The Baby Boomers — The Generation That Changed Everything

Ever wonder who turned the world upside down before Wi-Fi, TikTok, and AirPods?

Introducing: The Baby Boomers!
Born between 1946 and 1964, this powerhouse generation isn’t just famous for bell-bottoms, rock ‘n’ roll, and Saturday morning cartoons — they literally reshaped society. As of 2016, they range in age from 52 to 70. Starting in 2013, the first of the Boomers reached age 67, the typical retirement age. Let’s break down how these Boomers went from babies to business bosses.

A Baby Boom Like Never Before
After World War II, people came home, settled down, and… well, let’s just say the nursery industry exploded.

• Between 1945 and 1957, U.S. births shot up by 53% — from 2.8 million to 4.3 million per year!
• Schools were bursting at the seams trying to keep up with the “Boomer Baby Wave.”
• If you were born in this era, chances are you had to fight for a seat at lunch AND in the classroom. 

Boomers and Business: A Legacy of Entrepreneurship
With a competitive job market filled with equally qualified peers, many Boomers chose a different route: entrepreneurship. From 1975 to 1986, the number of new businesses in America more than doubled, jumping from 300,000 to 700,000 per year.
By 1990, as the oldest Boomers turned 45, this rate declined slightly — settling at around 600,000 new businesses annually, a figure that has remained steady ever since. 

Despite a growing U.S. population — from 190 million to over 310 million — no future generation has matched the Boomers’ rate of business creation.

Boomers = Business Builders
What do you do when the job market is packed? You make your own lane.

• Between 1975 and 1986, Boomers launched new businesses like never before — going from 300,000 new businesses a year to 700,000!
• By 1990, the pace slowed to 600,000 per year — but that’s still a major legacy.
• So, if your parents or grandparents started a business, now you know why.

Let’s Learn from the Boomers
This article isn’t about idolizing the past — it’s about learning from it. The Baby Boomers showed us what’s possible when a generation embraces education, adapts to challenges, and creates opportunities not just for themselves, but for the future.
Let’s rise to that challenge. Whether it’s starting a business, getting educated, or building strong communities — the legacy of the Boomers reminds us that one generation can truly change the world.

The Boomer generation set a high bar. Now, it’s time for Gen Z, Millennials, and everyone else to ask: What’s stopping us?

Final Thought:
The Baby Boomers shaped America’s past. Will we shape its future? Looking to shape the future together?

Contact:  

Pam Hargis
Certified Business & Executive Master Accountability & Growth Coach
Phone: 386-847-8028
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/pamhargis
Email: phargis@focalpointcoaching.com
Schedule a Call:  https://calendly.com/pamhargis-focalpoint/