Edward Banfield's idea of the "long time horizon," says that more successful people look further into the future, judging their efforts and results in terms of decades, not weeks or even months. This is the power of thinking long.

The more choices we have, the greater the need for focus.

Turning 40 is often a big symbolic point in one's life. In the 20s we feel we can do anything, but as the 30s progress we become more mature emotionally, and in terms of work tend to focus. These two things combined: emotional maturity and career focus, often produced an explosion of self-purpose in our 40s.

With people having longer life spans, 50 is the age at which many people only just get into their stride. Consider Ray Kroc starting McDonald's at 52, or the novelist E Annie Proulx only coming into the limelight in her 50s. The careers that each had had gave them the skills and knowledge that allowed for their real contribution. Never discount things that you have learned so far: they may be the platform for something great.

This is the period from ages 60 to 90 in which many people have a new sense of freedom, kids grown up, retired from formal work etc., about their possibilities. They can either crown a career, start something new, or launch themselves into a meaningful social enterprise. A phase of life that was once seen as an end can now more accurately be enjoyed as a beginning.

We are all living longer lives now, so this extra longevity gives us second, third or fourth chances to succeed at something or change careers. It is great to think big, but the formula for success in our time is also to THINK LONG. There is a huge waste of talent out there because people think they are 'too old' or 'too late'. Actually, if you take the span of productive life from 20 to 80, at 50 you still have 50% of productive years ahead of you.

Anyone can get a job, but do you have a purpose?