We all ride two curves of success.
The first is built on achievement — performance, recognition, results. It’s about climbing the mountain, proving yourself, collecting wins. The second curve is different. It’s built on wisdom — teaching, mentoring, service, meaning. It’s less about what you produce and more about what you give.
Arthur Brooks, in From Strength to Strength, argues that sooner or later, the first curve starts to decline. The mistake is to cling to it, fighting harder and harder to maintain the same pace. The real opportunity is to step gracefully onto the second curve — and discover a different kind of strength.
At 44, I feel like I have one foot on each curve. I’m still building, still driven by achievement. But I also sense the need to invest in meaning: to teach, to guide, to create work that outlives me.
That’s why I started The Compound Life. Writing has become a way to explore the questions that matter most to me — health, productivity, longevity, energy, purpose. There are so many things I’ve learned, or that capture my attention, that I believe can be useful to others. Sharing them is part of how I prepare for my own second curve: not just chasing growth for myself, but offering what I’ve found to anyone who might benefit.
This isn’t just about midlife. Wherever you are, the principle applies:
If you’re in your 30s, the lesson is anticipation. Don’t wait until the first curve dips — start planting the seeds of the second now.
If you’re in your 40s or 50s, this is the window of transition. It’s the moment to redirect ambition from accumulation to contribution.
If you’re in your 60s or 70s, the second curve can be fully lived: wisdom, service, and relationships become your greatest assets.
The truth is, the two curves aren’t separate tracks. They’re a continuum. You don’t abandon one to jump onto the other — you prepare for the second while you’re still climbing the first.
So the real question isn’t when the shift will happen. It’s this:Am I preparing for my second curve now, or will I wait until the first has already faded?
What about you?Where do you feel you are right now — still climbing the first curve, beginning the second, or fully living it?I’d be curious to hear your perspective — share it in the comments or reply directly.