I have been mulling over a conversation I had with a client last week. During our discussions about some work she wanted my company to do for her, she said, "I find the best ideas come from people under 30. I just put them in a room, bring in a bag full of tacos and tell them not to come out until they come up with some good ideas. They have not disappointed me yet." My first response to the comment was one of amazement. In our uber-politically correct country, I was dumbfounded to hear a large segment of the population discounted due to age. I then got kind of snarky because, well, I am over 30 and was feeling a bit defensive and thought, yeah really good ideas that can be bought with a bag of tacos.
But as her comment continued to resurface, I started to really think about what she said. Is it true that all our best ideas come to us before our 30th birthday? Take Albert Einstein for example. He was 26 years old when he published the four Annus Mirabilis which included his Special Theory of Relativity. He did of course continue to work in the field of physics well passed his 30th birthday and even patented the Einstein refrigerator in 1930. But was Einstein really finished at 26; was the best behind him? Would the years after he turned 30 been better spent on a beach in the Caribbean consuming drinks with little umbrellas? Of course, Einstein may not be the best example because his world was one of science and anyone who watches the Big Bang Theory has witnessed Sheldon Cooper's race to secure his place on the Nobel platform before he turns 30.
When I was under 30, we had a similar concept and phrase...Never Trust Anyone Over 30. Even at the time I did not buy into the idea because I did in fact trust my grandmother. But it was great fun to watch those over 30, particularly my suburban parents, react to the subversive thinking put out by Bob Dylan, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, The Beatles and Jack Weinberger. Boy, those were the good old days. But today I am reminded of another phrase that I have embraced on many occasion...Payback is Hell. So here I sit, over 30 contemplating whether my best ideas are behind me.
Frankly I don't believe that good or even great ideas dry up at 30. I do believe that after 30 youthful assurance is superseded by experience and after 60, experience is balanced against the knowledge that time is limited. Limited time means intentionally setting priorities that don't always include hours and hours at work, eating tacos and crafting ideas that further someone else's priorities. But what do you think? Once you hit 30, did you lose that spark? Did your best ideas vanish? If you are under 30, do you believe those around you over 30 just don't have "it"? Let me know what you think. This concept has definitely captured my imagination.
Hugs,
C