Volume 1, Edition 13
I once googled, How do I restart my career at 51? The results were…mixed. However, what I truly needed wasn’t online. It was hidden in the parts of myself I had quieted while trying to be everything for everyone, and staying in a job that no longer fit who I was. Somewhere along the way, I stopped asking what I truly wanted and started asking what would make the most sense to others. That was the first sign I had drifted from my own path.
It’s easy to mistake productivity for purpose. I remained occupied, and reliable. Yet, I felt adrift. I lacked a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I felt like a mere placeholder in my own life; present, yet devoid of direction. I contemplated the possibility of a new job title or project. However, what I truly required was to reconnect with the values that once ignited my passion.
So, I sat down, both metaphorically and literally, and began asking myself some uncomfortable questions: What do I miss? What am I avoiding? What would I do if I weren’t afraid of failure or the prospect of starting over? That reflection was far from glamorous. It resembled scribbles in a journal, voice memos at red lights, and moments of honesty that shattered my preconceived notions.
In this process, I rediscovered the passions I had suppressed: health equity, education, writing, and mentoring. These became my guiding principles. Suddenly, it wasn’t about selecting the ideal next step; it was about choosing something that resonated with my values. It was about aligning my actions with the kind of leader I aspired to be, not just the kind of employee I had been.
Rediscovering purpose in your second season doesn’t necessitate reinvention; it requires reconnection. It involves reconnecting with your values, your voice, and the version of yourself that existed before the world dictated who you “should” be. Once I ceased delegating my direction to others, I realized that I possessed greater clarity than I had anticipated.
If you find yourself stuck or searching, try “googling” yourself metaphorically. Ask the deeper questions. Cultivate curiosity about your own journey. And remember, your second season isn’t a mere rerun; it’s a fresh chapter, and you hold the pen in your hand.
The answers aren’t out there; they’re within you. Stay curious, stay grounded, and rewriting your story with purpose. You possess all the necessary elements to embark on a new journey. Keep leading anew.
#LeadAnewWithKim #SoarWithPurpose #YourSecondSeasonRedefined #LeadAnewInsightsandGrowth
© 2025 Kimberly Weisner, All Rights Reserved
Leave a comment