The Press/Media Kit

The Press/Media Kit

In Older to Elder, I delve into what it means to be an authentic elder in today's world. This book is not just about aging gracefully; it's about redefining the latter part of your life. I explore how adopting a true Elder's mindset and actions transforms your aging experience, making it a time of continued growth, purpose, and fulfillment.

Many of us fear the decline associated with aging, but Older to Elder challenges this narrative. By embracing the role of an Elder, we can cultivate wisdom, offer guidance, and leave a lasting impact on our communities. This transition involves mental, spiritual, and physical changes, enriching our lives.

I hope this book inspires you to see aging as a powerful, positive phase of life. May it encourage you to embrace your journey with renewed vigor, purpose, and a deep sense of fulfillment. Let's transform the narrative around aging together.

Warm regards,

 Marc Cooper

Overview of Older to Elder

"Older" is a set of culturally embedded characteristics and qualities, such as crusty, dated, and doddering, deeply rooted in a default future of misery, marginalization, and purposelessness. In contrast, "Elder" encompasses characteristics and qualities governed in a created future, such as sageness, mindfulness, humor, well-being, and flexibility.

Unlike “Older, being an “Elder” involves a unique way of being that fills life with serenity, purpose, wisdom, power, and grace. Becoming an Elder offers a different way to grow old rather than that dictated by the culture and your mind’s unexamined saturated aging propaganda.

This book of short essays, stories, and a few assessments invites you to see life, self, and the world through the eyes of a contemporary elder. Imagine how this perspective transforms your experience of late aging and the world around you.

Why Patrons?

Patronage represents the powerful support, encouragement, and commitment that an individual or organization provides to another. It is pivotal in bringing something new into existence—in this case, the emergence of the contemporary elder.

With the support of patrons, a new path in late aging can be made available. On this path, the individual's transformation into an Elder changes how late life is lived. This transformation delivers greater inner peace, higher wisdom, the ability to let go of the past, the discovery of your higher purpose, and the becoming that person able to fulfill that purpose.

With patron support, Older to Elder will open the door to a cultural shift, allowing Elders to exist and participate in ways that make a profound difference. This shift would dampen hate and hostile rhetoric, reduce righteousness and divisiveness, and foster a sense of caring about the future beyond oneself.

Recognizing, appreciating, and including Elders would transform how people relate to each other, influence their decisions, and improve outcomes. Elders could be the tipping point for creating positive change for the greater good. Patronage would make this vision a reality.

Benefits of Being a Patron

As a patron, you will support a cause dedicated to making the concept of a Contemporary Elder a reality in our culture. Your contribution will facilitate a new pathway to transform how we grow old and allow Elders to make a difference on the planet.

When Elders are included in conversations, it positively influences how people interact and communicate and the outcomes of their conversations. Bringing Elder into full bloom would impact late-aging individuals, others, and their communities.

As a patron, you will get early access to the book, special acknowledgments in the publications, and invitations to private online events and book signings.

In addition, you will be among the first to read the book. If the book opens new possibilities for you by “thinking and being” an Elder and you can understand how becoming an Elder would transform your own aging process, I ask you to share comments or testimonials on your social networks and Amazon.

Your endorsement will help the book gain status before it officially launches. As a patron, you’ll help create a reputation “before it steps into the room.”

For more information or to discuss patronage opportunities, please contact me at www.requestingwisdom.com/booknow. Thank you for your time and consideration.

A Glimpse of My Journey

Over the course of seventy-nine years, my journey has taken me from the classroom to the boardroom, weaving through various roles and experiences. It began with an extensive education, including college, dental school, specialty training in periodontics, and an advanced degree in immunology. As a healthcare provider, I served as an Air Force periodontist, a private practice periodontist, an associate professor, and an onsite practice management consultant.

My consultancy practice eventually expanded to medical and dental small groups, corporate dental entities, large physician groups, insurance companies, vendors, advisers, clearinghouses, medical institutions, hospitals, and hospital systems.

Leadership development work included engagements with C-Suite executives, board directors of healthcare entities, Fortune 300 companies, investment banks, equity partners, business incubators, suppliers, and global professional organizations.

My journey has taken me to seventeen countries and thirty-eight states in the U.S., over a million and a quarter air miles, where I shared my knowledge, insights, and conventional wisdom through consulting and speaking engagements with clients, professional organizations, industry groups, study clubs, and special events.

I got to see a whole lot of the world and engage with a whole lot of people, each one, country and people, unknowingly contributing to my future as an Elder.

As an entrepreneur, I founded and eventually sold a national business, The Dental Entrepreneur Organization (DEO). I have also authored thirteen books, over two hundred professional articles, and over two thousand blogs.

