One of my favorite parts of the movie Knocked Up, was the scene when Leslie Mann’s character takes her pregnant younger sister, played by Katherine Heigl, to the club, and they were both met with some jabs from the doorman played by Craig Robinson. He told Leslie Mann’s character, “I can’t let you in cause you’re old as fu*k. For this club, you know, not for the earth.” That scene and those lines has stuck with me since I first saw that movie. I was young when I saw it and I thought that maybe he was right. Someone in their mid to late 30’s is too old for certain things and should certainly be further along in life then my 20-something year old self was still doing and struggling with. Fast forward 12 years later and I’m now the person who is too old for the club and possibly the earth. At least it feels that way as I embark on a young persons career path.
It’s not easy to be an ‘older’ creative who is embarking on a career change and life change. Everywhere you look you are the old chick in the club so to speak. The classes that I’m taking the crew that I’m working with are all a lot younger than myself. As an older millennial, I definitely see a lot of younger millennials making money off of social media as influencers; a term I’ve grown to hate. I love seeing an entrepreneurial spirit with the younger generation who aren’t satisfied with being an employee. But when you have worked most of your adult life, got the degrees and then you woke up in your mid/late 30’s wanting something different, today’s climate makes it seem like you are already washed up if you haven’t become a #boss by 30!
Success and the ideas around how to be successful have really changed.
I went the old school route of endless school and then get the corporate job. This path was once seen as a successful working life. With the student loan debt-crushing most of us in conjunction with low paying jobs many of us were offered after college, has ultimately prompted an entrepreneurial spirit out of necessity to just live in society. The business ownership pool has widened. What is so great about success post 2010 is how accessible it is for many people. If you need extra money and you have a decent 4-door car, you can start driving Uber or Lyft to make extra money. There are ways to do odd jobs with the help of various apps. While these activities will not get you rich, they do assist in making quick money. If you are working on an entrepreneurial endeavor but you’re short on cash, driving on the side can help further your goals.
My goals and dreams seem really far away and I know it’s a matter of perspective but having been brought up in the old model of going to school, get a job and the money will follow I have to now reprogram my thoughts into creating my goals in dreams since nothing happens without some sort of vibrational action. Positive thinking and adding to my skill sets to start up the positive momentum is all I’ve got right now. Now, while I do feel like the clock is ticking on my ever growing age and obtaining the success I desire before it’s too late, I’ve come to convince myself that age is only a barrier for those that make it and anyone questioning why someone is doing something at a certain age is just brainwashed by societies narrow definition of life and livelihoods. Dreams are ageless and continuing to pursue what sets our souls on fire has no limits.
