Hey, My Creatives!  

The success strategies that worked for previous generations no longer work in today’s messed up world of rapidly changing social, economic, and technological change. You must adapt new strategies and approaches to succeed and maintain a sense of joy.

But there is hope; creativity can heal our lives on many levels, such as overcoming stress, solving problems, discovering hidden strengths, and learning new ways of doing and being.

My message for you today is simple: The same success strategies that worked for your parents do not work today. You need to tap into your creativity and devise new solutions. The sooner you accept today’s reality and adapt to the changing landscape, the better prepared you’ll be for a more joyful and creative long-term existence.

Your situation is even more dire if you hold a low-wage job, live in a big city, or have a family to raise. Prices increase faster than incomes, and even though middle-class wage growth is high by historical standards, it hasn’t kept up with the increased cost of living.

Having kids, hosting family parties, going to concerts, enjoying pampered shave and trim, childcare, staying in an exotic hotel, family vacations, dentist visits, being an at-home parent, getting a higher education, and weddings have all become luxuries most can’t afford.

Across the board, households struggle to adjust spending habits as financial well-being deteriorates.

It used to be that one could save money and put a reasonable down payment on a house as part of a predictable retirement plan. Now, the average home in Toronto, where I live, is more than a million dollars. That’s insane, considering the $45,000 big-ass house my parents bought in the 1970s costs 30 times more today. How can we afford a mortgage (or rent) without falling victim to stress, burnout, and financial trouble?

Back then, you could get a university degree, hold a decent job, and advance your career. — not so much today!

So many young people graduate to a mountain of student debt, needing two dead-end, minimum-wage jobs to find temporary sub-standard shared accommodation. This career predicament feels dire and soul-crushing for someone with creative skills and raw potential. — How did we get to this point as a civil society (a discussion for another time)

Our elders could work up a career ladder and retire at 65, appreciating the fruits of their labour. Of course, the average lifespan was slightly lower back then, but you get my point.

Ok, so are you totally depressed yet? My aim here is not to bum you out but to paint a realistic picture of most people’s predicament and emphasize that success today needs a new, practical formula from what your parents required.

I was ‘shown the curb’ eleven years before I was 65 and replaced by someone much cheaper and years younger. So, I found myself at 54 with no job and unwilling to return to that same rat race. Read Have the Guts to Leave Your Job at the Height of Your Career Success. My Story Will Inspire You

I needed a new success strategy.

I was pushed into retirement years ahead of schedule, which forced me to reinvent myself. I learned to tap into my creativity to continue living, loving, and learning the proud life I’ve always wanted.

Video Transcript (Adapted)

“Good morning, my friends. I’m walking along the boardwalk here on Toronto Island. It’s a beautiful day, and a thought came to my mind, so here’s a video for you to enjoy.”

I spontaneously cycled at Toronto Island along the Wards Island Boardwalk early one morning.

On a beautiful summer’s day, in early retirement (eh!) I felt inspired to create a spontaneous video message about how our elders’ success strategies don’t necessarily work today.

Today, in early retirement (eh!), I felt like producing a spontaneous video about success—go figure!

I’m sharing my little tidbit of wisdom with you as I walk and talk up and down a boardwalk along Lake Ontario in Canada. I may craft a few more of these ‘inspirational’ reels. I’m grateful for your time and attention, and I hope my words can bring some value to your life.

So, continue the dialogue, my friend. Continue collaborating with others to discover new world strategies, such as digital creation, remote work from exotic places, skill-based freelancing, and more.

As you watch my video, take in the stunning scenery and notice the sailboat behind me along the shoreline of Lake Ontario, Canada. It’s just so beautiful out here—incredible. People are walking along the park, which is lovely. Let this peaceful setting inspire you.

This is my favourite spot to shoot videos and talk. It’s a boardwalk and a wonderful place to be. The sun is always at a fantastic angle.

That’s my story. Keep loving, learning, and living the proud life, my friend, because the cold winters in Toronto are coming.

In love and creativity
Daniel~Ibrahim