The Four Quarters

THE FOUR QUARTERS: Living Your Life with Purpose

An open letter to my grandchildren — and kids everywhere

By Larry Constantineau

Dear Logan, Teagan, Brendan, Keenan and Amelia,

It has always been in my thinking that one of the key responsibilities of grandparents, and especially grandfathers, is to pass along some thoughts on what we have learned during our lives that might be of benefit to you, our grandchildren. As you probably know, my life has been greatly influenced by my formal education and business experiences, beginning with my early schooling, then through college and graduate school, and through ongoing lifelong learning.

You are all just beginning your life journey as I am nearing the sunset of mine; it seems like an appropriate time to give you some perspectives that might ease your travels and help you reap greater rewards, both personally and professionally. (Please pardon me if I sound a little “preachy” at times; that is not my intent.)

While growing up in the 1950s in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan, life was quite simple by comparison to the 2020s you are all experiencing. Today, there are far more choices available, with new technologies “the great enabler.” Personal computers, electronic devices, and the internet are a way of life, facilitating a greater understanding of the world and any topic of interest. However, these are simply tools that will enrich your lives when properly used. You will still need to make decisions along the way on how you choose to lead your lives and what will be most important in realizing your dreams and aspirations. That is my focus in writing you this letter at this time of great opportunity.

Looking back on my 70-plus years of experience, I have come to realize that one’s professional life can be viewed as composed of four somewhat distinct phases. My thinking has evolved, especially in the past few years, to formalize this approach into what I call “The Four Quarters.”

Keeping in mind that our general life expectancy is now approximately 80 years, each of the four phases is about 20 years in duration, more or less. One might be just 15 years; another might be 25 years, depending on your own personal approach to life. But it is very likely that your primary focus in each phase will change as you progress through life’s stages. Namely:

THE FIRST QUARTER (Birth to Age 20) The Learning Phase

The focus here is on basic learning, the 3 R’s, social skills, and learning how to learn about a multitude of topics and interests. Your focus will be on absorbing as much information as you are inclined to take in and organizing your thought processes into building blocks for future learning. During this time you will be growing up and feeding your interests by exploring new topics and technologies. Your formal education will be from kindergarten through high school and then into college through graduation. While you might rightly feel that you have accomplished yourself, in reality, you have simply prepared yourself for a lifetime of learning, with a natural curiosity and the ability to explore new topics.

THE SECOND QUARTER (Age 20 to 40) The Building Phase

Your emphasis here will naturally evolve to more specialized learning and concentrated skill-building in your chosen field(s) of study. During this time, you will also begin cultivating your professional network of others who share your interests. Graduate studies, including a master’s degree (or possibly even a doctorate), are likely in order. Your interests will mature, as will your personality. This will be an exciting time for you, both professionally and personally. While you may think you have “arrived,” your growth will be enhanced by your additional investments made during this time. You will be sowing seeds for the future.

THE THIRD QUARTER (Ages 40 to 60) The Leveraging Phase

During this phase, you will focus on using your accumulated knowledge, perspectives, and professional network for maximum impact and contributions to your field. You will find yourself cultivating your relationships and enriching your personal perspectives and those of your colleagues. Perhaps you will write about your experiences, or even teach in a formal educational setting. You will likely reach your peak earning years, realizing the rewards of the many investments you have made in the past. Life is good, but you are not done yet. The best is yet to come.

THE FOURTH QUARTER (Ages 60 to 80) The Harvesting Phase

The time has come for you to fully benefit from all the years of learning, building, and leveraging your skills and abilities, and to develop a fully enriched perspective of your expertise. During this time, you will find yourself giving back to those individuals and institutions that have helped you along the way. It might be in the form of the wisdom of your years through writing or speaking, or financial gifts to chosen beneficiaries. You will want to share your rewards in ways that will benefit the coming generations. Showing your gratitude will make you feel good about all the sacrifices you’ve made along the way. A “life well lived” is the goal for these times. If done well, your legacy will be lasting.

So there you have it — a simple, logical, organized way to view your working or professional life. Of course, it’s not quite so simple. Life doesn’t always permit you to transition from one phase to the next on some pre-arranged timetable. However, I feel that if you think about the concept in general terms, you will begin with an understanding far beyond your years. You can focus on what’s most important at a particular time in your life as it relates to your career and professional interests. And you can come to fully appreciate what life has to offer as you progress through the years.

While I have not necessarily always followed my own advice, I have learned much through my own experiences. If you give some thought to developing your own personal priorities, chances are good you’ll feel better about your choices and the outcomes. We all need to make our own mistakes to reinforce better courses of action for ourselves. After all, that’s what life is about.

And while I would rather have had the opportunity to impart my perspectives to each of you through our daily lives, since that is not possible with the distance that separates us, hopefully this letter will accomplish that end. Please know that you are all loved and valued by your family for who you are, and we all have nothing but your best interests in mind as you seek your way. Make it a great journey! With my love, Grandpa C Larry Constantineau is a former marketing executive and management consultant. lacintc@aol.com

More Advice for the Journey • Plan your work and work your plan. • The harder you work, the luckier you get. Do what you like and success will follow. • A successful life is a journey, not necessarily the destination. • Seek out many and varied experiences throughout your life to enrich your perspectives. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way to the fullest extent. • Value quality over quantity; more is not necessarily better. • First impressions are lasting. Actively manage your personal and professional image. • Your character is what you do when no one is looking. • Send thank you notes to really show your appreciation. You will stand out from the crowd. • Read, read, and read some more. It will improve your perspectives, your writing, and your vocabulary. • Take care of your health along the way; you’re going to appreciate it more and more as you age.