The Fear of Becoming Irrelevant

One of the quiet fears after 50 is becoming irrelevant.

We don’t say it out loud, but we feel it when companies chase “young energy” or when new tech seems to move faster than we can keep up. 

Yes, ageism is real. 
Pretending it isn’t would be naïve.
But here’s the part too many people miss: staying relevant isn’t about chasing youth. It’s about doubling down on adaptability and judgment.

Experience is a huge advantage! But only if you keep it sharp. 
That means learning the new tools, like ChatGPT, Claude + Cursor, and so many others. 
Staying curious. 
Listening more than you talk. 
Choosing growth instead of comfort.

Because irrelevance doesn’t happen when you turn 50. 
It happens when you stop evolving.

I’ve seen 30-year-olds who are already outdated because they won’t adapt. 
I’ve seen 60-year-olds leading the pack because they’re still hungry, still curious, still in the game.

The 4th Quarter isn’t about fighting the clock. 
It’s about proving that relevance comes from effort, not age.

Stay sharp. Stay curious. Stay in demand.
Let’s play to win.
 

#The4thQuarter #Relevance #Reinvention #MidlifeMomentum

September in the 4th Quarter

For me, September is the kickoff to a new season.

Kids head back to school. 
Routines settle in. 
The air is a little cooler, it starts getting darker earlier (which sucks), and football season begins (along with my fantasy team dreams that always look unbeatable on paper).

It’s not the end of summer. 
It’s the start of something new. 
A reset. A chance to get serious about the goals that still matter this year, while there’s plenty of game left to play.

That’s how I see the 4th Quarter, too.
Not winding down, not giving in to the clock, but shifting gears. 
Setting new goals and improving current routines. 
Finishing your career strong or shifting into something you’ve always wanted while still enjoying the sunshine along the way.

Change is where the momentum starts. 
For me, September is the reminder that it’s never too late to reset and refocus.

So here’s my question: What are you getting serious about this September?

Let’s play to win.

#The4thQuarter  #Reinvention #SeptemberShift

Made with Love vs Made with Indifference

My wife and I just returned from spending a few days in Québec City.
It was the first time for both of us. 
Wow! What a great trip. 
Btw, a very drivable 10 hours from Halifax, but it felt like a world away.

Vacations have a great way of slowing you down.
Our days were planned, but never rushed. 
We left room to be tourists and to notice things.
And when you start noticing, you see patterns, especially (for me) in businesses.

For example, one morning we stopped at a small, owner-run coffee shop. 
The barista asked what kind of coffee we liked, described the taste profiles of different beans, and then casually suggested a fresh scone with their homemade jam. 
SOLD! 
We left with great coffee, a better breakfast, and the feeling that someone actually cared.

The next day, I was “forced” to grab a coffee at a big chain. 
No eye contact. 
No “good morning.” 
Just “What do you want?” → tap card → “Do you want a receipt?” 
Transaction complete. 
Efficient, sure. But indifferent.

Both gave me the caffeine I needed. 
Only one gave me an experience worth sharing.
That’s the lesson and my reason for this post. 

Whether you’re running a coffee shop, a professional services firm, or a software company... it’s the little touches, the genuine care, the attention to detail that set you apart. 

Let’s be honest. 
Most products are pretty similar. 
The majority of prices are pretty comparable. 
But products and services made with love are the ultimate differentiator.

I’m willing to pay more for that. 
Are you?

Do you go out of your way to support businesses “made with love”? 
Drop your local favourites in the comments.
I’d love to help spread the word and check them out.

This isn’t the end of your career. It’s the start of your legacy.

The 4th Quarter isn’t about fading out.
It’s about showing up. Bring everything you’ve learned, built, and earned.

By now, you’ve seen a lot.
You’ve made decisions under pressure.
You’ve even led through chaos.

You’ve learned how to let go of what doesn’t matter and double down on what does.
You don’t need to prove yourself to anyone. 
But I bet you still have something left to give. 

Maybe more than ever.
This is the part where experience counts.
Where clarity beats noise.
Where the right move matters more than a fast one.

What you do next is up to you.
Let’s play to win.

Success takes time. And that’s your advantage.

We celebrate “overnight success,” but the truth? Most wins take decades.

If you’re in your 50s or 60s, you’ve likely already done the hard part.
You’ve built the network. Learned the lessons. Taken the hits.
You’ve been laying the groundwork for years - maybe without even realizing it.

Now? 
You’re not starting over. You’re starting from experience.

In the 4th Quarter, you don’t need to move fast.
You need to move right.

