I'm 60.
I've been doing this since I was a kid hacking into VAX clusers.
My motivation is as strong if not stronger than when I was in my 20s (despite doing four startups which were successful).
As for raw ability... claiming that is declining is not something that anyone can prove or disprove. It's just your opinion. But more importantly, it's not relevant. Raw ability is talent, and what matter is the APPLICATION of that talent. Speaking from my advanced age... one of the great things about maturing is that you become far, far better at applying your talents.
So if you are over 50, I'm sorry you feel this way.
For the rest of us, this sh*t really does get better with age.
I'm 60. I've been doing this since I was a kid hacking into VAX clusers. My motivation is as strong if not stronger than when I was in my 20s (despite doing four startups which were successful). As for raw ability... claiming that is declining is not something that anyone can prove or disprove. It's just your opinion. But more importantly, it's not relevant. Raw ability is talent, and what matter is the APPLICATION of that talent. Speaking from my advanced age... one of the great things about maturing is that you become far, far better at applying your talents.
So if you are over 50, I'm sorry you feel this way. For the rest of us, this sh*t really does get better with age.