Crystallized Intelligence: The Power of Experience

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation recently taught us a powerful lesson about experience. By awarding $100,000 grants to thirty jazz musicians over 62, they made a bold statement: investing in seasoned artists isn’t just about honoring their past—it’s about enriching our future. These grants ensure that decades of mastery and wisdom can be passed down to inspire the next generation.

At Silver Path Consulting, we believe in the immense value of experience. Too often, society focuses on what’s lost with age instead of what’s gained—wisdom, resilience, and expertise. Aging isn’t a decline; it’s an evolution.

In psychology, this is known as crystallized intelligence—the ability to apply accumulated knowledge, skills, and life lessons. Think of it as a well-stocked mental toolbox, filled with insights refined over the years. While some cognitive abilities may shift, crystallized intelligence often strengthens, allowing us to recognize patterns, solve problems with deeper insight, and navigate complexity with confidence.

And the best part? We can actively strengthen it through lifelong learning, new challenges, and sharing expertise.

History is full of people who used their crystallized intelligence to accomplish extraordinary things later in life. One of my favorites is Laura Ingalls Wilder, who transformed 60+ years of frontier life into the beloved Little House series. Or consider Vera Wang, who entered fashion design at 40 and built a global empire. The late Toni Morrison published her first novel at 39 and won a Nobel Prize in her 60s.

Research backs this up. An MIT study analyzing 2.7 million founders found that entrepreneurs in middle age and beyond had the highest success rates—challenging the stereotype that innovation is a young person’s game. Experience isn’t just valuable—it’s a competitive advantage.

How to Strengthen Your Crystallized Intelligence:

• Reflect on past experiences – What patterns do you notice? What strategies have consistently worked?

• Seek cross-pollination – How can insights from one field inform another?

• Mentor others – Teaching forces us to articulate knowledge we've accumulated.

• Take on complex projects – Engage in challenges that integrate multiple domains of expertise.

At Silver Path Consulting, we help families see aging as a time of growth, contribution, and purpose—not decline.

So the next time you offer insight, solve a problem, or guide someone with wisdom, take a moment to appreciate your crystallized intelligence at work. Learning, growth, and innovation don’t have an expiration date.