I know someone who is almost 60 years old and is a manager in the IT realm. He is having a lot of health issues and has missed a lot of time which has slowed down some of the projects that are on the list.
His direct report is pulling his hair out because he could do the work by himself but doesn't have the authority to keep things going totally on his own. So I wonder what thoughts are prevalent on this individuals mind. Obviously his health is number one and getting through that is paramount and he could make it back to 100%. The one that I wonder about is how much of him is wondering about his job security.
His company is very family oriented so no one is looking to axe this person, at least not that I know of, but if it were me I would be kinda freaked out if I had a really talented guy under me who could learn what I did and potentially replace me. So that brings me to thinking about myself. Being in this business you constantly have to update your skills unless you are in some lame company who lives in the technological dark ages.
Which makes me ask a few questions of myself. Will I still have to, or for that matter want to learn about the next version of Windows at age 56 and have to worry about some younger guy taking my job if I don't? Will I have built up enough skills that I have the luxury to choose whether or not I wish to learn it. I dont have any idea at this point. If I still have a passion for it that I do now then I will still want to learn it and hopefully I will have the intangible skills to still be marketable if I dont.
I have recently passed the 35 year old mark and have never thought so much about my age as I have since February. As I see this person go through this life altering experience it makes me think about the state of my career and the need to evaluate what I should do safeguard myself and my family should something unforseen happen.
Peace-
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