The Difference Between Experience & Stagnation

Experience is one of our greatest assets—but only if it continues to evolve.

In this episode of BUILD IT, BABY!, Penelope Bent explores the difference between experience and stagnation, challenging the idea that age is what determines our relevance. Drawing from years in recruiting, leadership, and business, she shares why curiosity, adaptability, energy, and a willingness to keep growing often matter far more than the number of years on a résumé. It's an honest conversation about staying engaged, embracing change, and refusing to let life convince you that your best chapters are already behind you.

Penelope also answers a listener question about balancing a full-time job while building a business, offering practical advice for creating momentum without sacrificing the life you're working so hard to build. Whether you're navigating a career transition, considering your next chapter, or simply looking for a renewed sense of purpose, this episode is an invitation to keep learning, keep building, and never stop becoming.

BUILD IT, BABY! is a Rainy Day Production House original. Hosted by Penelope Bent and produced by Morgan Clymer. With music by Yuri Shemshishin and Oleksii Holubiev.

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Transcript

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Penelope:

If you've ever looked around and wondered, Am I becoming invisible? If you've ever questioned whether the market still sees your value, or if you've ever felt like experience somehow became a liability instead of an asset, don't go anywhere.

Today, I want to have a very real conversation—not just about age, but about relevance, energy, identity, and how we continue evolving in a world that changes incredibly fast.

I'm Penelope Bent, and this is BUILD IT, BABY!, the show for dreamers who are doers, builders who are becoming, and people who refuse to disappear quietly into the background. Today we're talking about ageism, but probably not in the way you expect.

I'm ready. Let's do it.

This is BUILD IT, BABY!, the show for big ideas, brave pivots, and bold next chapters. So let's do it. Let's build it, baby.

Have you ever walked away from an opportunity wondering, Was it my age, or was it something else?

Before we jump in, let me say something very clearly. I absolutely do believe ageism exists. I have worked in recruiting for years. I've watched incredible professionals be overlooked. I've seen assumptions made. I've seen companies chase youth instead of wisdom, and I've seen experienced professionals quietly pushed to the side.

So yeah, I get it. I know it's out there.

But after years of interviewing candidates, building teams, consulting with companies, and watching people navigate the hiring process, I also believe there's another conversation we're not having—one that I feel is a very honest look at this topic.

That conversation is this: I believe that sometimes what people experience is not simply age. I believe sometimes it is disconnection. Sometimes it's presentation. Sometimes it may be communication style. Sometimes it's rigidity. Sometimes it's energy. And sometimes, believe it or not, it's resistance to evolving.

Sometimes people stop participating in the modern world long before they stop breathing in it.

I think that's the real conversation around ageism. I know that may sound uncomfortable to many, but BUILD IT, BABY! has never really been about comfort. It's been about truth, awareness, and building intentionally.

I think we can all agree the marketplace has changed. That's pretty obvious. Just take a look at the last couple of years. The marketplace today moves incredibly fast. Technology changes fast. Communication changes fast. Culture is changing at an amazing rate of speed. Branding has changed, and leadership expectations change just as fast.

Whether we like it or not, people are constantly evaluating. They're evaluating presence, adaptability, confidence, communication, energy, relevance, and emotional intelligence—not just skill sets.

Companies today are not only hiring résumés. They're hiring how a person shows up.

Here's where this gets really important.

I have interviewed people in their 60s who absolutely light up the room. They're curious, engaged, sharp as hell, present, collaborative, and excited about learning.

Honestly, I've also interviewed people in their 30s who already felt checked out of life. They're tired, rigid, disconnected, incredibly negative, and defeated before the conversation ever began.

So no, I don't believe this conversation is only about age. This is about whether you are still engaged with becoming.

People feel that. They'll feel your energy. They'll feel your thoughts about becoming and expanding your life.

I completely get it because I think many people become exhausted for very understandable reasons. Life happens. Shit happens. Layoffs happen. Loss happens. Burnout happens. Health scares happen. Financial pressures happen. Divorce happens. Caregiving happens. Disappointment happens.

I get it. People get hurt.

After enough rejection, many people unconsciously begin shrinking themselves. They retreat. They pull in like a turtle, bringing all their little feet under the shell. Their confidence changes.

Honestly, their posture changes.

I cannot tell you how often I have watched posture during an interview. I work with a lot of young people just out of college, and I'll always say to them, "When you're interviewing, make sure you lean toward the camera on your Zoom call."

Leaning back is a posture of disconnect. It's a posture of, Eh, whatever.

I think, unconsciously, their communication changes because their energy changes. Eventually, they begin presenting themselves to the world as if they've already lost.

To me, that's heartbreaking.

