Do you remember your first job in high school? Mine was working at Kentucky Fried Chicken. I think they call it KFC now, but believe me, there is still some frying going on!
I worked in the kitchen area, wearing a red & white striped uniform dress that was way too short, but, according to the manager, was all they had. My duties were to fill up the boxes and buckets with the appropriate chicken pieces. I would leave work with a layer of grease on my skin and smelling of chicken. Although I doubt I knew it then, it was one of those good learning experiences for a teenager.
What does Kentucky Fried Chicken have to do with midlife reinvention? I love stories about people who remade, changed or improved their life no matter what their age.
I hear it often from various clients:
I’m too old.
It’s too late.
I should have done it in my twenties.
Think about Colonel Sanders at age 65 starting his first franchise restaurant with $105 from his 1st social security check!
Is there something gnawing at you? Do you think it’s too late? It’s probably not.
Photo credit: Chris Saulit
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I just love this site – it provides courage to people to pursue change and get on track with what our souls want us to do.
I am a testimony that it is never too late. At 40, I quit a twenty year career in public safety and went back to school full time. I was tired of working 12 hour shifts, holidays, and having nannies raise my child. The pivotal moment came when I was reprimanded for falling asleep on the job at 3 in the morning. I could feel my body physically ache from the long and inconsistent scheduled. I had an ephiany that what I was doing was pure madness. It was not how I wanted to live my life.
With the help of a coach ( You must get one!! You need someone that will help you overcome the naysayers – your family and friends that think you are crazy for even thinking of leaving an established job!) I summoned the courage to leave a good salary and security behind to start afresh. I completed my degree and and through serendipitous events, landed a dream job. i I travel the world and have been to every continent except Antiartica. How good is that?? I rose through the ranks quickly due to my past experiences I am earning more now than I ever could have in my old position. Life is so much better than where I was before – it just takes a leap of faith!
I hope I can inspire others Life is fleeting and we are meant to enjoy it and relish it.
Wow, Lisa.
This is so good! I didn’t know that the colonel didn’t develop a franchise until he was 65. I also heard that David Ogilvy (Ogilvy and Mather) was a complete failure until he got a broke into advertising at 38.
Personally, I feel that I am just now hitting my prime – not fame, but prime.
You really summed up the whole midlife reinvention process, Liz. From realizing your ‘prior’ life was not only unsatisfying but unhealthy to making a commitment to change and following through!
As coaches we help shepherd our clients through the complicated process.
Congratulations on your success!
Prime is everything! Enjoy it…and you never know the fame may be coming soon!