How does one stay motivated in your late 40's? I make good money, but I am not excited to work anymore. I still have 10+ years before the kids are done school and college and AI is coming to reshape our industry. That should be a motivator, but I'm just tired. Anyone else in the same boat?

I'm in my 60s and still at it. It's a question of optimism, perseverance, and acceptance. I have good days and bad days, but on balance I move the ball forward and help my clients and my team improve what they're doing. I'm not trying to convince you to stick around if you don't like it, but you can make it work if you want to. I wish you well in your career, whatever you choose.

My dad once told me that life is like climbing - you have 4 anchors - your work, your health, your family and your relationships. Just like climbing, you should only move one of these at a time. When I have stability in my work, my family and my relationships it affords me time to work on my health (did my first marathon at 41!). Point is, I try and embrace quiet periods at work as a time to try work on other stuff. When my family, health and relationships are in a good place I can reimagine what I want my work to look like.

The only thing that keeps me pressing on is the fact that I'm not in a financial place to pivot. Anything that I would prefer to do would require an initial investment that I don't have and/or won't make enough to support our current lifestyle.

I am by no means complaining, I've lived a life that I don't deserve, but the stress of needing a high income gets old. Golden handcuffs are incredibly comfortable, but they are real.

Put God at the center, family next. He will direct and bless your paths. Money can dry up, jobs will let you go, but trusting in God will cover both.

Passive income is the way. Couple laundromats, a dozen vending machines and several Airbnb properties. $30k month net.

Damn… 100%. I’m 43 with kids 11, 9. Make good money in industry but crazy bored. I’ve stepped into acting/modeling on the side (I’m a guy, not OF lol). It’s not real money but it’s something new and different.

Same boat! 43 yo mother of 2 little ones. Trying to figure out what net worth is feasible for making pivot and focusing more on family and knowing my kids as well as I know my clients and teammates. That’s extreme -I do prioritize family….but still trying to find right balance

I made a significant career pivot in at 40 and boarded a technology train that has served me well. The pivot helped re-energize me since I had to not just learn something new but do it at an accelerated pace, competing with much younger folks. That was my motivation. I made another career pivot 10 years later and again, the newness of the change forced me to stay curious and be paranoid, helping me to stay motivated.
I think one needs a shock to the system - and AI is providing that, in many ways. See if you can adapt to this macro change and re-energize yourself to get motivated. Look for opportunities to use your skills across domains. I had to change companies in order to do it and was fortunate to get the opportunity but networking is key, with ex-colleagues, ex-customers and partners and within the local business ecosystem. It also comes with significant risk but that’s also the challenge.
Good luck.

Counting down to retirement

I'm feeling the same way at 41 and forcing myself to learn more about AI

When taxis replaced horses people had to learn to drive same principle

I have a dashboard i created to project my retirement balance based on current balance and future gains. I track my progress toward the current year’s gains goal (which is either 25%, 30%, or 35%). These are the only metrics that matter. I have 14 yrs left before I can put all this behind me. 14 yrs goes by before you know it. Stop thinking about work because you can do it on autoplay. Challenge yourself to learn more about investing and what is going on in the market. Spend these last few years on cherishing these next 10 yrs with your kids.

I was same, so recently left and joined a small company 100 and add way more value, plus we do really interesting work. Lifes too short to be bored slightly better base but they actually pay bonus, so made $270k this year.

Yea

Side Quests

Very much so. Been that way for years.

It sounds hokey/silly, and I definitely rolled my eyes at the books and blogs about it, but I do think that intentionally practicing gratitude does help.

Not like, "oh just be grateful you have a job" lol, or a bunch of fancy daily journals (unless you like that sort of thing) but just taking a quiet moment here and there (ideally someplace outside and quiet) to look around at life and think about the things you're grateful for, like a mini, private thanksgiving every day lol

Mine are things like being grateful my kids are healthy and seem to like me (they're not little anymore lol), I've got a body that might be slower now but I can still get myself to the bathroom no problem, I have access to pretty much any food that anybody can think of, and I have the money to buy it, it makes me happy that I have a lot of flowers in my yard because I can see pretty butterflies.

Little things, mostly. But it's very centering to take that time and remind myself of what I'm really working for, where I'm lucky, and what matters in life. Things seem a lot less disastrous after that.