How hungry are you?
At the time of recording this, I’d just come back from a run—something I do every Saturday called Park Run. It’s a free event held all over the world, and after finishing, I grabbed a coffee with a couple of mates. These guys are a bit older than me, both planning to retire this year. Naturally, they asked about my own retirement plans—whether I’d be calling it quits at 60. My answer? Absolutely not. I feel like I’m just getting started. My career has been a series of reinventions—20 years in federal government, working my way up to a senior level, followed by a shift to private industry where I climbed the ladder again. Then, I took another leap, starting my own business, and for the last 10 years, that’s where I’ve been.
The reality is, life expectancy is increasing. I’m currently reading Outlive, a book that highlights the importance of staying active—both aerobically and with strength training—especially after 50. My dad lived to 95, my mum is 92, and realistically, I could live to 100. So why would I retire at 60? I’m as motivated as ever. Even during my recent leave, I found myself listening to podcasts, meeting with friends, and brainstorming business ideas. Now, as I gear up to return to work, I’m feeling more energised than ever. But what about you? Maybe you’re like my two mates—sticking with the same job for years. If you’re not feeling particularly driven to make 2025 a great year, what’s going to change? Because one thing’s for sure—going through the motions won’t get you anywhere.
So, let’s reflect. What do you need to stop doing to reignite your hunger this year? What should you start doing? Is there something you’re doing too much of that’s draining your energy? And what should you be doing more of to keep growing? The reality is, in Australian healthcare, the number of practitioners is increasing faster than the population, so if you’re not growing, you’re falling behind. Nature doesn’t allow for stagnation—things are either growing or dying. My hope for you is that you’re growing. So, I’ll leave you with one simple question: how hungry are you? See you next time.