Thinking Through Career Change
Making a career change? We’ve all had plenty of time for it. The question is, do we know where it’s going? Kind of like a fresh graduate, do we know what we want to do for a living now? Former television executive Alice Riehl faced it before, and although she’s closer to retirement age than the age to start a career, she’s now facing the big question again: What do I want to do when I grow up?
A year and a half ago, I sold my business. It was an accidental business, if you must know. After 20 years of selling TV advertising time and managing TV stations, I was fired … again. This happens all the time in the industry, but it still hurts when it happens. So my sales manager (fired on the same day) and I — my job had been as the general manager of a small market Fox affiliate — decided to try our hand at something new, something we could not be fired from. So we began a newsletter for people who do what we did in our careers: sell TV ad time.
We had to disregard the advice of people we respected to begin the publication, but it was successful almost from the get-go. Our fearlessness was helped tremendously by the low startup costs and our lack of other employment. Neither of us had ever made our living by writing, and neither was used to sitting in an office for eight hours a day with little contact with other humans. But we made it work and, after nine years, we were making very good money and had a readership of about 80 percent of the TV stations in the country.
That’s when we got the offer we couldn’t refuse: someone wanted to buy us! After the sale, my partner stayed with the publication, working for the new owner. But I wanted out. I needed a change, and I wanted to do nothing for at least a little while, after working very hard for the last thirty years. And that’s what I have been doing, mostly — nothing — for the last year and a half. Some months were semi-employed by getting my house in order for a sale; some were devoted to caring for my mother who passed away; some were spent taking online classes and learning to play bridge (badly); and some were spent traveling (though not as mush as I had envisioned when I quit working). Maybe that doesn’t sound like “nothing,” but it felt like it to me.
The sale of our business did not set me up for the rest of my life — it just gave me breathing room. So now I have to begin to think about what to do next. After a year and a half, my old profession has probably passed me by and, anyway, I don’t want to get back in and be subject to the same whims that got me fired in the first place, especially at my age (58). Anyway, after nine years of being my own boss, I am an even worse employee prospect than I was earlier in my career when I only thought I knew more than my employers (though I was right, sometimes). Now, I know it.
A new business is the best idea, I think. But what business? Real estate, during the worst downturn in 30 years? A newsletter in a new industry? But I don’t really know any other industry. A turn-key home-based business? They all seem so sleazy to me.
Have any of you started again after 55? Is there any advice you can give me? I’ve you’ve walked where I’m walking, maybe you know where it leads.
Share your thoughts … email Alice Riehl
Filed Under: Alice Riehl • Baby Boomers
You are one of many who are experiencing a desire for a change of careers at this stage in life. Finding a job as a young person and retiring from that job in your sixties is no more. I found your article fascinating and motivating. You sound like someone who can turn any career/position into something in which you find challenge and joy. Best of luck in your next endeavor.
Loved your article. I’m 54 and seem to be starting over and over again and loving it. Two businesses after a long career in the medical field and I’m on to my third. Why not? It is kind of like Warren Zevon singing “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” and I honestly feel that way. We’re the generation that just won’t give up and really–why should we? So, go on to another career after a nice long rest, real estate, whatever… and make sure it’s one that meets your needs and your bridge schedule (that is so our parents, but what the heck)and your travel schedule (so our parents again)and keep on keeping on (think I’m a little 60’s 70’s here?).
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After years spent working in an insurance agency making lots of money for the owner, I was laid off (my salary=Lexus). I too bummed around for awhile. I went to work in retail, specifically retail that sold nothing that was needed. In my case it was a fishing & hunting store. I really like it, all the young people that are working there keep me feeling young, it’s fun talking to customers about what they have a passion for. The best part is it is totally different from what I did before. Changing careers is always a hit in the billfold, but I now am past my old salary. I even stayed at the bottom rung of jobs (cashier) for a long time just because I didn’t want to be in charge of anything. I am a manager now and liking it because I gave myself that break from responsibility for several years.
Try something different.