[Late Eye Care]Selling out business as a volunteer learns humility and refuses to be salted fish to activate the young and old

[ad_1]

(Hong Kong News) “People who don’t grow up are like salted fish!” Zhang Ruilin shouted, “No matter 60 years old, 100 years old, or 120 years old, you have to grow up to have vitality.”

Aging (ageing) is always equated with negative words such as aging, loneliness, and disease. Zhang Ruilin, the founder of social enterprise Zunxianhui and Chuanglinghui, wants to rehabilitate aging. He believes that stepping into old age will increase life experience and enrich social experience. It is something to be proud of and worth celebrating, and it should be celebrated with a carnival.

Bedridden for half a year and reflect on what to do

Zhang Ruilin happily told the guest hosts Liang Wanfu and Lu Bingsong about his innovative ideas for elderly care. His social enterprise for elderly care seems to be quite successful, but it turned out that the journey along the way was not easy. Back in time 16 years ago, when Zhang Ruilin was 50 years old, he was a successful businessman who owned 5 factories, and the cumulative turnover in 15 years was calculated in 10 figures, and he was a leader in the industry.

One day, he suddenly fainted during a meeting, and a brain tumor was found during the examination. , it will collapse tomorrow, but it will still be fine after 6 months. Second, what? What do I like to do?”

“I found that I like to help people, share experiences, and enjoy making society better.” Zhang Ruilin on the hospital bed opened up dusty memories, recalling his student days, keen to participate in student union activities, and visiting the poor; After many years in shopping malls, even my personality has changed. “I have no patience, love, or empathy at all. I am very successful in shopping malls, but I don’t enjoy the process.”

He is grateful for the opportunity given by the serious illness, “God gave me a new life and wanted me to do something He wanted to do. I don’t know what it is, so I might as well try a new one according to my interests.”

Business models address social issues

At that time, many people objected, saying that he was crazy, but he still insisted on selling out the business and determined to “reform”. “The first step is to find something good to do. It turned out to be very difficult, but it’s funny looking back.”

Fortunately, a friend introduced me to join the student aid organization “Sowers Action” as a volunteer. He said frankly that it was a good transition. In the past, being a big boss was a talkative one, with many shortcomings; How to face civil society is a good baptism.

And this friend who led him to join the nursery inspired him even more. Because my friend retired at a young age and was working full-time as a nursery volunteer, he wondered why his friend could retire happily while he was richer than him?

“He was a huge influence on me. I saw in him what a happy life, what a happy person is like, because being in business is extremely unhappy, a lot of problems, stress, decisions.”

The nursery was his enlightenment, but Zhang Ruilin was not satisfied with this, “I have a lot of business skills and management skills that have not been fully utilized.” In 2008, he met Xie Jiaju, who is committed to promoting social enterprises, and under his guidance introduced “Dialogue in the Dark”, “‘Conversation in the Dark’ is not to sympathize with the blind, but to let everyone recognize the strengths of the disabled.”

It is very attractive to him to use a business model to deal with social issues; in just three years, “Dialogue in the Dark” has developed into a social enterprise with a balanced income and expenditure, and has established a team that can rest assured to entrust the business.

Putting down “Dialogue in the Dark”, Zhang Ruilin wanted to challenge the difficulty again. I am just in my early 50s, and I am about to enter old age. I am very curious about what An Lao is, and I feel that An Lao is a huge market, because everyone hopes to have a quality old age.

Therefore, in 2012, he established the Honorable Person Association, aiming to become a self-financed social enterprise for the elderly.

Introducing the Happy Chair Dance Knock at the Door

“I read a lot and went on a lot of trips – Japan, the United Kingdom, and Northern Europe. I attended elderly conferences and studied along the way. I took it as a trip, and I always went to the Eiffel Tower to take pictures.” Zhang Ruilin met the “Happy Chair” in a British nursing home the power of the dance. In the nursing home, when it came to activities, not only the elderly in wheelchairs participated, the staff even pushed out the elderly who had been bedridden for a long time. I asked them why, and the instructor said, “Look, his fingers are moving.” ‘I was very surprised. It turned out that the old man enjoyed that time very much. The memory of the music and the happy memory are still there. “

He realized that the focus of the event is not dancing, but to use music to activate happiness through participation. The group activity “Happy Chair Dance”, which combines nostalgic music and movement, is an activity provided by a social enterprise for the elderly founded by young people.

“They have research, data to prove the efficacy of the activity, and the NHS buys their services, so they are surviving very well.”

Zhang Ruilin then introduced this event to Hong Kong, hoping to copy other people’s successful models at the same time.

He was full of ambition and devoted himself to bringing joyful and healthy activities to Hong Kong’s residential care homes for the elderly, but unexpectedly, he got frustrated.

“I was born as a salesman, but I knocked on at least 100 homes for the elderly, and (they) didn’t want it for free, they just said ‘go away’!” Failed to break into the nursing home market. He tried to organize large-scale events, such as the annual “Senior Dance Party” with thousands of participants, to continue to promote a happy old age, “but he couldn’t take root if he continued, and he couldn’t find self-sustainability (self-sustainability). “

Facing setbacks, Zhang Ruilin decided to re-enter the journey of learning, completed a master’s program, and then studied for a doctorate in public administration, focusing on Hong Kong’s elderly care policy. “Because I don’t know how to do it, I was driven to learn.”

