Experience Never Gets Old.. Just Unfashionable

I wrote this back in mid 2017 ...before I discovered the Term Modern Elder

Over the past few weeks I have been collaborating on a book about the History of the Australian Software Industry. While it covers history it aims to present useful guidance for those on the Entrepreneurial Journey we were on in the 60’s, 70s and 80s

In reflecting on our journey I revisited a movie I watched a couple of years ago – The Intern. Because I often refer it to young people I mentor as a reason to consider having an “Old Bloke” (a bloke is male or female) in the business.

“70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) has discovered that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway).”

Experience may not get old, but it quite often gets outdated and becomes unfashionable…

I also did some research on two hyper successful startups and listened ti interviews with Brian Chesky Co Founder of AirBnB and Mark Zuckerberg.

Unlike the vast majority of startups they focused on the things we were doing way back then including.

1. Doing things that don’t scale – getting in front of customers and prospects often to get feedback and buy in – Knocking on doors and honing sales skills

2. Getting the product out the door and making sure key customers are involved in the design, development and testing

3. Not relying on Grants, VCs etc for funding but making real sales to real customers to provide seed funding to get started

Of course there is much more to the story – and I am not pitching for any more jobs – but my advice is find yourself an ageing Intern and you might find you get a surprise at the value just like Jules Ostin did in the movie.

And my advice for anyone 60 plus who has experience and skills that are relevant today

DONT RETIRE!! 100% of people that do Die …it cant be good for you!

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