"It's okay to be different" — Learning from people in their 60s, the mindset of successful people: A review of "Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World"

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Now that you are in your 60s, do you have any of these concerns?

• "I want to start something new, but I don't have the confidence."

• "Isn't it too late to take on a challenge now...?"

• "I want to try doing what I love, but I'm afraid of what might happen if I fail."

Don't you ever feel that way?

In this era of the 100-year life, your 60s are not an "end," but a "second starting line." However, as we age, living "safely," "without standing out," and "without being different from others" starts to feel like a virtue—are you tired of that atmosphere?

The book I am introducing this time breaks through such "common sense."
It is "Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World" by Adam Grant.

Was the idea that "entrepreneurship equals burning your bridges" wrong?

There is a story like this in the book.

Many people tend to think that the "burn your bridges" approach of putting all your effort into a startup is what leads to success.
However, the reality is the opposite. It is said that those who started as a side business while continuing their main job have a higher success rate.

Nike founder Phil Knight, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, and the founders of Google were all "main job and side project" types at first.

This fact gives hope to us in our 60s as well.us in our 60s as well.
Instead of throwing everything away and taking a gamble,pursuing "another possibility" as an extension of your current life is actually the path to success.

The "new options" in life that Originals teaches us

People who don't narrow down their options succeed

The core of this book is here.
The more successful people are, the more they live in a way that "does not reduce their options."

Instead of taking risks, they "diversify their risks."
Instead of pushing forward, they "leave room to see how things go."

This flexibility provides a great hint for the senior generation.

• After retiring from full-time work, try volunteering

• Starting a blog or YouTube channel by leveraging your hobbies

• Trying to post on social media instead of just being a listener

These are all "ways of living that keep your options open."

👉 Related note: "A Record of Small Income Experiences from Your 60s" also introduces the personal stories of people who earn over 100,000 yen per month through volunteering and social media posting [Reference]

There is value in your own individuality

In "ORIGINALS," it is said that successful people were not "eccentric," but rather "did not abandon their true selves."

Instead of finding comfort in being the same as others,
your different perspectives, experiences, and values are your greatest weapons.

In this regard, seniors in their 60s and beyond have a significant advantage.

• Many years of work experience

• Wisdom from failures and setbacks

• The trust and sensibilities built up over the course of life

That is "human power" itself, which AI and young people cannot imitate.

An era where "anything anyone can do" is no longer a weapon

In the coming era, machines will increasingly take over "things anyone can do" through AI and automation.

That is precisely why "things only I can do" and "perspectives different from others" are valued.

This book introduces many real-life examples of how people with ideas different from others "turned the unconventional into the conventional."
What you gain from that is not "courage," but "strategy."

"I want to try it, but I'm scared."
This book will give a push to those who feel that way.

Reasons why senior men should read this

✅ Those who feel that "life's options are decreasing"
✅ Those who are interested in side jobs but are worried about what to do if they fail
✅ Those who are searching for "how I should live in the society of the future"

It is precisely for you that I would like you to read this book, "ORIGINALS".

Anxiety about retirement or re-employment.
Concerns about family future and health.
Liberation from social status and the resulting loneliness.

Your 60s are also a time to face new values.

By reading this book, you will gain the perspective that "I can still do it" and "I can still take on challenges."

Three actions you can take after reading

1. Use your professional skills to find seeds for a side business
   → Example: Local instructor, advisor, writing note articles, etc.

2. Try sharing your ideas or experiences once a week
   → "Your words" will reach someone via social media or blogs [Reference: 14†Seniors should post on social media].

3. Try "reading while doing" with Audible
   → "ORIGINALS" is also available on Audible, so it is recommended even for those who are not fond of reading [Reference: 11†Amazon Audible listening for utility].

Summary: It's okay to be different. That is exactly why life is interesting.

"ORIGINALS" is a book that encourages you to stop "following common sense" and instead "live according to the sense of discomfort within yourself."

Challenges starting in your 60s.
It depends not on youth, but on the "power to keep having choices."

Experiences only you can have, a life only you can tell.

That might become someone's hope.

Why not start by picking up this book?

📘 Product link (Amazon Associate)

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