A Unique Gathering of Senior Executives Energized My Day
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Chapter 1: A Day of Unexpected Vitality
Have you ever experienced a day where you woke up feeling exceptionally vibrant? The weather is perfect, your mood is upbeat, and nothing seems to impede your pursuit of joy. As I’ve grown older, I gauge my daily energy in hours rather than days. Recently, I had a remarkable experience where I felt an energy surge reminiscent of my twenties. Incredibly, I enjoyed a full ten hours of sustained alertness without feeling fatigued or overwhelmed.
This delightful day was unexpected at the age of sixty-eight. I launched into my morning like an athlete sprinting at a marathon, yet still had energy to spare by day’s end. While I’m unsure what prompted this surge, it was a wonderful feeling.
My schedule was packed with meetings and engagements, a continuous flow of decisions, phone calls, emails, and appointments, which included a business lunch with a client and a Happy Hour at a local pub later in the evening. Remarkably, I didn’t feel the need to pause for a break, making the day both productive and fulfilling.
What truly stood out, however, was the atmosphere during the Happy Hour gathering I attended. As drinks and appetizers were served, I noticed that all five participants at the table were over the age of sixty-five—a rare sight in today’s corporate landscape.
Beyond our age, the table represented a wealth of experience: a Senior VP and CIO of a Fortune 100 company, a CEO and President, a Senior Technical Advisor, a Director of Finance, and a Senior Communications Analyst. That afternoon, we proudly showcased age equality in the business world. Our collective past contributions have been diverse, impactful, and rewarding. Most importantly, we all recognized our roles as mentors, having guided younger professionals who have now become leaders themselves.
Retirement was acknowledged as a necessary phase of life, but not something we consider until we’ve fully utilized our capabilities. Interestingly, two of the attendees had retired but returned to work at the request of colleagues needing experienced talent.
Our conversations briefly touched on business matters, but unlike traditional gatherings, we didn’t indulge in excessive drinking or late-night escapades. Instead, we savored fine wines, rye whiskey, single malt scotch, and martinis while enjoying a charcuterie platter. Our discussions ranged from preferences for cigars to nuanced comparisons of aged whiskeys, including how we have collectively managed to avoid heart surgery.
In contrast to our younger counterparts, we concluded our meeting by 6:45 PM, leaving sober and composed. The difference age made in our gathering was palpable; twenty years ago, similar meetings would have started in the afternoon and stretched late into the night.
I must confess that I felt tired upon returning home, but I had expended my energy meaningfully throughout the day. Despite my fatigue, I managed to read the mail, feed the dog, and prepare for bed. It truly was a rare day.
Section 1.1: Reflections on Age and Professional Life
As we age, our perspectives on work and contribution evolve. The insights gained from years of experience foster a more profound appreciation for mentorship and collaboration.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Value of Mentorship
Section 1.2: The Shift in Professional Gatherings
The dynamics of professional meetings change with age, reflecting a more balanced and respectful approach to work-life balance.