41, how should I be approaching my career

[Anonymous]

My boss is 62, and I have 20 or so years until retirement myself. Yet when I talk to others the attitude seems to be that I'm too old for graduate school and not considered young enough to be a superstar for a big career (under 35 would be).

What are the best moves for me right now? I'm in a middle management position, make about $100k, and want work life balance.

[Anonymous]

In the DC area? I'd probably go the fed route or something.

[Anonymous]

You’re not too old at all to be a superstar. Wanting work life balance might get in the way of being a superstar, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re not too old at all to be a superstar. Wanting work life balance might get in the way of being a superstar, though.

Really unlikely to get a chance at a big job unless does something to shift expectations like an MBA or publishing a few oft citied papers or closing some huge deal.

That generally can’t be don’t 9-5

[Anonymous]

My colleague who is 49 just finished an MBA program.

What do you want to do? Hard to advise without knowing any detail about your aspirations.

[Anonymous]

What's your educational background now?

I think a lot of those graduate programs are a waste of time & money and you'd be better off spending that time leaning in at work, networking, getting involved in events and associations in the industry, etc.

What's your field & educational background?

[Anonymous]

OP - Field is PR which I got into accidentally. I'm a natural at networking and good at communication. I'm trying to figure out if I keep working, get an MBA (focusing on what exactly, marketing? Finance?) or job hop over time.

[Anonymous]

Go Fed route. Ageism will start to hit soon. Sounds like it already has to some extent.

Save as much money as you can and invest it. I'm so glad I did that throughout the years. Getting hired when "old" and replacing the income from my earlier years is not easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - Field is PR which I got into accidentally. I'm a natural at networking and good at communication. I'm trying to figure out if I keep working, get an MBA (focusing on what exactly, marketing? Finance?) or job hop over time.

Do you do PR focused on a certain industry (your company, your clients etc) If so, could you pivot to another role in that field that might pay more? I know someone who did that successfully and did a grad degree as part of the transition.

[Anonymous]

Obviously it depends on what you really want.

If you aspire to become a top exec, you have to pursue that all day every day.

If you're good making they kind of money you do and like the balance, i guess don't make any big moves.

I worked my ass off for 15-20 years, enduring stress and anxiety - lots of ups and downs, many late nights and weekends. Now I'm mid 40s and things have calmed down a bit. The investment paid off, though. I like what I do and I'm making quite a bit of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Obviously it depends on what you really want.

If you aspire to become a top exec, you have to pursue that all day every day.

If you're good making they kind of money you do and like the balance, i guess don't make any big moves.

I worked my ass off for 15-20 years, enduring stress and anxiety - lots of ups and downs, many late nights and weekends. Now I'm mid 40s and things have calmed down a bit. The investment paid off, though. I like what I do and I'm making quite a bit of money.

NP - out of curiosity, where are you now PP? Did you make top exec or land someplace that you're happy with below that? Trying to sort out myself whether to keep pushing or accept this is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My boss is 62, and I have 20 or so years until retirement myself. Yet when I talk to others the attitude seems to be that I'm too old for graduate school and not considered young enough to be a superstar for a big career (under 35 would be).

What are the best moves for me right now? I'm in a middle management position, make about $100k, and want work life balance.

Solution is to actually be a better worker and get your bosses job when he retires

And retirement is 67 at 41 you have like 26 years left. At 100k you are not retiring earlier.

Or get executive mba, go to company that looks good on resume and jump
Around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Obviously it depends on what you really want.

If you aspire to become a top exec, you have to pursue that all day every day.

If you're good making the kind of money you do and like the balance, i guess don't make any big moves.

I worked my ass off for 15-20 years, enduring stress and anxiety - lots of ups and downs, many late nights and weekends. Now I'm mid 40s and things have calmed down a bit. The investment paid off, though. I like what I do and I'm making quite a bit of money.

NP - out of curiosity, where are you now PP? Did you make top exec or land someplace that you're happy with below that? Trying to sort out myself whether to keep pushing or accept this is what it is.

Hi there - I became a partner in my consulting firm. I've learned a lot over the years and it makes the job a lot easier. Plus I actually like what I do.

I'd say if you actually enjoy the nature of the work you do, even if it's hard, keep going all out until you're at the top. In most cases, you get to a place where it's very rewarding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Obviously it depends on what you really want.

If you aspire to become a top exec, you have to pursue that all day every day.

If you're good making the kind of money you do and like the balance, i guess don't make any big moves.

I worked my ass off for 15-20 years, enduring stress and anxiety - lots of ups and downs, many late nights and weekends. Now I'm mid 40s and things have calmed down a bit. The investment paid off, though. I like what I do and I'm making quite a bit of money.

NP - out of curiosity, where are you now PP? Did you make top exec or land someplace that you're happy with below that? Trying to sort out myself whether to keep pushing or accept this is what it is.

Hi there - I became a partner in my consulting firm. I've learned a lot over the years and it makes the job a lot easier. Plus I actually like what I do.

I'd say if you actually enjoy the nature of the work you do, even if it's hard, keep going all out until you're at the top. In most cases, you get to a place where it's very rewarding.

Becoming a partner at a consulting firm usually requires

A) incredibly long hours for decades
B) lots of travel
C) client and business development akin to sales
D) pretty thin if woman; tall and athletic if man (just like sales)

I doubt OP was on this path

[Anonymous]

If you make 100k at 41 you don’t have a career to begin with.

But I was same in same boat. The key is to get an MBA, Join volunteer boards, work at a prestigious company or two. Work long hours.

Guess what magically at 50 you will have a big corner office with a big salary.

Do nothing and nothing will happen