PEr Chronicles: Get from underestimated to respected

Kidult toys are surging in popularity as adults look to their childhood toys for comfort and nostalgia thanks to stress, COVID-19 and social media. TIME magazine reported that adults are spending BIG for toys and stuffed animals – for themselves. In October, McDonald’s started serving Adult Happy Meals, toys included. A Gucci collaboration with Hot Wheels sold out online in less than a minute. Toy companies are shifting from “kids business” to “play business”. And anyone can play.

Adulthood, you’ve finally understood, is always just a little bit later than now. Being a grown-up is for tomorrow.

You know things aren’t what they used to be when you tell someone you’ve known them since they were little kids. When you have more hangovers than actual parties. When your colleague was born the same year you graduated. When selecting your year of birth on a website means scrolling down forever. When you’re told that you “look good for your age.”

Now, we’re all getting older. Let’s accept it. It’s a fact of life. Almost everyone reading this (age 25+) is in a period of decline. From a purely biological perspective, my bones and muscles and organs and glands will all be older next year than they are right now.

I’ll be the first to admit that there are certain things we cannot do as we age. Case in point – way back in the day I LOVED pork rib soup, and I would always get the same thing – double servings. And I would go play football afterwards!

(Oh, to be young, athletic and immortal)

If I tried that now, I’d be a wheezing heart attack waiting to happen (not that I ever would). I’d be hands-on-knees in the first minute.

Fast-forward to today, when I turn 58. Sixty had once seemed impossibly far away, but I am now closer to that number than I felt – and no amount of spa treatments or fasts could do anything about that.

Life is a learning experience, and as a young person entering the world of sales, I always knew I had an awfully lot to learn. If I had to counsel young people taking their first tentative steps in the corporate world, or even starting a new job, here is what I would tell them.

Surround yourself with those who push you to be a better human. I know personally, and have been lucky enough, to have spent time with people who are truly great at their craft, be it training, writing, sales, leadership or motivation, and I’ve been fascinated. I can’t get enough of true greatness. I am still humbled, honoured and appreciative that those legends helped lead the way for me.

When I meet people who are more successful than me, I get excited. I’m fired up to find out what makes them tick. Why are they the best at their craft, and how can I harness that to be my best? I don’t waste time being jealous or petty or trying to discredit their spot on the top of the mountain and the effort expended to get there. There’s room for others too.

I am not great at anything. I know I’m not some amazing leader. But I won’t stop, that’s the difference. What I’m good at is not a talent. I’ll just do more and work harder than most others are willing to.

When you surround yourself with people who are pushing the limits, you will be motivated either by inspiration or competition to push yourself. You become a legend by being fanatical. I think of Olympians like Usain Bolt. I think of stars like Serena Williams. Seemingly superhuman.

Many have talent, but few are obsessed.

Strive to find people you can model yourself after and you can see qualities and characteristics that you want to possess yourself.

They show me firsthand that good is the enemy of great.?