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Why I love being over 40 in today's world (and you could too?)

Posted by BrettRocketSci 9 years, 6 months ago to Business
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I'm 45 years old (and young, all things considered). For some additional context, I was first introduced to Ayn Rand by my father with "Anthem" when I was in junior high. Then I re-discovered her in college and embraced her ideas passionately, soaking up all of her fiction and non-fiction works that I could get my hands on.
I pursued a rewarding engineering career along with getting married, raising a family, enjoying artistic hobbies, and supporting causes important to me. It wasn't until I turned 40 did I figure out how to combine all of these strengths and interests into focused efforts. Plus, I realized how technology has made so many opportunities available to us today. Those under 40 don't remember what it was like...all the things that could have a major impact needed permission and someone else's authority. Like releasing a music CD, publishing a book, filming and releasing a movie, hosting a radio or TV show, organizing an event, teaching a course, building a complex product, starting a business...
Very few to no barriers in today's world for anyone reading this post! Those of us over 40 have the benefit of both hindsight and foresight, along with our personal experiences and the skills we have accumulated. As long as we are willing to continue learning new tools and methods, why aren't more of us excited about the opportunities available to us today?
This 6-minute video from serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk gave me an inspiring kick in the pants. If you are over 40 I hope you watch it too. Then tell me what you think with a comment below. I want to see more of the fierce, heroic spirit of achievement from people in this online Gulch. Who else still has a fire that needs to burn bright?
https://www.facebook.com/gary/videos/...

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  • Posted by aileenbennett 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Hi Brett and thank you for the reading suggestions and your support. I'll be checking out Amazon for those titles today. Sounds like just what I am looking for.

    It is very exciting and I am glad to have found this forum. Some around me seem to think my recent change in attitude is down to a mid life crisis. I just smile. To me the "crisis" is over and the adventure is just beginning.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I'm retired I get to do all the things I wanted to do back when I had to listen to illiterates bollox up the place. But never fear I'm just finishing up a side road into undiscovered elements of the universe. Enough to bring the total to 184 in the periodic tables for sure and more postulated. I would have thought more.
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  • Posted by BrettRocketSci 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Thanks for all of the examples of sloppy thinking and language Michael. I was going to give more but it's a time suck. Better for us to focus on being rational and virtuous ourselves.
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  • Posted by BrettRocketSci 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Good point. Thanks for the memories! What's fascinatig to me is that there are a lot of attitudes and mindsets that went along with these quotes. Those mindsets are harder to become obsolete, but their time has come.
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  • Posted by BrettRocketSci 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Aileen, since you seem to be asking here, I'll give two great books I recommed you investigate. First is What Color Is Your Parachute. The other is Go by Markus Buckingham. Both have extensive exercises to help you identify your values, mission, life goals, and making a plan to combine your passions and strengths into a productive purpose. Glad to discuss them and other resources more with you if you are interested.
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  • Posted by BrettRocketSci 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    A big welcome from me too Aileen! You're here at an exciting time for yourself, and I'm excited for you too.
    There are lots of others here eager and capable to recommend the next things on Objectivism for you. When it comes time to identify and pursue that seriously good idea, I'd love to give you some recommendations on books or resources for you. Please let me know if you would like those. Regardless, here's to your future success and happiness!
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I don't understand all you say, but it reminds me of times when I think, "Oh no. Kids today are irresponsible. The world's going to the devil!!" It's really not though. People always have felt that way sometimes, going back into ancient times. People thought we grungy slackers were just taking for granted all the reforms the baby boomers got us. And now we're 40, sometimes thinking the same way. We watched and participated as the WWW become such a killer app for the Internet that kids today call it "the Internet" and are glued to their phones in a way we could never have foreseen.

    I resolve not to think the world's going to worms on account of the next generation, although I understand the temptation.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The military still calls maintenance time for vehicles motor stables. It was McArthur that killed all the horses. They tried in my time to say 'down for second, third, or fourth echelon maintenance Dead Line persisted. Come to think of it Dead Reckoning is really Deduced Reckoning which makes sense but then if you don't do it correctly so does the misnomer. Most people with some education think the Cape of Good Hope is a big deal when doubling Cape Agulahas some fifty or some miles further south is the real goal. most don't know the difference between a clip and a magazine including top name fiction writers. Most think decimate means wiped out completely when it's only ten per cent dead. The War In The Gulf only applied to the Navy. The crowning touch in ignorance how many celebrated the millenium changeover one ...year....early.....? And you want to convince these people to change their ignorant minds about balanced budgets with a surplus? No a snow balls chance in hell.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Ayn Rand wrote more non fiction than fiction. As for which to go to as a starting point I'll leave that to others more capable of doing a priority order. It's taken me 39 years to gather all her writings and now the collaboration books. I expect when I finish with the books about Ayn Rand I'll be.....39 years old. Anybody like to suggest some order of reading those treasures?
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  • Posted by aileenbennett 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Thank you Michael. I would welcome any reading recommendations. I already have The Fountainhead sitting on my bedside table. Not started it yet. I am still pondering AS.

    Questions? The big one is for me. I need to work out how best to use my abilities to make a fulfilling living. I've asked myself this before (as many do) but I have more clarity in my thinking and determination now.

    I'm learning every day reading the discussions here and picking up lots about US politics and history too (I'm in Scotland).
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  • Posted by JCLanier 9 years, 6 months ago
    Brett: Interesting video- now that's someone bursting at the seams with energy- he delivers a solid message. Thanks.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Welcome to the group.I've been 39 for let's see how long has that been?? A lot of the group are published authors and the rest are chronic readers. If you say what now what next ....I'll start you with Amazon Ayn Rand and the rest will follow. Questions? This is the place for real answers.
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  • Posted by aileenbennett 9 years, 6 months ago
    I'm 46, just finished reading Atlas Shrugged on Friday night. It was my first exposure to Ayn Rand and Objectivism. To most people around me, I probably appear to be fairly successful but I put my own happiness on the back burner (or felt guilt if I didn't) for most of my life. I have not used my talents to their full potential. My job doesn't stretch me. I have been settling in so many ways and been unhappy for it. It didn't take much reading before I started to tell myself, "No more!".

    I don't consider my age any barrier to what I can now achieve with my life. I always wanted to work for myself, to invent/create/discover something of purpose and always knew I had the brains and drive somewhere in me to do it. I have a constant desire to gain knowledge and technology thrills me every day.

    So, single, no dependants and with a considerable amount of life experience in my back pocket I am in a stronger position than ever to be all that I can be. There are no excuses, no one to hold me back.

    Thank you for posting this video. Very timely indeed for me and I have bookmarked it.

    I'm firing on all cylinders. I need to come up with a seriously good idea now! :-)
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 6 months ago
    I'm 40. We all remember the old quote that the press is only free to those who own one. I'm 40. Who would have thought in my life time that saying would become obsolete?
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