I meet with a lot of folks who want “second careers”. They have reached the top in their current roles, rounding close to retirement but aren’t ready to hit the golf course on a daily basis.

Deborah, a Creative Director knew she had more to offer than just being on boards of nonprofits. As her company’s and her succession plan started going into effect, her own personal time started opening up.

” I started thinking about my next steps and hit the library and online bookstores to explore a second career.
I found that bookstores did not have a good Twitter or FB presence and that ‘problem’ was the reason behind the launch of my second career.
I pitched my job to a smaller boutique social media agency
and soon carved out a part-time job with a commission promoting publishers in current social media outlets. I love connecting my past to current work that helps me fulfill my passion for reading along with my graphic design and social media experience!”

We, as employers, have a goldmine in front of us. If we aren’t listening to and taking advantage of this workforce segment, we are leaving a lot of precious talent on the table. One CEO I know actually told me to my face that no one over 45 is innovative. It’s just not the case. HBR researched and found the average age of a successful startup founder is 45. Innovation abounds to those with energy and enthusiasm–no matter what age. Give yourself five minutes to write down ideas for your next step.

We, as innovators, looking for new challenges, have to sit up straight, feel good about our accomplishments and resulting wisdom, practice daily learning, incorporate flexibility, and get current quickly in the industries/jobs we want to access. We also need to be as healthy as we can get–mind, body, spirit.

Reach out if you want to talk about your ideas.

Thanks for joining us!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton