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Morning, Greg here!
Welcome to Midlife Male, the fastest-growing, #1 newsletter and lifestyle brand for men 40+. In today’s issue we’ve got my Viewpoint on the philosophy of beards, Jon’s Manologue on John Grisham’s untold origin story, our How I See It with entrepreneur Scott MacGregor, and, as always, our 6F recs. If a fellow MLM reader shared this with you, subscribe here:
To Beard or Not to Beard
Why do so many bald men have beards? Is it just because it looks better? Because the beard balances the bare scalp?
Or is it something deeper?
Is it a quiet, obsessive compulsion to control something in the face of losing something else?
“I can’t control the hair on my head,” we tell ourselves, “but I can damn sure show you I can grow hair on my face.”
I’ve lived the entire journey. I’ve been every version of the bald man you can imagine: hair, hats, denial, acceptance, stubble, full beard, shaved clean, and everything in between.
Back in the day I had long, great hair for as long as I could hold onto it. Think Bon Jovi meets early Agassi. By 22, my hairline was moving back, like Chris Berman calling a home run: “back, back, back…”
My friends joked about my five-head. I didn’t panic. I tried minoxidil and finasteride; back then, that was all we had, and neither did much. I told myself, when it’s time, I’ll shave it.
And that was that. But, as anyone who has dealt with this issue will tell you, it was just the beginning. Whether your hair is starting to thin, has already thinned, or you’re hanging on to those last strands for dear life, this column will help you navigate what’s next:
How John Grisham Turned Years of Rejection into a $400 Million Career
By Jon Finkel
With career pivots and second careers more popular than ever among guys over 40, you’re going to want to read this for a little inspiration, because despite Grisham currently being in the midst of a ridiculous streak of 51 consecutive New York Times bestsellers (including The Widow, which came out last week), his writing career began with a disastrous flop and if not for one single decision, you’d never have heard of him.
It all starts in 1984 with a 29-year-old Grisham sitting in a courthouse in northern Mississippi, listening to horrific testimony from a victim, a young girl.
“Every juror was crying,” he later said. “I remember staring at the defendant, wishing I had a gun.”
That moment stays with him. It haunts him. The emotion. The rage of the parents. The feeling of everyone in the courtroom.
“And with that, a story was born,” he said.
But Grisham isn’t an author. He’s a trial lawyer with a full caseload and a wife and young kids to support.
When the hell is he going to find time to write a book?
Months pass and he’s going through his normal case work and normal life, but he can’t shake this idea for a story.
So he decides to take action.
He commits to getting up at 5AM every day to write for an hour before work. It’s slow. It’s painstaking. But he sticks with it. For three straight years those 5AM sessions continue until he has a completed manuscript.
What happens next isn’t what you expect. Especially since you know the end of the story. No. To truly appreciate how far Grisham has come as an author, you’ve got to read the gut-wrenching tale of what happened with that first book. It’ll motivate you. Inspire you. And teach you the valuable lesson he learned:
Scott MacGregor on Relationships as Sport, Networking vs. Friendship and Maniacal Consistency
If you looked up the word ‘connector’ in the dictionary, you’d see Scott MacGregor’s picture right there. I know that’s an old cliché, but it’s never been more true.
Scott is one of those rare guys who’s genuine, gracious, and authentic. He lives to serve and connect others. His goal is to go far beyond networking to truly build deeply rooted, meaningful, and lasting relationships. That’s a gift. Most of us don’t have it. Scott has it in spades.
He’s the Founder and CEO of SomethingNew, the Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of Outlier Magazine, the Founder of The Outlier Project, and the author of the Standing O! book series. He’s also an eight-time American Business Award winner for innovation, proof that his success is as substantial as it is soulful.
But what I admire most about Scott isn’t his resume, it’s his purpose. What he and his wife Meg have built through The Outlier Project is more than a community; it’s a movement. A collective of people around the world who choose to live life on their own terms. It’s for those who believe being ordinary is a choice and that every human has an extraordinary spark waiting to be ignited.
Through over 200 live, interactive events each year, unforgettable retreats, and experiences that connect visionaries, trailblazers, and dreamers from around the globe, Scott and Meg have created something truly exceptional. It’s a blueprint for what community should look like.
Outlier Magazine itself is a reflection of that ethos, filled with valuable insights, inspiring individuals, stunning imagery, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. It’s a must-read for me, and it pushes me to raise the bar with Midlife Male every week.
Scott MacGregor is one of those guys who makes you better simply by knowing him. He’s become a friend, mentor, and trusted advisor. And his perspective on growth, creativity, evolution, and support is one we can all learn from.