Sometimes I can literally see the pain on the faces of the people I've interviewed. But it's also important to recognize this in yourself because once you recognize it, you can rebuild it. You can put the energy back into your mind, your body, and your thoughts.

I believe the first step is understanding the difference between experience and stagnation.

Experience is valuable—deeply valuable. But experience and stagnation are not the same thing.

Experience says, "I've learned."

Stagnation says, "I already know."

Experience says, "I'm still curious."

Stagnation says, "The world should adjust to me."

Not too long ago, I read an article where someone was asked, with the upcoming Fourth of July celebrations, about a historical figure or a particular wartime event. Their answer stunned me.

"I don't know. That happened way before I was born."

Think about that for a minute.

"I already know because I don't need to know anything else. I only need to know what has happened since I was born."

Yeah, I get it. The world should adjust to you.

Well, let me tell you something. Experience helps an individual evolve. Stagnation hardens.

The truth is, companies today are looking for people who can move—not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, culturally, and strategically.

Remember that old saying, "Go with the flow"?

If you're creating such a rigid, stagnant personality, you have a choice. You can be excited about what you're doing and what you're pursuing, or you can become set in your ways with very little growth underneath your belt.

Companies are looking for people who can continue to adapt.

I think this is where relevance lives.

This isn't about pretending to be young. Let me say this very clearly: I'm not suggesting people should pretend to be 25 forever.

Oh, hell no.

I'm glad I'm not 25 again. I did that. It was fun. But that's not who I am today.

Pretending to be 25 forever isn't the goal. The goal is not artificial youth. The goal is aliveness—being excited about life.

There's a huge difference.

Some of the most magnetic people in the world are older. Why is that? Because they're fully alive. They're still dancing at the party. They're engaged, interested, creative, connected, curious, open, and present.

Why?

Because they're still building.

Honestly, that energy is powerful at any age.

And yes—don't scream at me—but personal branding really does matter.

I've said it before, so I know you're probably thinking, Oh my gosh, she's saying that again.

I actually believe it is one of the most important aspects of today's marketplace, and it's more important than ever before.

What are you bringing to the table? What are you bringing besides your résumé?

I know it's an uncomfortable truth, but communication matters.

Some people hate hearing that, but it's true.

The way you communicate online matters. The way you introduce yourself matters. The way you carry yourself matters. The way you speak about change matters. The way you make eye contact matters.

I had an interesting phone call from a dear friend the other day. I've been close to her family for years and have watched all three of her amazing children grow into young adults.

One of them had just graduated from college and was entering the marketplace for the first time, looking for her first professional position. She's incredibly creative—a brilliant young woman—and she's been enjoying the visual expression of piercings, tattoos, and other forms of personal creativity.

When I was talking with my friend, she asked me, "What are your thoughts about all the piercings during her first interview process? Is that something worth talking about?"

My answer was that I don't think we want to change who we are.

If I were the one graduating from college and interviewing for my first position, my instinct would be to say, "This is me."

But I also believe it depends on the kind of company you're interviewing with.

If you're interviewing in advertising or marketing, which are incredibly creative industries, then knock yourself out. Pierce it up, babe.

On the other hand, if you're interviewing with a more conservative organization—let's say it's a sales position in technology—I think a little goes a long way.

Does that mean I'm suggesting this young woman should change who she is?

No. I'm simply suggesting that you want to present yourself in alignment with the company. Do your due diligence. Do some investigation. How are the other members of the sales team presenting themselves?

For better or worse, if you want the job, there may be certain expectations from leadership regarding how much of your creative expression they want you to share with clients.

The way you communicate matters today because people are making decisions very quickly.

I don't believe that means becoming fake. I think it means becoming intentional, and there's a huge difference.

If your intention is to land the position, then do your research and present a package that aligns with the role and the company's culture.

I think many professionals—especially experienced professionals—underestimate how important perception has become in today's marketplace. Not because substance doesn't matter, but because presentation is often the doorway through which people experience and discover your substance.

Let me repeat that.

Presentation is the doorway. It's how you open the door to yourself. Then, when people walk through it, they discover your substance, your brilliance, your intellect, and your knowledge.

I've said this before, but your energy speaks first.

When that Zoom call begins and they see a glowing, excited individual with a great smile, I truly believe that energy speaks before your words do, before your résumé does, before your credentials say anything, and before they learn about your accomplishments.

Why?

Because people feel enthusiasm. They also feel resentment. They feel openness, but they also feel defensiveness. They feel possibility, and they feel bitterness. They feel confidence, and they feel fear.

They feel it.

One thing I've observed over and over again is this: the market does not respond to age nearly as strongly as it responds to perceived disengagement.

That really is the deeper issue.

