Paul, I'm always inspired by the intentionality of the way you think about your future. I'm very curious to see how you'll be thinking about work when you're 50, and especially if that thinking corresponds with your current idea to fully retire by then and "skip" working. At age 63 I probably feel more motivated to work and brimming with creativity than ever. In some ways, I feel like I'm just getting started. The body unquestionably slows down, but the older one gets I find the "why" changing and shifting toward the desire to leave something useful behind vs accumulating assets. At this point I'm very clear that making millions is not the goal or the necessity. If I can make enough for my family to subsist on while contributing something worthwhile, that's the dream. In terms of an inheritance, I plan to leave my kids with an example of what it looks like to engage a lifetime of work that you love, on the assumption this will serve them more than a large bank account.
The plan is to go full Rick Lewis. Personally I want to teach, write, mentor. Maybe they make money but I’d rather plan on it not being fully possible and then be surprised.
Beautifully said, Paul. To join in the age perspectives, I’m 48, just lept a year ago, and the main outcome of a year is feeling prepared to risk everything for the life-richness of deeply loving your work, and playing a long game (30 years more work ambition). Beautifully naive or colourfully ambitious, it’s the path!
Paul! Love this post so much. What struck me most was near the end when you -- the guy who many of us look up to as the OG Pathless Pather (or at least one of the first to write about it) -- spoke directly to some of the bigger questions on your mind as you take this path into your fifth decade. I love that you're living into the questions and seeing where they take you. If there's one thing your work has taught me and that I've learned in my two years on the indie path it's this: you can figure it out almost every time. There's almost always a way. It just needs time and space to arise.
Inspired by your continued curiosity and tinkering: "We’re exploring many things such as moving abroad, exploring things like cohousing, moving near friends, and even moving somewhere cheaper in the US, and I’m enjoying having to think through all of this."
And your continued openness to leading the charge into a new world and opening up new ways of living for the people right behind you: "And also contemplating if there is a bolder sort of thing I could lead or be a part of."
Love the way you're always thinking about your future, about making space and contingencies for projects and ideas that are not yet clear to you. Very hard, emotionally, to pull off. Inspiring stuff.
Also, as someone who's just hit 50, don't be too bearish on your energy levels in that decade. There's lots left in the tank in your 50s if you take care of yourself.
For instance https://x.com/UnModded_Human, also @nutridetect, although he may be a bit intense. The science is fringe but IMHO solid, everyone's doing much better, me included (mostly severe brain fog that's gone). The original discovery is explained by Grant Genereux in his ebooks on his website (google). It sounds really weird at first, but makes sense once you read a few chapters.
Paul, I'm always inspired by the intentionality of the way you think about your future. I'm very curious to see how you'll be thinking about work when you're 50, and especially if that thinking corresponds with your current idea to fully retire by then and "skip" working. At age 63 I probably feel more motivated to work and brimming with creativity than ever. In some ways, I feel like I'm just getting started. The body unquestionably slows down, but the older one gets I find the "why" changing and shifting toward the desire to leave something useful behind vs accumulating assets. At this point I'm very clear that making millions is not the goal or the necessity. If I can make enough for my family to subsist on while contributing something worthwhile, that's the dream. In terms of an inheritance, I plan to leave my kids with an example of what it looks like to engage a lifetime of work that you love, on the assumption this will serve them more than a large bank account.
I want to retire from work I’d rather skip. Not working itself. Maybe I didn’t phrase it right.
Got it! Makes total sense. I should have assumed that is what you meant coming from you.
The plan is to go full Rick Lewis. Personally I want to teach, write, mentor. Maybe they make money but I’d rather plan on it not being fully possible and then be surprised.
Okay, but don't expect us to be surprised when this works for you. We can already see that teaching, writing and mentoring is your strength and gift.
Thanks! The encouragement means a lot!
Beautifully said, Paul. To join in the age perspectives, I’m 48, just lept a year ago, and the main outcome of a year is feeling prepared to risk everything for the life-richness of deeply loving your work, and playing a long game (30 years more work ambition). Beautifully naive or colourfully ambitious, it’s the path!
That’s my goal too! Just not doing paid work I’d rather skip haha
What is an example for you of “paid work you’d rather skip”?
Training for companies that I do now.
thanks!
Paul! Love this post so much. What struck me most was near the end when you -- the guy who many of us look up to as the OG Pathless Pather (or at least one of the first to write about it) -- spoke directly to some of the bigger questions on your mind as you take this path into your fifth decade. I love that you're living into the questions and seeing where they take you. If there's one thing your work has taught me and that I've learned in my two years on the indie path it's this: you can figure it out almost every time. There's almost always a way. It just needs time and space to arise.
Inspired by your continued curiosity and tinkering: "We’re exploring many things such as moving abroad, exploring things like cohousing, moving near friends, and even moving somewhere cheaper in the US, and I’m enjoying having to think through all of this."
And your continued openness to leading the charge into a new world and opening up new ways of living for the people right behind you: "And also contemplating if there is a bolder sort of thing I could lead or be a part of."
Cheers, brother 🙏
Regarding your point about potentially winding down your creativity as you age, you might want to read this: https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=469928&post_id=145546728&utm_source=post-email-title&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=nn3x&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMTAzMDM3LCJwb3N0X2lkIjoxNDU1NDY3MjgsImlhdCI6MTcxODM2NDgxMSwiZXhwIjoxNzIwOTU2ODExLCJpc3MiOiJwdWItNDY5OTI4Iiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.fTca0ch9X1OcGdetJGtoTXlkSfo26XicS1tKwhW5iSg
Love the way you're always thinking about your future, about making space and contingencies for projects and ideas that are not yet clear to you. Very hard, emotionally, to pull off. Inspiring stuff.
Also, as someone who's just hit 50, don't be too bearish on your energy levels in that decade. There's lots left in the tank in your 50s if you take care of yourself.
I fully expect I’ll probably be doing stuff but given the chronic fatigue I’ve had over the years I don’t want to plan on it
CF can be caused by chronic vitamin A overload (yes, even with moderate intake). Might want to check out the low vitamin a crowd on Twitter.
link?
For instance https://x.com/UnModded_Human, also @nutridetect, although he may be a bit intense. The science is fringe but IMHO solid, everyone's doing much better, me included (mostly severe brain fog that's gone). The original discovery is explained by Grant Genereux in his ebooks on his website (google). It sounds really weird at first, but makes sense once you read a few chapters.
Nice. I love fringe science. Always worth experiments.
Wonderful. So helpful and enjoyable to read, on the path behind you by seven years!