Episode 164 - An Authentic Success: You're Not Too Old And It's Not Too Late

Do you ever look at those "30 Under 30" lists and feel that little pang of regret, that sinking feeling that whispers, "I should have made my mark by now. Maybe I missed my window?" But the truth is, some of the people who make the biggest impact in the world don't do it in their 20s, 30s, or even their 40s. They find their stride after 50 and 60. Why? In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Chad Betz, author of An Authentic Success, for a powerful conversation about redefining success, breaking free from the "sunk cost fallacy," and building a life aligned with your true purpose. With over thirty years of leadership and financial services experience, Chad shares his personal journey from a high-powered but unfulfilling career to one built on intention and meaning. He opens up about his "parking lot moment": a low point in a parking garage where he realized he was helping others achieve their goals at the expense of his own. That realization sparked a transformation that ultimately became the foundation for his book and his coaching practice. Gerald and Chad explore why smart, capable people often stay stuck in careers that no longer fit them, the psychological barriers that keep us clinging to the wrong paths, and how to make "slow pivots" rather than reckless leaps. Chad introduces practical frameworks like the 20 Goals Exercise and the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) to help listeners gain clarity, build momentum, and take intentional action. They also tackle the difference between being busy and being truly productive, the importance of coaches and mentors, and the power of journaling to capture the "whispers" that often hold life-changing ideas. If you've ever felt like you're running hard but heading in the wrong direction, this episode offers a guide for pausing, reflecting, and realigning with what truly matters. What We Discuss [02:01] Meet Chad Betz [03:51] The inspiration behind An Authentic Success [05:23] Parking garage wake up [06:37] Why smart people stay stuck [08:17] Reinventing after 50 [10:10] Lifelong learning and turning experience into an advantage [12:55] Learning from people who have already walked the path [14:20] What happens when you're productive in the wrong direction [15:18] The 20 Goals Exercise and discovering your passion [16:05] Making slow pivots instead of starting over [18:10] Keeping your goals simmering when life gets in the way [20:10] Persistence, resistance, and staying focused [21:08] Why coaches and mentors can help you break through [24:45] Success versus activity [25:05] Why being busy doesn't necessarily mean you're succeeding [27:02] The OODA Loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act [28:39 Journaling for clarity and direction [32:09] Finding valuable ideas in the whispers [33:33] Where to find Chad and his work Notable Quotes [04:32] "I was really helping other people achieve their goals at the expense of my own." – Chad Betz [06:01] "I really did feel like a failure even though from the outside I had a good job and things were going well." – Chad Betz [07:32] "We invest so much time, so much effort, so much education, and then we say, 'We can't change.'" – Chad Betz [15:4]7 "The last piece of it, it's the most important piece, you have to take action." – Chad Betz [16:05] "You don't have to quit your job and run off into the sunset, chase your passions." – Chad Betz [19:25] "Just because life gets in the way doesn't mean you have to give up on your goals." – Chad Betz [24:54] "There's a difference between being successful and seeing results compared to just seeing activity and being busy." – Chad Betz [32:13] "Those life-changing ideas aren't screaming at you. They're in the whispers in the background." – Chad Betz Resource and Links Chad Betz Website: https://www.anauthenticsuccess.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadcbetz/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chadcbetz Book: An Authentic Success Productivity Smarts Podcast Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com Gerald J. Leonard Website - geraldjleonard.com Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.