Today, I spoke to Sam Greengard, who is a prolific journalist and author. We talk about how people can monetize their passion, evolve their brand over time and switch careers entirely. Don’t ever feel pigeonholed into one career, even if you are 50. There is always time to recover if you have a positive attitude and good ideas. One of the biggest messages you should take away from this interview is that the workplace is constantly changing, so you must stay relevant and not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
What is recareering? Why is it important?
“At the most basic level, recareering encompasses reinvention and rediscovery in the pursuit of a new line of work.”
As children, we dream about career possibilities and opportunities without imposing any limits on ourselves. But as we grow older, practical realities begin to emerge–including the need to support ourselves and our families. Often, around middle age, we begin to reexamine our priorities and look for ways to bring greater meaning to our lives.
Changing careers is a way to breathe life into our dreams.
It is a way to adjust to our changing thinking and needs–especially as we live longer and work longer. For Boomers and other older workers, it is possible to combine life experience and passion in order to create new opportunities.
The benefits of recareering are substantial: society gains from people who are more energized by their work. In fact, many career changers want to make some kind of positive social impact and leave a legacy. There’s a huge shift toward working with non-profit organizations or firms that help achieve a personally or socially significant goal. Yet, regardless of the motivation, individuals who partake in recareering gain in many ways, including personal growth, a wider and more interesting social circle, and new financial rewards.
What are the differences between how generations tackle work? What advantages and disadvantages does each generation have?
Different generations approach work and careers in significantly different ways. Although generalizations are always somewhat dicey–plenty of exceptions exist–boomers and older workers clearly have a different mindset than Gen X and Gen Y. Most important: they’ve watched the paternalistic culture of the past disintegrate. They now recognize that a career with a single company–and a gold watch at retirement–is an anachronism.
“In today’s global environment, changing jobs, employers, and careers on a regular basis is part of the ongoing picture.”
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