The age of man

Time is one of the most decisive resources in a man’s life. Time defines and shapes everything. It defines the age of man. What we are and what we become happen within the precincts of our ages. We are all products of time, and understanding this is an awakening to how we should approach life at different stages and ages.

Some time ago, I visited a mentor to give him some project updates. Typical of him, he always wants to be sure you’re doing fine and making progress. This, for him, was more important than the said project updates I was meant to provide. And then out of nowhere, he asked, “How old are you again?” “In my early forties,” I responded. He dug further, “What are you doing beyond work to prepare for your retirement?”

That second question struck me like a lightning bolt. I first struggled to put my thoughts together, because who would have imagined such a question at a meeting meant for updates on a social project he sponsored? In the end, I gave some answers which I suspected were not satisfactory to him.

And that got me thinking, at different stages and phases of our lives, are we applying ourselves diligently enough? Are we focusing on the next phase of our lives? This is because one’s growth may stall; ageing is inevitable and unstoppable. Understanding this life’s dynamics can make a big difference in how we approach life and the key decisions we make around it.

I hold the view that at every stage, you must plan with the next decade in mind. And at each decade phase, you must do something incredible, epochal and indeed profound enough to shake the foundation of your life prior and after. Such a decision could be a change of job, a change of environment, or just anything. You just have to do something the average person may consider daring or even improbable.

In our 20s, we have reckless fire and energy to do the impossible. It’s that phase of intense learning and experience-gathering. Earning is sacrificed at the altar of learning. People change jobs more frequently in search of Alpha, that is, a clear career path, direction and purpose and not just money. Lest I miss it, in the past decade, the Nigerian job market has been painfully challenging for many young people in their 20s. And it’s rather unfortunate.

Then, enters a man in his 30s. This decade is often the sweet spot in a man’s life. It’s the phase of consolidation. It’s that phase where we deepen our earning potentials. It’s the age where we dare to take some incredible career risks. It’s that age range where you must take chances on yourself and upskill like your life depends on it (because it does) and perhaps get a higher degree or write a professional exam to reaffirm your expertise in a chosen field. Your 30s represent the most important phase of your life. The risk appetite is at an all-time high. What you do here will shape what happens in subsequent decades of your life. Take my word for it.

Then enters a man in his 40s. Here, the tension is palpable and, I must say, intense. I’m in my 40s, so I can tell. This is the phase of one’s life where all bets and benefits of excuses and doubts are off. It explains the common adage that a fool at forty is a fool forever. Nobody cares about the validity of your excuses anymore. What will become of your 50s, 60s and onwards will be shaped by this phase of your life. Wealth creation is a must. It’s a defining age. For the most part, the risk you couldn’t take in your 20s and 30s – this is the next best time to take the plunge. The choice may be limited, but the impact of your effort becomes more profound.

Now comes the golden age. It is another age of consolidation. Your 50s tell a beautiful story of prior decades now paying off. It’s the phase that gives you a sense of what the retirement years may feel like. It’s an age of more deliberate and intentional wealth accumulation. In this phase of your life, your risk appetite becomes more agitating, especially when you still have some huge miles to cover. Nonetheless, it’s generally an age where you tend to take more cautious and moderated risks across all spheres of life, be they economic or social.

At the end of the day, each decade of life whispers its own mandate. Our 20s demand courage, our 30s reward conviction, our 40s insist on clarity, and our 50s call for stewardship. The clock does not negotiate, but it does reward the intentional. When we honour the season we are in and invest wisely in the season ahead, then we transform time from a silent observer into a strategic partner.

And that, my friend, is the quiet triumph of a well-lived life: knowing the age you are in, understanding what it requires, and stepping boldly into what comes next.

Sikiru Salami FCA is a Nigerian-based CFO, finance strategist, and business leader with finance leadership experience spanning multiple sectors. He can be contacted via [email protected].

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date