Ageism in the Workplace: Why Gen X Needs to Choose Yourself

I was reading about how a casting director filed a lawsuit against the Hallmark Channel over ageism in the workplace, and it got me thinking...

Boy, am I glad I don't have to worry about that crap.

Then it hit me - the reason I don't have to worry about it is the same reason I started this newsletter. It's something every Gen Xer needs to hear.

Picture this:

July 3, 2013. While my wife and kids were at home loading up the camper for our annual 4th of July camping trip, I was sitting in my cubicell, doing my thing.

Just before noon, the human resource lady showed up at my desk, told me to pack up my stuff, and then escorted me out the door.

It was the last day I'd be showing up to work for a company, I had worked for 17 years up to that point.

Heck of a way to start a vacation (a very loooong vacation, as it turns out).

But I dodged a bullet.

Getting canned was the best thing that ever happened to me.

All because I'd made a decision years before that changed everything - I chose myself before they could choose for me.

Ageism in the Workplace Is Real, but You Can Overcome It

Here's the thing about ageism - it's real, and it's ugly. AARP says 6 in 10 workers aged 50+ have dealt with age bias at work. A fifth say they say they feel they’re being pushed out out because of their age.

But you know what? Those are just numbers for people playing by the old rules.

From Foundry to Freedom: My Middle Finger to Ageism

Let me take you back:

Back in my mid 20s, I was a blue-collar foundry worker, sweating my ass off working with molten metal. We're talking 95-degree heat with 100% humidity. I could drink gallons of water and never need to hit the bathroom - it all came out in sweat.

Then I did something crazy - took a massive pay cut to go back to finish school. At 27, I was a mechanical draftsman. At 40, while making $40K/year as a cubicle guy, I decided to blow it all up again - all while juggling family life and trying not to screw up as a dad and husband.

All because one of the many books I read around that time got me thinking…

The Book That Changed Everything

The book "Choose Yourself" by James Altucher was a game-changer for me. It helped me see I needed to be reliant on myself.

One quote really stuck:

Man, did that resonate.

The Math That'll Make Your Head Spin

Instead of begging for raises, I started learning and apply new skills. I went from making $25 an hour as a to earning $93 an hour.

Fast forward ten years, I’m more future-proof than ever and I've consistently pulled in over six figures each year as a digital marketer working from home.

The Gen X Advantage Nobody's Talking About

When you're choosing yourself, those stats don't mean jack.

As Altucher says, "Success comes from continually expanding your frontiers in every direction—creatively, financially, spiritually, and physically."

That's exactly what we Gen Xers are built for.

• We remember life before the internet.

• We've watched technology evolve.

• We understand both the old and new ways of doing business.

That's not a weakness - it's our secret weapon.

Hell, I think we Gen Xer’s actually have an advantage in the age of AI.

The Bottom Line

Look, ageism is only an issue if your fate is in someone else's hands. The moment you choose yourself, you're playing a whole different game.

And from where I'm sitting (in my home office, not someone else's cubicle), it's a game worth playing.

Want to know more about how to choose yourself?

You can check out the book; here’s the Amazon link ($).

Or stick around and watch the author himself explain it to you…

In addition to the Choose Yourself stuff, you’ll hear his five practices that help turn his life around during a low point.

Before you go, let us know, Have you faced ageism in the workplace? How have you chosen yourself? Share your story in the comments.

Have a good one,

Corey