40 is the new 60? StoryFirst founder on why you should not wait for the next job in your 40s and 50s

StoryFirst founder Sanjay Mudnaney is challenging mid-career professionals to rethink their approach to work, warning that ageism and shrinking job opportunities after 50 are a reality too many ignore.

In a recent LinkedIn post titled “40 is the new 60”, Mudnaney shared his personal journey of voluntarily stepping away from a stable paycheck in his 50s — a move he admits was risky but ultimately transformative. “If I failed, there would be no job waiting for me,” he wrote. “But I jumped. Burnt the bridges.”

Drawing from over a decade of experience since leaving corporate life, Mudnaney outlined 13 lessons for those in their 40s and 50s — from accepting ageism and building networks early, to maintaining health and embracing reinvention.


“Don’t wait for tomorrow. Live with curiosity, not fear,” he advised, stressing the importance of action over hesitation. He urged professionals to start contributing immediately after a job loss, whether through volunteering, consulting, or entrepreneurial projects, warning that “waiting will only chip away at your confidence. Action rebuilds it.”

Mudnaney also underscored the value of personal branding, continuous learning, and community connections, adding that titles are temporary but self-leadership is permanent: “You are the CEO of your life. Own that role.”

His post resonated with thousands, tapping into a growing conversation about career longevity, economic uncertainty, and the need for proactive planning well before retirement age.

For those navigating a “Second Act,” Mudnaney recommends his books From Success to Significance and Jump Off the Cliff — both drawn from his own leap into the unknown.

“The best chapters,” he concluded, “are yet to be written.”