Exchanging a job for a passion: A neurosurgeon’s story
John Seelmeyer, 9/12/2011

From Northern Nevada Business Weekly

Christopher Demers sat in a hospital room in 1996, waiting while his wife, Linda, gave birth to the couple’s first son.

Waiting and thinking, actually.

Waiting and thinking and preparing to make a breath-taking decision, all the more breath-taking because of the increased responsibilities that he would face as a father.

Christopher Demers prepared to chuck a successful, good-paying career in marketing and go back to school.

And not just any school. Medical school.

Today, Max, the son who was born that day, is a freshman at Reno High School. And Demers, who decided to start over, is starting over as a neurosurgeon in practice with Sierra Neurosurgery Group in Reno. For months before he sat in that hospital waiting room some 15 years ago, Demers had known that he needed to change direction.

You can read the rest of the story here. While Demers was (and probably still is) considerably younger than many readers of this blog, his story can be inspiring.

What made it work was that he chose a field where demand is so great that age discrimination doesn’t play a role. In some fields, a thirty-something professional would be considered too old for an entry level job. If Demers had decided to get a PhD in his early thirties, he would have been considered “older” and would not be considered for many university teaching jobs when he was ready to apply in his late 30s.

Additionally the path to the new career was well-defined and straightforward – even regulated. Once you jump through the hoops you are considered qualified.

Finally, Demers chose a field where he can be entrepreneurial. I know two lawyers who finished law school when they were consierably older than most of their classmates. One tried to find a job, but eventually ended up working for a corporation in a related field. Another opened her own practice, where she enjoyed success and found fulfillment.

To review services I offer for your own career transformation, click here.

Recently I asked subscribers to my career guide, “What is the biggest challenge to your career?”

Over half were related to age and age discrimination.

A publisher once told me, “I’d love to see someone write a book on getting a job after 60 … easily.” Yeah, right.

Here is the reality.

(1) Age discrimination exists. People don’t even try to hide it. I’ve heard managers say, “If you haven’t reached this level by age 40 you won’t go higher.”

(2) Expect advice to downsize expectations. A lot of books on aging contain this cheery advice: “You probably don’t need a job that requires responsibility. Get a job at Wal-Mart as a greeter.” You don’t need to buy a book for that. And if you do buy a book, that’s probably the kind of advice you will get.

(3) News stories are exaggerated and even deceptive. You’ll hear stories like, “Companies may be forced to hire aging workers as the boomers retire.” Um…it’s these boomers who want to get the jobs! Hello! And if companies really have trouble filling vacancies, they have lots of options, including overseas outsourcing.

I recommend that you stop forcing the issue. Sure, go ahead and send out resumes. Work your contacts. And start something on your own.

A dog walker can earn $60,000 or more in a large city. Not an executive salary but you don’t need an executive wardrobe either.

Concierges are becoming more popular as more of us get busier.

Want to go online? Start as a virtual assistant.

I’m happy to talk with you about possibilities. Go here for a list of my services.

Career Coach, Speaker and Author Ford R. Myers Offers Practical Job Search Strategies for Individuals of Any Age.

Here is his press release:

Haverford, PA (January 24, 2011) – Despite U.S. unemployment rates that hover around 10 percent, one segment of the population is not being hit as hard: employees age 55-plus. At its peak in December 2009, the unemployment rate for this group was 7.2 percent.  As of December, 2010, it was 6.9 percent. These statistics will no doubt come as a surprise to all the 55-plus job seekers who are still struggling to find work.

Ford R. Myers, Career Coach, Speaker and Author of “Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring,” (John Wiley & Sons, 2009, www.GetTheJobBook.com) finds that mature workers offer experience and skills that younger workers cannot offer employers. “They are more likely to stay put for longer than their younger counterparts, thus reducing turnover – which lowers the costs associated with hiring and training,” says Myers.

