NOW THAT we have started a new year, you may have already declared your New Year’s resolutions—lose weight, exercise more, balance work and family, work more or work less, avoid tardiness, learn a new skill, etcetera. For those aged 40 and above—the halftime or Life II as termed by author Bob Buford—it may be wise to add another item to your list: Ponder what to do with the rest of your life.
“It’s the season of ‘now what?’” writes Buford in his book Finishing Well: Is There Something More?, published locally by OMF Literature Inc. Buford is also chairman of the board of The Buford Foundation and Leadership Network, and founder and former chairman of the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management. “Halftime used to be the beginning of the end. Now it is the beginning of a whole new beginning—a season that for me and many others has turned out to be the richest and most meaning-filled season of all,” writes Buford.
Have you ever noticed why some men and women approach aging with grace and purpose? They have realized that there is more to life than just meeting quotas and bringing home the bacon. “Far from just wasting away by themselves, they are deeply engaged in contributing to the lives of others. It’s what I call socially productive aging,” writes Buford.
In this little book he wrote, he introduces us to some very successful people who have found meaning in Life II—people like management guru Peter Drucker; authors Ken and Margie Blanchard of the bestseller The One Minute Manager; Steven Reinemund, CEO of PepsiCo; and Dr. Kenneth Cooper, a leading expert in the international physical fitness movement, among others. Buford lets us in on how they started their careers, what they’re doing now, and what lessons they have learned along the way.
Among the valuable lessons in the book is, surprisingly, that planning doesn’t work. Yes, you read that right. Buford quotes Drucker as saying, “Too much planning can make you deaf to opportunity.” In other words, know where you’re going, but be flexible.
Buford has written two more books in this series. Check them out for more food for thought.
January 9th, 2009 at 9:00 am
@Carlos, the book is available at leading bookstores in the country and at OMF Literature’s website (http://www.omflit.com/home/search.php).
January 7th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
last year i have started a new hobby which i long dreamt of doing.
taking pictures. it is amazing to capture God’s aesthetic and architectural sense.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Add additional spice of life in Blogging, by aspiring to be the next President of the philippines, aim for the moon and the stars but never forget the core of your reality which is the word called NOW that reverts back to your own self thinking that you have only one life to live, have fun and enjoy the life that GOD has given you. vivimos vivamos, weni, wedi, i conquer the 15 minutes of fame.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I am learning blogging now - so that when I grow older, I will probably spend my day blogging and writing.
But will check out the book as well.
January 4th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I am a retired government employee. I would like to know here to buy that book on non-profit organization management.
Thank you.