Take a deep read and watch the full conversation in this week’s How I See It with Scott MacGregor.
The Life Insurance That Rewards You for Living
I’ve been a John Hancock Vitality policyholder for more than ten years, and I’m a huge believer in proper planning and life insurance. When my father passed away, that planning made all the difference for our family, and I’ve never forgotten it.
What I love about John Hancock’s Vitality program is that it rewards you for living healthy. You can track your workouts, nutrition, and habits and the healthier you live, the more you save by moving from Bronze to Silver to Gold tiers.
It’s life insurance for people who actually take care of themselves. You’re protected if you need it, rewarded every day you don’t
Recovery Is the Real Midlife Flex
One of the most overlooked elements of fitness as we age is recovery. It’s absolutely essential. That’s why we’re all about Plunge here, and now, Plunge is making best-in-class saunas too.
Quality recovery leads to faster muscle repair, more energy, less lactic acid buildup, better circulation, and sharper mental clarity. Through consistent contrast therapy using cold plunges and hot saunas, you’ll train harder, feel better, and live longer.
Plunge is best in class for both cold and heat. A one-stop solution for your health, wellness, and longevity. Use code MIDLIFEMALE for $250 off.
50% of Couples Admit to Financial Infidelity
Nearly half of all midlife couples admit to some form of financial infidelity: keeping secrets about money, hiding debt, or maintaining undisclosed accounts. For men in midlife, it can quietly erode trust, partnership, and legacy.
At this stage of life, money is rarely simple. You might be managing a business exit, a second marriage, college tuition, aging parents, or retirement prep. Transparency matters more than ever.
Here’s how to think about it:
Trust and transparency matter. Secrecy around money isn’t about dollars, it’s about honesty.
Hidden debt is riskier now. A secret liability can compromise everything from retirement plans to estate strategies.
Define your shared system. “Ours, mine, and theirs” is fine, as long as it’s clear.
Schedule money check-ins. Don’t wait for a discovery moment.
Gauge the gravity. A surprise purchase isn’t the same as hidden debt.
Financial honesty is about integrity, partnership, and peace of mind. At this stage, what’s hidden can cost you your marriage, your future, and your freedom.
The Pasta That Actually Loves You Back
Goodles! We love this nutrient-packed pasta. Each serving delivers 18g of protein, 12g of fiber, and 21 nutrients from plants and it still tastes like the real thing.
Goodles looks, cooks, and tastes just like a normal, delicious noodle. So when you’re craving pasta, this is your move.
And since you guys seem to love seeing what Greg’s eating, here’s his latest What I’m Eating This Month post.
The Jacket Every ‘90s Guy Still Deserves
Men’s 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket: The North Face
If you graduated college in the ‘90s, you’re officially retro - and so is the jacket that defined the decade.
The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse was born for mountaineering and immortalized on city streets. With unmistakable oversized baffles and ultra-warm 700-fill down insulation, it’s become a global symbol of confidence and grit.
Relaxed but packable. Protective but chill. This is an icon.
The Only Morning Routine That Actually Works
What’s more fun than starting your day right? We’re tired of over-complicated, biohacked, 12-step morning routines that suck the joy out of mornings.
Greg posted his real morning routine the other day and it got a ton of love (and the usual “cringe” texts from his boys whenever he mentions sex).
Whatever your morning looks like, keep it simple. Don’t major in the minors.
Here’s Greg’s Midlife Male Morning Routine:
NOTE from Jon: Greg is currently in the honeymoon phase of being an empty nester. No kids. No rush. Time is on his side in the morning, haha! As for Jon, he gets up at 6:00, chugs some ice water, tells his 14-year-old daughter to get out of the shower six times, his 12-year-old son to get out of bed seven times, hears them both say “6-7” ten times, reminds his 12-year-old to, you know, brush his teeth, then he and his wife spend fifteen minutes getting the kids out the door, before Jon drives them to the bus stop (where one or both kids forgot something) and then, finally, he walks the dog and works out in his garage gym as his wife leaves for work. Different phases of life, haha. Embrace both while you’re in them because they go by too fast.
Read Our MOST POPULAR Cover Stories:
MLM Founder: Greg Scheinman / Follow Greg on Instagram & LinkedIn
Love Greg’s Viewpoint column? Visit the full Viewpoint Vault HERE where he shares his personal insights, experiences and perspectives on everything affecting midlife.
MLM Editor-in-Chief: Jon Finkel / Follow Jon on Twitter/X and Instagram
Love Jon’s Manologue column? Check out the full Manologue Archive HERE where he writes about pop culture, parenthood, sports, nostalgia & everything in between.
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