Beyond the Bucket List: Staying Relevant, Strong, and Impactful After 50

The concept of relevancy became clear to me through a conversation with Robert Hamilton Owens, a mentor to Argent Alpha. When we asked Robert why he takes on extreme challenges like rowing across the Atlantic, his response was simple: "to stay relevant." Robert is passionate about helping men, both young and old, become more mature. His accomplishments keep him relevant to those he works with, and to continue making an impact, he understands the importance of maintaining his own relevancy.

Why Relevancy Matters

Relevancy isn't just about keeping up appearances; it's about being engaged, purposeful, and valued in various aspects of life—whether in personal relationships, professional endeavors, or community involvement. Staying relevant means adapting to changes, embracing new opportunities, and ensuring that our contributions remain meaningful. It's not just about personal achievements but about how those achievements resonate with and benefit others.

The Purpose of This Newsletter

In “Beyond the Bucket List: Staying Relevant, Strong, and Impactful After 50”, we'll delve into how to maintain and enhance your relevancy as you age. Whether you're looking to improve your physical health, adapt professionally, focus on your legacy, or deepen your relationships, this newsletter is your guide to increasing your personal relevancy.

What You'll Discover

• Physical Vitality: Maintaining your health and fitness to ensure you have the energy and resilience to pursue your goals.

• Financial & Professional Adaptability: Leveraging your financial independence to explore new passions and stay engaged professionally.

• Legacy-Focused Mindset: Shifting your focus from personal achievements to the positive impact you leave on others.

• Relationship & Community Engagement: Building and nurturing meaningful connections that provide support and purpose.

Moving Forward

Staying relevant after 50 is entirely possible with the right mindset and strategies. Inspired by Robert's dedication to staying relevant, this newsletter will help you adopt a multifaceted approach to ensure you remain strong in mind, body, and spirit.

Defining Relevance for Men Over 50

What is Relevance?

Relevance means staying engaged, purposeful, and valued in various aspects of life. It's not just about being present but actively contributing and making a meaningful impact in your personal relationships, professional endeavors, and community involvement. Relevance is about being seen, heard, and making a difference in a world that's constantly evolving.

Staying relevant is crucial for personal fulfillment and maintaining a sense of purpose. It helps you stay connected with others, adapt to changes, and continue growing both personally and professionally. When you're relevant, you feel more satisfied and confident, knowing that your contributions matter. This isn't just about self-satisfaction but about the legacy you leave and the lives you touch.

Creating vs. Consuming: The Key to Staying Relevant

One of the fundamental aspects of maintaining relevancy is the balance between creating and consuming. While consuming—whether it's information, entertainment, or services—is a natural part of life, focusing predominantly on consumption can lead to stagnation. On the other hand, actively creating fosters growth, innovation, and a sense of accomplishment.

Creating goes beyond personal production. It involves building, being part of something that is growing, and actively contributing to communities or organizations. For example, a retired 75-year-old man dedicating his time to a growing church not only adds value to the church but also maintains his personal relevance. This mutual benefit highlights the importance of creating as a means to stay relevant.

Overconsumption rarely leads to positive outcomes. It can result in physical health issues, mental stagnation, and weakened social connections. Instead of fostering growth, overconsumption often leads to a decline in overall well-being and relevancy. The key is to consume with intention, to fuel your creativity and knowledge, not to numb or distract.

Creating as Positive Impact

Creating involves more than just producing or building; it's about how you positively impact the lives of others. Whether you're mentoring a few individuals or contributing to a larger community, the essence is to add meaningful value. Here are some principles to guide your creation:

The Law of Value: Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment. By focusing on providing more value through your actions and interactions, you enhance the lives of others, which in turn solidifies your own relevancy.

The Law of Influence: Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interests first. Prioritizing the needs and aspirations of others fosters trust and respect, reinforcing your role as a valuable and relevant figure in your community.

The Law of Authenticity: The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself. Being genuine in your interactions ensures that your contributions are heartfelt and impactful, further enhancing your personal relevancy.

Source: Bob Burg, co-author of The Go-Giver

Practical Applications:

Engage in New Projects: Start a hobby that allows you to create, like woodworking, writing, or volunteering for a community project. These activities not only keep your skills sharp but also connect you with others, fostering a sense of community and purpose.

Mentorship and Teaching: Share your expertise by mentoring younger professionals or teaching a class. This not only helps others but also keeps you engaged, learning, and refining your own knowledge.

Content Creation: Create content that reflects your passions and expertise, such as blogging, podcasting, or making videos. This can be a way to influence a broader audience and keep yourself intellectually engaged.

The Drift from Relevance: The Health Domino Effect

Lifestyle Neglect as a Catalyst

Maintaining good health is foundational to staying relevant and impactful. Unfortunately, many men over 50 are falling short in this area. Nearly 80% of men over 50 are overweight or obese, fueling a chronic health crisis that affects not only individual well-being but also the broader community. This widespread neglect of physical well-being leads to increased interactions with the sickcare system, more prescriptions, and a higher number of medical procedures. These health issues are interconnected, creating a domino effect that impacts every facet of life.

When health declines, it undermines confidence and engagement in personal and professional activities, diminishing one's ability to contribute meaningfully. Chronic illnesses, excess weight, and low energy levels can severely limit leadership potential and strain family relationships, making it harder to stay relevant.

Spillover into Other Areas

Relationships: Reduced energy and mood swings can strain relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. You may find it harder to engage in meaningful conversations or participate in social activities, leading to feelings of isolation.

Professional Life: Declining health can impact your ability to perform at work or pursue new professional opportunities. This stagnation can result in missed chances for growth and diminish your professional relevancy.

Community Involvement: When health issues arise, finding the time and energy to contribute to community projects or volunteer work becomes challenging. This withdrawal can lessen your impact and visibility within your community.

