Relevant quote that indicates the value of life experience as discussed…

Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.

Jim Rohn

Ciao.

Chaz

There are a lot of us 40-somethings going through unexpected changes and can use all of the encouragment possible.

Unfortunately many of us were conditioned by the bygone era of job stability and think (mistakenly) that the changing job climate at our ages is insuramountable.

Not true.

Will drop by again.

Ciao.

Chaz

Great comments and advice. Like what you have to say: Stop listening to the naysayers….turn off the TV….and grab a mitt and get in the game of LIFE and career reinvention. It can be a ton of fun with the right attitude. Thanks for sharing….

Best!
Brian

I am a “post-boomer” (born latter 1960’s) who is going through some unexpected career changes.

I will say that there is a vortex out there that draws our thinking toward fear and frankly, self-pity, when we find ourselves in the midst of unexpected change.

Probably based on how we were conditioned by observing the previous generations. I’ve had to take stock and regroup my thinking. Glad to report that there is much to be optimistic about…. may I share some of my revelations?

1. 40 and 50 are not what they used to be. I am hearing that “50 is the new 30″. Meaning that we are not considered old at 50 anymore. And there are lots of youthful 40 and 50 year olds.

2. A retired executive in my family (now in his late 70’s) who had done his share of hiring over his career states that “you don’t know $#!% ’til you are 40″.

3. Renowned trainer, Brian Tracy, reports that most people make their maximum earnings after their 50th year.

4. Why on earth are we 40-somethings and 50-somethings buying into this “Youth-worship” cultural BS?. The gen-x’ers who have made it big are the exception. They are still young and inexperienced in many matters of life. Most 20-somethings and 30-something gen-xers are struggling the same as the rest of us.

Stop watching TV! So many shows, like CSI Miami, suggest to us that the rest of the world is young, beautiful, and rich. This is all part of the Youth-worship culture. It is crap. Life is not like that.

5. At 40-something, and in the midst of a career change, I find that I can show what I am capable of and not just say it. I have a track record of success that can only be provided through time. Today’s youth can talk about what they learned or what they think more than what they have DONE.

My wife at 38 works in a field full of 20-something wanna-bes. While the newbies can’t find clients on their own, my wife is now turning clients away because she is sought after for her experience. The newbies’ freshly printed diplomas don’t mean jack in this field of healthcare compared to my wife’s EXPERIENCE.

6. None of us are alone. There are thousands, perhaps millions of us 40-somethings and 50-somethings going through these times and circumstances. So lets not single ourselves out and look at ourselves as failures or being old. We are not! These tough times just showed up when we happen to be these ages. So what.

There is so much to be positive about!

We need to stop listening to the negative voices and start doing what we are capable of! DOING speaks very loudly.

Ciao.

Chaz