Why Most People Peak at 25 (And How to Avoid Their Fate)

I was scrolling through my old high school friends' profiles last week when it hit me like a brick wall.

Same job for 8 years. Same routine. Same complaints about being "stuck." These were the kids who had everything figured out at 18—the ones I looked up to.

Now at 25, 27, 30... they're exactly where they were 5 years ago.

Meanwhile, some of the "average" kids from school are now running companies, traveling the world, living lives that actually excite them.

What's the difference?

The 25-Year Plateau

Here's the brutal truth: Most people peak at 25 and spend the rest of their lives defending that peak.

They get comfortable. They stop learning. They stop creating. They stop putting themselves out there.

But here's what I've noticed about the people who keep growing:

They never stop building something.

While everyone else is consuming—Netflix, social media, other people's content—the winners are creating. They're documenting their journey. They're sharing their thoughts. They're building something that compounds over time.

Your Move: Look at your last 30 days. How much time did you spend consuming vs. creating something meaningful?

The Hidden Multiplier

The people who escape the 25-year plateau have one thing in common: They treat their ideas like seeds, not secrets.

Most people have brilliant thoughts in the shower, during their commute, late at night. But those thoughts die with them because they never document or share them.

The winners? They turn their best insights into content. They build audiences around their ideas. They create platforms that amplify everything else they do.

Think about it:

• Your business ideas get more traction when you have an audience

• Your career opportunities multiply when people know your expertise

• Your impact grows when your message reaches the right people

Your Move: Write down the last 3 "shower thoughts" or insights you had. What if you turned one of them into content this week?

The Compound Effect of Creation

Here's what separates the plateau people from the growth people:

Plateau People: Consume → Feel inspired → Do nothing → Repeat Growth People: Learn → Create → Share → Build → Compound

Every piece of content you create is working for you 24/7. Every video, post, or idea you share becomes a magnet for opportunities you can't even imagine yet.

I see this constantly—people who started creating content "just for fun" and now have:

• Dream job offers sliding into their DMs

• Business partnerships forming naturally

• Speaking opportunities they never applied for

• Communities of people who actually care about their message

Your Move: Pick one platform where you could start sharing your expertise or journey. What's stopping you from posting your first piece of content today?

The Fear That Keeps You Stuck

"But what if people judge me?" "What if I don't know enough yet?" "What if my content isn't good enough?"

Here's the reality check: Everyone who's ever built something meaningful started when they felt unqualified.

The people judging you? They're the plateau people. They're not your audience anyway.

Your real audience—the people who need to hear your message—they're waiting for someone like you to show up and lead.

Your Move: Record one 60-second video this week sharing something you've learned recently. Don't overthink it. Just hit record and share your authentic thoughts.

The Bottom Line

You have two choices:

Choice 1: Keep consuming other people's content and wake up at 35 wondering where the time went.

Choice 2: Start creating something meaningful that compounds over time and builds the life you actually want.

The plateau people will always have excuses. The growth people will always find a way.

Which one are you?

This Week's Challenge:

Create and share one piece of content that adds value to someone else's life. It could be:

• A 60-second video sharing a lesson you learned

• A post about a mistake that taught you something

• A story about overcoming a challenge

The medium doesn't matter. What matters is you start building something that lasts.

Your Better Self,

Richard
Founder, Elevenstoic

P.S. If you're serious about turning your ideas into content that actually gets seen and creates opportunities, I've put together everything I've learned about viral content creation, editing, and building a meaningful brand into one comprehensive program. It's called Cinematic Studio and it's exactly how I built Elevenstoic from zero to where it is today. Check it out if you're ready to stop being a consumer and start being a creator.