Hi!
Have you wondered what’s next after your long career?
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the International Living Fast Track Conference in Costa Rica. The event brought together approximately 300 participants and was filled with high energy and lots of conversations.
My role there was as a freelance coach offering to help people take their skills and talents online to continue earning as they transition to their “what’s next.”
I connected with many different people and heard about their worries, goals, aspirations, and the journeys they hope to be on. Here is what they said to me:
✅ I was laid off and don’t want to find a new 9-5 job.
✅ I plan to retire in the next couple of years, but I’m not old enough for Medicare, and I want to delay my Social Security benefits until I’m fully vested.
✅ I have more years to work at my job, but I want to start learning what I can do next.
✅ I retired last year, and I’m bored out of my mind.
✅ My retirement got off track, and I need to continue earning income.
✅ I’m nervous about getting laid off, so I want to know how to do something else.
When talking with them, their concerns about learning to freelance sounded like this:
✅ I don’t understand what this is.
✅ I can’t imagine what I can do.
✅ I’ve only worked one job in 30 years, and I don’t know what my skills are
✅ I’ve had ten jobs during my career — I’m a jack-of-all-trades, and I don’t know what I’d do.
✅ It sounds too complicated.
✅ I don’t want to work anymore.
I loved every minute of my time with these people and learning about them!
Spending time with people looking forward, stepping into the unknown, and wanting to embark on a journey including all their fears always inspires me! And, while there are “eight million stories in the naked city,” everyone’s concerns come down to similar questions:
❤️ How do I care for my family?
❤️ How do I not feel alone and isolated?
❤️ How can I find happiness and fulfillment?
❤️ What’s my purpose in life?
❤️ How do I build and maintain meaningful relationships?
❤️ What does it mean to live a good life?
❤️ How do I deal with loss and grief?
❤️ How do I make a positive impact in the world?
Now, freelancing can’t answer all of these questions, but knowing how to freelance as we age with maybe another 20+ years on the planet after our career helps us continue to be of service, take care of our families, have a purpose, feel fulfilled, and make a positive impact.
Give it some thought…and reach out to talk about your goals and aspirations!
Peace and love,
Jeanne
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