Midlife Career Change: A Square-Peg-Round-Hole-Dilemma?
Sometimes midlife career change–even midlife crisis–comes about because we are sick and tired of continuing to try to fit in like the proverbial “square peg in a round hole.” The peg thing is a common analogy for something–or someone–who just doesn’t seem to fit like The Others. Close, maybe, but…finally…no. Not a fit.
About the time that one is tempted to go over the self-confidence edge thinking, “What’s wrong with me?”, is a good time to be reminded that most of the world’s spectacularly successful entrepreneurs, got to where they are because they “didn’t fit in”. In fact, not fitting in, wanting something different than others seem to want, doing things in a different way–these have been the very keys to success for many of the world’s most influential leaders and change agents. Did you know that?
Here are some people who never finished school or continued their educations because they just didn’t fit into the conventional molds: Thomas Edison (founder of General Electric), Albert Einstein (you’ve heard of him?), Henry Ford (founder of Ford Motor Company), Ellen DeGeneres (TV Star), Debbi Fields (founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies), Aretha Franklin (singer), Duke Ellington (musician), Walt Disney (need I say more?), Bill Gates (founder of Microsoft), Charles Dickens (19th century author), Jay Kubassek and Aaron Parkinson (Internet Marketing entrepreneurs, co-founders of CCP), Michael Dell (founder of Dell Computers), Steve Jobs (founder of Apple Computers and Pixar). These are just a few very…square…pegs. One thing these individuals DIDN’T do, was put themselves down for not being “round” enough. Rather, they channeled their unique energies and visions toward something that the round pegs couldn’t even begin to imagine (and therefore would never achieve). Not quite fitting in a round hole was neither a crisis nor a failure–it was an opportunity.
While “staying in school” in order to follow conventional paths toward jobs that offer (but don’t always deliver) slow but steady career advancement and predictable wages, works well for about 97% of the population, it will NEVER work well for the other 3% of the population. While “three” isn’t a very big number, when you get lots of those 3-percenters together, you have a robust community of extra-ordinary people. You have entrepreneurs and game-changers. You have a community that bonds, not out of striving to be the same, but by a shared level of courage and inspiration that comes from years of learning how to live on the edge–possessing what I call Nerve; from doing whatever it takes to achieve a vision and succeed; from not letting the pressures to conform take over.
At some point in time most, if not all, of these square pegs felt the painful pinch and isolation from their more mainstream peers. Some stories include horrifying recounts of loneliness and rejection stemming from the feeling of “being different.” The real difference, though, was in how each of these square pegs (and the many thousands not mentioned here) managed to become stronger and more resourceful, simply because s/he had to do so in order to survive.
I was a square peg. I tried many versions of fitting into the round-hole world. I was even pretty successful in many of those attempts (by other people’s standards of what I was able to achieve). Over time, however, I would inevitably find myself chafing and feeling confined and restricted by the pressures of “fitting” in those round holes. Just not me! It was not until I owned up to and fully embraced my own square peg-ness, that I was able to start living authentically and joyfully; I was able to celebrate as a strength, my own “nerve” and the way in which it so often led me to break away from the pack and strike out in a new direction. Not necessarily a “strength” as defined by many others, but one that other square pegs recognize and understand. In order to be successful, we square pegs–especially we midlife-40+ and-older-career-changing pegs– must embrace and go forward (even into the unknown) brandishing own unique strengths. No one else’s will work for us.
Having now fully aligned myself with a community of entrepreneurial square pegs, I am happily surrounded with a level of generosity, positive thinking, and unbridled enthusiasm for living that I seldom experienced in the more conventional world. Among midlife–as well as younger and older–entrepreneurs such as the ones with whom I now work, learn, and mastermind, I have partnered up with the most remarkable imaginations and visions in the world. Having tapped into this myself, I can now share with others–with YOU–ways for achieving a kind of midlife success (whatever that may mean to you) that is rarely seen among the masses–among the round pegs who fit ever so well into all the many, many round holes in our society.
So…which are you? Round or square?
I am always on the lookout for promising, motivated, and ready-to-succeed “square pegs” to join my entrepreneurial team. Together, we can cheer each other on and continue to see the possibilities that remain just out of sight for those who are sunk comfortably into their little round holes.
If this describes you, let me know. We just might need to talk.
A Knack For Flying…
Turns out I have a knack for flying. Who knew?
I’m a mid-life, mid-career woman with an exciting new mindset that allowed me to create an exciting new life! After working for nearly thirty years in the nonprofit realm, I realized that my life was getting away from me; “zoom, zoom” as the zippy little car commercial used to say. I was too spent at the end of each long workday to make time, or have energy, for anything else that mattered to me. I even began to forget what else mattered. This was not acceptable! I caught a glimpse of myself reflected in friends and colleagues who were just “tying a knot and holding on” to their jobs and careers, to make it through until retirement. I decided that wasn’t the solution for me. There wasn’t enough joy and adventure in becoming so grim…so embattled…so… rope-burned. So I started my rope swinging instead, got a new sense of the possibilities, and finally took my FLYING LEAP!
Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy) said this: “There is…a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” I love that. More importantly, I now live that! I can show you how I did it, and more importantly, I can show you how you can do it too!
If you are also in some kind of mid-life (or later) transition, Thia’s Place is the place for you. Welcome!
Be sure to leave a comment or question about what you are looking for; even better, sign in and get on my personal email list for all the best news, updates and opportunities.
