Cultural expectations surrounding the elderly are being challenged today, and with good reason!

While it was the norm to slow down and retreat into a quieter life post-retirement, more men and women are finding purpose and joy in doing the opposite.

WisdomCircle honours such men and women by shining light on their journey through an inspiring series called “Wisdom Stories”. These people have successfully smashed stereotypes, and their stories remind us that life should be lived to the fullest, no matter what age or stage.

The 25-25-25 Rule: A Framework for an Intentional Life

“I often describe life through a simple philosophy: 25–25–25.

Most people plan their careers. Very few plan their third twenty-five years. That’s where life gets interesting.

If you look at an average life span, it can broadly be divided into three phases of twenty-five years each. The first twenty-five years are about learning. That is when you are absorbing knowledge, getting an education, understanding the world, and preparing yourself to stand on your own feet.

The next twenty-five years are about building. This is when you build your career, your family, and financial security. You contribute to organisations, work with teams, and establish yourself professionally.

The final twenty-five years, in my view, are about purpose. At that stage, the question changes. It is no longer just about achievement or advancement. You begin to ask yourself: What gives me meaning? What gives me satisfaction? What have I contributed? And very often, that phase is about giving back to society in whatever way you can.

This idea did not come from theory. It came from reflecting on my own journey.

I grew up in a fairly typical Indian environment. My father was a doctor who worked for the central government, so we moved across different parts of the country. I studied in Kendriya Vidyalayas and spent much of my early years across Madhya Pradesh before eventually settling in Hyderabad, which I consider my hometown.

My first twenty-five years were largely about education and preparation. I completed my engineering and then went on to do my MBA from XLRI. Like most people at that stage of life, I was focused on learning and figuring out where I belonged.

The second twenty-five years were more dynamic.

I graduated around the year 2000, which happened to be the peak of the dot-com boom. Naturally, I entered the technology industry and worked with startups. It was an exciting environment, full of energy and possibility.

But excitement is a great fuel and a terrible foundation. After working in a couple of startups, I realised something important: the thrill was real, but it was not necessarily good for mental health or financial stability at that stage of my life. I needed to build something that would last — including myself. That realization led me to move into a larger organisation, and I eventually joined Dell.

That phase taught me a great deal about building; not just building a career, but building stability, systems, and professional relationships. Working across different roles and environments also helped me understand how organisations function and what leadership actually demands. Not just in theory, but in the daily reality of difficult decisions and long-term consequences.

But as time passed, I increasingly found myself thinking about the third twenty-five years.

Professional success alone eventually stops being the central question. Instead, you begin thinking about purpose and contribution. About what you want the later phase of your life to stand for.

For me, that reflection led toward writing and exploring ideas through Indian epics like the Ramayana. These stories may be mythology, but they offer deep insights into human behaviour, leadership, ethics, and duty. Interpreting them through a contemporary lens became a meaningful way for me to reflect and share ideas with others.

I wanted to build a bridge between Indic wisdom and modern leadership. To ensure that the torch of the Ramayana’s timeless lessons was passed on to the next generation. That is how The Ramayana Guide to Practical Leadership was born. But writing the book was only the beginning. As someone shaped by the world of digital, I think of it as an MVP — a starting point, not a destination. The real mission is to take this wisdom to scale: to bring it into classrooms, boardrooms, and the hands of young leaders who are still figuring out who they want to be.

At the same time, I began to think more seriously about what it actually takes to live the third twenty-five years well.

One thing I underline strongly is physical health. People often spend twenty-five years building wealth and five years spending it on health bills. I decided to invert that. Physical health underpins everything else in later life. Your professional engagements, financial stability, family life, and even your mental well-being. If your health is not in place, it becomes very difficult to sustain any of the other aspects of life.

I consciously prioritise my physical health. It is something I try to maintain consistently, because staying physically healthy allows you to remain active, independent, and engaged in the years ahead.

Beyond these foundations, I see two equally important aspects.

The first is a clear purpose: A sense of what truly gives you meaning and fulfilment.

The second is a clear path: A practical way of translating that purpose into action.

Purpose tells you why. But without a path, why just sits there gathering dust. Purpose alone is not enough if you do not know how to pursue it. And also, a path without purpose can easily feel empty.

The question in the first half of life is: What can I get? The question in the second half is: What can I give? The wise ones start asking the second question early.

When I look back at my journey, the most important realization is that life cannot be lived only in the phase of building. At some point, we must consciously transition into the phase where the focus shifts from accumulation to contribution.

Because in the end, what brings the deepest satisfaction is not simply what we achieved, but what we were able to give back.”

– Anil Srinivas Chilla

Interviewed by Nehal Naik for WisdomCircle

Explore more inspiring journeys—read more Wisdom Stories here.

Wisdom Stories Ep.86: Anil Srinivas Chilla