help overcome their internalized ageist blocks that undermine their true potential. Talk to us! We will support you through these rapidly changing and aging times.

Tell us about yourself

I took a “sabbatical” from my leadership roles in education and devoted myself to non-profit work for many years. As time passed, I began to feel invisible, irrelevant, and less valued as a woman in her sixties. I had as much energy, enthusiasm, and interest as ever before and wanted to continue to make a difference in the world. This was when I realized that ageism was hindering my efforts. I was tired of hearing about Top 30 Under 30, Top 40 under 40 and decided to bring attention to an older demographic by creating Top Sixty Over Sixty. This is the genesis of my social enterprise, which has accomplished a lot in our first four years. We are now (hopefully) closer to post-pandemic times and able to find sponsors for a Top Sixty campaign/event in the near future. Please let us know if you are interested.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am resilient. I haven’t given up. Despite the challenges of being an older, solo entrepreneur, I continue to be as dedicated as ever to our mission and vision, gaining credibility and traction despite COVID.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

For me, it has been working and learning alone. I am used to collaborative working environments where I bounce and process ideas with others. I am a confirmed extrovert and oral processor!

What are some of the things you put in place to maintain a healthy work/life balance?

I don’t really believe in work/life balance… life is always out of kilter. Having said this, I take daily, hour-long walks in the woods with my beloved dog and just listen to the sounds of the forest (I used to run before my knee surgery but have had to adapt). I value the friendships I have made over a lifetime and continue to correspond globally with those friends. I also took up watercolor painting in my sixties, which provided my most “Zen” moments.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Yes. I'd appreciate those readers who would benefit from our services to hire Top Sixty and share some of the messages about the work we do. This will support our vision of "A world that embraces and encourages the vital contributions and value of those over age 60". It is a message of hope, as we will presumably all age if we are lucky!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.topsixtyoversixty.com/

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/top-sixty-over-sixty/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-hirsh-spence-a029a010/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/topsixtyoversixty
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Top60Over60

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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