As a child of two Type-A parents, Chip Conley had his success script written for him. But deep down he knew he was destined to write his own story.
Today, Chip is the bestselling author and thought leader at the intersection of psychology and business. Having founded the Joie de Vivre hotel chain, of which he was CEO for almost 24 years, he then sold the company and became an advisor to the founders of Airbnb, before founding the Modern Elder Academy, which he describes as the world’s first midlife wisdom school.
“I had this epiphany, which was, why do we not have midlife wisdom schools, places where people can go and reimagine and repurpose themselves in midlife, because if we're living longer, and people are often staying in the workplace longer by choice and necessity, we need places where people can do a midlife pitstop.”
In this episode, Chip talks about his life trajectory and the things that make him happy, (including the things that can make all of us happy). He also discusses what it means to be a modern elder, and how having insight changes everything.
“I don't call the midlife crisis a crisis anymore. I call it the midlife chrysalis. Because midlife for a butterfly is the chrysalis. And it is in that dark, gooey space, that the transformation happens between caterpillar and butterfly.”
On today’s podcast:
- How to create a sense of meaning for people
- Why fame is a double-edged sword
- Roles models in the conscious capitalism movement
- Founding the MEA (Modern Elder Academy)
Links:
What is Into the Magic Shop?
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many were overwhelmed with stress, anxiety and depression. While this epidemic of stress has been growing over the past decade, it has been exacerbated by the pandemic and the divisive nature of political discourse. As a result, many people feel disconnected, inauthentic, and unhappy, while questioning the source of their unhappiness when they presumably have “everything”—an absence of compassion, for oneself and others, is often the source of the problem.
Many of us don’t understand the nature of self-compassion nor the power of compassion to improve our lives and alleviate our suffering. By entering the “Magic Shop”, Jim will share his wisdom and introduce a variety of techniques to change the course of one’s life and share his own lessons learned through the exchange of untold stories of his guests. He will interview authors and experts in the fields of philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, spirituality and religion, as well as individuals with unique points of view. He will also engage his listeners by answering their questions and also at times interview listeners who are willing to share their own stories of challenge and hardship.