Shine After 50 –Stay Youthful and Embrace Change by Adopting Younger Mentors
The anonymous quotation above reminds me of a core theme of a speech by a presenter who I heard over 10 years ago at a federal women's conference. The speaker, Gina Rudan, co-authored Practical Genius which I bought and read after the conference.
One of Rudan’s principal pieces of advice in her speech and book for staying creative, mentally sharp, and youthfully vibrant in whatever you do is to adopt younger people as mentors and learn all you can from them.
This is not to diminish our expertise, experience, and wisdom that we have developed over the years or those of our peers!
However, after age 50, adopting younger people as mentors can ensure that we keep adapting and growing. Younger individuals can offer:
· Fresh perspectives and cultural relevance—they can introduce us to significant new ideas and trends that we might overlook if we mingle only with our peers.
· Tech savviness—exposure to new tools, technologies, platforms, and strategies that many of us over 50 might not be as familiar with or adept at.
· Enthusiasm for ongoing learning—younger individuals may often have a more innovative and energetic approach to solving problems that we may wrestle with.
Two of my younger mentors
I make a point of learning from younger individuals primarily by watching a variety of educational YouTube videos created by men and women in their 20s and 30s. Most of the videos I watch by these younger mentors address business, technology, and lifestyle topics.
Caroline Winkler
This past winter I became acquainted with Carolina Winkler a delightful woman in her early 30s who is a YouTube influencer (with over a half-million subscribers – 658,000 at the time of this writing) and the sister of a high school classmate of my daughter.
My daughter talked about her one day and I started watching her videos which are educational and often hilarious—she often makes me laugh out loud! On her channel (https://www.youtube.com/@Caroline_Winkler), Caroline shares her personal life experiences and practical tips on interior design, and home organization in a vibrant, quirky, unique, and often self-deprecating way that I find so appealing.
Because my daughter had a personal connection with Caroline, I took advantage of the opportunity to reach other to her. A short time later, we met on Zoom and I got to ask Caroline questions about her YouTube experience and received advice on the ins and outs of creating a YouTube channel.
I keep in touch with her and although we don’t have a formal mentor-mentee type of relationship, I consider her to be my younger mentor because I learn from and apply the advice she gives in her videos. And, just watching her keeps me in touch with my younger self while staying on top of new trends!
Jennifer L. Scott
Another one of my favorite young YouTube mentors is Jennifer L. Scott, a woman in her 40s who is the creator of The Daily Connoisseur (https://www.youtube.com/@TheDailyConnoisseur). Jennifer presents soothing and tasteful videos about her life and how she adds beauty, style, and panache in managing her home and career.
Jennifer, like me, spent an academic year in France living with a French family. Her experience impressed her so much that she has written an entire series of books on how to incorporate many of the beautiful facets of the French lifestyle into your own life.
I own two of her books and they are esthetically pleasing, inspiring, and helpful! I have learned a lot from her.
Recommended action step
Find an appealing younger person who has expertise in an area you are learning about and seek out their advice or if they have a podcast or YouTube channel, listen or watch them regularly and apply their expertise to your life.
Music Corner and Recommendation
Yes, I have recommended this song before but it’s a classic and one of my favorites - it touches my heart.
The lyrics are timeless. I believe the core theme of this song is about maintaining a youthful spirit and innocence as you go through life.
And, Rod Stewart stands out in my mind because my daughter saw him in a restaurant three years ago in Nice France.
It’s worth re-listening often to remind yourself to maintain a youthful mindset!Book Corner ~ Recommended Reading
Book Corner ~ Recommended Reading
I read this book in 2014 and enjoyed its tips, techniques, and personal stories on how to optimize your ability to work from your zone of genius. And, an important aspect of this is adopting younger people as mentors.
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Genius-Talents-Passions-Working/dp/B005WIFXRA/
I just love this book! It’s so soothing and classy!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Z4SQZU/
Have a wonderful week and remember you can be a shining star throughout your life!