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Don’t read this if you were born after 1960
Is the door closed?
Are the whippersnappers safely out of the way?
Are they distracted with their iPhones and Tweets?
Good! Because it is time for us grownups to have a serious talk about life. I don’t mention it much but my tag line here at RCB is ‘Finishing Strong‘. Today I want to tell you what it means to me and find out what it means to you.
We are no longer controlled by biology
At this stage in our lives, we have been through all the biologically controlled activities. We have rutted. We have procreated. We have nurtured. We are pretty much through with those pressures and our life is what it is. We have kids – or not. We are married – or not. We have pretty much made our beds so to speak. We now have the rest of our lives to lie in them.
Now What?
So here we are, no longer at the mercy of biological forces but with nearly half of our life left before us. What do we do with it? Let it dribble away like our parents and grandparents or make it into a glorious adventure? Most of us don’t have good examples to help us finish strong. Society doesn’t expect much from us beyond indulging the grandkids and puttering around the yard. There are a few examples of people who finished strong but mostly finishing strong is a road less traveled. I would like to change that and I am looking for others who want to take that less traveled road with me. It won’t be easy. It will be a challenge. Every step along the way, however, even the missteps will be part of a glorious adventure and I am looking for adventurers to share every step.
Sharing my less traveled road
I am living my adventure and sharing it here and at my other blog. Ralph Carlson Blog focuses on skills and vision for the journey and Job Optional Blog on developing an entrepreneurial mindset, creating a lifestyle design and exploring vehicles to make it happen. Everyone’s path will be different. I think that the definition of finishing strong will be different for each person. But everyone choosing this path will share a commitment and desire to learn and grow every day.
My Mission
I want my remaining years to be rich and full. I want to enjoy the beauty of the world and the people in it. I want to learn constantly and become better at communication and leading. I want to share that adventure with others who want to finish strong – however they might define it. Right now I am traveling solo. I could move faster with companions to reinforce my strengths and compensate for my weaknesses. I know that whatever it takes, I will finish strong but I know that with a team of leaders the future is unimaginable bright and the possibilities unlimited.
What will your mission be?
Do you want to finish strong? Do you want to explore the idea? Do you have ideas of your own about what finishing strong means? Have you already y started your own adventure? If you have continued to read to this point, I know that somewhere in your brain, there is a tingle. Don’t let it die without finding out more. Join me by putting yourself on my email list. Join me by reading my story. Join me by adding your comment or question. Join me by preparing a guest post with your story. Join me by coming back to learn more. Don’t let the rest of your life dribble away to nothingness. You have so much left to give even if you don’t know it yet.

I’m in!
Ooops… was born in 61. Can I be an honorary member?
Dave Doolin’s last Blog Post ..Exchange
[Reply]
Ralph Reply:
June 14th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
I told you that you could have a pass.
Ralph’s last Blog Post ..Finishing Strong – A Manifesto and Call to Action
[Reply]
Hey Ralph, very nice post. Some things for me to look forward too for the future. Yes I was born after 1960 and I read it. what are you going to do about it?
I have enjoyed reading your story up to this point. I am looking forward to more. I hope I can be in that team with you.
You have a lot of experiences to learn from.
-Justin
Justin Matthews’s last Blog Post ..Supernatural! A video tribute
[Reply]
ralph Reply:
June 15th, 2010 at 9:52 am
As to what am I going to do about your being born after 1960, it all depends. Nothing for now. If you want to hang in the with old dog it will be your problem.
ralph’s last Blog Post ..How do you know if you are having a glorious adventure or a kamikaze mission?
[Reply]
Well I suppose there’s some advantages not being part of the iPhone generation!
Matthew Needham’s last Blog Post ..How to create your dream chart
[Reply]
ralph Reply:
June 15th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Matthew,
There are advantages to everything. Sometimes it can be hard finding them.
ralph’s last Blog Post ..How do you know if you are having a glorious adventure or a kamikaze mission?
[Reply]
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