The 5-Year Runway: How to Buy Time for Your Second Act
The most dangerous phrase I hear from late-career professionals is:
“I can’t afford to start something new.”
Most of the time, that’s not true.
What’s true is they’ve never mapped their runway.
A runway is simple:
How long can you go before the money pressure makes you stop chasing your dreams?
Most people don’t need millions.
They need margin.
The 5-year runway is built on three pillars:
Expenses: What can be simplified, reduced, or eliminated for clarity?
Income: What flexible or part-time revenue can bridge the gap?
Time: What’s your realistic window to experiment without panic?
When you map these three, something surprising happens:
You realize you have far more room than you thought.
Your next chapter doesn’t require a leap of faith.
It requires a plan.
You don’t need permission.
You need to figure out your runway.
This month, I’m working on a 4th Quarter Runway Calculator to help people build their 4th Quarter plan, line by line.
It’s also my attempt to give more to the 4th Quarter community and see how I can use AI to turn my ideas into something tangible.
When it’s ready, I will post it.
