How Men Can Extend Their Prime — by 50 Years!
Your “prime of life” can be much longer than you think.
A n athlete’s prime is short. For example, even the greatest basketball player of all time — Michael Jordan — had a prime of only about 10 years.
But you know what? Your ‘prime of life’ can be longer— MUCH longer in fact.
You can extend your prime by 50+ years with my 7 steps. (More on that in a minute.)
Imagine what it’ll mean to you to extend your prime by 50+ years:
- What more will you accomplish?
- How much more money will you earn?
- What additional places will you go?
- How much happier will you be?
- How will your relationships improve?
- How will you impact the world?
- What additional contribution will you make?
- How will your life be different, better?
- What will you really become?
- How much more of your full potential will you achieve?
Your focus on extending your prime will give you a longer and more productive life, and you’ll even act and feel younger as you go.
What does “Your Prime” even mean?
Here’s a dictionary definition:
prime/prīm/ a state or time of greatest strength, vigor, or success in a person’s life.
Too often people in life and business think their prime has come and gone. I see this as more a mental construct than reality. What if you discovered how to extend your time of “greatest vigor or success” by 50+ years? You’d then truly be on the path to live to your full potential, wouldn’t you?
Forget this “put out to pasture” rubbish
“If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I’ve seen it time and again. People get to a certain age and they think it’s all downhill from there.
An acquaintance of mine named Steve said to me years ago as I turned 40, “you’re being put out to pasture now.” He was serious. Interesting thing was, Steve was only 43 years old at the time but looked and acted much older — as if he had been put out to pasture himself — and seemed to want me to join him there.
No thanks!
I instead decided to go to a much higher level of success and fulfillment after 40…after 50…and beyond
Some say “the rule is when you hit a certain age [40, 50, 60, 70, 80] you need to accept that you are past your prime.”
In fact, even the famous Clint Eastwood said this:
“Prime time for men is, say, 35 to 45. Then they level off and fall off”. — Clint Eastwood
I’m sorry “Mr. Dirty Hairy,” but my DREAMS, GOALS and FUTURE don’t play by that rule.
Instead, I play by my rules — the rules that include an additional 50+ year prime. I suggest you not play into that trapped thinking either. My life keeps getting better as I’m able to provide more value to the world through my marriage and family, the work I’m doing, the art I create, my articles, my books, my speeches, my church service, my leadership and more.
Isn’t it true that YOU are smarter, more experienced and better in many ways today than you ever have been? And tomorrow you can be even better than you are today.
Isn’t this an exciting reality?
Want to “run a 4-minute Mile” with me?
“Doing the unrealistic is easier than doing the realistic.” — Tim Ferriss
Reminds me of the story of Roger Bannister and the 4-minute mile.
Prior to May 6, 1954 most people in the athletic field believed it was impossible for a person to run a mile faster than 4 minutes. Many thought it was a physical impossibility, that the human body just couldn’t handle it. But on that day in 1954, a 25-year old British medical student named Roger Bannister ran the mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds.
He did the seemingly impossible.
Within weeks an Australian named John Landy ran the mile even faster at 3 minutes 57.9 seconds.
The year following several more people broke the 4-minute mile, and it quickly became commonplace. Once the mental barrier was demolished, it no longer existed.
I share this story because it’s illustrative of how imaginary barriers can hold us back. It was proven that all those who bought into the idea of the limitation of a 4-minute mile were dead wrong.
What else is the world wrong about?
Those who say YOUR prime is short are dead wrong.
“Think of yourself not for what you are, but for what you have the power to become.” — Neal A. Maxwell
I watched Tom Brady win the MVP award for the NFL last year at the age of 40 — the oldest player ever to win the award. I see the 39 year old quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints having an MVP type season this year. I see LeBron James still playing remarkable basketball in his 16th NBA season.
Don’t get me wrong — this hasn’t just happened automatically. These elite athletes work extremely hard to stay healthy and in their prime.
I just wonder how many great careers were cut short because athletes believed and expected they would decline at a certain age. We are seeing evidence that an athlete’s prime can be longer than previously believed, which will continue to expand over the years just like the mile run time keeps getting faster.
But what if you’re already “past your prime?”
Past your prime? Naaa. You can re-enter it now.
Okay, top athletes of the past like Michael Jordan will never be able to re-enter the prime of their athletic career. But you know what? There are other aspects of YOUR prime, more important than athletics, that you can re-enter and live in for a very long time.
Look how this Japanese proverb is applicable to you:
“When is the best time to plant a tree? 25 years ago. When is the next time to plant a tree? Today.”
