I received an email today from a woman who made a great point.  I’ve heard this from so many people but I thought she articulated it so well.  Here is an excerpt:

I have a lot of people saying, “you are young, creative, BUT, you should….”
They are all on my side and they have contributed a great amount to my life thus far, but they are suggesting that I try to do things that will help them feel better about my future.

What an amazing statement!  The people around us do care about us and they try to give advice that will make them feel good about the path we’re on so we’ll be safe in their eyes. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as safe.  The best path to be on is one of your own creation, one that you’re passionate about and one that you can follow with complete integrity.

I was speaking at the American Institute of Architects meeting in Atlanta last week when a woman came up to me and said, “I love your title, Carve Your Own Road.  Unfortunately, I feel like I’m in the rut of a road that someone else carved and I need to dig my way out!”

There’s never been a better time to carve your own road and to focus on what you’re passionate about.  You may not get to focus 100% on it today because of the need to make a living, but I assure you if you take the time to figure out what your path is and take small steps every day in that direction; before you know it your life will have changed.

When has there ever been a better time to get clear about what YOU want, not what others want for you?

I got an email this morning from Marc Cenedella who is the CEO of The Ladders, a job board for people making six figures or more. In the email, Marc is shares a note from one of his subscribers, Roger Van Parys who’s had success. The wonderful thing about this man is he’s 69 years old and doesn’t feel limited by his age, sees the world in a positive light, and it seems he has a constant flow of new opportunities. Here is an excerpt from his note:

“My career field is international construction. International projects are a somewhat narrow slice of the employment pie, but it does have its rewards. It pays well, requires a bit of “out-of-the-box” thinking, and gives me an opportunity to discover other cultures.

My wife says that I am just too cheap to take her on a vacation. However we have spent a great number of years living abroad, which she would agree wasn’t that unpleasant. I remember strolling in the surf along the shore of the Aegean and her commenting that people pay a lot of money to do what we do and we are paid for it. Life truly is grand.

The main reason I am writing is my age… I am 69 and find myself in constant demand. I make mid 6 figure income and pick my projects. I wanted to share this because there are a lot of people out there who think that age is a deterrent. What my employers hire is a 45-year-old with 24 years’ experience. Experience is knowing what works and what doesn’t… Savvy employers are quick to pick up on this and avoid reinventing the wheel.

Success in job hunting for a mature candidate takes an open mind to location, flexibility, and a sense of humor. The latter is especially important in international work. One finds that things definitely are not the same the world over.

I tried retirement for a year and found it too confining. Listening to my friends discuss their aches and pains got to be a real drag. Today I work with bright, focused individuals who are constantly teaching this old dog new tricks… I love it as it keeps me young, reasonably up to date and makes me a better manager.

I enjoyed reading his note and thought I would share it with you. I do believe age is what you make of it, there are always people who continue to prosper in spite of obstacles like a down economy and age. What do you think makes the difference? I would love to hear your thoughts on this…