Inside PBS Blog

Last month we turned the tables on award-winning journalist Paula Zahn and asked you to interview her about her new role as host of “Retirement Revolution.”  Ms. Zahn took the time to reflect upon what millions of Americans are dealing with everyday when faced with retirement during an economic downturn.  She also talked about what her musical accomplishments taught her about tenacity and discipline – traits that everyone could benefit from in these tough times.

Through interviewing many members of the retirement community for Retirement Revolution, What are the common personality traits you have found among the successful members of that group? and is there a certain personality, mindset, or attitude that you've found over your career in happy, content people all over the world, whether they are a president, famous musician, or retiree? Aaron Light

The most successful and fulfilled people I’ve interviewed over the years are honest with themselves about the choices they’ve made. They’re also in touch with their strengths and weaknesses. I truly believe that the happiest people I’ve met have been guided by what THEY want out of their life, and not someone else’s expectations for them. When they find their passion, whether it’s raising a family or working outside the home, they do it the best of their ability. They set goals and try to meet them.

When it comes to retirement, the happiest people I’ve encountered are those who have been able to maintain perspective and flexibility. Our disastrous economy has derailed a lot of dreams.  They’ve learned to live a day at a time. The folks who have been blessed enough to retire have tremendous gratitude and are focused on the things they never had the luxury to enjoy.

As boomers experience empty nests and think about retirement years, their relationship begins to change. What is your take on boomer marriage longevity and happiness as retirement years approach? John Agno

The reality of today’s economy is that a lot of baby boomers won’t be able to spend their twilight years hanging out at the beach. Millions of people who thought they were done working are having encore careers that sometimes have nothing to do with their earlier professional lives.  They’ve had to come to terms with unrealized expectations and have developed more realistic dreams. Those transitions are very painful, but can create new positive teamwork.  The good news is that statistically we will live longer than our parents. And if we can stay healthy, there are still a lot more horizons to conquer individually or as a couple.  The happiest people I know are clear about what brings them joy and avoid the things that don’t.

My question concerns the results of a recent report conducted by The United States General Social Survey. It showed that boomer women are far less happy than we were forty years ago and far less happy than men our age.  What are your thoughts on this? Have you found boomer women to be sadder as we grow older? Or, do you think that, despite the challenges of age, we grow more personally powerful and more content with ourselves? Eileen Williams

I have seen women experience a whole spectrum of emotions, from happiness to depression.  Some women are very empowered by the changes in the work force, but feel isolated at home.  Some women are very fulfilled at home and dread going to their jobs everyday.

It’s such a personal journey.  Having said that, it is undeniable that opportunities exist for women today that our mothers could only dream about. Those opportunities have greatly enriched and complicated our lives. Our happiness is dependent on so many things - our sense of pride and accomplishment, support from our loved ones, and a sense that we’re making some kind of contribution to our family and society.

No matter where you fall on that spectrum, there is enormous opportunity today for self awareness.  We are living longer and healthier lives. We have a responsibility to ourselves to constantly examine our lives to make sure we are living as authentically as possible and expanding our horizons when things don’t work out the way we wanted them to.

During the course of your career, you have interviewed a number of former presidents and world leaders. From those conversations and your observations, what would you say are the most important qualities for strong leadership? And how could such qualities best be demonstrated by our civic leaders to support the needs of the elderly? Cari

I have had the privilege of interviewing heads of state, presidents, members of Congress and State legislators. The leaders I most admire are the ones who clearly articulate a vision and who are willing to use their political capital to get their vision implemented. That requires tremendous skill, courage, will, and laser focus. 

When it comes to dealing with the elderly, leaders must have an ability to truly listen to what their constituents are saying. Empathy is another quality I respect. You can’t fake it. You either care or you don’t. The challenges of the elderly are so intensely personal and at times wrenching. Leaders need to internalize those challenges to inspire and be effective.

How has your musical training benefited other areas of your life? Connor Nelson

Music has always been an important part of my life. I grew up in a musical family. Can you imagine four kids and each one of them practicing a different instrument? We had dueling drums, clarinets, violins, cellos, and piano at home. Mercifully, we all took music seriously, so the practicing sessions became less painful to my parents as we became more proficient on our instruments.

Music has taught me a number of important lessons.  The discipline I developed practicing cello taught me valuable lessons about perseverance.  It takes tremendous focus, patience and tenacity to play well. Practice can be boring and frustrating. Over time, I learned to embrace the mess that practice sessions can be. I transferred those lessons to the sports I completed in as well. If you’re ever going to be any good at sports, you have to put in the time, the elbow grease, and earn your victories. Nothing good ever comes easily.

That tenacity has carried over into my journalism.  I’m never satisfied with my first passes at my stories. I edit and re-edit them sometimes down to airtime.  Some of my best work has come out of arduous editing battles. Discipline is challenging, but it has greatly enhanced my life professionally and personally.