Mid-life Magic is a book for our times. Periods of uncertainty mean that more people are looking for ways to reorient their careers or lives. Boomers are already primed to reinvent retirement. Being proactive and re-examining where our future is headed is now necessary for most of us.
Unique because it consolidates the author’s 20 years professional experience with clients’ planned and unplanned transitions, along with sound research, relevant graduate education and rich personal experiences. Includes the powerful questions and activities that she knows work.
Written using an encouraging, reader-centered approach the book is well-organized and referenced. It guides readers through specific steps to become clear about: who they are, what really matters to them, how to create realistic options and where they may get stuck. It provides hints to overcoming challenges and real life examples of people 40 and older, rebalancing, renewing or reinventing their lives. The “pioneering possibilities” chapter is for those considering and creating their version of retirement.
Appropriate for the career, retirement and personal growth sections of a bookstore. For adults wondering “what’s next?” or those wanting to help someone they care about as they deal with transitions or that question, Mid-life Magic is a must!
Introduction
When I read a book I like to know why an author
is drawn to the topic. I’ll start there. As far back
as I can remember I framed life as a journey. I know
it sounds like a cliché but I remember visualizing it
that way at a young age. I moved frequently as a child
so feeling sad at what I was leaving, imagining what
was coming next, adapting, making new friends, and
keeping in touch with special old ones became second
nature. My parents were skilled at providing a predictable
base in the home and supporting me in venturing
into the community to find where I fit. My awareness
of life being full of surprises, choices, and opportunities
started early. I’ve always been interested in how
people discover who they are and how they make important
life decisions.
I named my company Life Design Consultants with
the view that life is most rewarding if we’re intentional
and proactive about our decisions and if we acknowledge
what matters to us and head in that direction. I work
with successful people of all ages who want to discover
what they really want to be when they grow up. When
someone loses their job, or becomes depressed in their
career, or their plan to leave full-time work at a specific
age changes due to an economic downturn, they may
feel scared and lost.
I learned ways to be in, and move beyond that fearful
place in my own mid-life adventure, in my professional
work as a career consultant, executive and life coach
and from friends and colleagues. I see myself as a
facilitator. I’m optimistic yet practical. I’ll give you information
and encouragement as well as cautions and
hints. I’ve seen people thrive through change, and others
get stuck. I’ve experienced both extremes myself.
I’m sharing a seven-step approach that works.
The steps will work with people of any age looking
to design the next stage of their life. It’s especially
relevant at mid-life. By then we realize that even wellplanned
routes have detours, some choices we make
close doors and that serendipity is part of life’s story.
What is the magic then at mid-life? It’s the opportunity
to respect your tested skills, experiences and
self-awareness and toss them into the pot, make it
sizzle by adding your dreams and use the impetus of
fleeting time as a catalyst to move forward.
I’ve made the book interactive so that you can make
progress in your situation and included information
that is most relevant for people in mid-life looking
forward. I vacillated about whether to use the word retirement.
I decided to do so while being clear that it is
a word and concept that, in the way we have known it,
has expired. There isn’t yet a replacement word, and
with the diversity and creativity of upcoming generations’
lifestyle choices, there may never be.
My specific interest in how the concept of retire
ment would change began over a decade ago. Since
then I’ve clipped and downloaded articles, attended
conferences, done a doctoral study, noted the statistics
and most importantly engaged in deep dialogue
on the topic with my network. The purpose of my next
life stage includes participating in this societal shift
and reframing what is possible and desirable in these
years for individuals and our world.
I came of age when options were expanding due to
such things as increased access to higher education
and birth control. This was especially true for women.
I’ve lived my adult life conscious of the lack of role
models to show ways to walk through the doors that
we pried open. The good news is that this has presented
us opportunities to be creative in pioneering new
possibilities. This will not stop as we move through
mid-life.
Retirement is not what it used to be. It’s often more
like a lifestyle transition. Today people who decide to
retire often still work, go back to school, start a new
career or an entrepreneurial venture, volunteer overseas,
or travel for adventure. People are doing diverse
things during this ever-expanding life stage of mid-life
and beyond. While in the final stages of writing this
book in the fall of 2008, a global economic crisis impacted
many people’s retirement plans. This makes
the type of process I’m suggesting, and being intentional
about your choices, even more relevant and
important.
I started writing this book by asking what I’d learned
personally and professionally that I could share to help
people live their lives most fully. Most people don’t really
believe that their deepest dreams can come true.
I know this is so because I frequently encounter this
belief with clients. I’ll show you how to change and
move towards appreciating the opportunities you have
through your choices. Writing this book, trusting that
it will be helpful and empowering for you, is a choice
I made with integrity and intentionality. Whatever age
you are, you have less time today than you did yesterday
to find what matters most to you.
My hope is that my book helps you to become clear
on what the next chapter of your life can be and how
you can attain your dreams.
Lorraine Clemes, a career consultant, coach, and facilitator founded Life Design Consultants 20 years ago to help individuals discover their strengths, explore options and develop strategies for achieving what matters to them.
Lorraine has been a corporate leadership facilitator, consulted to public and private sector organizations and taught courses at University of Toronto and in Dubai. She has presented at conferences and produced stress management audio-programs.
Her graduate education was in counseling psychology and workplace learning/change at University of Toronto. Doctoral research explored how boomers will reinvent retirement. Coach certification at The Hudson Institute focused on adult transitions and renewal.