When someone appears disconnected from growth, learning, curiosity, technology, communication, or possibility, the market often pulls away.

It sure as hell isn't because of their age.

It's because they no longer appear connected to forward movement. They're no longer connected to what can be or to the growth of a new day.

I have a really interesting story that just recently happened to me.

I was working with a hiring manager—a woman in her mid-60s—who was hiring for a sales team, and I was involved in helping build that team.

Although age is not supposed to be part of the hiring conversation, she said something that really jumped out at me.

"I need a hunter. I need somebody who's really going to bust their ass, hit the white space, and hit the pavement running. I need someone who's going to find clients. We don't have a strong client list in this area where we're trying to sell our product. I need somebody with a lot of energy. I need somebody in their 30s. I've got plenty of people in their 50s, but I need those energetic ones in their 30s."

It was everything I had not to let my jaw hit the floor.

I understood what she was saying, and I knew those were my marching orders—to find someone who was a hunter. But I dismissed the age part.

I'll tell you something very interesting, and I want to say this to all the hiring managers out there who may be in their late 50s or early 60s.

You might want to take a really close look at the energy levels of many of our 30-year-olds today.

I'm not suggesting every 30-year-old is sitting on Mom's couch, but I do believe a lot of people in their 30s have given up on the American Dream—or at least given up on dreaming—and aren't looking at possibilities.

If you think every 30-year-old out there is automatically going to be a hunter, I think deciding who's a hunter based on age is ludicrous.

Age has nothing to do with work ethic.

Work ethic has everything to do with the individual.

That's where I think there's a gigantic mistake.

It used to be, "I don't want somebody who's ready to hang up their hat. They're getting close to retirement, they're in their early 60s, and they're just looking for one last job to get health insurance before they retire."

I think that's a complete misconception today.

I don't think age should be part of the discussion when you're looking for specific traits in an individual.

I've worked with some of the hardest-working people I've ever known who are well beyond eight-hour workdays because they understand work-life balance means getting the job done when it's the end of the quarter and you need to close.

I think taking age out of the equation is very smart leadership.

Don't automatically believe that young means energetic and older means ready to hang up their hat.

I think that's a gigantic misconception.

The real bottom line is that this new normal is happening regardless of age.

Disconnected, lethargic stagnation is an epidemic.

But it is not age-specific.

Honestly, this is one of the reasons I believe so strongly in building something of your own.

Whether it's a business, a consulting practice, a side hustle, a creative project, a personal brand, or a second chapter, ownership changes your relationship with relevance.

When you're building, you stay engaged because it's yours.

You stay curious.

You stay connected to movement.

You stay in the game.

For those of you feeling lethargic out there—regardless of age—consider shifting gears.

Create something.

Maybe it's small, but create something that gets you back in the game, something that makes you excited when you wake up in the morning.

I think this is why so many people today are reconsidering what their current career path looks like or what retirement even means.

I read an article the other day that said 74% of people approaching retirement believe they're going to continue working after they retire.

That may be your desire, but with the number of senior employees being laid off today, if you need additional income beyond your retirement account—and there's a very good chance you will—you may want to consider building something of your own.

It doesn't have to be big.

But make sure you have another revenue stream instead of counting on the marketplace to provide one.

I think that's a huge mistake.

Staying curious and staying connected means staying in the game.

This is why so many people today are asking themselves, What does my future actually look like?

Many people don't want to disappear.

They still want purpose, contribution, connection, and meaning.

This whole conversation about age is amazing to me because, in many ways, it's becoming irrelevant.

People are healthier.

People in their 70s are still building. They're creating. They're alive. They're still listening to music. They can still hear the music.

Frankly, I think it's the only way to live.

Staying in the game, having purpose—whatever that looks like for you—and finding meaning is one of the most important parts of the life you're building.

So here’s the part where I tell you exactly what I know. These are my knowings, the things I no longer question because they've shown themselves to me again and again—not from a book, but from building, getting knocked down, getting back up, and doing this work in the real world.

Here are my knowings.

I know people do not become irrelevant because of age.

I know many people become invisible because they slowly disconnect from growth.

I know curiosity is more powerful than youth.

I know energy changes opportunities.

I know bitterness quietly repels possibility.

I know people who continue building will continue evolving.

And this last one—I know it with all of my being.

The people who stay alive internally will remain powerful externally for a very, very long time.

Those are my knowings.

Okay, this is my favorite time.

It's time for the listener question.

Today's question comes from Stan in Arizona.

Great place, Stan.

Stan asks, "How do I balance launching a business while working a full-time job?"

Great question, Stan.

First of all, I'm very excited that you're considering launching a business.

I actually think you're in a great position because you already have a full-time job. That gives you consistent income, so you're not trying to build a business while worrying about where the mortgage payment is coming from.

