> There’s no guarantee that blowing up your life turns out well.
ahem... agreed. In fact, I have seen this many times, and most have not turned out well.
But some have turned out quite well.
A lot of times, we have no idea what's good for us, and when we get what we want, we find that the fox wasn't worth the chase.
In my case, I was forced into my current situation, and it has turned out well.
I was laid off my previous career, as a manager/engineer at a very well-known camera manufacturer, and discovered, to my anger and dismay, that the current tech industry actively hates people over 50.
Not a fun time.
But it forced me to take stock, and I realized that I actually have plenty to retire on, and there really wasn't a need for me to be desperately seeking work.
I then lowered my requirements, since I didn't need the money. I would have been happy to work at risky startups, for equity. I have a pretty vast array of experience and skills that would have been almost ideal for a startup.
Still wasn't enough. I'm still old. Damn.
Well, I guess I'm retired, then, whether I like it or not.
Turns out, I like it. I can afford the tools I need, and I still work (more than I ever did). I just don't make money at it, and the folks I'm working with, though young, appreciate me and my work. They know the value they are getting, and the gray hair doesn't fill them with fear. Surprisingly, I'm actually pretty good at working in a team. May have something to do with having worked on high-functioning teams for my entire career.
TL;DR: I was afraid to take the plunge, and needed to be pushed.
In my case, it's worked, but I was very fortunate. A lot of others, in the same case, would have been absolutely clobbered.
I have a friend that is a chef. He got pushed out for being old (actually won an age-discrimination suit). He used his winnings to set up a catering business, and now makes way more than he ever did, as a wage slave.
He's really, really good at what he does. That's the thing that a lot of ageists don't seem to understand. That gray often caps a great deal of competence and ability. It isn't just about "culture." Getting Stuff Done requires Discipline, Competence, Tenacity, Skill, Intelligence, and Ability. Many older folks have these, in spades.
> "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."
ahem... agreed. In fact, I have seen this many times, and most have not turned out well.
But some have turned out quite well.
A lot of times, we have no idea what's good for us, and when we get what we want, we find that the fox wasn't worth the chase.
In my case, I was forced into my current situation, and it has turned out well.
I was laid off my previous career, as a manager/engineer at a very well-known camera manufacturer, and discovered, to my anger and dismay, that the current tech industry actively hates people over 50.
Not a fun time.
But it forced me to take stock, and I realized that I actually have plenty to retire on, and there really wasn't a need for me to be desperately seeking work.
I then lowered my requirements, since I didn't need the money. I would have been happy to work at risky startups, for equity. I have a pretty vast array of experience and skills that would have been almost ideal for a startup.
Still wasn't enough. I'm still old. Damn.
Well, I guess I'm retired, then, whether I like it or not.
Turns out, I like it. I can afford the tools I need, and I still work (more than I ever did). I just don't make money at it, and the folks I'm working with, though young, appreciate me and my work. They know the value they are getting, and the gray hair doesn't fill them with fear. Surprisingly, I'm actually pretty good at working in a team. May have something to do with having worked on high-functioning teams for my entire career.
TL;DR: I was afraid to take the plunge, and needed to be pushed.
In my case, it's worked, but I was very fortunate. A lot of others, in the same case, would have been absolutely clobbered.
I have a friend that is a chef. He got pushed out for being old (actually won an age-discrimination suit). He used his winnings to set up a catering business, and now makes way more than he ever did, as a wage slave.
He's really, really good at what he does. That's the thing that a lot of ageists don't seem to understand. That gray often caps a great deal of competence and ability. It isn't just about "culture." Getting Stuff Done requires Discipline, Competence, Tenacity, Skill, Intelligence, and Ability. Many older folks have these, in spades.
> "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."
- Hunter S. Thompson