👋 Hi! I'm Dan. I help makers, artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives find the clarity and motivation to get their work out into the world. If that sounds good, let's go! 🚀

Hi Reader,

It's been a minute. I've been busy with some things that are coming your way shortly. Stay tuned!

Before we begin, a quick note:

We just passed 8k subscribers. 🥳

It's unbelivable!

A decade ago when I started this, all I wanted was 10k subscribers. That's when the gurus said I'd have "made it".

But it became clear quickly that

1) it was going to take a long time, and 2) subscribers don't correlate to success.

Both are still true. 10k is still a long way off.

Though I'm excited for the 8k milestone, the only thing that I have at 8k subscribers that I didn't have before...

is a bigger email service provider bill to pay. 😆

I'm very grateful you're here. It's a privilege to be in your inbox.

Today, we have:

• 8 lessons I'm learning at 42.
• Content you may have missed.
• Some favorite things — from YOU! Our readers!

Let's get into it! 👇

Lessons Learned

I turned 42 last week.
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My 8 biggest challenges of work at mid-life:
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(So far)
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My birthday was last Thursday.
I closed the laptop. And went to San Francisco for a wedding.
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Here are the biggest challenges of 42,
And the lessons they’re teaching me:
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​1️⃣ Still figuring it out, when you feel you already should have.​
I don’t know anyone within a decade of me who doesn’t feel this.
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You think by the time you’d be here that certain things would be set.
That you’d know things that you still don’t know.
That the path would be clear.
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We’re always making it up as we go.
No matter the age.
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👉 Life is improv. Embrace it.
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​2️⃣ Live in the gains but use the gap.​
The business coach Dan Sullivan uses these terms, and they’re powerful.
The gap is the space between where you are and where you want to be.
The gain is the space between where you are and where you were.
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The gap drives us forward.
The gain gives us joy, confidence, and satisfaction.
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I’m liable to stay in the gap.
Feeling discouraged.
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But the best life is lived in the gains
Proud of where I’ve been.
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​👉 Learn to use them both.​
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​3️⃣ The stakes are higher in everything. ​
In my 20’s and 30’s it felt like I had time.
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Time to try things.
Time to experiment.
Time to invest to create opportunities.
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Time is shorter now.
There’s more packed into it.
And there’s less left of it.
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Everything has more opportunity cost.
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​👉 Choose your bets carefully.​
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​4️⃣ Transitions take time to do well.​
It’s easy to feel the pressure.
Especially if you need to transition in these years.
​
And if you’re doing it right, you will.
Transitions are powerful.
Life is made in the transitions ( 👈 I can't emphasize this enough!)
You become who you are in the transitions.
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But transitions take time.
And it’s hard to wait with everything hanging in the balance.
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​👉 Be patient with yourself​
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​5️⃣ The days are long, but the decades are short. ​
The past 20+ years of work have gone by in a blink.
And the science says time is getting faster.
​
In mere moments I’ll be writing a version of this post about turning fifty something.
It’s wild.
But so true.
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​👉 Learn to be present and slow time down.​
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​6️⃣ Work when done right, is about identity.​
LinkedIn will tell you part of the story of work:
The wins, the jockeying for position, half truths.
​
But there’s a deeper story.
The one where you’re continually becoming the next version of yourself.
Finding the next way to express yourself.
Putting yourself on the hook to do something that matters.
To yourself.
To your team.
To your customers.
To the world.
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​👉 Don’t miss the deeper story.​
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​7️⃣ I’m more myself and more free today than ever before.​
This is the paradox of personal growth.
The outer pressures and expectations mount.
But the inner growth stays ahead.
​
In some ways I’m less free, right?
I have a family to care for.
But I also have more clarity on what’s right for me.
And what’s not.
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The breadth of freedom is smaller.
But the depth is greater.
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​👉 Keep going. Keep growing.​
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Your Turn:

Have thoughts? Hit reply. I'd love to hear them.

In Case You Missed it:

A few recent posts and articles across platforms

From LinkedIn:

📰 I had to fire a team member, and couldn’t do it... I’d reached burnout, and didn’t know it yet.​

📰 Dear email: I love you but your break my heart.​

From the Newsletter:

✉️ The Next Version of Yourself 💪​

✉️ Why do Hard Things? ​

Things I'm enjoying - Reader Edition!

I love sharing what I'm into. And I love hearing what you're into as well!

THANK YOU Tracie and Nick for sharing some of yours favorite things right now! 🙌

Mole 🌮

Nick C. is visiting Latin America and loving mole.

He says: "Put it on everything... with some refried black beans and cotija, it’s divine."

Yum.

Miracle Morning 🌅

Tracie I. says: "I've been loving Hal Elrod's Miracle Morning. Have you read it? Heard him? Heard his story? It's quite amazing!"

Elrod's book just about started the "morning routine" movement. His book is great. It's a fantastic way to bring intention and focus to your day.

I think I'll revisit it.

Mexico City 🇲🇽

Again from Nick C.: "Mexico City is just like New York, only 40% as expensive, tropical, and I get to practice Spanish!"

I've only been to Mexico City briefly. But I loved it. I often threaten to move my family there!

How to Do Laundry
When You're Depressed 👚🩳

​This TedX talk by KC Davis is perfect.

She speaks the truth. She tells her story. And she gives us all the permission we need to get by when we need to.

If you've ever struggled with depression, you know the wieght of everything. And how hard it can be to do the smallest and most basic parts of life.

My guess is that most readers here are big feelers, so I have a feeling this will resonate.

Her thesis in the talk is this:

If that doesn't make you feel something, there's nothing I can do for you. It hits me hard. We all need a little more self-compassion!

Your turn

Anything great you've been enjoying? Hit reply and send it along! I'd love to know. Seriously.

8,100+ people are getting this email.

Last time I had two people respond. TWO!

Let's change that.

Hit reply. Tell me what's good!

Yours in meaning making,

Dan Cumberland

Say hi 👋 on Twitter or LinkedIn!

And follow along:

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