One of the best ways to get excited about the possibilities for your semi-retirement career is by reading about other people who have successfully transitioned into their second (or third) acts. It really doesn’t matter what they are doing, or even how old they are, reading about reinvention is almost always energizing and educational – and you never know what tips, resources or ideas you’ll gain in the process.
Below are 50+ interesting second-act stories I’ve curated from around the web. Not all of them feature people over 50, but I still think you’ll find their stories inspirational.
Columns/Websites
GastroGnomes Blog (GoodFoodJobs.com): If you’re a foodie who dreams of a career in food, this is the blog for you. It features interviews of people working in all different types of food-related careers, including food writers, chefs and entrepreneuris.
Good Life Project TV (JonathanFields.com): Love Fast Company magazine? Then you’ll enjoy Jonathan Field’s collection of in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs, authors and thought-leaders. The interviews typically run close to an hour (I usually watch them while cooking dinner), and can be accessed in both video and audio formats. Recent interviews include Amanda Hesser, former food editor of the NY Times who now runs the website Food52.com; Adam Braun, a former Bain consultant who founded Pencils for Promise, a for-purpose organization that builds schools in developing countries; and artist/illustrator Noah Bradley. Regardless of the subject matter (and despite the relatively young age of most of his interviewees), Field’s interviews always leave me feeling inspired and energized.
Feature Stories About Second Acts
How Four Women Ditched The Daily Grind and Created Their Dream Jobs (HuffPost.com): Stories of four women who, with careful planning and creativity, turned their hobbies into careers.
Live and Work Abroad in Retirement (Kiplingers): Profiles of people who have started or bought businesses overseas.
Entrepreneurs Who Give Back (DailyCandy.com): Six inspirational stories of women who started companies that measure success in more than just financial terms.
And if you prefer listening to second-act stories, NPR has a series of stories called, Working Late: Older Americans on the Job that features people doing interesting things in their second act.