Are You Becoming More Stubborn with Age? Here’s What I’m Doing About It

Stop scrolling if you’ve ever caught yourself saying, “I’m too old for this.” The truth? The older we get, the more resistant to change we might become – but that doesn't have to hold us back.

Welcome to another instalment of my Runpreneur mission–on consecutive day 1,865 (and counting!) of running around the world, barefoot, with the audacious aim to go beyond Day 4,292. That’s 40,075 km of pounding the pavements, and ultimately, raising £1,000,000 for children’s causes.

Why am I doing this? Not just to challenge my physical limits, but to share the honest, often entertaining reality of personal growth, stubbornness…and how to win the battle every day.

The Old Adage: More Stubborn as You Age? Let’s Be Honest…

As the years stack up (I’m 43, if you’re wondering!), I’ve noticed it’s scarily easy to fall into the trap of resisting change. You know that phrase, “The older you get, the more stubborn you become”? Painfully relevant. It snuck up on me.

I recently caught myself dodging something new in my business – not because I couldn’t see the value, but because, deep down, I simply didn’t want to do it. Sound familiar? Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a fellow runner, or just someone hitting middle age, this internal tug-of-war is all too common.

Here’s Where It Gets Real…

I had a conversation with someone selling a brilliant entrepreneur training programme. The catch? It was all about marketing and becoming a ‘key opinion leader’ in my space. The resources, the logic, the frameworks – I could see the benefits clear as day. But honestly? I didn’t want to be that person.

You want the honest answer? The resistance was there, but the awareness was powerful. It’s not that I oppose change itself; I oppose making myself do things I fundamentally don’t enjoy.

The Secret Weapon: Adaptability (and a Bit of Tech Magic)

From years of building businesses, I realised one thing: the best entrepreneurs are those who adapt – especially now, as we shift from the industrial age to the relentless technology age, with automation and AI rewriting the rulebook.

So, what do you do if you’re painfully stubborn about your “weak spots”? Historically, I’d find a business partner whose strengths fill my gaps. But here’s the reality check–90% of business partnerships fail. If you’re lucky, the one or two that last will still need careful navigation. And as my ambitions evolve and my time grows more precious, that option’s less appealing.

Enter: AI.

That’s right – AI and the latest software tools are now my virtual business partners. They handle the things I don’t want to do so I can focus on what fires me up. Will the results always match a die-hard marketing pro? Maybe not. But the peace of mind (and extra minutes in my day) are worth it.

How You Can Flip Resistance into Rocket Fuel

You don’t have to choose between stubbornness and success. The key is to know your triggers and find creative solutions:

• Hate recording videos? Use AI-generated alternatives.

• Loathe content scheduling? Automate it.

• Can’t stand email marketing? Outsource it—or better yet, have AI draft your emails.

Awareness is everything. When you know what you’ll resist, you can engineer your work to keep moving forward—without burning out or stalling your mission.

Why the Mission Matters

Let’s not forget why I’m here: The Runpreneur Challenge isn’t just a test of endurance, but a vehicle to raise a life-changing £1,000,000 for children’s causes. Every day, every kilometre, every stubborn hurdle overcome is about saving lives. And the more people that join our audience, the more impact we make.

The Takeaway

Here’s the home truth:

Yes, the older you get, the more stubborn you become. But awareness, adaptability, and creativity can turn stubbornness into your secret superpower.

Find your workaround. Leverage technology. Surround yourself with people (or AI) that fill your gaps. And channel every ounce of stubbornness into pushing forwards—on the road, in business, and in life.

If you believe in this mission – to help me go beyond 4,292 days, complete 40,075 km, and raise £1,000,000 for children’s causes – please subscribe, share, comment, and be part of something epic.

Stay positive, stay happy, and I'll see you out there tomorrow.