“Selfish employment is when you have at least enough financial security and independence to be able to do whatever the heck you want to do for a living, regardless of how much you might, or might not, earn from doing it.” – Jeff Yeager

I’ve long maintained that having financial flexibility is now of the single most important factors impacting your second-act career choices.That’s why I took time this past weekend to read, How to Retire the Cheapskate way: The Ultimate Cheapskate Guide to a Better, Earlier, Happier Retirement by Jeff Yeager.

I’m glad I did.

Written in a surprisingly entertaining style (who knew frugality could be so much fun?), the central message of the book is that living more frugally isn’t about sacrifice—it’s about making choices every day to live a better, happier, more thoughtful life with less. When it comes to being able to retire on your own terms, it’s not just how much money you make or even how much you are able to save –  but how you spend what you do have that can make a critical difference.

Yeager makes the compelling case that by spending smarter  and focusing on what you truly want (as opposed to what you’re told to want) you can “retire” earlier without significant sacrifice. He writes:

“Few people have the luxury of setting their own salaries, or dictating the rate of return on their investments, or knowing with any certainty that the lottery ticket that bike today is going to be the mega – million – dollar winner tomorrow. But every day, whenever we get out our wallets or open up our purses, we are controlling – or, in many instances, choosing not to control – the spending side of our finances. That’s why “return on noninvestment” (as in “NOT SPENDING!”) is ultimately a far more important and powerful concept than the incessantly discussed, debated, and written – about concept of “return on investment.”

I agree with Yeager’s assessment that most of us – not all, but most – would be happier and have far more control over our career choices, if only we would spend and consume less. Yeager’s book inspired me to take a look at some of my own spending patterns and I think it will do the same for you.

It’s a fun, inspirational and thought-provoking read.  I highly recommend it.

For all too many people, career paths develop more as a result of “drift” – the decisions you make by not deciding – than as a result of planning. But I’d hate to see you fall into that trap as you prepare for your second-act. That’s why I wanted to share this video with Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, where she discusses how she “drifted” into being a lawyer before finding her way to becoming an author.

I especially love it when she says, “To be happy, I need to know myself, accept myself and build a life on the foundation of my own nature and I couldn’t drift my way there.”

I’m curious what you think. Does her story resonate with you? Please let me know in the comments section below.

Photo by Blake Robinson Photography

Looking for a career that matters? Let me introduce you to Nicole.

Nicole is the daughter of a dear friend and former client of mine. As you can see from her photo, she is a true beauty with crystal clear blue eyes and a megawatt smile.

What you can’t see is that Nicole is being treated for a life-threatening illness. Last fall, this tri-varsity athlete and honors student started her junior year of high school anticipating a year filled with AP courses, SAT prep and college visits.

What she got instead was a diagnosis of leukemia. And more.

Sixteen days after starting intensive chemotherapy, she developed sepsis and nearly lost her life. While in a medically induced coma, she suffered two strokes on the right and left hemispheres of her brain, affecting her motor skills and speech. She was left extremely weak, unable to move any of her extremities and required a tube for feeding.

What happened next was nothing short of miraculous. After being transferred to Blythedale Children’s Hospital,  and working tirelessly with her medical support team, Nicole gained enough strength to sit up, stand, and ultimately begin walking again. What was initially projected to be a five or six-month inpatient stay turned to discharge at the two-month mark. Blythedale termed her recovery, “unprecedented.”

Today Nicole is back living at home while continuing to receive chemotherapy treatments. She attends class whenever possible, works-out and is continuously surrounded by a wide group of loving friends and family. All expect that at this time next year, Nicole’s biggest worry will be having to decide which college to attend from the many sure to be vying for her attention.

This young woman inspires everyone around her  -  in more ways than she will ever know. But as incredible as she is, her progress would never have been possible without the support of hundreds of others.

And that brings me  back to you and your desire to have a career that matters.

To make a difference.

To give back.

To leave the world a better place than you found it.

All too often, people think the only way to do work that matters is to work for a nonprofit or become a teacher or be a nurse. All of those are indeed noble pursuits. But you know what?

