Are You Ready to Reimagine Your Life and Career with Michael Clinton? [Podcast]

Podcast #238 – ROAR into the second half of your life (before it’s too late!) Author Michael Clinton

Description:

This week I am speaking with Michael Clinton. Here is a version of his LinkedIn about section:

He spent 40+ years in the publishing business as a Publisher, SVP, Exec VP, and President/Publishing Director of Hearst Magazines. Highlights include being on the executive team to launch O, The Oprah Magazine, Food Network, and HGTV magazines and acquiring such titles as Elle, Men’s Health, and Women’s Health, among others.

In 2020, He transitioned out of the day-to-day operations to become Senior Media Advisor to the CEO of The Hearst Corporation. Aside from his publishing career, he has published 10 books, 8 photography, and 2 memoirs, The Globetrotter Diaries (after visiting 100 countries) and Tales from the Trails (after running 7 marathons on 7 continents). Writer, photographer, runner, motivational speaker.
Coming in Fall 2021…. a new book… ROAR into the second half of your life (before it’s too late!)

In this episode, I discussed with Michael the concepts and processes presented in his book.

This episode is sponsored by Career Pivot. Check out the Career Pivot Community. Make sure and pick up my latest book, Repurpose Your Career: A Practical Guide for the 2nd Half of Life Third Edition.

Now on to the podcast…

What is ROAR?

Simplified formula for how you can engage in a dynamic second half of life. If you are 50 and healthy you potentially have another 40 years of life, love, and relationships.

R – Reimagine yourself; before someone else does

O – Own who you are. Own the baggage and the numbers and where you are.

A – Act on what is next.

R – Reassess your relationships

The pandemic has helped ignite people to think about their lives. Re-evaluate where they are and what they are doing. Are they happy with where their lives are?

Reimagining Yourself

First, you have to go through a brutal re-analysis of yourself. Many people get frozen on what they want to do next. They are stuck in a job they hate and not sure what to do next. Some might decide to go back to school. If they do enough research they could find grants and funding specifically for this older generation that is continuing their education.

Another focus might be on expanding an interest or a hobby into a business. The largest group of entrepreneurs are 55-64. There are a lot of people in the professional class who have the money and ability to pivot. Most people that Micheal interviewed had put in at least a year in figuring out what that next step would be. The key is finding your strength and figuring out how to reimagine yourself against your strength.

Own Who You Are

People are not true to themselves.

We get sidetracked.

Part of owning yourself is owning your health numbers along with your financial numbers. Making sure you are leaving those behind in the best situation. More than just the numbers, owning yourself is knowing your true strengths and weaknesses. You have to own the failures, all the failures that come with life, to be able to grow and rise. You have to just take the step. Many people say they want to do something and be something else but it is all about taking the first step and then the step after.

Act-On What Is Next For You

Michael references “life layering” – a concept he likes that revolves around adding layers of life around your career and work. Each time you add things to your life or “layers” you are creating a better life for yourself. These layers can be adventures, things you accomplish, or goals you set for yourself and finish.

In this new world with all the disruptions we have faced, if you don’t try new things and add those “layers” to your life then you will get left behind. You will not continue to adapt to all the changes happening.

Re-Assess Your Relationships

This process starts with yourself.

Before you can assess your relationships with others you have to discover where you want to go. Once you know your direction or have re-wired what your goals are, then you can evaluate the relationships in your life and how they are aiding in your where you are going.

In business, we all sit in a seat, but that seat needs to change. If you are going to step out of that seat you have to know who you are outside of that seat.

That is the big part of assessing yourself and who you are.