fbpx

Giving Thanks All The Time

Career, Contribution and Vocation, New Direction | 0 comments

Giving Thanks All The Time

There’s a social media meme circulating about the “most productive age” in the human lifespan, supposedly from the New England Journal of Medicine. I couldn’t find any reference from NEJM (other than people repeating the info online). But the idea intrigued me because productivity alone doesn’t support life the way gratitude does…

 

What’s It All About Really?

The meme claims the most productive age in human life is between 60-70 years of age, followed by the span from 70 to 80 years of age, and third is from 50 to 60 years of age.

(Hint, check your sources…)

My first thought about this was: really? Followed by: what do they mean by productive? (And so what…?) 

The meme goes on to cite the average age of certain “accomplishments” – all of which were wrong as of this writing. For Nobel Prize winners, it IS 58, I looked that up. I also checked on the average age for a sitting CEO (57.7 for companies in the Russell 3000 and 58.6 for the S&P 500), for clergy members (57, compared to 50 in 2000), and for popes (mid-60’s). 

Of course, that doesn’t mean you actually aspire to one of those accomplishments – or, that achieving it would make you happy. If it would, you can create something similar for yourself pretty much whatever your age… 

The conclusion of this misleading meme is that the best years of your life are between 60 and 80 years. Really?

To contrast, a French study reported in Wired magazine that looked at the careers of swimmers, track-and-field athletes, and chess grandmasters. Generally speaking, the performance of athletes declines at age 26, give or take – for swimmers, it’s 21. And chess grandmasters peak around age 31.4.

Hmmm….

My second thought was: so the best years of life are about productivity? What about smelling more flowers along the way…?

And “productivity” by what measure – and whose? Sure, work and accomplishments you’re proud of are important. But, too often this is from the perspective of an economist or a large corporate executive or manager looking to see how much work they can get out of their minions. 

 

Thankful for Your Ideal Traits?

Speaking of productivity (and being treated like a minion), an old article in Forbes magazine from 2013, still circulating in different forms, lists the 15 Traits Of The Ideal Employee. They included these – I included my (parenthetical) thoughts: 

  • Ambitious – someone who wants help for a better career (that’s one way to look at it)
  • Autonomous – someone who requires little hand-holding (isn’t finding support better than going rouge?)
  • Displays Leadership – defined as self-confidence (see below, I think there’s more)
  • Cultural fit – personality match (to what or whom, one wonders?)
  • Upbeat – those with positivity tend to out produce (agree with that one)
  • Confident – willing to take on challenges (but is that leadership?)
  • Successful – measured by a resume of past successes (yet, define success…)
  • Honest – integrity and authenticity (this is the best policy)
  • Detail-oriented – take pride in their work (they seem different to me, but okay)
  • Modest – humble, show value through work not words (gotta make sure that’s visible though…)
  • Hard-working – someone who executes (does efficiency count or just slogging away?)
  • Marketable – will represent the organization professionally (hmmmm… that is more than promoting one’s company…)
  • Passionate – love what they do and don’t feel like they are working… (like upbeat, I’m all for it)

So, it depends on what – and WHO – we’re talking about… From your own perspective, wouldn’t you rather to use your best skills, engage in your preferred interests and be recognized for your special qualities for the work you do? Doing your best in the right environment will be a win-win for you and the organization you serve.

 

What Should All This Be About?

Here’s what I think we should be talking about:
How thankful are you for how your work and life are going?
And how happy are you?

You can be a CEO anytime if you want to start your own company – that’s more possible than ever. While you may not win a Nobel – or a Gold Medal – you can study and do work in an area that most interests YOU. And you can take up swimming or running or chess at any age. With focus and passion for those activities, you can do them for as long as you like, especially if you include time for your health, a focus that deserves to be on any list.

The real question is this: are you adding value doing meaningful work you love and living your ideal life – acknowledging lots to be thankful for – every day? That leads to the gratitude from which happiness is born. Because if you haven’t found your own version of contribution + grateful = happy, then it’s time for a change.

Are you fully confident about your own unique brilliance, the skills you prefer using (joyfully), what truly interests you, the best environments for you, how to surround yourself with love and respect filled relationships, what you need to be healthy, how to address obstacles and keep yourself energized to live the adventure you choose? Because if not…

life is too short not to fill it with your own version of everything and everyone
important to you.

With clarity about that, a solid plan to get it, the right support (yes, mentors, effective coaching, a strong network, and even some handholding is encouraged!), you CAN “have it all” as you define it – along with the confidence to make it happen as your life unfolds. 

Not just during some supposedly productive age you have either passed or have yet to look forward to… 

How about right now?  

(Here’s how, check out Masterful Life Redesign.)

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Let us know where to send your Masterful Life Redesign Roadmap guide!

And there’s a little bonus waiting for you now on the thank you page that will open after you click ‘submit’!

2020

You have Successfully Subscribed!