The Power of Perspective – A Lesson from Turning 40

It’s funny how milestone birthdays make you reflect. I turned 40 recently, and while it was just another Monday filled with the usual—gym, work, the routine—it hit differently. I found myself thinking, “I thought I’d be further along by now.” That sentence echoed in my head.

I’ve always had dreams, ambitions, goals in business and life. But on my birthday, staring at the ceiling, I felt a little off, like I should’ve hit more milestones. The thing is, reflection can either be your enemy or your motivator.

While I was caught up in that feeling, a friend texted me after listening to my podcast’s first episode. He said, “I can’t believe you started over at 33.” That one message snapped me out of it. I was so focused on what I hadn’t achieved that I completely overlooked how far I’d come.

It’s all about perspective.

• You can either be upset you didn’t sell out a 3,000-seat event.

• Or you can celebrate that 500 people showed up for you.

In construction, it’s the same. You might be frustrated about a project not landing, but you’ve still built something real, learned lessons, and created opportunities. The difference isn’t in what happens—it’s in how you see it.

So, when you catch yourself thinking, “I thought I’d be further along,” follow it with “and?”

• “I thought I’d be more successful by now.” And?

• “I thought I’d have more money saved.” And?

What matters isn’t where you are but what you’re going to do next. Shift your focus from what’s missing to how far you’ve come. Your perspective is everything.