50 Feels Different Than I Thought
I turned 50 this week.
And for most of my life, I assumed that number would feel different.
At 20, I thought success at 50 would be obvious.
Big bank accounts...
Fancy cars...
Dream homes and vacations...
External markers that told the world I had “made it.”
Instead, what overwhelmed me wasn’t revenue.
It was reputation.
The words people used:
Loyal...
Trustworthy...
Integrity...
Honorable...
That hit harder than any milestone ever could.
Money is loud...reputation is quiet.
Money spikes...reputation compounds.
You can manufacture income...you can’t manufacture trust.
In business, you don’t get away with behavior...you just delay the receipt.
At this stage of life, I care less about impressing people and more about protecting something.
My name...my word...my alignment.
Because when things get serious in business, people don’t look for the loudest voice.
They look for the most trusted one.
That’s the game I’m playing now.
And heading into the back 9 knowing exactly who I am and what I stand for…
That feels like wealth.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
Chris Stapleton..."South Dakota" and "Death Row"...slightly obsessed.
The spots where his voice cracks a little...there’s something about age in a voice that you can’t fake...
You can hear what it cost...that feels honest.
WHAT I’M READING
Stories about winners...I used to read them for the wins...but lately I’m reading them for the patterns.
Who protected their name...who didn’t...
That part always shows up eventually.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
Spent some time at the pond store on my birthday...yep that's right, the pond store...real fish swimming and water flowing...just needed a fix, other than simply the pond building videos I watch regularly...
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Character is built in the quiet decisions no one sees.”
I don’t know who first said that...but I’m starting to understand it differently.
