I’m looking for a new teacher. Not for meditation. (I’ve [got one already.]()) Not to learn a new language. But to rekindle a childhood dream. Learning how to make beats. Hip-hop beats using _Fruity Loops_ , to be precise. Yup. Think _The Neptunes_ , _Timbaland_ and more recently _Metro Boomin_. I’ve been talking about this idea for decades. But when I saw [this graph](), I said to myself “Holy Sh*t, I gotta get moving.” ![Blog post image](/images/blog/image-3-1024x576.png)[Full tweet]() via @camp4 So just like you look for a guitar instructor, I’m on the prowl for a “beat making coach.” ## The [Deferred Life Plan]() is too real I recently surfed with a friend of mine. He’s in fantastic shape and just turned 50. He has the normal nicks and bruises that come with age – but said something that really stuck with me. > “Khe, my triceps feel like they don’t work anymore.” I’ve actually heard this from multiple surfers. Keep in mind, these [dads are active](), do yoga and [barely drink.]() But around 50, you start losing muscle mass in your entire body – and surfers really feel this loss in their triceps. This REALLY impacts your ability to catch waves. I say this because I used to be the guy that said, “I’ll learn how to surf when I retire.” Imagine I had played that out… only to discover that I didn’t have the tricep strength to support the activity once I turned 60. ## So back to the graph Kevin Dahlstrom (the graph’s author) is a commensurate [Post-Achievement professional. ]() (In fact, we were recently featured together in [the Wall Street Journal]().) Even though he’s an avid rock climber, his post isn’t even referring to the rapidly declining tricep muscle. He poses a simpler question: > Why does bold change get harder with age? Dahlstorm (who is also [an Examined Life podcast guest]()) lists the following “big pivots” from his 40s. * Quit my corporate job * Moved the family to Boulder * Started a business * Spent thousands of hours climbing He reinforces the non-obvious truth that “There’s NEVER a convenient time to do bold, hard things.” And with age, our inertia kicks in. Our indecisiveness becomes the “new normal.” Risk-aversion (or the fear of “rattling the cage”) increases. And hence the status quo persists. ## The best time to plant a tree There’s an old proverb about playing long-term games. > “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” It’s true. The best time for me to learn beat-making was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. Stay tuned for my Soundcloud. ## Are you a high-earner going through a career transition? Find purpose, navigate money scarcity and reimagine ambition with our Group Coaching program. [Apply today]() []()