Here it is adapted for you: “When was the beginning of your prime? X years ago. When is the beginning of the next 50+ years of your prime? Today.”
I liken this to a second wind in running and in athletic competition. A marathon runner will speak of being almost ready to die during a run, when all of a sudden a second wind kicks in and she’s able to kick into high gear again.
I’m confident you have a second, a third, a fourth and more “winds” that can kick in for you as you continue on toward worthwhile and exciting things in life with the 7-steps.
Here are the 7-steps to staying in (or re-entering) your prime:
1. Get clear on what “your prime” looks like to you.
It may be that you see yourself becoming increasingly more capable, useful, and productive as you get older. It might be that you are more happy and charitable and creative.
What is it to you?
Famous author Brian Tracy wrote, “All successful men and women are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose.”
It might not include looking like you did when you were 18 years of age, but it may be something much more important such as fulfilling your potential, day after day, year after year.
2. Make this simple (yet powerful) mindset shift: “I’m in my prime right now.”
You are the only person who determines what your prime is, when you’re there, and how long you’ll stay.
Make the shift by telling yourself, “I’m in my prime RIGHT NOW.”
Who has the right to tell you otherwise?
Mindset shifts are critical to extending your prime.
3. Keep growing.
Keep learning, keep reading, keep improving, keep mentally and physically active.
You will stay in your prime as you keep moving forward and growing. There’s no limit to your personal growth, nor to your prime.
NBA Hall of Famer “Dr. J” Julius Erving said, “The key to success is to keep growing in all areas of life — mental, emotional, spiritual, as well as physical.”
4. Say YES to things you’ve been afraid of.
What is it you’re afraid of?
- Is it starting a new business?
- Is it scaling-up your current business?
- Is it getting a better job?
- Is it doing stand-up comedy?
- Is it jumping out of airplanes?
- Is it learning to surf?
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.”
5. Always have a big purpose.
Too many people retire only to die soon thereafter because they’ve lost their purpose.
Others sell their business only to become miserable as they have no purpose. They seem to get old really fast.
When you have a big purpose it keeps you interested, engaged, enthusiastic and moving forward, which is a recipe for being at your best. (That’s a good way to look at your prime— being at your best, regardless of your age or circumstance.)
6. Have fun.
Having fun is a choice.
My friend Tom Beckmann owns Sluggo’s restaurant in Brookfield, Wisconsin and is 72 years young. He’s full of life, happiness and ambition. He stays young and growing by having fun and by associating with people much younger than him. Having fun will help keep you in your prime too.
What can you do to have more fun?
I agree with Randy Pausch who wrote: “I am going to keep having fun every day I have left, because there is no other way of life. You just have to decide whether you are a Tigger or an Eeyore.”
7. Try new things.
When you try something new, becoming the best you can be in that new thing is still ahead of you.
Your prime in that new thing is in the future, which is exciting, right?
Take up a new hobby, start a new business, or do something else you’ve always wanted to do. You’ll likely begin a bit awkwardly, but with persistence you’ll continue to improve. Anything worthwhile is worth doing poorly at first.
“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” — Walt Disney
(Consider how long Disney’s prime has been!)
I was raised by a full-time artist father — I had a paintbrush in my hand starting at the age of 2. But it wasn’t until 10 years ago I started painting in earnest. I began writing my first screenplay 6 years ago; I wrote my first published book 10 years ago; I wrote my first Medium.com article 7 months ago. I love trying new things.
I encourage you to try new things that you can continue to enjoy and get better at for the rest of your life. It’s even better if the new things are FUN (see Step 6).
“Your prime is always ahead of you when you try new things.” — Timothy Paulson
Here’s a large painting I created that helps illustrate the 50+ year long prime:
Being in your prime doesn’t mean you’re perfect. I created this painting with these four men as a tribute to imperfection. Van Gogh painted himself with a bandage over his ear after cutting it off; Warhol’s photographic portrait is titled “Fright Wig” — he didn’t hide the fact he wore a wig, he celebrated it; Rembrandt didn’t hide his wrinkles and blemishes in his self-portraits, nor does Jagger today. They are seemingly proud of their imperfections (don’t you just love that?).
I’m using my painting above as an extreme example of what I’m advancing in this article.
The painting features my copies of self portraits by Vincent van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Rembrandt — along with my portrait of Mick Jagger.
JAGGER: How long has Mick’s musical prime been? My goodness, he’s been performing for over 50 years, and he’s still going strong at the age of 75. He doesn’t listen to any soothsayers about musical careers being short. He just continues to rock.