Play smart. Play bold. 
Use what you’ve earned.
The clock is ticking, and you’ve never been more ready.

Let’s play to win.

You’re allowed to become someone new.

At 25, they expect you to change.
At 35, they still cheer you on.
At 55? People get uncomfortable.

But here’s the truth: reinvention doesn’t expire.
You can walk away from a career you hate.
You can leave a relationship that’s no longer healthy for you.
You can build a business.
You can move, switch industries, go back to school, or finally bet on yourself.
You don’t owe anyone the old version of you.

The 4th Quarter is your chance to rewrite the story.
You’ve bought and paid for your experience. You’ve paid the dues.
Now you get cash in and decide who you want to be.

Let’s play to win.

"Freedom 55" was never real.

It was brilliant marketing designed to sell mutual funds, not build realistic or meaningful futures.
Yachts in the Caribbean. 
Golf in Hawaii. 
Bike rides along the Seine. 

Many of us bought into it. 
And for most of us, it’s not happening.

I’m not knocking retirement savings. 
We should prepare. 
But no one saves their way to true financial freedom.

But let’s be honest: hopefully, many of us will live to 85+. 
That’s 30 years after 55.

The question isn’t just how you’ll afford it.
It’s what you’re going to do with all that time.

Maybe “Freedom 55” needs to start meaning something different to us.
Not freedom from work.
Freedom to choose your work.
Freedom to build. To lead. To do something that matters.

Let’s play to win.

The 4th Quarter isn’t about slowing down. It’s about finally playing your own game.

For decades, many of us followed the rules:
 Get the degree. 
Climb the ladder. 
Do what’s expected. 
Follow the rules and you will be rewarded.  Be “realistic.”

But, I’m learning, somewhere around 50, 55, or 60, something changes.

You start asking different questions.
You stop tolerating what drains you.
You realize how fast time really moves.

And suddenly, there’s no appetite for pretending anymore. 
No more far-off rewards if you just “follow the rules”. 

The 4th Quarter is your chance to stop playing someone else’s playbook.
Start your own something. 
It doesn’t have to be a company, but it does have to be something that matters to you.

You’re not starting over. You’re finally starting true.

If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you do?
Let’s play to win.

Think it’s too late to start something new?

At 62, most people think it’s time to start winding down.
For Harland Sanders, he was just getting started. You might be thinking, WTF is Harland Sanders?

Well, for a good chunk of his life, he’d failed at just about everything. He was fired from jobs, had multiple bankruptcies and worked out of a gas station selling fried chicken on the side.

He had no money. No investors. No formal training.
What he had was a popular recipe, a pressure fryer, and a relentless belief that he wasn’t done yet.

At 62, Colonel (Harland) Sanders launched the Kentucky Fried Chicken enterprise, and today, although the Colonel is long gone, he and his recipe are known around the world. 

No one’s saying you have to become world-famous. 
But if you think it’s too late to begin again, remember this: Your next chapter could be the one everyone remembers.

Let’s play to win.

Age is not a weakness. It's your unfair advantage.

By the time you're in your 50s (or 60s), you've seen a few things. 

You’ve been knocked down, but you've figured out how to get back up.
You’ve learned what matters (and what doesn’t).
You know how to navigate people, not just processes.
And maybe, most importantly, you’ve built a name people trust.

You might not be the first one in the office or the loudest voice in the room anymore. But when it’s time to solve the real problems, 
to close deals, calm the storm, or zoom out to see the big picture… You got it! 

If you’re sitting on decades of experience, now’s the time to use it.
You’re not done. You’re ready. It’s time to share and take advantage of that wisdom you’ve earned. 

Who says the 4th Quarter can’t be your best?
What is an unfair advantage that you only have after 50?

Let’s play to win.

The 4th Quarter is when it counts most.

It’s when the game is on the line. The stakes are highest. The crowd’s loudest.
And the players? They’re tired, but focused.

This is when everything you’ve trained for matters.
When the hits you’ve taken turn into wisdom.
When experience beats energy. And calm under pressure separates the good from the great.

That’s where a lot of us are in our careers. 
Some people retire. 
Some drift. 
Some wonder if it’s too late to try something new. 
Others look around and wonder, "Is this it?"

But here’s the truth: you get to decide how to play your 4th Quarter.
Start a business. Take a risk. Reinvent your life. Make your next act your best one.

The game isn’t over. Not even close. 
There’s still time to change the outcome and to be the one who makes the final shot.

We're building something for people who want to make their 4th Quarter their best one yet. 
Contact me if this resonates and you want to chat about it.

Let’s play to win.