50 Is The New...

Two recent events should represent a kick in the ass to everyone who gets mail from the AARP.

First, 53-year-old Madonna sets the world on fire during the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and this past Tuesday, pre-orders for her upcoming MDNA album ascended to the top spot on iTunes stores in 50 countries, and was the largest one day pre-order of any album in iTunes history. I'd like to propose that for Madonna, 53 is the new 35.

Then last Wednesday, 56-year-old David Lee Roth, 57-year-old Eddie Van Halen and 58-year-old Alex Van Halen wowed the crowd at their pre-world tour rehearsal inside the Forum in L.A., performing a blistering two-hour set of both classic and new music that blew the roof off the place. And it had nothing to do with the young-factor brought by Eddie's 12-year-old son, Wolfgang, on bass. (Okay, he's 21 ... and quite good.)

We ought to take away a lot from all this. It's a reminder that age has no negative bearing on success, and often enhances it. Fifty-somethings can surge forward by capitalizing and building on what they do best ... and fixing the past if necessary. They can wipe out disease, destructive habits and career irrelevance. They can reinvent themselves. They can show the world that what is new is every bit as intriguing as what is old. All while providing us with the comfort food we crave: credibility, where a look back instills confidence from a rich past and often allows others to re-live good times and successes in their own lives and careers.

My dad always said 50 was the new 40. With these two events as catalysts for inspiration, it sure seems 50 is the new 30. To quote my dad, "You have your whole life in front of you." Amen to that!