The Pathless Path with Paul Millerd #172 Success In The Second Half Of Life — Henry Oliver on John Stuart Mill, Samuel Johnson, Penelope Fitzgerald, why we shouldn't dismiss Gladwell, writing, late bloomers, the importance of finding the others, Tyler Cowen's help and the lessons from Audrey Sutherland
Apr 1, 2024
Henry Oliver, a writer and brand consultant, explores late bloomers and the lessons we can learn from them. Topics include John Stuart Mill's influence, Samuel Johnson's dictionary creation, Penelope Fitzgerald's journey, the impact of writing online, Tyler Cowen's support, and the importance of finding like-minded individuals.
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Rethinking Talent and Late Blooming
- Traditional markers of talent like degrees and university prestige are less predictive today.
- Workplace and hiring practices lag behind modern realities of long career shifts and diverse talent.
Penelope Fitzgerald's Late Bloom
- Penelope Fitzgerald became a novelist at 60 after decades of life challenges and deep learning.
- She wrote short, exact novels infused with rich experience and scholarly knowledge of history and languages.
Internet's Double-Edged Publishing Sword
- The internet lowers barriers to publishing but may reduce standards and pressure to deeply develop skills.
- There is a trade-off between accessibility of sharing and cultivating depth in creative work.