If you think it is too late for you to change your job or career, think again! Indeed most of my career coaching clients are over 40.
Here are a few case studies from people who started new careers between their 50ies to 80ies! They are from my career coaching book: “Falling in Love With Your Job”.
Making travelling your business
Silvana Clark (56) had been a writer and professional speaker and her husband Alan (59) a trainer of school bus drivers. To finance their ambition of travelling, the couple offered their services to Soles4Souls, a charity which provides footwear for poor and homeless people in the United States. They proposed that if Soles4Souls would buy them an RV, they’d drive it around the country, giving free shoes to the needy and promoting the organisation. Soles4Souls accepted and the Clarkes became their brand ambassadors. After travelling for Soles4Souls to 42 states over 19 months, the Clarkes accepted employment by Avon Care to drive around the country and help the company recruit representatives.
From building contractor to tutor placement
Barry Duckworth worked as a licensed general building contractor for 30 years, but when he was 59 he decided to look for a new career where he could be “a kinder person”. He started his own tutor-placement business, matching kids with tutors who come to their homes.
From IT to cooking
After Maralee DeMark retired from her job as an information technology manager at age 55, she was ready for something new. She and her sister Diane DeMark (66), who had retired 10 years earlier, both loved to cook and entertain. They opened the Two Sisters Market Cafe in Terrell, N.C., which features locally grown organic cuisine.
A firefighter at age 66
My favourite example: Andrea Peterson, a former medical transcriptionist, fulfilled her childhood dream in her 60s. She wanted to be a firefighter, but her family talked her out of it when she was young. Andrea was 66 years old when she received her firefighter certification. She then started working at her New England village’s fire department while also mentoring other women who want to become firefighters.
Graduating at age 69
At the age of 65, life-long entrepreneur Norm Smith looked for a new challenge. He sold his company that made plastic disposable medical containers, and applied for optometry courses at 17 colleges. Only one college replied and then accepted him as a student. Norm graduated at the age of 69 and set up his own optometry business.
Stand-up comedian at age 70
After her husband left her when she was 70, former chemist Julie Kertsz moved to London. She became a storyteller and later went to a stand-up comedy workshop. Now she performs stand-up comedy almost every week and her audience loves her. She also won a Toastmasters International gold award as an advanced communicator.
From car park to kitchen
After he took early retirement from his job as a car park manager at age 59, Frank Finlay became a teacher of horticulture at a technical college. When he was 62, he undertook another career change and started preparing breakfasts six mornings a week at the inn of a friend of his. He had enjoyed doing something different and completed a cookery course because “it’s always handy to have a qualification”.
Graphic design career at age 62
Alice Longworth had a full-time position in fundraising support, a role that she had been feeling was a poor fit for her interests and skills. She began taking graphic design classes and at age 62 became a graphic designer and communications coordinator for a church.
From redundancy to blogging
When Kay Roseland was made redundant in her 60s, she looked at this as an opportunity to start something new. She obtained two certifications in social media and created her own blog called Shareology. At age 64, Kay was hired to blog for software company Infor. She also mentors her boss, the vice president of product management, on using social media.
TV commercials at age 80
After retiring as a schoolteacher, Ress Fix enrolled in two commercial training courses. After that she got an agent and started her second career in television commercials at the age of 80. She featured in many TV commercials and magazine advertisements.
If they can do it, so can you!!
Have you too been wondering whether it is time to look for a new job or even an entirely different career? Most of our career coaching clients have no idea what’s possible for them and where to start. That’s where we come in! You can book a FREE Discover Call with me or one of my hand picked associate coaches here.