Research reveals three main development paths for leaders over their lifetime:
1. Flat-lining. Research shows that while most leaders start well, not many end well. Somewhere around the age of 40 most people plateau in their life and leadership and if left unchecked this flat-lining can lead to further difficulty:
2. Floundering. A serious decline in life and leadership.
3. Flourishing. Only a minority of adults get here – and yet everyone yearns for it.
At midlife we feel deep within a stirring that whispers to us that there is more. We do not have to plateau. We can move into a place of maximum effectiveness. Or at least we wish we could.
These stirrings are common to all mid-life adults. They come from God who whispers to us that there is something more. This is a time for deep reflection that begins in our hearts. We look back to see what God has done and then look forward with a belief that the future does not need to look exactly like the past. We can enter this mid-life window with a spirit of anticipation, looking to discover anew the dreams that God has placed in our hearts.
The Cause of Flat-lining
The cause of this mid-life flat-line is what CREST calls “the ceiling of complexity.” Between family, career, and volunteer work, life has become full, producing what becomes for most mid-life people an overwhelming sense of busyness and frustration. At the same time there are critical shifts happening that push us into new territory. Consider:
Your physical body is slowing down
Children are leaving home
Your responsibilities have broadened
Your are experiencing the consequences of a lifetime of choices
There are changes in the environment around you
The cumulative result of these shifts produce for everyone a ‘mid-life challenge,’ and for some a ‘mid-life crisis.’
Flourishing.
There are some who break through the complexity to flourish. They have made significant shifts and adapted such that they are able to move into their “sweet spot,” where gifting, passion and circumstances converge into Maximum Effectiveness.
The Potential of the Second Half
The good news for mid-lifers is that flourishing typically happens after age 40. The second half of life has the most potential. People at mid-life have experience, a network of connections, and assets that, if properly aligned, can propel them into the best years of their life.
Mid-lifers in the developed world have the additional privilege of
a longer average lifespan
advanced health support
more material assets than most other cultures
This means that after 40 there is potential for increased effectiveness, or even another entire career. Modern mid-lifers are able to do something that most former generations could never dream of. They are able to imagine a preferred life, and actually experience it.
For Christians, this dream, or call, connects directly with Kingdom purpose. What gives most significance and satisfaction is when we can give back and help people. The sweet spot is where the world’s need, your heart’s deepest desires, and your skills meet.
The Move to Maximum Effectiveness
This move is not automatic. To move toward a significant second half an intentional process must be engaged. That is exactly what CREST provides. In CREST you will:
Re-visit your story to see how God has used and is using the events in your past to shape your character
Re-connect with your purpose and values
Discover the crucial mid-life shifts that must be made to get on the path to Maximum Effectiveness
Discover your strengths to ensure that you are in the place that brings you the greatest joy
Strengthen your relationships acquiring skills for effective communication
Re-imagine your God inspired dreams
Develop a strategy to move into your best years
Failure to address the mid-life shifts can have unhealthy consequences.
By taking the challenge seriously and refusing to accept a flat-line trajectory, mid-life can be the launch pad for your most productive years.
The Mid-Life Issue
1. Flat-lining. Research shows that while most leaders start well, not many end well. Somewhere around the age of 40 most people plateau in their life and leadership and if left unchecked this flat-lining can lead to further difficulty:
2. Floundering. A serious decline in life and leadership.
3. Flourishing. Only a minority of adults get here – and yet everyone yearns for it.
At midlife we feel deep within a stirring that whispers to us that there is more. We do not have to plateau. We can move into a place of maximum effectiveness. Or at least we wish we could.
These stirrings are common to all mid-life adults. They come from God who whispers to us that there is something more. This is a time for deep reflection that begins in our hearts. We look back to see what God has done and then look forward with a belief that the future does not need to look exactly like the past. We can enter this mid-life window with a spirit of anticipation, looking to discover anew the dreams that God has placed in our hearts.
The Cause of Flat-lining
The cumulative result of these shifts produce for everyone a ‘mid-life challenge,’ and for some a ‘mid-life crisis.’
Flourishing.
The Potential of the Second Half
The good news for mid-lifers is that flourishing typically happens after age 40. The second half of life has the most potential. People at mid-life have experience, a network of connections, and assets that, if properly aligned, can propel them into the best years of their life.
Mid-lifers in the developed world have the additional privilege of
This means that after 40 there is potential for increased effectiveness, or even another entire career. Modern mid-lifers are able to do something that most former generations could never dream of. They are able to imagine a preferred life, and actually experience it.
For Christians, this dream, or call, connects directly with Kingdom purpose. What gives most significance and satisfaction is when we can give back and help people. The sweet spot is where the world’s need, your heart’s deepest desires, and your skills meet.
The Move to Maximum Effectiveness
Failure to address the mid-life shifts can have unhealthy consequences.
By taking the challenge seriously and refusing to accept a flat-line trajectory, mid-life can be the launch pad for your most productive years.