The best way to do work that matters is to figure out what you do best and then go share your unique gifts with the world.

As I am fond of saying to my clients: ”You don’t need to be Mother Teresa to make a difference in the world. Mother Theresa needed to be Mother Teresa. You need to make a difference by honoring your unique gifts.”  

There is no question that Nicole ‘s progress is due in large part to her outstanding medical  team. But it wasn’t the medical folks alone that pulled her through. You know who else made a difference?

• Blake Robinson, the photographer, who took the stunning photo of Nicole posted above. Following the photo shoot, he received a note from Nicole’s mom that read in part, ” It was the best medicine to spend 2 hours at Nicole’s photo shoot.  I could tell Nicole felt really at ease with you. The pictures are so beautiful. Thank you so much for taking time to create a beautiful keepsake for her.  I have lots of photos from this time — of Nic goofing around, of her getting chemo, with groups of friends — but none that truly capture her inner glow and spirit, which you have so artfully done.”
• Deb Gorman, the jewelry designer, who created the B+, Be Positive necklace that Nicole wears each day as a reminder to stay positive and upbeat as she continues this battle. Deb was inspired to create her jewelry line after her husband with diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) and given a 25% chance of survival. After receiving a stem cell transplant that saved his life, her husband’s blood type changed from A+ to B+.
• Michele Graham, the writer, who keeps friends, family and fans informed about Nicole’s recovery on Nicole’s CaringBridge site. Even during Nicole’s darkest hours, Michele (who also happens to be Nicole’s mom) educates, inspires and even entertains us with her skillfully crafted writing. She has a magical way with words and I hope that someday she will compile her entries into a book that will help other families navigate this journey.

The list of people who made a profound difference in Nicole’s journey is almost endless. Very few of them work in careers considered to be helping professions, but their work matters. The cooks who prepare the food that nourishes her, the janitors who scrub her hospital room free of germs and the NY Giant’s linebacker, Mark Herzlich, himself a cancer survivor, who inspired Nicole with a visit – all make a difference by doing what they do best.

Take the time to figure out what you do best and then start sharing your gifts with the world. At a time when there are so many problems to be solved in the world, so many people in need and so much good waiting to be done, there has never been a better moment to start.

P.S. Inspired as I am by Nicole? The Cancer Awareness club at her high school is participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life this June. If you are so moved, I invite you to click on this link to donate and support their efforts. 

04/17/13 Update: I just learned that Dr. Oz just posted about Nicole on his Facebook page after meeting her at a fundraising gala for the Blythedale Hospital. He wrote, “I had the distinct honor of meeting Nicole Graham last night at The Blythedale Children’s Hospital Sixth Annual Spring Event. She’s an amazing young woman who has persevered and excelled, despite battling leukemia, sepsis shock and two strokes. I urge all of you to watch her journey here: http://bit.ly/14wAYOb She is an inspiration!”

“Nancy, I’d really love to __________( paint, cook, sing, knit, do carpentry, make chocolate, brew beer, fill-in-the-blank), but I don’t know how to turn that passion into income.”

Sound familiar? It’s a common concern that I hear from many of my readers. Figuring out what you love to do is (relatively) easy. Building a viable business around that passion or hobby, especially when your goal is to create a lifestyle-friendly career, often proves more challenging.

But I’ve got a suggestion that might help  make the process of going from idea-to-income a bit easier. 

The next time you find yourself puzzling over how to generate income from your passions, search out the most successful entrepreneurs who are already doing what you’d like to do, study their websites and analyze their business models.

By doing so, you’ll discover proven models for monetizing your passions in the real world – and useful information about how to price your own services and products.

