The second half of life presents a crucial choice. Will you live in Crescendo – or it’s opposite Diminuendo? Cynthia Covey Haller joins us to discuss the new book she co-authored with her father, the late Stephen Covey – Live Life in Crescendo: Your Most Important Work Is Always Ahead of You. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is an international bestseller, with over 40 million copies sold. It’s principles have stood the test of time. Now, Covey’s eldest child brings his final work to life with a valuable mindset that can help you make the second half of life full of purpose, meaning and contribution.

Cynthia Covey Haller joins us from her home in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Cynthia Covey Haller is an author, teacher, speaker, and an active participant in her community. She has contributed to the writing of several books and articles, notably The 3rd  Alternative by Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens and The 6 Most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make, both by Sean Covey. Cynthia has held multiple leadership positions in women’s organizations, served as a PTSA president, an organizer for refugee aid and food pantry volunteer, and she is currently working with her husband, Kameron, as a service volunteer helping with employment needs. She graduated from Brigham Young University and lives with her family in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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For More on Cynthia Covey Haller 

Live Life in Crescendo: Your Most Important Work Is Always Ahead of You

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Mentioned in This Podcast Episode

The 8th Habit

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Podcast Episodes You May Like

The Vintage Years – Dr. Francine Toder

The Second Curve of Life – Arthur C. Brooks

Breaking the Age Code – Dr. Becca Levy

How to Live a Values Based Life – Harry Kraemer

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Wise Quotes

On the Purpose of Living in Crescendo

“My mission is what his mission was for this book: to bring hope to people at any age and stage of life that they, despite past failures and successes, still have important things to accomplish and great contributions to make in life. And so we’re hoping to give hope and inspiration to people that you still have great things ahead of you. And despite what setbacks and challenges you’ve gone through, keep at it and recreate yourself. Do what you need to do to become the person you want to be.”

On Choices in the Second Half of Life

“And so the challenge in this book is to adopt a Crescendo Mentality, meaning that despite what you’ve done in the past, what are you going to do next? Are you going to live in Crescendo? Are you going to  keep contributing? Are you going to keep doing things in other areas? Even if you don’t hold a 9 to 5 job, what are you going to contribute? How do you keep living in Crescendo as opposed to living in Diminuendo, which means you basically are shutting down and getting ready to not give anymore – and what a state that is. So, one of the things that you need to do is find purpose while you age and while you live.”

On Contributing

“This was his personal mission statement: Live Life in Crescendo. And he adopted that because people were asking him – and second guessing –  why he was still working and still speaking. But he would say that there is no greater time than right now. [Look at] what people have in the second half of life. Just think about it. Here are some of the advantages. The truth is you have more time, more wisdom, more experience, probably more money, more resources, more networking, and more connections to offer than you ever have in your entire life. And so what are you going to lend that to? Someone who would retire and do very little when they’ve been running a company or they’ve been contributing, they’ve been responding to needs, and then they stop after that. What a waste of great talent and opportunity to bless others. My father always liked to quote, Dr. (Hans) Selye, who talked about eustress, and he said eustress is fundamental as we age. And he said we need that in our life, which is a purpose to get out of bed, a cause or something we’re involved in, so our our thoughts are occupied outside ourself rather than our ailments and things that we can’t do. We’re focusing on what contributions can I make. And a little stress in our life is good for us and motivates us to move and to get out and to contribute. And he would say don’t retire from making contributions…it causes a domino effect.”

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About Your Podcast Host

Joe Casey is an executive coach who also helps people design their next life after their primary career. He created his own next chapter after a twenty-six-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking.

He’s the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy.