Key #1: Drop The “It’s Too Late” and “I’m Too Old” BS Narrative
Nobody cares how old you are but you. Yes, ageism is real, but it’s going to exist in the world whether you choose to make a midlife career change or not. Focus instead on what you can control — your beliefs and your actions.
Are your beliefs and actions supporting or hurting your aspirations? You may not realize it, but every belief has a consequence.
Acknowledging your limiting beliefs is the first step to changing them.
The best part is, plenty of statistics support midlife career changes. People are retiring later in life and the average working age is going up. In a few years, 25% of the nation’s workforce will be 55 and older.
Because of this, folks are getting creative with their career choices. Research by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor shows that for the last decade, folks over 55 have the highest rate of global business start-up activity.
And if you're worried about not being taken seriously because of your age, you've got science on your side. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there’s a ton of research that proves our brains and intellectual functions actually improve as we get older.
For example, as we age we experience:
- Improved reasoning, planning, and communicating.
- Quicker problem solving.
- Better, wiser decision making.
- Stronger comprehension and distillation of complex ideas.
It’s a myth that people are less creative and innovative as they age. Humans are creative at every age. In fact, we have an entire MarieTV episode about 10 inspiring women who prove it’s never too late to start a new business or new career. In short, the person who is likely making the biggest deal of your age is you.
Key #2: Learn How to Market Yourself
Once you get yourself into the right mindset, you’ll need to learn how to market yourself in this new career of yours.
The great news about making a midlife career change is that you’re not starting from scratch. You have the experience, wisdom, and strength from your previous career that can help you thrive in a new one.
Need proof? Take a moment and list your:
- Transferable skills.
- Hard-earned life lessons.
- Personal qualities.
Remember, nothing in your life is a waste. Every job, every experience, and every setback provides a powerful lesson or skill. You're not losing your wisdom or experience — just channeling it in a new direction.
What's going to make the biggest difference is how well you can package, market, and sell yourself to a client or employer. You might be the best writer, juggler, or painter in the world but no one will know or care if you don't know how to communicate your value.
Trust me — the right marketing strategies are incredible, miraculous tools that can be used for good.
I've been teaching them for years to tens of thousands of multipassionate, big-hearted entrepreneurs from all over the world in B-School. I’ve seen countless B-School grads use marketing to grow meaningful businesses, provide for their families, and leverage their passions to make a positive impact.
Whether you’re starting your own business or getting a job in a new industry — marketing is essential to making your midlife career change a success.
Key #3: Develop a Bias Toward Action
Making a midlife career change may feel daunting and scary, but daydreaming or stressing about it in your head will only make it worse. Develop a bias toward action. Resist the urge to overthink because clarity comes from engagement, not thought.
Knowing something doesn’t change your life. Doing something does.
Focus on taking small steps every day towards your new career. You don’t need to know all the steps in advance — just what you need to focus on right now.
Anytime you slip into overwhelm, stop and ask yourself, “What’s the next right action step here?” The answer may be as simple as, “Go drink a glass of water.” Or it could be, “Contact 5 local businesses and offer to write their newsletter in exchange for a testimonial.” Or, “Set up a services page on my website.”
There's always a small, tangible step you can take to move your new career ahead. Remember, everything is figureoutable, including making this career change.
Now I’d love to hear from you. If you’ve ever made a big career change, what was the most important lesson you learned in the process?
Let’s crowdsource some great wisdom for anyone out there who wants to make a big career pivot — especially if they have concerns that it’s too late.
Share as much detail as you can. Hundreds of thousands of souls come here for insight and inspiration. Your story may be just what someone needs to see things from a fresh perspective. Important: please share your thoughts and ideas directly in the comments. Links to other posts, videos, etc. may be removed.
Let this be the year that you take a stand for what makes you come alive. Stop questioning yourself and what you really want. Remember, you are a one-time mega event in the universe. Don’t waste it!
With SO much love ❤️,
XO