Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder

Do you want to reinvent the second half of your career?

'Learn how to cultivate a beginner's mind...and be the sage counselor' - from the foreword by Brian Chesky, cofounder and CEO of Airbnb.

In our increasingly accelerated world that venerates the new, bright and shiny, many of us in mid-career sense that the ground is shifting beneath our feet, leaving us feeling invisible, undervalued and threatened by the 'digital natives' nipping at our heels.

Chip Conley is not buying it, arguing that experience is on the brink of a comeback.

At age 52, after selling the boutique hotel company he founded and ran for 24 years, Conley joined Airbnb as Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy. Though rich with experience, the industry veteran lacked the digital fluency of his 20-something colleagues. He quickly discovered that he'd been hired as a teacher and mentor, but was also in many ways a student and intern. What emerged is the secret to thriving as a mid-life worker in today's world: learning to marry wisdom and experience with curiosity, a beginner's mind, and a willingness to evolve.

Igniting a bold, urgent conversation about age and ageism in the workplace, Conley liberates the term "elder" from the stigma of "elderly," and reveals the value of wisdom that can only be accrued through years on the planet. Wisdom at Work will teach you how to be indispensable in the second half of your working life.

"As more people live in good health for longer they are asking themselves what they should do with this new stage of life. In this marvellous book Chip Conley gives them a great answer - rewire don't retire. The Modern Elder is about combining a youthfulness in later life with the maturity and wisdom of experience. " Andrew Scott, co-author of The 100 Year Life

Chip Conley is a New York Times bestselling author, hospitality entrepreneur, and leader at the forefront of the sharing economy. At age 26, he founded Joie de Vivre Hospitality and turned it into the second largest boutique hotel brand in the U.S. Chip is now the Strategic Advisor for Hospitality and Leadership at Airbnb. He is the recipient of hospitality's highest honor, the Pioneer Award.

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'This is ultimately a book about how we can develop deeper connections, disrupt how we think about teaching and learning, and make more meaningful contributions in our lives and our careers. With stories, questions, and strategies, Chip shares his heart and wisdom on every page. This is exactly what we need right now! '- Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, Author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller, Braving the Wilderness

'An engaging, timely exploration of how to bring more wisdom into our work lives. Chip Conley has lived it, and here he teaches you what it takes to find more of it.' - Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals, Give and Take, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg

'I love the idea that society needs more Modern Elders who offer generosity without an agenda. Chip Conley's articulation of the growing need of wisdom and emotional intelligence in a world obsessed with speed and digital intelligence is spot-on! Every young company could use some "wisdom insurance".' Marshall Goldsmith, Thinkers 50 World's #1 Executive Coach, #6 Most Influential Business Thinker 2017