As you study their websites, ask yourself:

• What are their revenue streams? Is their income coming from selling informational products – or consulting services – or coaching – or speaking – or tutoring – or advertising  - or videos – or crafts – or placement services – or retreats – or workshops or … (fill in the blank).
• Do they earn income from multiple income streams? For example, one person might make their living from a combination of selling informational products, coaching and an hourly tutoring service. Another might run five retreats a year, sell inspirational notecards on their site and teach a class at the local community college. And yet another might generate their income  from advertising on their blog and a few corporate speaking engagements. Make note of the different combinations of products and services. Then, think about which options might work best for your situation.
• Who are their customers? Are they selling to individuals or to government agencies or to nonprofits or to corporations? Is their a specific niche market that they target?
• What is their pricing mix? How much do they charge for their different products and services?
• What groups do they belong to? Pay attention to the associations, conferences and industry groups they mention on their sites – they might be very useful to you as well.

Remember, when it comes to building a business, there will always be a learning curve and an ongoing process of experimentation as you work towards developing your own unique brand. But you can speed up the process by carefully observing the most successful leaders in your field, noticing their mix of products and services and copying the very best of what they have to offer.

Did you know that Americans spent upward of $53 billion (yes, that is billion with a “B”) on services for their pets in 2012?

While food and vet care account for about two-thirds of the dollars spent, the remaining third (approximately $19 billion)  was spent on alternative vet care (acupuncture, massage, etc.)  grooming, boarding and pet-sitting services, and to a lesser degree, miscellaneous pet-related products and services.

Whoa doggie, that’s a lot of cash being spent on our four-legged friends!

Clearly there is plenty of opportunity here for people who want to turn their love of pets into a second-act career. If that sounds like you, I’ve put together a group of resources to help get you started exploring.

Animal Behaviorists: Interested in helping animals to behave better? Here is a link to several guides about careers and educational programs in animal behavior.

Breeders and Dog Show Judges: As readers of Second-Act Careers know, I have an interview with a woman in the book who works as both a breeder and an international dog show judge. Be sure to check out the website of the American Kennel Club to learn more about certification and training options in both of these careers.

Pet Trainers: Here are links to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Both sites offer lots of helpful information and resources for people interested in becoming a dog trainer.

Grooming/Walking and Daycare Businesses: Long time readers of my blog know that I am a big fan of FabJob guides which are instantly downloadable  step-by-step manuals to a wide variety of businesses. They feature several titles in the pet care space:

• How to Start Your Own Pet Business

• Open a Doggie Daycare Business
• Start a Dog Walking Business
• Become a Pet Groomer

• Become a Pet Hotel Owner

• Become a Pet Sitter

Pet-Related Franchises: There are an ever increasing number of pet franchises, ranging from grooming franchises to doggie daycare services to pet waste removal services. Here is a link to Entrepreneur magazine’s guide to pet franchises.

Pet Products: The website for the American Pet Products Association is a can’t miss site for anyone interested in learning more about producing, selling or marketing pet products.

Enjoy this list? Please do share this post with your friends – thanks!

I sometimes joke that in my next life I’d love to come back as a chocolate shop owner. The pragmatic side of me knows the realities of making chocolates day-in and day-out would likely wear thin quickly (while I pack on the pounds equally quickly), but the dreamer part of me thinks it would be great fun to spend my days around homemade toffees, almond bark and chocolate dipped sea salt caramels – at least for a week or two.

If like me, you find yourself fantasizing about a second-act career in the food world, be sure to check out GoodFoodJobs.com.a self-described, “gastro-job search tool, designed to link people looking for meaningful food work with the businesses that need their energy, enthusiasm, and intellect. They post opportunities with farmers and food artisans, policy makers and purveyors, retailers and restaurateurs, economists, ecologists, and more.”

One of my favorite pages on the site is their GastroGnomes Blog which features profiles of people working in a myriad of innovative ways within the food world.

Another can’t miss site for food lovers is the home of The National Association for the Specialty Foods Trade (warning: don’t visit this site hungry). There is an abundance of resources, information and inspiration for people wanting to learn more about the growing world of speciality and artisanal foods. Of particular interest for second-acters are the resources listed on the Knowledge Center page (webinars, networking events, etc.) and the community job board.

I’d love to add some more great resources to this list, so if you know of any other great food sites for second-acters, please put them into the comments section below.

