Martin Ray - Rethink your career: in your 40s, 50s and 60s

The case studies in this book are real but in some cases identifying details have been changed to protect peoples privacy. While this book is intended as a general information resource, it does not take account of individual circumstances and is not in any way a substitute for financial or legal advice. Any views or opinions expressed in this book by the author are personal to her. The author and publisher cannot be held responsible for any claim or action that may arise from reliance on the information contained in this book.

To all the people who generously shared their stories and helped

me understand how things are now for people over 50.

And to my son, Joshua, who gives me hope

that the future is in good hands.

Contents

I met Joanna Maxwell in 2015. I was hosting a couple of radio series for the Fairfax Network about retirement and she was hauled aboard to be the programs life coach. We laughed a lot, and tried our best to come up with a better word than retirement which somehow seems to imply bowls and bingo and polished wooden boxes. (Not that theres anything wrong with TWO of those lifestyles!)

Its important to think about life and work as we age, because life expectancy in Australia has doubled since Federation. And people are not just living longer, theyre healthier, too. And if theyre lucky, they may have a few more dollars in their pockets than their parents did. They want to start a new chapter in life beyond just buying a caravan and hitting the road as grey nomads. (Not that theres anything wrong with that, its just not for everybody.)

Its not about stopping, its about having a go.

I once asked David Attenborough, who has just turned 90, Whats the secret of success in later life? He said, Within reason, you dont do anything you dont like, you dont do anything you like, you only do things that you love. Thats a great mantra.

Im on that journey already. Ive spent about 50 years as a journalist and Ive loved it writing stories and putting them on television. But Ive also had a passion for taking photographs, almost on the quiet. Well, now Ive come out, as they say. Ive had a photographic book published and Ive been part of a photographic exhibition. For me, rethinking my career has given me the chance to write some books and turn my hobby of photography into a bit of an obsession. Its allowed me to turn a dream into reality.

Whatever stage of life youre in, one of the things we know is that its important to set some realistic goals and have a sense of purpose. Having a plan and being willing to take a few risks also help when youre rethinking your career.

In one sense we can say, Ive got a lifetime of experience, I know what I can do and I cant do, but we also have to know that you can teach old dogs new tricks. Nearly 150,000 Australians un-retire every year and about one-third of those say they were just so bored that they went back to work.

People who get to a certain age have had a life theyve had jobs, theyve had children and homes, theyve succeeded or theyve stumbled, theyve really chalked up some victories. They have what it takes to do a new challenge, but they need courage, they need to be flexible. They need to avoid saying, I cant do that, Ive tried that and it doesnt work. To take a deep breath and say I am just going to have a go is probably the toughest thing of all. Persistence is the key to success, really.

At the end of the day, you have to get out the front door and make it happen. This book will help you do that because Joanna has a way of cutting to the chase, identifying the problem and offering some colourful options. Thats what you need when youre at a crossroads, I reckon. A lawyer in an earlier life I suspect a very good one Joanna chooses her words carefully, not given to rash generalisations. Or loose talk. So, if you are searching for some tips as you rethink your career, shes a wonderful mentor.

Joanna makes me smile. Sometimes even laugh. Thats gotta be a good thing. Shes calm and gently confident, easy-going, a listener and not judgemental. She has the knack of quickly understanding a situation no matter what the circumstances and oddities and dispensing fresh ideas and solutions. Its a real skill.

If youre wondering whether you should buy Rethink Your Career, I suggest you do for yourself, a parent or a friend. Joanna Maxwell is terrific value and her book is highly readable, illuminating and wise.

Ray Martin AM

I wrote this handbook for people who are looking to reinvent their working life so it can take them through their 50s, 60s and beyond. I wrote it for people who want to take charge of planning the coming decades, the next stage of their life.

If you:

are 40 plus

are unsure about what lies ahead but are interested in making the most of it

want to change how you think about your working life

are keen to access the latest thinking in this area

have no ideas, some ideas or many ideas about your working life over the next decades

keep being nudged by an old dream that wont go away

or if you are just plain unhappy at work and want to find a better path

then this book is for you.

Its also for the partners, friends, parents, children or colleagues of the above. If you are suffering through the work crisis of a loved one, or the person in the next office, then do them a favour and give them this book.

This handbook is different from standard career guides, for several reasons.

Firstly, it is written specifically for people in their 50s and beyond (and people in their 40s looking towards that time). The interviews, advice and exercises are tailored to meet your needs and circumstances. And I am 59, and have lived, worked and researched this demographic. I get it.

This book is Australian, which most career guides are not, so the examples, interviews, case studies and expert tips are aimed squarely at Australians.

Every exercise in this book has been tried and tested on me, and on hundreds of my clients over the last 20 years. This proven process is grounded in experience, backed up by research and case studies, and is versatile enough to suit many career issues.

Its solution-focused, and paced to give you a sense of progress and momentum. You get to take charge of your own process, with a structured toolkit of exercises, inspiration from experts and people who have successfully reinvented their working lives, and practical advice at every stage.

The techniques, tips and exercises in this book draw on logical, linear, analytical thinking, but also creative, possibility-thinking ideas and paradigms. It will give you new ways of thinking, problem-solving and dealing with our changing world.

Most importantly, the reinvention process is based on my inside-out philosophy of careers. Often when things arent going well at work, we look outside ourselves for the answer the job, the person, the course or the lucky charm that will fix us. I believe that we need to start by looking inside, by discovering our strengths, beliefs, values, dreams and desires. Only then can we find that perfect match in the world of work.

How does the book work?

This book is primarily a guidebook. Just as a travel guide to a foreign destination has a mix of information, tips, stories and local knowledge, this handbook is both a toolkit and a compass, with a good dose of inspiration and encouragement to keep you going.

The book is full of:

topic discussions, ideas and stories

exercises

examples

case studies

interviews with people who have reinvented their careers