Any 40+ Grapeviners here?
Wanted to say Hi, what do you do, how do you see current phase of your life, how do you look at your career so far, and what do you plan to do in next 5 years, etc.
Looks like there are the only 2 folks here who are 40+ 😂.
Nevertheless, here's my story - Not exactly a go getter, laid back guy but always topper of my school. Graduated from top college, placed with Indian IT services biggies, could not crack MBA entrance exams, so continued with average paying jobs. Procrastinated long enough to miss out on opportunities for moving abroad. Thought I was a decent coder but realised I was average when I could not convert tech interviews in really good companies (my skill was C++). I was never a code geek, had/have varied interest from trekking to movies, music etc.
When career seemed going nowhere, I took gmat, scored well, and did MBA after a decade of workex. But I was not averse to remaining in tech so I'm still working in product company, but non PM role. Customer facing + Delivery. Pays well so far, living a happy married life with 2 kids.
Moral - Tons of career mistakes I did if you read above carefully 😂. Can't advise anyone on career path, but few things that I'm happy that they turned out well. Peace of mind is paramount, no matter what job you are doing. Your salary and perks are useless if you are taking tablets for high bp. Never thought I'll say this but enough number of people my age are on sugar or bp tablets, that one starts considering themselves lucky if you are not taking any. Somehow I ended up taking a stand against crazy work hours, that has enriched my family life. Of course one pays for it when office politics works against you, so it's a double edged sword. Plus having limited but close friends with whom you can be your childish version without fear of being judged.
I somehow only see all the high achievers and hustlers here. So if you are anything like me, then you are not alone.
Node
Stealth
9 months ago
Can I DM you pls ?
early 40s here, got to know of grapevine via reddit and have been around for a while now. I'm in startup investing space, career wise I'm doing all right, graduated from IIMB in mid 2000s. Dabble around with coding and tech also, keeps me entertained.
career wise advice: network well, and keep your skills updated. and if anyone asks for help, help them. Also, things even out.
Gokart
Stealth
9 months ago
What do you mean by “things even out “ ?
@Gokart Hey, so when I say things even out, i mean bad times (or good times) dont last for ever and they average out.
Will turn 48 soon. Career has been a roller coaster ride juggling between startups and corporate. I work on cloud tech and am an individual contributor. I foresee working on gen ai for next five years and the current phase looks very exciting
Great going. Tbh i dont know anyone at your age level being an individual contributor, let alone in AI. Generally asking how is TechM as an employer for not so young employees?
See more comments
Almost 40. Engineering + MBA. Average Colleges/Grades/Childhood. Worked in IT and now a Brand Marketeer turned Digital Sales/Growth/Product professional .
Lucky to have had some good breaks in my career that would probably put me in the 95th percentile career/earnings wise. I could be grossly wrong but if the Salaries feature on Grapevine is to go by, I may not be.
IMO, Good careers are a series of choices, made at pivotal moments. The chances of making better choices are higher and more likely when you come from good pedigree either from a social and academic point of view. I have a little bit of the former and average of the later.
All careers are a function of tides. One's primary choice should be an emerging Industry tide, then emerging set of companies and then position yourself to take advantage. Tailwinds and luck are the least understood and acknowledged factors of careers. One tends to believe that it's you who managed to be successful when it's actually the tide lifting everyone. I know and acknowledge it because of my background and based on my outsized returns.
Another point to consider, is don't aspire to be a single area specialist, no matter how renumerative that may continue to be. Always grow your circle of competencies. The best opportunities/career advancements are at the intersection. Being able to work at the intersection of 3 is blind luck and you are blessed to be able to work at 4. Look around, most successful entrepreneurs/professionals built themselves up to be better outside their competencies.
Finally about myself, I am in a good space and optimistic about the future. But again, I acknowledge my privilege. The future is bright for almost 100% of the people on this platform. You are the 1% soon to be 0.1% in income terms. Don't beat yourself up or indulge in any forms of envy about life and career. It's a cancer that will eat you up from the inside.
Everyone has their own path but remember that you have already arrived.
Turning 40 next summer,Did blunders in life including startups/Business deals that backfired big time and thought me things like patience and calmness.
Product & Marketing/Sales guy who loves learning new subjects and trying to constantly upgrade myself.
In the current phase of my life,I am grateful for all that I have and no regrets of things/money I have lost since I had made good of most the opportunities that came my way and have daring things which friends and family warned me not to do but am happy I took those plunges (short term regrets are natural but in the hindsight,I smile thinking of them).
Working with startups as a Pro Bono (Without remuneration) Advisor/Mentor and I see myself helping startups and working with Acceletors/Incubators/VC ecosystem in the next 5 years.
The will will keep evolving itself at a greater pace than ever but we need to match our pace and be upskilled/upgraded to be relevant with the forthcoming evolution 🧬 that would make you or break us if we are not prepared.
Good luck 🤞
Hi @Angrybirdd, how to find startups where I can contribute pro bono? What do these startups looks for in their advisor?
Great answer. Constantly looking for upskilling is the only way to go.
See more comments
30+ here but feeling like 20+ and making dumb mistakes.
Bookmarked this to seek some wisdom later.
WolfgangMozart
Stealth
9 months ago
Early 40s here, looking to rise further through ranks of middle management in the next 5 years, or even hopefully into senior/executive management 😊
Salesforceswap
Stealth
9 months ago
38
Salesforceswap
Stealth
9 months ago
Thinking to retire at 45.. aur part time work on 45
See more comments
ElasticFlare
Stealth
9 months ago
Mid 40s and ur question reminds me of an interview. Work in marketing, keeps getting worse as far as career is concerned and bosses are concerned. And no it doesn't get easier as you move up the ladder. With Ai coming in, expecting shit to blow up.
Mid 40s, made a few career mistakes, including breaks. But am a laid back kinda person so taking everything in stride. Struggling through.
Job stability mostly. Hence I avoided your last question of next 5 years. Not sure what I'm gonna do...
See more comments
As a startup employee myself always have this since I do not see many 40 year old around me ...will I still have a career in startups at 40 as an employee?? Or should I switch to MNC and then become like my dad
35, sometimes i feel like 20 and other times it feels like work career is almost over. Dabbled in 2 startups, sold one, shut down the other. Work in a cpg company now with good money and every day think of whats next. If i stay for next 5 years, i will end up making loads of money. But every day i feel like i am wasting my life away.
Discover More
Curated from across
