I am sure many of you would respond with a variety of answers. I know some whose goal is to be done working by age 50. Others want to work until they are 65. I even have friends who, because of poor saving and spending habits, say they will have to work until the die. But if money were no object, would you continue to work or at least continue to grow and make a difference or would you stagnate.
In the spring of 1956, a 14 year old Paul McCartney wrote the song “When I’m 64.” The Beatles went on to record it in 1967. At 14, Paul had no inkling at what the future held. In his lyrics he asked, “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?” From a 14 year old’s perspective, 50 years into the future, when he would be 64, had to sound ancient.
But here we are in 2022, Paul McCartney turns 80 in June and is worth nearly 1 ½ billion dollars. I am guessing he doesn’t need more money. Yet, as I write this, he is in the middle of a 14 city concert tour. Why would he be doing that?
In his book, Paul McCartney: The Life. Philip Norman writes “But despite the gargantuan achievement behind him, all that mattered to Paul was moving forward, staying current, and keeping contact with live audiences by every possible means.” Whether he was 14, 25, 64, or 80 – he continues to grow not stagnate; connect not withdraw; be current as opposed to living in the past; and through his music, continues to make a difference. Maybe there something we can learn for an old Beatle.