When is Old Too Old to Work?

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the question, “How old is too old to work?”

This thought came up when I saw discussions around President Biden being encouraged not to seek reelection.

Some say he was gently pushed out; others think he was forced out.

It got me wondering: is there really a magic number where age means we have to stop working?

Is it 80?  

Biden is 81. Does that make it the cutoff?

But then, you look at Bernie Sanders, who’s 82, and Mick Jagger, who’s still rocking it at 81 with the Rolling Stones.

Diane Feinstein was in her 90s and still working.

So, is age really the deciding factor?

I think the only person who can truly answer the question of when you’re “too old” is you.

Sure, there might be ageism or discrimination out there in the workplace, but ultimately, you are in charge of deciding when enough is enough.

For me, I made a big career shift at 56, leaving corporate America to pursue career coaching full time.

Now, at 65, I’m thriving.

My former boss, at 57, started his own software company.

He’s now 67, still going strong, leading a successful team.

If you’re a program manager at 60, who’s to say you’re too old to organize and manage a major product launch?

We will trust leaders like Kamala Harris, who’s 60, or Donald Trump, who’s 78, with some of our most critical responsibilities.

So why shouldn’t a skilled, experienced professional like you be trusted to lead a multimillion-dollar project?

You are in charge of your own employability. Don’t let societal pressures or age-related stereotypes determine your next move.

When the time comes, you’ll know if it’s time to step back—but that’s your decision to make, and no one else’s.

If this resonates with you, I encourage you to watch my latest video and dive deeper into this topic.

When is Old Too Old to Work?

Let’s rethink the way we view age and work!