Chip Conley

So, this Medium article (https://bit.ly/3uo1nAn) by Tris Harkness with the provocative title above caught my eye. Here’s her opening two paragraphs:

At your intergenerational family Thanksgiving dinner, did you have a spirited discussion about the President’s age? Based upon an informal survey of a dozen friends, “talking turkey” about Joe was the #1 topic at the dinner table.

Older Americans hold most of the country’s wealth, but they also are the fastest-growing age demographic when it comes to their percentage of the economy’s spending, as evidenced by this graphic below that was in this recent Wall Street Journal story (https://on.wsj.com/3GdIWkE). While the historical narrative has been that older people are more affected by economic turbulence (especially inflation), this story suggests that their finances are relatively healthy. They have less need to borrow, so they’re not as affected by higher interest rates and are less at risk of layoffs than other consumers.

I learned ballroom dancing in 6th grade at Call’s Dance Studio in middle-class Long Beach, California. It was quite a production as it was as much about learning masculine and feminine roles and etiquette as it was learning the mechanics of ballroom dancing.

Yesterday, when I saw a friend, she greeted me with the title of today’s blog post. I wonder what she’ll say today after I start my seven and a half weeks of daily targeted radiation to my pelvis, where my prostate cancer has spread. I’m not sure radiation will “glow me” or “dim me,” but I know the day after I finish this regimen (and continue my hormone depletion therapy), I fly to NYC to launch my book on “Good Morning, America,” “The Today Show,” and a variety of other book signings, media interviews, and parties. 

A week ago, my TED talk (go.ted.com/chipconley23) about the Midlife Chrysalis got published suggesting that a caterpillar consumes, a chrysalis transforms, and a butterfly pollinates, mirroring our early adulthood, our midlife, and our modern elder years.

During the first half of our adult life, there are all kinds of "I am" statements that define our identity:

“What’s it like to give a TED Talk?”

I can’t say that I grew up optimistic or mystical. I was a bit of a dour kid without a lot of friends. I was probably an “Emo” before that word existed. I didn’t seek out wonder, spirituality, or anything transcendent. Until I was about 15, I was probably more “pessi-practical” than “opti-mystical.”

What first pops into your mind when you hear the word “midlife?” Yep, CRISIS!