An article I wrote, as published on MoneyGeek.com. You can read it here.
How can the pursuit of an soul-driven, encore career positively affect one's personal and professional life?
An encore career usually happens after you've learned a lot about yourself during the many years you've been alive on this planet. You have a better idea of who you are, you have stronger boundaries around what you will and won't accept in your life and you're more in tune with what you want (even if you sometimes feel unsure about what that is). With all that being said, if you're pursuing an encore career, there is a very high chance that you're walking the path of your soul's deepest desires (or something closer to them than what you've been doing with your life). You've lived a life that feels lacking in something, and now you're craving purpose.
When it comes to your personal life, the pursuit of your soul's wishes will affect you incredibly positively because you'll be taking steps that spark growth and change. A lot of the things you do in striving towards this may be scary, but those scary things are going to expand you and make you braver and more confident. This will spill over into every area of your personal life.
When it comes to your professional life, pursuing this encore career can only help you get closer to the life you want to be living. Even if you start out pursuing the wrong (for you) career at first, you'll find your way through the trial and error of that experience. This will truly make you a resilient and well-rounded person. And the world will be a better place for it because healed people heal the world.
What role does networking play in finding opportunities for a soul-driven, encore career?
As many of us know, networking is extremely important and valuable when building a business. And when it comes to finding opportunities for an encore career, I would argue that it’s even more important. You might be thinking to yourself, “I would love to do something new and purposeful. But what? I have no idea what opportunities are out there or what I even truly enjoy doing.” Stepping out into some new groups and social gatherings can connect you with something you never thought to do before. And even if you do know what you want to do, the people at these social events will likely have connections to people you can meet, or they may know someone who could use the services of your new up-and-coming business!
When it comes to networking, I know social media is all the rage right now, but in-person is still one of the most powerful ways to network. You can feel people’s energy and intent a lot easier in person. And you can make true connections when you’re face-to-face. But if you’re drawn to networking online, the internet is a great tool as well. The most important thing is that you’re creating a networking plan that’s fun and sustainable for you. Networking works when you show up. So, where is the easiest place for you to show up?
What are the main challenges someone over fifty could encounter when starting a soul-driven encore career, and how can they be overcome?
It's likely a much different landscape than the last time you "entered the workforce." The explosion of the internet has its share of opportunities and challenges. First of all, everything is a thing. That's GOOD. It means that whatever business idea you've dreamed up has a good chance of being valuable to a niche group of people. The Bad: The internet has also created brain overload for most of us, so it can be very easy to get "comparisonitis" and feel like you're too far behind everyone to be successful, etc.
My advice? Get super in touch with your why. Why do you feel called to do what you're thinking about doing? Why is it so important that you live out your purpose at this point in your life? It can't be just about money. There needs to be a soul-led "why" behind it because you're going to lean into that "why" when things get tough. It can be scary to put yourself out there, but if your why is stronger than your concern about what others think, you'll persevere and be successful.
What advice would you give to someone who is feeling hesitant or fearful about starting a soul-driven encore career after 50?
Your desires weren’t given to you by chance, and they weren’t given to you to torture you. You have desires and dreams because there is something specific you came to Earth to do, and no one can do it like you can. It’s going to be scary sometimes, and you’re going to make mistakes. But it’s okay. Because on the other side of that are income and purpose. You get to help people and be compensated for it. You get to live a life you didn’t even know was possible for you until now.
This is true for every reader considering an encore career right now because you’re an amazing human who came to Earth to do great things. And if you’re reading this right now, I know you’re brave enough to figure out how to do it. So whenever you feel hesitant or fearful, lean into your why. Have a mission statement that fires you up, and read it when you’re struggling to move forward. This will keep you going. The world needs what you have. Please don’t deprive us of your gifts.
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