Older Workers Give and Receive on the Job

Dave Fink knows how to follow a path. At times, he’s taken just a few steps, other times, more than he thought were possible, but every time, the path has led to experience and growth.

Dave’s career path has taken him through twists and turns, with destinations that included the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs, American Express Financial Advisors (now Ameriprise), a consulting business and now his first love, training and teaching.

Recently, Dave’s drive for adventure led him down a 2,650-mile path across three states on the Pacific Crest Trail, from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada. It’s a trek that is the equivalent of running 100 marathons, and it was a journey of a lifetime, taken with his daughter, Kaia. “My goal on the hike was to take that first step on the trail with my daughter,” said Dave. “I didn’t know if I would go a mile, 1,500 miles or finish it, but I kept reminding myself that every step together was a gift. I guess that’s how I try to live my life.”

An essential member of the team

The steps Dave takes are guided by what he loves to do and a determination to add value to his work, his life and his community. Would you want Dave Fink on your team? We would, and we do! Dave has been on staff at the Trellis (Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging) for over nine years, and now trains those who lead our Juniper classes with a goal of improving health and wellness in communities across Minnesota. He thoroughly enjoys working with the team and greatly values what each person brings to work each day. “Regardless of age, there are common elements of a strong team commitment and passion with a dedication to quality. We also value each other for what we know.” Dave’s colleagues say he brings humor, history, and a positive attitude to Trellis. He is open-minded, embraces change and supports new staff in creating the future of Juniper.

Dave says he enjoys his work and the process of teaching people how to go out and do something that adds value in the community. He said, “When training Tai Ji Quan instructors, I point out that it’s easy to look at your students as a group of participants taking your class, but the reality is if one person avoids a fall, it can be life-changing for that person.”

Adapting to new environment

With pride in the work Juniper is doing, Dave said, “It’s an example of how we need to build on what we know while growing and embracing new opportunities. We went from offering classes in 2011 to introducing Juniper as a statewide collaborative network in 2016.” In 2020, as a result of COVID-19, Juniper went from all in-person classes to virtual classes. “Many of us were unsure that older adults would embrace virtual classes, but they (we) have,” Dave said happily. “It seems to me the best word to describe this is resilience.” 

Flexibility allows for experience of a lifetime

Dave has always been driven to excel in his work and personal life, but three years ago, when he was considering hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, he realized that time was of the essence. He acknowledged, “In 13 years, I’m going to be 80, so I better get going and do it!” Knowing it would be impossible to make the trek with a full-time work commitment, Dave requested and was granted part-time hours, plus a six-month leave of absence from Trellis. He said, “I never would have had this experience with my daughter without the flexibility and generosity of Trellis.”

Dave says all 5,000,000 steps he took on the Pacific Crest Trail were a gift, including the wrong turn that led to a life-threatening night on the side of a mountain with Kaia. After making sure his daughter was secure between two bushes, Dave stayed awake and held tight to branches to prevent him from sliding down the mountain until a rescue team found them in the morning. Dave said, “I tell my daughters when they make a mistake, it’s a gift because we learn and grow from those difficult experiences.”

Adding value in the workplace

Describing himself as a “recovering perfectionist,” Dave has learned to be bold in seeking new ways to contribute and utilize his talents. With this in mind, he encourages older workers who are questioning their value in the workplace to take these 5 steps:

1. Follow your interests
2. Define your skills and work ethic and how they can help make a positive impact in a workplace
3. Seek a position that gives you the opportunity to draw from your career and life experience for the benefit of others and the organization
4. Embrace challenges and keep learning
5. Give it your best shot and everything else will take care of itself

According to Dave, people are increasingly understanding the experience and perspective older workers bring. “I think the key is to be in continuous learning mode, growing and contributing to success. When the work is valuable to you personally, and you’re able to steer others in the right direction because of the things you’ve learned over the years, it’s a wonderful combination.” And, Dave would like to share one last thought that came to him during his Pacific Crest Trail hike, “If you put one foot in front of the other, you’ll make progress. If you don’t, you won’t.”