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Sometimes we’re so intent on getting to where we plan on going that we lose sight of the here and now, writes Manos Findikakis, chief executive officer of Agents’Agency.
We can overlook the things that matter beyond metrics, accolades and the bright shiny symptoms of a successful career.
With that single-minded focus, we can fail to appreciate the luxury of youth and time, and the wisdom of age. We can underestimate how rapidly time goes by, or become so set on our own path that we don’t pause to take in the wisdom of those who’ve walked this road before us.
Sometimes you need to stop, lean in, and learn. You need to take a moment to grasp how fleeting time really is, but how much can be accomplished within a short period.
You also need to make space and time to learn from an older generation who might just have a wealth of insight into what actually matters and where best to channel your energy, both personally and professionally.
Do you have the time?
Think about it. It seems like we welcomed in 2025 only yesterday. But nope, it’s now February. We’re on the slippery slope to Easter, we’re well and truly back at work, the kids are back at school, and the year is underway.
When I reflect on the passage of time, I’m reminded of a conversation I had in my mid-20s with a business adviser who was twice my age.
We were discussing and formulating a particular business project that he estimated would be completed within a 15- to 18-month period.
I replied in disbelief: “Up to 18 months?” What the? It felt like an eternity!
His response to my comment was accompanied by a cheeky grin: “When you get to my age, you realise that years don’t seem that long anymore.”
That statement had a profound impact on me – not just because of the validity of his comment that as each year passes and we experience more of the same, it seems that the passage of time quickens.
It also resonated with the point that the older generation has so much wisdom to share. Remember, he was someone who was 50 when I was 25. He seemed so old to me back then!
Experience, knowledge and insight
The truth is the older generation has a good combination of understanding gained by experience, accumulated knowledge, or learning, insight and judgement.
When you think about it, that’s invaluable. When it comes down to it many of the older generations share the same key life lessons:
- Courage in the face of adversity.
- Family matters.
- Those who mind don’t matter.
- Love is all you need.
- Laughter is a great medicine.
- Make time for what’s important.
- Blink and this life will pass you by.
Time and wisdom are powerful
The combination of time and wisdom is powerful – incredibly powerful so long as we acknowledge it.
It’s easy to just put our heads down, think we know best, and miss the crucial moments that are passing us by.
There’s wisdom to be found in pausing, listening, learning, and heeding the insight of older generations. When we do, it’s interesting to discover that as much as things change, they also stay the same – in life, real estate, and the things that truly matter.
Manos Findikakis is the CEO of Agents’Agency, Australia’s first multibrand real estate network.
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