Throughout my professional career, I pursued advanced courses in communication, transformation, emotional intelligence, organizational development, mergers and acquisitions, systems thinking, and executive and board performance.

At the same time…

Beyond the Professional

Over the last 40 years, I have also engaged with authentic Elders. Although unrecognized at first, this was my path, and it became clear that this was my true calling. During these years, I have spent time with Aboriginal, Native American, and Spiritual Elders from the East and the West.

Being with elders in ceremonies and intimate one-on-one conversations, observing their way of being, their perspective of self and community, and the profound difference they made for their communities was life-altering. It also highlighted the absence of this phenomenon in our Western culture.

It became evident that introducing Eder as a context, a phenomenon, and a new reality would be healing.

Interview Angles

The Context: The Counter Evolution: From Older to Elder

Context/Background

In our culture, aging is seen as a problem. Businesses, government, healthcare, financial institutions, neighbors, and even within us consider aging a problem.

We honor knowledge over wisdom, youthful exuberance over seasoned experience, and technology over humanity. We prioritize intellect over intuition, selfishness over selflessness, and revenue over relationships. Our Western mindset neglects the profound gifts that come with aging, the higher wisdom that only time and experience can bestow.

Becoming an Elder uncovers your higher purpose and insists you follow it. Delivering on your higher purpose requires higher wisdom, which changes who you are and enables you to deliver on that purpose. A true virtuous cycle.

As an Elder, you can influence others to act ethically, justly, and morally. This means making decisions that align with principles of honesty, integrity, fairness, and compassion, even when difficult. Elders inspire others to consider the greater good over personal gain or convenience.

An Elders' presence, spirit, and guidance seem crucial. Elders can potentially change the world by guiding us toward a more ethical, compassionate, and connected society. Being an Elder changes you and those around you.

The mission is to weave an Elders' transformative essence into our culture so that the culture evolves into a more enlightened and compassionate one.

Author News Release Skeleton and Event Announcement Press Releases

Outlets: TV Segments, radio, print news/magazines, online/digital outlets:

Transitioning from Older to Elder:

In a society that venerates youth and technological advancement, transitioning from merely growing older to embracing an Elder's role presents challenges and profound opportunities.

This transition is a personal journey and a cultural shift that can bring significant societal benefits. Here are some angles and stories that media outlets can explore to illuminate this important transition:

1.  Personal Stories of Elders: This section highlights individuals who have successfully transitioned into the role of Elders, showcasing their journeys, wisdom, and the impact they have on their communities.

2.  The Wisdom Gap: Exploring the gap between knowledge and wisdom in our culture and how Elders can bridge this gap to offer deeper insights and guidance.

3.  Elders in Modern Society: Examining the roles Elders can play in today's fast-paced, technology-driven world and how their presence can lead to more ethical and compassionate decision-making in various sectors.

4.  Cultural Comparisons: Comparing how different cultures treat their aging populations and the roles Elders play, focusing on lessons that Western culture can learn from societies that revere their elders.

5.  Overcoming Ageism: Addressing older individuals' stereotypes and challenges and how embracing the Elder role can combat ageism and promote a more inclusive society.

6.  Elders in the Workplace: Exploring how Elders can contribute to the modern workforce, bringing experience, stability, and higher wisdom to younger colleagues.

7.  Health and Wellness for Elders: This section covers the importance of physical, mental, and spiritual health in the transition from Older to Elder, including practices that support structures needed for fulfilling elderhood.

8.  Educational Initiatives: Highlighting programs and initiatives aimed at preparing individuals for the transition to elderhood, fostering a culture that values lifelong learning and higher wisdom.

9.  Elders and Technology: Investigating how Elders can adapt to and leverage technology given the emergence of AI, and how their unique perspectives can influence the tech industry.

10.       Policy and Advocacy: Discussing the role of Elders in advocating for social, environmental, and political change and how their long-term perspectives can shape better policies.

11.       Spirituality and Elderhood: Exploring the spiritual dimensions of becoming an Elder, and how different belief systems and practices support this transition.

By exploring these angles, media outlets can contribute to a broader understanding and appreciation of the transition from Older to Elder, causing a shift in Elders' playing an invaluable role in creating a more ethical, compassionate, and connected society.

Contemporary Elder

I am not that shadow in the night.

Nor the one who rises in the morning light.

I am neither one color nor another.

Beyond the chromosomes of father and mother.

I am not the lyrics of another’s song,

But the refrain to my own belong.

The me not bound by chains of fear,

I untie acquired identities to persevere.

Not held to other voices, the self’s real voice I finally hear,

A small voice, a pure voice, a voice now crystal clear.

At that moment, I knew who I was,

Insight. Revelation. I am cause.

-      Marc Cooper

Interview Requests

https://www.drmarcbcooper.com/contact-us