As you get older, alter this...

Welcome to the Storybook

Each week, I share… ✍️

• a definition 🤓

• a quick story 📖

• a mindset shift 🤯

• an opportunity list 💡

I celebrated my 39th birthday this week.

The last year of my 30s.

It’s so funny, because when I was young, I thought people at this age were ancient.

They seemed so old to me.

But now here I am the same age as those “oldies”.

Although, I certainly don’t feel that way.

Sometimes, I still feel like I’m in my 20s, even when my body doesn’t always agree.

Once you reach 40, aren’t you over the hill?

That’s it.

Down hill from here.

Some would say, and now you’re on the back end of life.

But… I disagree.

I believe this is when you’re really just getting started.

And that’s my PERSPECTIVE.

🤯 THE MINDSET SHIFT 🤯

Social media lies to us.

It tells us that as we reach the later years of our lives, if we’re not wildly successful, wealthy, or have the bodies of gods and goddesses by now, it’ll never happen.

You see all these young and beautiful people talking about how much money they have and sharing their perfect lifestyles.

But is that reality?

Do you believe that?

I think taking that as motivation and leveraging it as a healthy way to kick yourself into gear is fine…

…but as soon as you start to compare yourself with the perception of where they’re at, it becomes a problem.

Sure, you might find yourself at the top of the mountain early on in your life and now it’s up to you to maintain that level of success, but remember it’s all about PERSPECTIVE.

What does the top of the mountain even look like for you?

There are many successful people that didn’t achieve “their” level of success until much later in life and in fact didn’t even start until after they were 40 years old.

Here are some notable examples…

• Ray Kroc didn’t start McDonald’s until he was 52 years old.

• Colonel Harland Sanders didn’t start KFC until he was 62 years old.

• Sam Walton didn’t open the first Wal-Mart until he was 44 years old.

• Vera Wang didn’t design her first wedding dress until she was 40 years old.

Those are all well-known stories, but if you need one that is more close to home…

…my dad didn’t start his first business until he was 41 years old and sold it for a nice exit 13 years later.

The point is…

Age really is just a number.

And if you’re not on the path of where you want to be, realize that you have plenty of time to start, build, create, or develop what you want out of life.

With how fast technology is moving and how accessible skill development is, you have every opportunity to achieve “your” level of success.

As you get older, alter your PERSPECTIVE…

…that you don’t have time…

…and start making it happen.

💡 AN OPPORTUNITY LIST 💡

a short list of ideas, learnings, recommendations, or happenings for the week

1. Your challenge this week:
   Think about where you want to be five years from now. Then think about where you need to be a year from now in order to achieve it. Break down this one year goal into quarterly, monthly, and weekly targets to remain on track.

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Opportunity is Everywhere!

Cheers, Steven

Watch Episode #86 of the SuccessFlow Podcast

This conversation delves into the principles of Stoicism, exploring its relevance in modern life. We discuss the importance of emotional control, the practice of compartmentalization, and how Stoicism can enhance leadership and decision-making. We reflect on the teachings of Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, address common critiques of Stoicism, and emphasize the practical applications of Stoic philosophy in daily life. The episode concludes with recommendations for further reading and personal development.