]]> http://www.mylifestylecareer.com/career-reinvention-2/lifestyle-career-options/two-great-career-sites-for-foodies/feed/ 0 http://www.mylifestylecareer.com/musings/second-act-careers-around-the-web/ http://www.mylifestylecareer.com/musings/second-act-careers-around-the-web/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:22:25 +0000 Nancy Collamer http://www.mylifestylecareer.com/?p=594

It’s been exactly one month since Second-Act Careers hit the market, and wow, what a month it has been! I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who purchased the book or told others about it – I am ever so grateful for  your support.

As you can see from my expression in the photo, it is still such a thrill for me every time I go into a bookstore and see the book on display. I suspect it will get old at some point, but for now, I am savoring the moment.

I’ve also been enjoying the opportunity to speak with the media about the book – here are links to four pieces on the topic of career reinvention, boomers and second-act careers  that might be of interest:

1. The Career Clinic Podcast: In this 45 minute podcast I discuss the changing dynamic of retirement, ideas for second-act careers and suggestions for getting started on your next act. Be sure to click on the link for the interview listed below mine that is with a 93 year-old woman who can’t imagine ever retiring!
2. Audio Interview with Dan Miller of 48Days.com: Dan is a career coach and author of three very successful career books, 48 Days to the Work You Love: Preparing for the New Normal, No More Dreaded Mondays and Wisdom Meets Passion: When Generations Collide and Collaborate. I’ve known Dan for years and we had a great time answering listener’s questions and talking about career ideas for semi-retirement in this 70 minute webinar.
3. How to Re-invent Your Career After Age 50: A quick read with a few helpful pointers and tips.
4. 3 Unusual Jobs You Didn’t Know You Could Do in Retirement: A fun post I wrote for NextAvenue.org.

Coming up next — for those of you in the Greenwich, CT area, I will be speaking about the book on Wednesday night, February 20 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm at the Greenwich YWCA. The fee for the event is $12 ($10 for seniors) and signed copies of the book will be available for purchase. Click to register here.

I’ve done several interviews recently about Second-Act Careers and one of the questions that I keep getting asked is,” What do you recommend that people do to get their own second-act careers started?”

Of course, there are lots of things people can and should do. But one of the easiest ways to get this process rolling is to simply make a conscious effort to surround yourself with second-act success stories. These stories do more than just entertain: they expand your world of possibilities, empower you with helpful resources and inspire you to move forward with your own reinvention journey.

Indulging in a diet of reinvention inspiration is a simple and fun way to get your creative juices flowing. Luckily for us boomers, there are an ever-growing number of sites online where we can find these profiles. Here are five of my  favorites:

1. Good Life Project: Good Life Project™ TV is a weekly web-show hosted by author, serial-entrepreneur and lifestyle-innovator, Jonathan Fields.  His guests include entrepreneurs, artists, authors and thought leaders from a diverse variety of backgrounds. At  40 minutes each, these videos offer thought-provoking insights and a candid peek inside the minds of some very interesting folks.
2. TED: TED talk videos feature over 1000 of the world’s most inspirational speakers on a wide range of topics.  TED also hosts regional conferences, events and other initiatives. Outstanding site!
3. NextAvenue: Next Avenue is a relatively new PBS website that has a continually evolving collection of second-act reinvention stories. Well worth taking a look (and I would say that even if I wasn’t their Career and Volunteering Blogger)!
4. Encore.org: There is no better site for people interested in creating encore careers, also known as “second acts for the greater good.” This site features a number of inspirational profiles, as well as an abundance of helpful resources for boomers interested in pursuing do-good careers.
5. Second-Act.com: As the name implies, this site is filled with useful second-act stories. (Sadly, they are no longer actively updating their content, but it is still a valuable site).

Please feel free to share this list, and if you have other suggestions, do let me know in the comments section below.