He believes that only by introspection, learning and growth can one have vitality. “A person who does not grow is like a salted fish!”

The pain has been reduced, and the society has added volunteers

After studying, he found the crux of failure. “In Hong Kong, the elderly care market is subsidized by the government, so if you use your own capital to fight the government, you are a fool. After spending 10 years, Zunxian will grow slowly from failure, and finally ride the stormy waves of the epidemic to find a breakthrough.”

Under the epidemic, many face-to-face services and activities were blocked, and everyone carried out online activities. During the process, Zhang Ruilin discovered that as long as a suitable platform is provided, talents can be gathered.

He found that many juniors in society have the ability and time, but don’t want to take advantage of it. They want to contribute their ability. “They are willing to contribute their time and ability, but they must not use their coffin book!”

Therefore, as long as the issue of venue rent is resolved, the power of this group of people can be brought into play to protect the elderly. Therefore, Zunxian will provide a physical or online platform for retirees to unleash their creativity, teaching calligraphy, cooking, sports, photography… just like a night market gathering folk masters. “They don’t want to make a lot of money, they just want to be happy, take a group of ‘apprentices’, and pass on the ‘secret skills’.”

Zhang Ruilin pointed out that this is another way to help people who are 50 and 60 years old who are preparing to retire and organize their lives. This has an important impact on the elderly care ecology. It seems that Singapore encourages the “activation” of the early-aged people. As a result, their illnesses are also reduced. Lots of volunteers.

Set up a platform to gather talents and provide happiness

The Respectful Association started recruiting members last year, and Chuang Ling Hui has just opened an online channel to provide a platform for mentors, elderly care institutions and students, whether online or on-site, to connect with the elderly and provide social interaction and happiness.

At the age of 66, Zhang Ruilin has opened up another new path in the second half of his life; Liang Wanfu, who has known him for many years, can’t help but congratulate him for jumping out of the old box.

“If I have another 20 or 30 years in the future, I hope to continue to grow and continue to challenge; I may have to slow down because my body is beginning to have limitations.” Zhang Ruilin is glad that he suffered a serious illness at the age of 50, which made him re-examine his priorities in life, “The first part of life The more successful you are, the less you will prioritize your family. I am very grateful for this brain tumor and for investing in social enterprises, because I earn back my son, wife, a very warm home, and thousands of friends.”

Life needs to grow, turn around in the second half of life

open:Zhang Ruilin Beam: Liang Wanfu Lu:Lu Bingsong

Successful businessman Zhang Ruilin and “Public Relations No. 1 Brother” Lu Bingsong donated money and efforts to start social enterprises and charitable organizations after retirement, starting a new chapter completely different from the first half of their lives; geriatric specialist Liang Wanfu is still active in the medical and volunteer circles after retirement .

The 3 performed active ageing (active aging) with their own actions.

open: People aged 50 to 65 face a big problem, which is how to arrange another way of life.

Lu: It is what we often call a “fantastic turn”.

open: Exactly! But many people don’t know how to turn around. I have heard a story that a group of powerful retirees in the city often “chat” on the top of the mountain, pointing and saying, “That person is not doing well, talk to me, and I will give him advice.”

Lu: They don’t understand the truth of “people take tea to cool”.

open: In fact, people didn’t look for you because you were “passed”, but they still miss the past and have a lot of resentment.

just can’t let go

open: So at the age of 50 to 60, we must bravely step out of the comfort zone (comfort zone) and embrace uncertain factors. At this stage, we still have to learn and grow. Even if we fall, we are still very happy.

Lu: I and a group of retired media old friends also want to start a radio station; we have a platform to play, and we can also serve a group of retirees. However, they are still in the process of conceiving, and everyone has been unable to make up their minds. They said they would apply for a fund, but they didn’t want to write a proposal, because everyone was the boss before retirement.

beam: In fact, they just can’t let go of their figure. Many of the baby boomers are successful people, and they often have this problem.

Lu: They can’t let go of their figure, I don’t mind being “Ah Si”.

open: This will not work, they need to change their mentality. But some friends just can’t pass this level.

beam: Many retirees live only eating, chatting, and climbing mountains with old friends, and cannot escape the comfort zone (comfort zone).

But in fact, they get rid of their previous identities and start anew with another identity, maybe they will succeed. For example, if you do volunteer work, everyone may rush to ask you for help, but you must remember that you are a volunteer, and don’t just criticize others for what’s wrong here or what’s wrong.

There is no new blood in the circle of life

open: Many people think, “I’m old, what to do, I can’t learn well, I can’t do it”, the life circle is very narrow, friends are either old classmates or old colleagues, one is narrower after death, and the other is reunited Narrow point. Without the addition of new blood, people will become more and more “withered”. Only by getting to know more young people and bringing new stimulation can we feel a sense of growth. I think life needs to grow, whether you are 60 years old, 100 years old, or 120 years old, you have to grow up, this is part of a gorgeous turn.

Text Li Xinmin Photo Huang Zhidong

[ad_2]

Source link