Regardless of the benefits mature workers offer employers, many face age discrimination when searching for a new job.  Myers suggests the following four practical strategies that can increase the chance of landing a great job at any age:

1. Energy level. Even if you’re a mature worker, it’s important to maintain a high level of energy and project real vitality. This allows you to take on challenging projects, keep up with the fast pace of business, and get things done efficiently. So show-up early, move fast throughout the day, and work hard.

2. Technology skills. As an older candidate, you didn’t grow up in the computer age, but it’s critical that you learn and practice technical skills. Employers are much more likely to hire mature workers who can demonstrate strong computer skills and possess a comfort level with technology in general. This is a great way to compete effectively with younger candidates.

3. Personal image. It’s always important to look your best, and this is especially true when the mature worker is looking for a job. Pay close attention to your appearance. You can make a more positive impression by updating your hairstyle, eyeglasses, clothing and many other personal attributes. Your wardrobe may also need a “makeover” to look more stylish.

4. Company culture. Research the culture of your prospective employer. If everyone at the company is 20 to 30 years old, then the firm is not likely to hire an older candidate like you. On the other hand, there are companies that have a reputation for attracting and hiring mature workers. These firms actually like to have “adult supervision,” and they’ll pay a premium for your greater levels of experience and wisdom.

“You can’t change your chronological age, so don’t waste mental energy thinking about it. Older workers who understand that their maturity and expertise are assets are more likely to land the job they want in the long run,” adds Myers.

For more information and other useful tips to help those in career transition achieve career success, visit http://www.getthejobbook.com.

A Canadian CEO, Brian Levy, returned to medical school after his corporate job wet sour. To be sure, he enjoyed a number of advantages. He’d left corporate life with a package of $11 million. He drives to the hospital in a Lexus. But his profs say he works harder and he’s the most prepared for any medical presentation. He has real empathy with the patients.

Inspirational to a point: it helps if you’ve got the money and family support. But if you’re worried about having energy and brainpower for this kind of career change, read about it here.

Review of The Third Chapter: Passion Risk and Adventure in the 25 Years after 50
Author: Sara Lawrence Lightfoot
Published in 2009 by Sarah Crichton Books, a division of Farrar, Straus & Giroux

As a sometime career consultant, I continue to search for a book targeting people at mid-life. This book seems to be about preparing for the years just past midlife, which Mary Pipher characterizes as the “young old.”

As I’ve noted in reviewing other books, I often think it’s impossible to write a really helpful book about this stage of life because (a) there just aren’t a lot of choices for everyone and (b) there’s such a variety of people, health levels, skills, aptitudes, background and more. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot deals with (b) by focusing on a small slice of the population: educated, healthy people without financial worries. Within that group, she finds common patterns: a yearning for something that can’t always be named, a resistance to change (possibly because successful people tend to resist changing a cherished identity) and finally a learning that differs from previous classroom experiences.

It is insights like this one that led me to give the book a 4-star rating rather than 3-star. I agree with reviewers who complained about the length of interviews, details of subjects’ lives and narrowness of subject range. I also agree that the book doesn’t present as many original ideas and frameworks as readers might expect from extensive research. But as a former academic myself, I think it’s appropriate to work with a narrow sample, as long as you make it clear upfront, preferably in the book’s title. There’s value in asking explicitly, “If money were no object, how would people choose to enter their sixties and seventies?” At the same time, these people are insulated from many consequences of aging.

I also liked the author’s review of the way the notions of aging and retirement have changed. I would have liked to see more on this topic. When I lived in New Mexico I met people who lived in those “55 and up” communities, including one woman who took care of her aging parents. When her mom died, she was in her early fifties: too young, according to the community. I also met people who wondered why I didn’t want to live with my age-mates, an idea that makes me feel suffocated. It’s good to have the historical perspective.