Midlife Career Change
Midlife Career Change: A Square-Peg-Round-Hole-Dilemma?
Sometimes midlife career change–even midlife crisis–comes about because we are sick and tired of continuing to try to fit in like the proverbial “square peg in a round hole.” The peg thing is a common analogy for something–or someone–who just doesn’t seem to fit like The Others. Close, maybe, but…finally…no. Not a fit.
About the time that one is tempted to go over the self-confidence edge thinking, “What’s wrong with me?”, is a good time to be reminded that most of the world’s spectacularly successful entrepreneurs, got to where they are because they “didn’t fit in”. In fact, not fitting in, wanting something different than others seem to want, doing things in a different way–these have been the very keys to success for many of the world’s most influential leaders and change agents. Did you know that?
Here are some people who never finished school or continued their educations because they just didn’t fit into the conventional molds: Thomas Edison (founder of General Electric), Albert Einstein (you’ve heard of him?), Henry Ford (founder of Ford Motor Company), Ellen DeGeneres (TV Star), Debbi Fields (founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies), Aretha Franklin (singer), Duke Ellington (musician), Walt Disney (need I say more?), Bill Gates (founder of Microsoft), Charles Dickens (19th century author), Jay Kubassek and Aaron Parkinson (Internet Marketing entrepreneurs, co-founders of CCP), Michael Dell (founder of Dell Computers), Steve Jobs (founder of Apple Computers and Pixar). These are just a few very…square…pegs. One thing these individuals DIDN’T do, was put themselves down for not being “round” enough. Rather, they channeled their unique energies and visions toward something that the round pegs couldn’t even begin to imagine (and therefore would never achieve). Not quite fitting in a round hole was neither a crisis nor a failure–it was an opportunity.
While “staying in school” in order to follow conventional paths toward jobs that offer (but don’t always deliver) slow but steady career advancement and predictable wages, works well for about 97% of the population, it will NEVER work well for the other 3% of the population. While “three” isn’t a very big number, when you get lots of those 3-percenters together, you have a robust community of extra-ordinary people. You have entrepreneurs and game-changers. You have a community that bonds, not out of striving to be the same, but by a shared level of courage and inspiration that comes from years of learning how to live on the edge–possessing what I call Nerve; from doing whatever it takes to achieve a vision and succeed; from not letting the pressures to conform take over.
At some point in time most, if not all, of these square pegs felt the painful pinch and isolation from their more mainstream peers. Some stories include horrifying recounts of loneliness and rejection stemming from the feeling of “being different.” The real difference, though, was in how each of these square pegs (and the many thousands not mentioned here) managed to become stronger and more resourceful, simply because s/he had to do so in order to survive.
I was a square peg. I tried many versions of fitting into the round-hole world. I was even pretty successful in many of those attempts (by other people’s standards of what I was able to achieve). Over time, however, I would inevitably find myself chafing and feeling confined and restricted by the pressures of “fitting” in those round holes. Just not me! It was not until I owned up to and fully embraced my own square peg-ness, that I was able to start living authentically and joyfully; I was able to celebrate as a strength, my own “nerve” and the way in which it so often led me to break away from the pack and strike out in a new direction. Not necessarily a “strength” as defined by many others, but one that other square pegs recognize and understand. In order to be successful, we square pegs–especially we midlife-40+ and-older-career-changing pegs– must embrace and go forward (even into the unknown) brandishing own unique strengths. No one else’s will work for us.
Having now fully aligned myself with a community of entrepreneurial square pegs, I am happily surrounded with a level of generosity, positive thinking, and unbridled enthusiasm for living that I seldom experienced in the more conventional world. Among midlife–as well as younger and older–entrepreneurs such as the ones with whom I now work, learn, and mastermind, I have partnered up with the most remarkable imaginations and visions in the world. Having tapped into this myself, I can now share with others–with YOU–ways for achieving a kind of midlife success (whatever that may mean to you) that is rarely seen among the masses–among the round pegs who fit ever so well into all the many, many round holes in our society.
So…which are you? Round or square?
I am always on the lookout for promising, motivated, and ready-to-succeed “square pegs” to join my entrepreneurial team. Together, we can cheer each other on and continue to see the possibilities that remain just out of sight for those who are sunk comfortably into their little round holes.
If this describes you, let me know. We just might need to talk.
A Knack For Flying…
Turns out I have a knack for flying. Who knew?
I’m a mid-life, mid-career woman with an exciting new mindset that allowed me to create an exciting new life! After working for nearly thirty years in the nonprofit realm, I realized that my life was getting away from me; “zoom, zoom” as the zippy little car commercial used to say. I was too spent at the end of each long workday to make time, or have energy, for anything else that mattered to me. I even began to forget what else mattered. This was not acceptable! I caught a glimpse of myself reflected in friends and colleagues who were just “tying a knot and holding on” to their jobs and careers, to make it through until retirement. I decided that wasn’t the solution for me. There wasn’t enough joy and adventure in becoming so grim…so embattled…so… rope-burned. So I started my rope swinging instead, got a new sense of the possibilities, and finally took my FLYING LEAP!
Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy) said this: “There is…a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” I love that. More importantly, I now live that! I can show you how I did it, and more importantly, I can show you how you can do it too!
If you are also in some kind of mid-life (or later) transition, Thia’s Place is the place for you. Welcome!
Be sure to leave a comment or question about what you are looking for; even better, sign in and get on my personal email list for all the best news, updates and opportunities.