Welcome Decline.

Mummy shark devours books the way my baby sharks and I devour food. Yes, food is our love language. Don’t let our skinny frames deceive you, hehe. Whenever she travels majuu and visits those huge book forests (floors and aisles of books in all manner of categories all in one huge store), we could leave her there for the whole day, na ako sawa.

I seem to have joined her WhatsApp group, though still an amateur compared to her. In our recent trip to Singapore, we had to find a bookstore. I picked up a book that I’m enjoying thoroughly. It was in the new release section and speaks about finding success, happiness and deep purpose in the second half of life. The book is – From Strength to Strength, by Arthur Brooks. I immediately knew I’d buy it and even had a vision of my book placed prominently at a huge bookstore. It’s important to visualise our success, folks. That reminded me that this is the year of my best seller.

I struggle to sleep on flights, and we had a long one ahead of us back home. I packed the book in my hand luggage, thinking it might help reduce the flight time. I get distracted easily, so I wasn’t sure it would, but I kept my options open. I’m glad I did, for I read about a quarter of that book, which took a couple of hours. I know that’s kidogo in comparison with my people, but it really shikad me. I read books in 3D. Like I’m attaching what I’m reading to a real-life situation, so I have to pause and recreate what I’m reading into a real-life scenario. I think it’s how writers read. And maybe that’s how we bring stories to life.

Brooks spoke about two intelligences that exist for mankind. Fluid and crystallised intelligence. Fluid intelligence is mostly raw smarts. When we are young, that’s what determines success because we are rewarded for innovations and solving complex problems. Sharp people are at the top of the food chain in the first half of our lives. My intelligence wasn’t very fluid in my earlier schooling. The math wasn’t mathing hehe. I feel I’ve made up for it with crystallised intelligence now.

Crystallised intelligence comes with age. Brooks defines it as “the ability to use a stock of knowledge learned in the past”. When we tell folks they are ageing like fine wine, that’s mostly due to their crystallised intelligence. How they view and interact with life is oddly attractive. Older folks are smarter in a way that seems slower but deeper. We seek work that has meaning and lasting impact. We still seek cheques, but it’s not the driving force, unless of course you played too much when younger and are now forced to pay. We realise that we have accumulated and refined certain skill sets that the world needs and are now ready to unleash them in the service of others.

Having said that, why do many people struggle and resist sliding into their second half of life, yet it seems to offer a better deal than the first half of life? Brooks says that “those who fight against time are trying to bend the old curve instead of getting onto the new one, but it is almost impossible to bend, which is why people are so frustrated and usually unsuccessful”. He offers two reasons why many of us tend to overstay our welcome in a season that’s already over.

First, and this may seem obvious, but clearly not, many folks are not aware that their first curve naturally bends downwards. We often have an illusion that our current curve will go on rising indefinitely. And when it doesn’t, we go into panic mode and think that something must be wrong with us. Why are people no longer coming to us for direction or answers? How come I’m not the leader everyone admired anymore? Why and where has my power (real or imaginary) gone? Why is it so hard to land my ideal job? Folks, if you have been through this or are currently going crazy, wondering why you’re no longer as important as you were, then stay calm and consider that it’s time for a new curve. And the sooner you get off the old curve, the better for you because it’s headed downwards. Jump before you crash.

My people perish for lack of knowledge, the Good Book says. The second reason why folks cling to positions and refuse to let go is simply because they don’t know that another curve awaits them. One that will take them to a new kind of success.

Sometimes we may sense there’s another life for us out there, but fear holds us back. It requires courage and fortitude to make changes in our lives and careers, Brooks advises. We have a choice, folks. Either we make the jump or refuse to get off our old curve, which is on the decline, and end with it. sadly, that’s often the case with men and women in both the private and public sectors, especially those at the top. They cling to power and end up eroding all the good they had initially put in.

Now that I know what I know, I’m less angry at them and feel sorrier for them. If that’s you or you know of someone in that state, feel free to share this story and just know that for those who make the jump and start a new curve, the reward is almost always enormous. I dread to imagine what my life would have been like if I had stayed in my events business and refused to evolve. Was it scary? most definitely. Did I have a plan? Not all connected, but I’m eternally grateful I leapt. It’s been worth the risk at so many levels.

We grew up knowing that a tomato is a fruit. That’s fluid intelligence. But wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. That’s crystallised intelligence. The thinking that will make our second half curve even more exciting. Feel the fear and do it anyway, folks. A new and better ride awaits you.