The best part of the book was the author’s interview with economist Matthew Gladstone. Gladstone’s perspective makes sense, possibly because I have a b-school background and enjoyed my economics courses. Gladstone suggests that as we continue doing work, the law of diminishing returns sets in. If I understand him correctly, I believe he might suggest that a successful lawyer might get enormous joy out of winning her first case, then her second…but at some point, she will be less joyful. It’s like eating a meal when you’re hungry; as you start feeling satisfied you don’t enjoy the food as much.

I think we could extend economic thinking even further. When you reach a certain age, you certainly can invest whatever time, energy and money you have to learn something new or start a new venture. But your ROI – return on investment – will be limited. You might write one novel and maybe you will even sell it, but you won’t have time to go on and write a series that would bring you the real rewards that come to authors after a long career.

I don’t agree that the book reads like an academic article or a dissertation, having seen too many examples of the real thing. In fact, I think the book would be stronger if the author had introduced more sociological concepts to frame many examples. For instance, the interviewees made transitions from high-level professional or organizational settings to a more right-brained, artistic and/or spiritual focus. I know many people who never want to stop working. Volunteer work and the arts will never be enough for them (and I feel that way myself). The author notes that one interviewee, Pamela, feels frustrated because there are structural and institutional limits to her contribution. Yet anyone over 50 who wants to continue earning money faces much bigger challenges.

Finally, I admit to being jealous of those who found their new artistic callings. I wish I’d thought of singing lessons, but suspect I will still be advised to tap along to the songs rather than try to sing them. Over the past ten years, I’ve taken pottery classes in two different states. Each time I had less talent than anyone in the class. It was fun, though, and I just resumed. This time I decided to take on throwing. I still have less talent than anyone and I also have sore deltoids in my left arm. Still, I resonate to the experience of the interviewee, Josh, with learning the piano: trying to aim for a higher level does bring psychic rewards

Several readers asked for additional tips for getting started on the Internet (see previous post).

First, before you spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on web design or development, I recommend considering WordPress as a platform for your website as well as your blog. Many people figure out WordPress on their own (with the help of some online advice). If you’re in a position to invest in training, you can speed up the process. You can also identify some sneaky (but legal) tips and some ways to get the most from your website and blog.

Start with the free stuff…and this is the perfect time. Christina Hills put together some good videos to introduce her forthcoming workshop:

Start here to get some good background on WordPress websites: http://budurl.com/createwpsite

Christina also made a couple of hilarious videos that get you started.
http://budurl.com/juliac

and
http://budurl.com/cookpost

Christina is one of the most conscientious, ethical marketers on the Internet. I’ve been in her shopping cart club for years and still maintan my memberhsip. So if you can comfortable afford to sign up for this workshop, you would be off to a great start for creating a business on the Internet.

I am also a big fan of Jeannette Cates. She’s not one of the flashy names you’ll see around the Internet, but she’s also very ethical with some excellent tools for newbies. http://budurl.com/jcates

And from time to time I offer free and affordable resources. Sign up for the Copy Cat Ezine.

http://budurl.com/jcates

Age discrimination is real. I would never encourage anyone to forego a job search and start a business. But sometimes starting your own business is faster than pounding on pavements and mailing out resumes. When you have downtime during a job search, I would say, Investigate the Internet.

• Nobody cares what you look like. And if you do need a picture…well, let’s just say that one prominent Internet marketer is using a 20-year-old photo. Everybody knows. It’s not a big deal. You can even use a caricature.
• You don’t have to tolerate intrusive questions about your life, snippy colleagues half your age or face time. You do need discipline, motivation and focus.
• You do have to beware a lot of false promises and fake gurus. Start with these two guides:

Internet Marketing over 50 by established copywriter Bob Bly

Reach Desperate Buyers by stay-at-home mom Alexis Dawes.

Invest in these two and you’ll be off to a good start. I also cover a lot of material in my home study coures, Hook Your Clients.

The New York TImes posted an op ed piece suggesting that a tough recession will be harder on younger workers than older workers. You can read the article here. The Times ask you to register but they don’t bombard you with all kinds of junk email. I’ve subscribed for years and never had a problem.

