There are loads of dream squashers out in the world. They’ll hear your dream, then they’ll swiftly encourage you to give it up. To try something more sensible. To pull your head a bit out of the clouds.
Unfortunately, some of those people are old people—the very folks with the wisdom to help you make it come true. Now, I’m not talking about every old person out there. There are some folks—gray haired and encouraging—who will listen to your dream, tell you to go for it, and offer sage wisdom that can make a huge difference on whether or not you succeed.
How do you know which type of old person will lift up your dream and help, and how do you know which will squash your dream?
The measure isn’t success. The measure isn’t wealth. The measure is whether or not they’re still following their dreams.
The folks who are still following their dreams are living in the sweet spot. They know the anxiety that comes with risk. They feel the sweaty palms and acidic stomach on a daily basis. They’ll encourage you because they need the same encouragement.
But the folks who have either never chased their dream or have already caught it—they can sometimes forget what it’s like. They forget the thrill of youth. They’ve settled into a pattern and they want you to do the same. (Often it’s out of love that they want you to be in this pattern. They aren’t meaning to squash your dream. They’re meaning to help you be successful. Unfortunately…that’s not what happens.)
So…contrary to the inflammatory title of this post, I’m not telling you to ignore old people. Embrace wisdom. But don’t take every gray hair as the weight of truth. Look for folks who have gone before you and are still following their dreams. They’re out there and they’re waiting to share their wisdom for success.
You just have to find them.