Book Review: From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C. Brooks
At Midlife, we begin to realize that our effectiveness is waning. This may cause us to question our purpose and our worth. None of us desire to be irrelevant. The fear of irrelevance may steal our joy and drive. Midlife is the ideal opportunity to make changes that will revitalize your effectiveness and bring great fulfillment.
In his book From Strength to Strength, Arthur Brooks opens with his encounter with an elderly man on an airplane muttering to his wife that he wishes he were dead. Brooks recognized this man as a highly respected and well-known hero and patriot. Brooks never identifies the individual, but intimates that we would surely recognize this man, as did the other passengers and pilot of the plane. The juxtaposition of the former glory and current misery is stark and puzzling, causing Brooks to begin a journey to understand the factors that affect the trajectory of effectiveness and our sense of purpose and fulfillment. Citing multiple studies, Brooks explains two progressions that impact our fulfillment as a function of time. First is the productivity curve which reaches its apex after 20-25 years in a career or scholarly pursuit. A second progression is reflected in the concepts of “fluid” and “crystalized” knowledge. These factors explain why innovation and creativity are most prevalent in the early years of our career or life endeavor.
Brooks believes that these curves are more a function of tenure in the pursuit than a function of aging. In the remainder of the book, Brooks discusses the mindset and action steps that will allow a person in midlife to make changes that will restart the these progressions and increase fulfillment.
Have you reached your peak productivity? Do you sense that your contribution to your organization or profession is beginning to wain? While Brooks suggests that this is normal (and possibly inevitable), there is good news. If you are willing to Pivot, you can have many more productive years. The key is to engage in the intentional process of assessing the current situation and possibilities, making adjustments that point you in a new direction, and acting on the possibilities.