As I write this blog post today, I have learned many secrets (called wisdom) at 50!  Actually I am 57 but like to think positively!  I have boiled them down to the most important ideas that I think are essential to holding onto your career for a lifetime!  Lets look at the 5 most important secrets:

1. Learn to “Overcome Anything” because the longer you live, the longer you need to learn how to come back from your disappointments.  When I was in my 20’s I didn’t realize that shocking things can happen to you while living your life.  First, loved ones die.  I remember the first time I experienced death.  I can still remember the day I learned my grandmother died and how it affected me.  I can still remember those moments and those feelings of complete sadness and longing to see her once again.  Just the very thought to walk into her house and hear her voice again makes me long to someday be with her again.   She has been gone for more than 30 years and I still miss her the same as the day it happened.  While I have moved past that day, I still get tears in my eyes just trying to write this post.  The point is, things happen to us that we sometimes don’t necessarily deserve, but it happens.  And some things that do happen are what we have caused as well.  Living a full life means we must learn how to overcome tragedy and find a road-map through the wilderness.
2. Learn how to “build your platform for a lifetime of service”.  I believe that God has put greatness on the inside of every human being.  And it is our job to access that greatness and to use that greatness to solve problems for others.  I think so much about this as I rebuild my platform now at 57.  So much of what I learned in graduate school in the 90’s about business and marketing and sales has completely changed in many ways.  The way we go to market today is so different.  And today, more than ever, our platform is critical to our ability to have our voice heard and to help others succeed. Today, the concept to building and marketing a business requires first hand knowledge and experience using the technical tools that are available to establishing or rebuilding your platform. I often give advice to younger friends of mine, that the single most important focus of a career is to understand the infrastructure of platform building.  Everyone needs to start very early building their brand online and offline if they want to succeed at holding onto their careers until they decide to finish.
3. Learn the concept of “adding value” to yourself and to others.  We are the only species on this planet that has been given the ability to create words that impact another’s life.  So, our words, are the key to adding value.  We must always think about our words before we say them.  Because God has intended us to use our words to build his kingdom, and not to tear it down.  Looking back on most of the problems caused in our family, I can honestly say it has been caused by words that should have never been said.  So, our ability to add value is directly related to the words we chose and the thoughts that we think.  When we fundamentally change our thoughts, our words change. In terms of business, it is very important to use our words to add value even to our company or the company we work for.  I love teaching others about how to add value through words.
4. Stop drifting and start designing your life for success and significance.  As we go through life, life happens and all of a sudden, we are 50, 60, 70 and 80!  This is something your don’t fully realize is happening and how quickly we are running out of time to fulfill our mission and purpose in life.  That is the reason why setting goals for you life based upon your dreams, passions, divine intersections and experiences is so important.  Because one day you will wake up and ask yourself: “What happened to my life”?  Where has it gone and did i do what God intended me to do!
5. Find peace, joy and significance in everything you do.  When I watch the current convention in Cleveland, I sometimes think that I should be doing more with my life at 57.  I see men up there my age and really doing something significant. (Or so it seems anyway)  But my point is that we all have to look at our lives and find and make peace on where we are in life.  The most important thing to do first is to build a foundation that is solid as a rock.  When you build a solid foundation, no matter what storms come through, you will be prepared to make it through.  So, that is why it is so important to take time to read God’s plan for your life.  When you understand and fully comprehend that you are designed for greatness and not torment, you begin to build your platform on solid rock.  It is so simple and yet I see so many people struggling.  There is no racism when your brothers and sisters are in Christ.  Christ is the only way and only foundation that will get you to where you want to go.  I suppose people may ask why do I talk about Christ. The answer is God has given me this gift in a dramatic and life changing way for a reason.  And so, I must share it with you.  I know to many, you won’t understand or will be blind to these words.  But hopefully, God will use it to shine his Glory on you in some way today!