Bill Bangham is working as a coach/mentor with Jennifer Nelson on her story she is doing in Santiago, Chile, as part of the Storytellers Abroad Workshop. [NIKON Z 6, VR Zoom 24-105mm f/4G IF-ED, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 8000, 1/100, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 62)]

While having children in your twenties, you can physically do more than in your thirties; studies show that living longer gives you an advantage.

A 2015 study showed that women who have their last child after age 33 are more likely to live to 95.

“For the unlearned, old age is winter; for the learned, it is the season of the harvest.”  

~Hasidic saying

When I would do communications projects in my twenties, I was trying to cover the basics. I didn’t understand how any of what I was doing was helping in the bigger picture.

Financial experts tell you to put a little money away early because it compounds interest over time.

While we often only look at money, we have experiences that go into our “MEMORY BANK” daily. That, too, is growing with compounded interest.

At the age of twenty, I am just learning to shift those gears, and now in my fifties, I am looking around and seeing those around me in the race. I look for opportunities.

Clients

When you hire someone new, they have unique things to bring to the table. Their youth and lack of experience are most likely flexible because they are not locked into a process.

When you hire someone with experience, they bring all that to the table. They can anticipate your needs better than often you can. They have been there before. Just because they are older doesn’t mean they are not flexible. Often those with experience are more flexible. They made those mistakes in the past of not listening when they should have to the client.

Creatives

Never be ashamed of your experience level. Use whatever you have to your advantage.

When you are young, you realize you don’t have experience. That is OK. Many clients want to give new people a break to discover new talent.

When you are old, let the client know you are taking care of them. In your correspondence, use all that experience to ask better questions to help the client achieve their goals and to let them know you are thinking ahead and anticipating them.

“Getting old is a fascinating thing. The older you get, the older you want to get.”

~Keith Richards