There is some truth to this idea. I recommend Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers, which offers a popular version of some theories of life course theory, a field of social psychology. The year you were born can make a huge difference in your opportunities. The person who graduates into a world of opportunity gets a foot in the door at a good company. She doesn’t have to be outstanding to enjoy rewards. Her entire career can be influenced by her very first job out of school.

But at the same time, this fortunate young person can be caught in the crossfire when she turns 50 or even 60. No matter how carefully she’s planned, she might find herself out of work at a challenging time, with fewer opportunities and age discrmination.

A younger person can seek alternative opportunities. If I were in my twenties today,  I would look at the military and the Peace Corps. I would consider law enforcement.

But mostly I would consider starting my own business - a good option at any age.

• Right now in Seattle, my dog walker has no shortage of clients. Some dog walkers in major cities earn over $100,000 a yearm according to a recent book about dogs.
• If you’re a cat groomer who will go into people’s homes, you’ll do very well. I tried to find a mobile cat grooming service in Seattle and gave up.
• Are you willing to clean houses? Provide lawn care? Develop a concierge business? There’s no shortage of opportunity.

The nice thing about owning your business is that you can grow as you learn. You can start out cleaning houses and then use your business acumen to grow into an organizing service or even set up shop as a business consultant. Christine Kloser began her million-dollar-a-year business with a yoga studio.

Government seems to be looking to the WPA of the 1940s as a model for helping the unemployed. I’d like to see a whole new model of employement support: a nationally supported incubator for new businesses, with qualified advisors and coaches, along with tax incentives.

In the 21st century, that’s a far more realistic option than pounding away at corporate doors.

Mid-life career strategy calls for sensitivity to stereotypes about aging. One stereotype is that we take longer to learn and resist learning new things.

A recent New York Times article supports a theory I’ve held for years. As we get older, our brain holds more and more data. So we just have more to process. Thats why we may forget more easily.

I used to remember phone numbers of just about everyone I know. Now I just know a lot more people. I call them a lot less frequently (due to email). And of course I use speed dials and auto-dials.

But, says the Times, aging brains also have a broader context to place new information. We remember parallel events that took place years ago. We process information more thoroughly, so we appear to be reading and taking in new information more slowly.

Possibly.

My own view is: When you look at a group of 14-year-olds of a certain socioeconomic class, you’ll find many similarities. They’ll be in school. They’ll have certain physical capabilities

But a group of 54-year-olds and 64-year olds will have enormous variation. Just look around your local fitness center. Some folks are walking around in a little circle, moving slowly to the music. Others are running marathons.

That’s why I think we have to take charge of our own destinies as we get older, not depending on external forces for solutions to jobs and other challenges.

At my last college reunion, one of my classmates urged me, “Bring copies of your e-books and distribute them!” That was someone Unclear on the Concept. And that was also my last class reunion.

I finally got around to reading How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill.

You can read my review on amazon if you click here.

Mostly I felt this book could inspire a lot of discussion.

Was Gill’s experience typical? Are most Starbucks managers as charismatic and competent as Crystal, the manager who hired him?

Which of the author’s qualities made this experience successful? Not everyone who fantasizes about life as a barista can make it happen. I met one woman who loved working at a non-Starbucks shop till she got carpal tunnel syndrome from the espresso machine.

Why won’t this solution work for most people?

And most of all…why didn’t this guy get a coach? Or hire a consultant when his business began going sour? Why didn’t he consider hiring a therapist when effects of his downsizing spilled over into his family life?

This is the kind of book that’s fun to discuss because you get so many layers…and so much room for disagreement.

Back when I had more time, I compiled a long list of recommended relocation, career and life transition books. Needs updating and I rarely use this site anymore, but here it is

Scroll down and look for Cliff Walk. This book reminds me of Don Snyder’s equally arduous post-career journey.