VAN GOGH: Vincent was in his artistic prime when he died in 1890 at the age of 37. My unique and perhaps controversial way to view this is to say his prime has extended for another 128 years because he is by far more famous today than he was during his lifetime. His paintings have sold for up to $82 million.
WARHOL: Andy was in his prime when he passed away in 1987. In the same way as Van Gogh, I love to consider Warhol still being in his prime well after his death. One of his pieces of art recently sold for $105 million.
REMBRANDT: Rembrandt was doing some of his very best work upon his death at the age of 63. Similarly, Michelangelo was still turning out superb work well into his 80s, and Da Vinci did some of his best work in his later years. Though Rembrandt died 349 years ago, a majority in the world today still know who he was. You may think it a strange way to look at it, but I say he too has in a sense enjoyed a exceedingly long and productive prime as his work is worth more today than ever before, selling for up to $182 million.
I want to be like Jagger, Warhol, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt by extending my prime too. The 7-steps will help you do the same.
The Half-way Principle™
“If I had a time machine, I’d visit Marilyn Monroe in her prime or drop in on Galileo as he turned his telescope to the heavens.” — Stephen Hawking
If you accept my premise that Van Gogh, Warhol and Rembrandt are still in their prime well after their deaths, then Marilyn Monroe’s prime has lasted for 50+ years as well.
Speaking of Marilyn, I want to share an idea I’ve named “The Half-way Principle™” which applies to extending YOUR prime:
I’m the artist who painted the UGLY abstract picture below. When it got to the point you see in the picture I thought it was finished. I signed it and stood back to admire it.
But instead of admiring it I thought…
“…This is ugly! What in the world is it? It’s a failure.”
I was a bit dejected — how could I create something this bad and sign my name to it?
It was then I had the thought, “If it’s a failure, it just means it’s just not done yet.”
Here are quotes I was familiar with that helped me come to this understanding:
“Everything stinks until it’s finished.” — Dr. Seuss
“Everything looks like a failure half way through.” — Rosabeth Kantor, Harvard
I took a deep breathe and went back to work. Inspiration quickly came (which it often does when we simply get to work) as I considered paintings of Marilyn done by Andy Warhol.
Little did I know the failure of this painting was a nice backdrop for my adaptation of an Andy Warhol work. The abstract work I started with makes this a unique painting.
“Marilyn — Complete™”
If there’s anything that stinks, or is a mess, or looks like a failure in your life today, the good news is you can turn it into a success.
“Things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right.” — Marilyn Monroe
Frankly, if you’ve had failures that seem to have put you out of your prime, you should instead simply see the failures as evidence you’re not yet finished.
“I’m still in my prime (and so can you be)”
There’s no question I look older today than I did when I was in my 20s, 30s and 40s. I have hair loss, the hair I have is going gray, I have wrinkles, and I have some aches and pains.
But you know what? Though far from perfect, I’m better today than I’ve ever been. I’ve been lifting weights for over 30 years and am stronger (I lift more weight at the gym) at age 56 than I’ve ever been in my life.
My imperfections actually encourage me because it means I have plenty of room for growth and improvement the rest of my life.
You nor I may be as physically strong in 50 years as we are today. But by applying the 7-steps I advance in this article, you’ll feel and act younger and will be more energized than others, regardless of your age. Your vigor and success in life will actually increase with age — and you’ll stay in your prime.
This (of course) is for Women too
“One’s prime is elusive. You little girls, when you grow up, must be on the alert to recognize your prime at whatever time of your life it may occur. You must then live it to the full.“ — Muriel Spark
Thank you for your opinion Muriel Spark, but I also want females (including my three daughters, two daughters-in-law and granddaughters) to create a big mental shift here: you can extend your prime for 50+ years too.
Your prime is not elusive if you take control of it. For example, my wife of 36 years is more beautiful and spectacular and in her prime today than the day I married her. There’s no reason why the same can’t be true of you.
Conclusion
“Always make your future bigger than your past.” — Dan Sullivan
My 84-year-old artist dad is creating the best work in his career, and is more in his prime today than he was when he was a 20-year-old professional athlete.
Mick Jagger is still performing to packed arenas with the Rolling Stones at the age of 75 — he’s enjoying a very long prime.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my unusual approach with the use of my paintings to illustrate how you are in control of your prime. As in other ARTicles I’ve written, I love to use art to illustrate powerful success principles.
Since you are in control of your own prime, I look to see you extend yours by 50+ years too. Apply the 7-steps I advance in this article, and you’re on your way.
Onward and upward!
Call to Action
I’ve created a valuable little cheat sheet for increasing your PRODUCTIVITY, immediately. Staying in your prime by being more productive makes sense, right? You follow this daily, your life will change very quickly.