I am delighted to announce that beginning today, October 1, 2012,  I’ll be writing a weekly blog post every Monday about careers, work and volunteering for NextAvenue.org.  The site, which launched in May, is an initiative of the PBS system with content tailored to meet  the unique needs of the boomer generation

On the Work & Purpose channel, you’ll find dozens of articles, videos and resources designed to help you with every aspect of your career including reinvention, entrepreneurship, the job search and encore careers. Beyond the Work & Purpose channel, the site also covers the following topics:

• Health & Wellness
• Money & Security
• Caregiving
• Living & Learning

]]> http://www.mylifestylecareer.com/career-reinvention-2/job-search-advice/great-new-career-resource-for-boomers-nextavenue-org/feed/ 0 http://www.mylifestylecareer.com/career-reinvention-2/lifestyle-career-options/how-to-make-cash-from-your-crafts-9-helpful-resources/ http://www.mylifestylecareer.com/career-reinvention-2/lifestyle-career-options/how-to-make-cash-from-your-crafts-9-helpful-resources/#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2012 01:28:54 +0000 Nancy Collamer http://www.mylifestylecareer.com/?p=480

This past weekend I got to indulge in one of my favorite weekend activities by visiting a crafts fair. I’m not quite sure why I enjoy crafts fairs so much, but there is something about the combination of being outdoors, munching on kettle-corn and seeing good old-fashioned entrepreneurship in action that I find hard to resist.

As I strolled among the booths, I found myself thinking that in many ways being a crafter is a perfect lifestyle career (although having to work the occasional weekend might be a deal-breaker for some). It allows you to be creative, work a flexible schedule, deduct travel expenses and meet interesting people. And thanks to sites like Etsy.com, it is now possible  for people to sell their crafts while working from home as well.

The amount of income you can potentially earn from your crafts will depend  upon a number of variables (skill level, demand for your products, pricing strategies, etc). But if you’re willing to take the time to learn the “business of the business” it is possible to turn your passion for crafts into real profits.

If this sounds like an income option you’d like to learn more about, here are nine resources to help you get started:

1. The Craft and Hobby Association: An international association that hosts two industry expos, ongoing training programs and offers a full-suite of purchasable benefits (health, life, long-term care etc.) to association members. Among their many offerings, they have an online craft supplies buying guide and Craftsplace.org, an online community where crafters can share ideas, resources and inspiration. Click here to learn more.

2. Etsy: In addition to hosting the world’s largest online marketplace for crafters, Etsy has an impressive  educational and community component to their site. This is a great place to learn regardless of whether you want to sell online or not.

3. Festival Network Online: With over 22,000 event listings, this is an informative resource for people who want to sell their crafts at art shows, fairs and festivals.

4. Barbara Brabec: I must admit that I hesitated to include Brabec’s site as the crafts section has not been updated in some time. Nonetheless, her knowledge about the business of crafting is tested, extensive and impressive. She wrote three excellent books on the topic and the site still has a number of articles worth reading.

5. Craft Classes: As crafting gains in popularity, the number of schools offering classes in the business of crafting is increasing as well. Your local craft store, continuing education program or local community colleges often have useful classes.  The Learning Annex is a good online source.

6. The Mommy Sites: As many of you know, I’ve spent a lot of time in the “mommy” space online. Two sites that are particularly useful for people wanting to learn more about how to make cash from crafts are Mompreneurs Online and WAHM (Work-at-Home Mom) and no, you don’t have to be a mom to take a look!  There are numerous mommy bloggers who blog in the craft space (soap making, food products, jewelry, etc.) — a good place to find them is on Blogher.com.

Helpful Books:

7. The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally and Online by Kari Chapin: As the name implies, this a guide that gives you the “how-to” of selling your crafts in different venues.

8. Grow Your Handmade Business (also by Kari Chapin): This book helps crafters who are ready to take their business to the next level. Offers advice on everything from creating a business plan to legal issues to marketing tips.

9. Craft, Inc. Revised Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Turning Your Creative Hobby into a Successful Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco: This book offers a nice combination of practical advice and helpful resources for both newbies and experienced crafters.

Enjoy this list? Please feel free to share this post with friends and if you know of any other resources that are helpful, please let me know in the comments section below.