Your age isn't really the major threat to your life

Some years ago, I was in Norway to honor the country’s best young leader. I was invited to deliver a motivational speech just before the winner was announced. Out of the 500 incredibly talented nominees, 499 were about to "lose." But, I realized, losing isn't a failure—it's a part of the journey. So, I chose to speak to those who wouldn't win that night.

You see, not winning early is a gift. Peaking too soon can become a trap. Frank Hvam, a Danish comedian, put it perfectly: "Those who get good too fast are often the ones who get stuck. Nothing nurtures growth like a series of defeats." The key is to understand that success doesn’t always come when we want it, but when we are truly ready for it.

When you're in the thick of your career, don’t shy away from setbacks. They are the fuel that powers the next 20 or 30 years of your professional life. As time passes, your ambition and energy may ebb, but they’re replaced by something deeper—wisdom, experience, and perspective. The challenge is to recognize the difference between giving up and evolving. True success is when you can pass on your knowledge to the next generation, while still pursuing your own growth.

We often fear getting older, but Jack Ma once said something that stuck with me: “Age is just a number. The real issue is whether you believe in your future.” That’s the mindset we need to embrace.

On Peaking Late: Why Your Time Will Come

If you feel like you haven’t "peaked" yet, that’s a good thing. It’s healthier to peak later in life. When you’re younger, you have big dreams but little experience. As you age, those dreams mature with your wisdom. The sweet spot is when you can balance your expectations with your lived experiences. Stay curious and never stop learning. I’ve seen people in their 70s start learning new languages or take up courses. In fact, one of my friend’s late father enrolled in a French course at 75.

Your Age is Not the Problem—Your Attitude Is

There’s a trap we can fall into as we get older—thinking of ourselves as "too old" for change. You’ve likely met someone who says, “I’m just an old so-and-so” when they’re only 50. If you don’t see yourself as old, others won’t either. The truth is, your body may age, but you gain strength in areas that matter more—decision-making, resilience, and perspective.

Research shows that people over 50 make better financial decisions because they have more context and understanding. They also report being more satisfied and less stressed than they were in their 20s. In fact, negative emotions like stress and anger decline significantly after the early 20s, making later life a period of greater emotional stability.

So, while aging is inevitable, the real enemy is inactivity and a rigid mindset. Stay active—mentally and physically. The brain, like any muscle, thrives on use. People who speak multiple languages, for example, have sharper cognitive abilities.

It’s never too late to learn something new or reinvent yourself. Did you know that Buster Martin ran marathons well into his 100s? Or that China’s 80-year-old Wang Deshun became a top model?

Reframe How You See Yourself

When I was younger, I once worried about whether I was too young for a leadership role. Kofi Annan told me, “No one is too young to lead.” The same applies to age on the other end of the spectrum—no one is too old to keep learning, leading, and growing.

How do you talk about yourself? Do you refer to yourself as "too old" or "too young"? These self-limiting beliefs don’t just hold you back—they trap you in a mindset that’s hard to escape. The language we use about ourselves shapes our reality.

Keep Reinventing Yourself

To stay relevant, you need to continually evolve. I regularly check my wardrobe, media consumption, and perspectives to ensure I’m not stuck in the past. Surround yourself with people who challenge your thinking—both younger and older—and embrace new technologies, ideas, and skills. Three years ago, I started a bank—something I had never done before. I knew nothing about running one, but I saw it as an opportunity to learn, and the worst thing that could happen was failure. But even failure is a lesson, not an end.

So, allow yourself to be an amateur again. Be curious, stay mentally flexible, and share what you’ve learned with others. In the end, it’s not about how early or late you peak, but how you continue to grow, evolve, and pass on your insights.