Drop the Damn Act. Start Being Who You Say You Are. (as-is — clean and bold)
By Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise) - www.GeezerWise.com
📬 Dear Son,
Today I want to introduce you to one of the sharpest minds I’ve come across in a long while — George Stroumboulopoulos.
He’s 52. A proud Canadian. A man who’s carved a non-traditional path and lived to tell the tale with grit, grace, and humor. I just finished reading the transcript of a long-form interview he gave — and let me tell you, it wasn’t just entertaining… it was clarifying.
George made some bold life choices.
He chose not to marry.
Chose not to have kids.
Chose not to play the traditional career game.
And — he quit drinking over 30 years ago.
What struck me most wasn’t just what he said… it was how at peace he seemed with it all.
He talks about living your life — not a version of it.
He warns that most people never stop to ask themselves, “What do I actually want?” And even fewer have the guts to act on the answer.
He believes that your assignment in life is less about status or legacy — and more about how you treat the people around you. Did you make their day a little better than it was when they woke up? If so, you’re winning.
He said something I’ll never forget:
“Everyone says there’s no guidebook to life — that’s not true. Just ask every old person you meet. They’ll tell you the truth: as long as you have your health, everything else can be figured out.”
Amen to that.
I’ve said it before — but I’ll say it again here: if I could go back and talk to the version of me that was still drinking, still pretending, still performing — I’d shake him by the shoulders and say:
“Drop the damn act. Start being who you say you are.”
That’s what George did. He realized who he was and worked — slowly, stubbornly — to close the gap between the image and the truth.
If I had a son, I’d want him to hear this…
Don’t get tricked into thinking that success is about checking boxes. It’s not.
It’s about alignment.
Integrity.
Deciding who you want to be — and doing the hard work to become that person.
George reminds us that life isn’t a performance. It’s a practice.
And the best lives? They aren’t lived for applause… they’re lived on purpose.
Thanks for this one, George. You made this old dog pause, nod, and whisper, “Same, brother. Same.”
—Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise)
PS:
You can find the full interview on the Seas of Success Podcast. I recommend listening with a notebook nearby. It’s not just a conversation — it’s a clinic on clarity.
This letter was written by Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise). If it spoke to you, I’d love to hear back — just hit reply.
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—Fred [GeezerWise]