The speaker initially hesitated to be associated with the concept of 'elder' due to negative connotations but later embraced being a 'modern elder' when it was highlighted that it signifies possessing both wisdom and curiosity. Despite being older than the average age in the company and lacking tech expertise, the speaker learned the importance of curiosity while working with younger, highly knowledgeable colleagues.
Growing old gets a bad rap, and it's not hard to see why. Your hair thins and your waist thickens. The shot clock ticks down on your career, and you realize, much to your dismay, that your youthful dreams of greatness — patents, prizes, and periodicals with your face on the cover — are unlikely to come true before the buzzer. And what do you see up ahead? A road sign. "Highway Ends. Last Exit: Retirement. One Mile." Retirement. Just a polite word for purposelessness. That's the cynic's view of aging, anyway. But does it have to be that way? Not according to Chip Conley ("Learning to Love Midlife"). He says midlife can be a period of renewal, hope, joy, and connection. If you're open to it. Are you?