You're starting from a place of stability.

So the real question becomes: How do you manage both at the same time?

Penelope:

I don't know what your family situation is, so I don't know what your responsibilities are there. But here's what I can tell you about building.

I've used the same approach whether I've been working with my Success Strategy clients or teaching freelance models how to build freelance businesses.

I think the most important thing is to establish very clearly how many hours you're going to dedicate to building your business.

Now, I don't mean that when you're kicking back watching the football game you can't have your journal nearby. I do that all the time. I'll have a little notebook with me, and maybe I'll hear something in a commercial that sparks an idea. I'll write it down because I think it would be great for BUILD IT, BABY!

What I would suggest is finding six hours every week.

That's just three days a week, two hours each day.

I always recommend Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

When you're working a full-time job—or just managing life in general—Mondays are tough. You're getting reorganized. You've usually got meetings. You're planning how the week is going to unfold. You're gathering your tasks from work or from your family responsibilities.

Fridays aren't ideal either because you're wrapping everything up from the week. You're getting your notes to your manager or finishing whatever needs to be completed before the weekend.

That's why I believe Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the best days to carve out those two hours.

I'm a big morning person.

Personally, I can't imagine trying to build your business after you've already worked eight or nine hours at your full-time job.

If you start work at 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning, set your alarm for 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. a few days a week. That's when it's quiet. The family is quiet. The world is quiet.

Take those two uninterrupted hours. Set a timer on your phone if you need to. The time will go by faster than you think.

Focus on exactly what needs to happen that day to move your business forward.

Maybe you make a list and decide, "This week I need to reach out to these people," and Tuesday becomes your outreach planning day.

If you need to contact people during business hours, then maybe on Wednesday you spend an hour getting organized in the morning, and during your lunch break you make those calls. Or maybe you step away for a few minutes during the afternoon or schedule conversations during your breaks.

Whatever works for your schedule.

I truly believe you can build a business with six focused hours every week.

Then the weekend becomes your creative time.

I've shared this before, but on Sunday night I look at my planner and map out the week ahead. I decide what channels I want to focus on and what I want to accomplish during those dedicated business-building hours.

Usually, I do that on Sunday afternoon or Sunday evening.

I also think it's incredibly important to have downtime.

I avoid working on Saturdays whenever I can because for most of my career I only had Mondays off. We owned clothing stores and other businesses, and we were open Tuesday through Sunday.

I love Saturday mornings.

I love the way they smell.

I love hearing the lawnmowers outside.

There's just something about Saturdays that feels restorative.

After you've worked all week—whether that's in your business or your full-time job—that's your time for family, for yourself, for simply enjoying life. Let that carry into Sunday, and then Sunday evening you prepare for the week ahead.

By Monday you may add a few things to your list, but by Tuesday you've got a clear plan for those two hours you've set aside.

If your work spills over beyond the two hours, terrific. Finish what needs to be done.

I think another piece that's so important is this:

Don't get intense about it.

Building takes time.

You already have income coming in.

You don't need to make this happen before Christmas unless your business truly depends on a seasonal launch, like a retail store.

Otherwise, just stay focused on those six hours each week.

Protect your private time.

Protect your family time.

Protect the fun.

Go out with your friends on Saturday night. Spend time with the people you love.

Because I believe the happier you are, the more fulfilled you are, and the more excited you are about the life you're building, the better builder you'll become.

Remember, you're building an incredible life for yourself.

The business is only one part of that.

Don't overlook all the other parts of your life that deserve to be built alongside this new business idea.

Stan, thank you so much for asking the question.

I wish you all the luck in the world.

If you need additional help, don't hesitate to reach out to me. You can visit my website at PenelopeBent.com and schedule a complimentary 30-minute chat. We'll talk about what the next step looks like.

Again, thank you so much for the question. It was a great one, and I wish you the very best as you build your business.

Well, I want to leave you with this.

Your age is not your story.

Your experience matters.

Your wisdom matters.

Your voice matters.

But the question becomes:

Are you still willing to evolve?

Are you still willing to participate?

Are you still willing to build?

Because if the answer is yes, then honestly, you may be just getting started.

Maybe that's the real conversation we should be having.

Until next time, build bold, live bold, and never let the world convince you that your best years are unattainable or behind you.

It's simple.

Just build it, baby.

Always best, P.

BUILD IT, BABY! is a Rainy Day Production House original, hosted by Penelope Bent and produced and edited by Morgan Clymer. Music by Yuri Shemshishin and Oleksii Holubiev. If this episode spoke to you, please follow the show and leave a review. It helps more dreamers like you find us. And remember, you’re not just building a bold business or career—you’re building a bold life.