Mindset Traps

• Limiting Beliefs: Statements like "I'm not creative," "I'm not good with technology," or "I need alcohol to relax," can restrict personal growth. These beliefs keep men stuck in old patterns, preventing them from exploring new avenues or adapting to change.

• Victim Mentality: Blaming external factors instead of taking responsibility for one's situation. This mindset fosters a sense of helplessness, reducing the motivation to take proactive steps towards maintaining relevancy.

• Complacency: Believing you've done enough, which leads to stagnation. Complacency can make it difficult to adapt to new challenges or seize emerging opportunities, leading to a gradual fade from relevance.

Breaking the Cycle

Prioritize Health: Commit to a balanced diet, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep. These are non-negotiable pillars that support all other areas of life.

Seek Support: Engage with health professionals, join fitness groups, or participate in wellness programs that can provide guidance and accountability.

Challenge Mindset Traps: Actively work to identify and overcome limiting beliefs, adopt a proactive attitude, and set continuous personal growth goals.

Harder to Kill: The Four Cornerstones of Staying Relevant

Physical Vitality: The Foundation of Relevance

When your body fails, everything else follows. Strength, endurance, and energy levels dictate your ability to lead, engage, and perform. The reality is harsh—if you are overweight, weak, and sedentary, you are on a predictable path to decline.

Why It Matters

• Your ability to think, lead, and influence is tied to your physical health.

• Strength and stamina ensure you can engage in demanding physical and mental pursuits.

• Longevity vs. Healthspan: It’s not just about living longer; it’s about living well for as long as possible.

Actionable Steps:

• Prioritize protein-centric meals: Every meal should be built around high-quality protein sources to support muscle retention, energy, and satiety.

• Train for strength and endurance: Lifting weights and prioritizing functional fitness keep you physically capable.

• Eliminate low-value foods: Nutrition is fuel. Remove processed junk and focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods.

• Optimize recovery: Sleep, stress management, and mobility work matter as much as training.

Financial & Professional Adaptability: Staying in the Game

By 50, many men have achieved financial independence or are well on their way. The question then becomes: Now what? You’ve built wealth, but how do you keep growing and engaging with the world?

Why It Matters: 

• Purpose beyond profit: Financial success is great, but irrelevance comes when you stop using your skills productively.

• Avoiding stagnation: Many high achievers lose momentum when they exit their careers without a new mission.

• Lifelong learning fuels adaptability: Sticking to what you know keeps you comfortable but outdated.

Actionable Steps:

• Set a goal for learning: Don’t just absorb information—decide how you will apply it. Will it enhance your business acumen? Allow you to launch a new venture? Help you mentor others?

• Engage in value creation: Beyond traditional career paths, this could include volunteering, board service, creating a side business, or working on projects with your kids or grandkids.

• Train your mind like your body: Learning new skills (languages, instruments, technology) prevents cognitive decline.

Legacy-Focused Mindset: Playing for Something Bigger

At some point, the shift happens—from what you achieve to what you leave behind. Men who stay relevant over time are those who expand their focus beyond personal success to impact.

Why It Matters: 

• The Eulogy Test: Are you remembered for checking off a bucket list, or for the impact you made?

• Teaching sharpens mastery: Passing down lessons forces deeper understanding and reflection.

• Significance beats success: Accolades fade; influence and contribution create lasting relevance.

Actionable Steps:

• Mentor others: Guide younger men, whether in business, fitness, or life experience.

• Build something that outlives you: This could be a business, a foundation, or a network that continues without you.

• Redefine success: Shift focus from accumulation to contribution—who are you helping grow?

Relationship & Community Engagement: Strength in Connection

Relevance isn’t just about what you do; it’s about who you do it with. Isolation is the fastest track to irrelevance. If you’re not actively strengthening relationships and contributing to your community, you’re fading.

Why It Matters

• Relationships dictate resilience: Strong personal and professional networks are key to navigating setbacks.

• Contribution fosters connection: The more you give, the more connected you stay.

• You’re the sum of your circle: Surrounding yourself with sharp, engaged men keeps you sharp and engaged.

Actionable Steps:

• Audit your relationships: Who do you spend the most time with, and are they elevating or draining you?

• Invest in deep connections: Quality over quantity—fewer strong relationships beat many surface-level ones.

• Engage in a mission-driven community: Join groups where men challenge and sharpen each other.

Faith as Your Anchor: Building Relevance with Spiritual Depth

As a Christian, though not an expert in theology, I recognize the profound role faith plays in maintaining relevance, resilience, and purpose. Here's how it shapes a life of impact:

Purpose and Meaning: Faith in Christ provides a clear direction, helping you navigate life with a focus on service rather than solely personal achievements.

Resilience Against Trials: Biblical teachings frame challenges as pathways to growth, equipping you with the strength to endure and grow from adversity.

A Legacy of Impact: Faith inspires thinking beyond material wealth to what truly endures—spiritual and moral influence.

Actionable Steps:

• Align Actions with Faith: Let your faith guide your daily choices and long-term goals. Even if you're not a theologian, living out your beliefs can profoundly influence those around you.

• Engage in Faith-Based Community: Find strength and purpose through fellowship, where you can both give and receive support.

Conclusion: Your Next Decade of Relevance

Relevance is something you build every day. The choice is yours—to level up or fade. Here's a place to start:

• Physical Goal: Identify one challenge; commit to it.

• Belief System: Audit and eliminate limiting beliefs.

• Growth Plan: Create a plan for the next year, mastering one skill.

• Give Back: Find one way to contribute to your community or mentor someone.

Your next decade can be your best, but only if you make it so. Join Argent Alpha today, and step up to be the man who never fades.