Only a few months ago, more seasoned politicians lost their jobs than ever before. Constituents shown the exit door to 175 incumbent Conservative Members of Parliament in July.
I’m sad for them, too. Actually. Making a fresh start is difficult. I made £8,000 a year ten years ago, which was less than what my teenage daughter earned from her nannying job.
With a large mortgage, two vehicles, school fees, and all the extravagances of a comfortable middle-class lifestyle, it was not enough to cover the expenses.
In hindsight, it was the finest thing that ever happened to me, so blame it on my midlife crisis. Because I did something similarly foolish instead of all the hedonistic foolish things middle-aged guys do in an attempt to reinvent themselves.
After leaving a newspaper office job to explore other options, I made the decision to start over and redefine my career.
Why couldn’t I make a significant professional move at 56 like Arnold Schwarzenegger did? And everything is conceivable, surely, if Jeremy Clarkson can move from petrolhead to Cotswolds farmer?
With a firm that now generates about £300,000 annually, I look back on that very little amount with great pleasure.
I run a multinational training firm that gives companies tactics that let data-driven teams “translate” complicated information into straightforward narratives that are unmatched by ChatGPT. Still.
I had nothing at the time. No customers, no money, and no real idea of what I was doing, where I was heading, or how I was going to get there. It was only a crazy notion that something else existed.
I’ve only now realized that middle age is the ideal moment to start again. It’s intimidating and frightening, but you possess the abilities and emotional intelligence, and it’s becoming more and more important as technology continues to disrupt employment.
We are taught that becoming older is a hindrance to success. Trust me, even at 56, I can see that it’s the other way around.
Only one individual is responsible for my success. In 2014, my wife’s two biggest strengths (among many others) were her steadfast faith in me and her well-paying work, which allowed me to engage in my hobbies.
In any case, I’ve been asked a lot since that dark period how I did it, so I’ve made myself look backwards rather than forwards and have come up with “rules” that you won’t find in any of those how-to manuals that line the shelves of self-help stores.
Therefore, the first thing to keep in mind is: Your closest buddy is a fool. As well as the coworker who said, “Aren’t you a bit old for that?” in response to my announcement that I was going to attempt to reinvent myself.
He was afraid I would be the elderly guy playing catch-up in a room full of people half my age since I was beyond 40 and had greying hair. He was the one who was afraid, not me.
the worry that if he couldn’t do it, how could I possibly do it? However, when things start to lag, playing catch-up is the energy boost you need.
They will also constantly flag. That’s the important part about aging. As we age, we seek for more comfortable safety and reduce our speed.
Even if you don’t think you have the energy to reinvent yourself in your middle years, trust me—other people will.
Spend more time with younger individuals. According to one in five Gen Z employees, they haven’t spoken directly to an individual over 50 at work in the last 12 months.
However, these exchanges are advantageous to both parties since we may impart information and recognize that young people are aware of things that we are not.
Adopting their bring-it-on mentality for oneself is facilitated by reverse mentorship. You’re elderly, so be brave.
Make the most of your longevity and experience by speaking out when others in the room are afraid to.
Those wounds from your job have earned you the right. Never consider your age to be a barrier as you reach midlife.
It’s likely to be regarded as your biggest advantage by the majority of people present. You ought to, too.
Recognize that your greatest vulnerability is age. Because of your seniority, you will mistakenly believe.
That your communication is just as essential to the sender as it is to you when you establish relationships, send emails, resumes, ideas, etc.
It’s not because—get ready—you are no longer significant. For weeks, it and you may hardly be visible on their horizon.
Don’t sit there trying to find that game-changing ping in your email all the time like I used to. Give up the resume. Your impressive resume isn’t the sales tool you believe it to be.
They are not read. Complete this phrase instead: “You need me because…” You just have ten seconds to make that first encounter go well, and the tale of your accomplishments and identity is far less compelling than the story of why you are important. To them.
Alternatively, take a look at the whole 850-word master story, then break it down into three paragraphs, three phrases, and one 280-character tweet.
You must have one. Make your tale as brief as possible over time so that you can summarize it in one sentence. Getting this perfect takes time.