On April 1, 2008, Kingsborough Community College welcomed special guest Morrie Helitzer, co-author of "It's Never too Late to Plant a Tree," a collection of profiles of men and women over sixty who have been active entrepreneurs. Helitzer addressed students at the My Turn meeting on the topic of senior entrepreneurship.
Helitzer's message was clear "It is never too late to start a business, it's never too late to start planting." Heilitzer noted that while senior citizens are often associated with retirement, he has never retired, always seeking entrepreneurial ways to occupy himself. He lamented that while many Americans see seniors as nothing more than "cranky old folks," often the problem may reside within seniors themselves. Many stop working after turning 60 and proceed to isolate themselves in retirement communities.
Drawing examples from his book, Helitzer explained that entrepreneurship is a skill that can be learned, regardless of age. Even two-year colleges can facilitate this process by offering classes to seniors and providing the outreach and networking platforms that most four year schools do not. This was an especially welcome point, given that The Institute for Virtual Enterprise is currently working on creating opportunities for seniors who want to learn about entrepreneurship.
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Morrie Helitzer 