The following is an excerpt from The Midlife Woman; Reinventing Yourself in your Second Adulthood, which was written for women by a woman who has successfully reinvented herself and her career in midlife. The reinvention journey is at times scary, occasionally depressing, but almost always exhilarating and exciting. If you are a woman who is ready to leverage your life experience and wisdom to service your small business dreams with a purpose, this inspiring Amazon Short will give you a few key specifics you will need to "step outside the box" and transition into a meaningful career change.
"If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done. If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting." The first time that I heard this expression was at a very moving church service. It so inspired me that I wrote it on a paper and taped it on my bathroom mirror to read every day. Although you can apply these motivating words to any crossroad in your life, applying them to a midlife career change takes on an exciting dream/reality meaning.
Changing or beginning a career at midlife is very different from when we were younger. Most of us devoted the majority of our time in our 20s and 30s pleasing others, whether it was family, in our career, or both. We compromised our work/life choices to support whatever the immediate needs were at the time. Unfortunately, most of us have ended up suppressing our own personal dreams and aspirations for the greater good and the daily grind.
Lauren was a single parent raising a son and had been on her own since her son was a toddler. She worked at any job she could to make ends meet when her son was young. She landed a position as an instructional assistant for special needs children at a local school and worked there for 25 years. Her profession was very stressful and sometimes dangerous, rendering a paycheck that was just enough for her to get by. She lived modestly and was an expert in managing her funds her entire working life (the kind of woman that could manage just fine without the bells and whistles), had all of her financial ducks in a row and decided that she would retire from her job at age 55.
Lauren's vision for what she wanted to accomplish in her second adulthood hit her square in the face when she was watching the devastation of hurricane Katrina on television. It pained her to see the amount of people left homeless who lost everything and who are trying desperately to start their lives over. It made her realize that there were many people in her own area equally in need. She began calling local soup kitchens to better understand the needs and wants of the homeless in her area. She started a nonprofit ministry named after her grandchildren to help fulfill the needs of the homeless and/or those trying to transition back into a better and more productive quality of life. She fills gift bags with personal hygiene, toiletries and feel-good items, along with hats she crochets. Each bag also includes a Bible. Basically, anything that would hopefully regain pride and self esteem to the recipient is part of the package. Lauren was finally afforded the opportunity to reinvent herself in her second adulthood by helping others and asking for nothing in return. Her compensation for all of her hard work was the knowledge that she was serving those who were less fortunate.
"As we reinvent ourselves, we search for the right 'brand' that will define us in a new life and career. In the past, we may have defined ourselves by our relationships, like 'wife, mother, supporter,' 'manager,' 'computer programmer,' or our many accomplishments. Midlife is the time to envision what is possible and to go for it in a new and fearless way," said Dr. Karen Otazo, author of The Truth About Managing Your Career and The Truth About Being a Leader.
Midlife is a time when the focus is not so much on power and success but on realizing your mortality and fulfilling a lifelong dream. This is a time where you can shed the pressures "By now I should be married," "I want to be rich and have a big house," and enter into "What's really important to me now" and "I want to love what I do for as long as I'm able." Just because you have been a successful CEO for the past fifteen years doesn't mean that it is something you love and have a passion to continue. Maybe you have always loved animals and want to open a pet shop or use the wisdom and knowledge you have developed over the years to coach others. There are also many women who have been stay-at-home-moms for most of their adult lives and now want to do something that expresses who they are as an individual. Regardless of what your occupation has been up to this point, you have earned the right to make a change for yourself.
What jazzes you? Have you ever met someone and said to yourself, "I would love to do what they do for a living!" List out your dreams and aspirations, regardless of how silly they may seem. Also, list what you are good at that you love doing. You will find that this is the woman you are today; the woman who is now putting her needs and desires to the front of the line instead of lagging behind and going with the general flow of life.
Need more? Check out www.smallbizmadesimple.com for some great resources to help you be a more effective small business owner.
About the Author
Lori Quaranta is a small business internet marketing and publicity specialist and is the owner of Consetta Web Solutions and Consetta Creative Publicity. She is certified with the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and The National Concierge Association (NCA). Quaranta has over 10 years of experience in management and was also the owner of a residential cleaning service for 8 years.
Quaranta is the author of The Mid-Life Woman; Reinventing Yourself in your Second Adulthood and is currently working on her next manuscript with the working title Take Me Back; a nostalgic piece on childhood memories. She is also a strong advocate of supporting women.
Quaranta has been interviewed on various issues relating to women in mid-life by "The Weekend Today Show" and "First Wives World." She has also been quoted in assorted editorials on Internet marketing and publicity. Quaranta is also a survivor of a massive brain aneurism where 95% of those inflicted do not survive.
Quaranta has an amazing daughter who is currently attending college and is in a loving and supportive relationship with her boyfriend. Contact Quaranta at lori@smallbizmadesimple.com.
