What do you want to be when you grow up?

Joyce Wycoff over at Good Morning Thinkers invites us to think about our goals and dreams again from our wiser and hopefully smarter eyes (for those of us over a certain age).

Here's a choice paragraph:

"Perhaps the sweetest thing about exploring alternative paths at mid-life is the freedom from world-determined expectations of success.  Mid-life artists don´t have to cater to the whims of critics or the public, mid-life novelists can joyfully experience an imaginary world without worrying about publication, and mid-life compassion can be shared with one child without feeling responsible for changing the world.  We can learn things for the sheer joy of learning, make stuff for the joy of creation and become whatever we want to be without worrying about getting a grade, passing muster or winning an award."

So what about mid-life management? I often think that it would have been great to have the perspective I have today 15 years ago when I was cockier and less tactful. Oh, the embarrassment I could have avoided! It is probably perfect the way it is - some things should get better with age.

The patina-ed manager has the opportunity to enjoy work more fully by focusing on the satisfying and compelling aspects of shaping a company and team member experiences. I think we can more easily get into the zone of management after we have lived through and beyond the politics, posturing, and pressures of upward mobility.

If you are a middle aged middle manager (talk about being in the bulls-eye), consider ways to reinvent your work experience and infuse work with your passions and interests (as appropriate, of course). I agree with Joyce that it is a great time to explore alternative paths aplying both to our work and personal lives.

Any zen-managers out there?