How to Take Advantage of the Season You Are In
During many podcast interviews, I’m often asked, “What’s your favorite book?” My answer is less about naming the book itself and more about the story of how it became my favorite.
That moment happened while I was serving as Tony Robbins’s assistant security director. We were in Gold Coast, Australia, where Tony was picking up golf. Since I had the most experience with the game on his security team, he asked me to help find custom clubs for him. After tracking down a place in Brisbane that could make them quickly, I returned to the hotel and delivered them to Tony. While he examined the clubs, I noticed a book on his table titled The Fourth Turning, a book that details what past generations can teach us about living through times of upheaval—with deep insights into the roles that Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z have to play.
Curious, I asked about it. Tony shared a high-level overview and recommended I get a copy. One lesson I learned early in my career is this: when a master offers you advice, act on it immediately. When I got home, I bought the book and started reading. It profoundly influenced my philosophy on business and life.
Later that year, Tony and I were playing golf in Sydney. He asked if I had read the book, and I shared how it helped me recognize and leverage the “seasons” in my clients’ lives to build stronger relationships. At the time, we were both in our early 40s, a stage where we were integrating our knowledge to create meaningful success. While Tony had already reached remarkable heights, I was still building my career in sales and trying to figure out my next move.
Fast-forward to today: I recently turned 64. I’ve moved from the stage of proving myself and building a foundation in my 40s to focus on serving others and passing on what I have learned to the up-and-coming generations. I’ve found comfort and clarity in knowing who I am and embraced a new level of freedom—freedom of time, money, relationships, and mission.
The lessons I gained from The Fourth Turning have deeply influenced this shift. It taught me to recognize recurring patterns in history and people, connect those patterns, and have authentic interactions that build authentic relationships that advance my life and career and, more importantly, my relationships and clients.
The book also helped me embrace the seasons of life. Whether you’re 23-43, building confidence and questioning what you’ve learned, 43-63, establishing financial stability and leadership, or over 63, realizing that life’s uncertainties will pass and having certainty in yourself, not caring as much what others think, understanding your season is key. It allows you to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and transform your outlook.
As I enter this new season, I no longer feel the need to prove myself. Instead, I focus on serving others and pursuing my ambitious goal of living to 139—a goal that once seemed impossible but now feels achievable through self-care and resilience.
The lessons I’ve learned, especially from the life-changing experience of surviving the Miracle on the Hudson, giving me a strong reference and proved to me how embracing uncertainty creates opportunities for transformation.
Overcoming moments of weakness strengthens us and leads to a limitless life. The Fourth Turning was a game changer, helping me understand the cycles of life and build genuine relationships based on trust and understanding.
So, I ask you: what season are you in? Are you in the phase of building and questioning, creating stability and leadership, or embracing the wisdom that comes with time?
If you’d like to discover how to make the most of your season and develop your own flight plan to a limitless life, let’s have a conversation. Email me at dave@davesandersonspeaks.com.