The Real Answer To Starting Over at 51 | Volume 1, Edition 13

In this edition of Lead Anew: Insights and Growth, I share what happened when I googled, “How do I restart my career at 51?” and why the honest answer wasn’t online. This issue focuses on trading “busy” for aligned, asking braver questions, and reconnecting with the values and passions we’ve sidelined (for me: health equity, education, writing, mentoring). If you’ve felt like a placeholder in your own life, this read offers a simple way to metaphorically “google” yourself and begin again with purpose.

I once googled, How do I restart my career at 51? The results were…mixed. However, what I truly needed wasn’t online. It was hidden in the parts of myself I had quieted while trying to be everything for everyone, and staying in a job that no longer fit who I was. Somewhere along the way, I stopped asking what I truly wanted and started asking what would make the most sense to others. That was the first sign I had drifted from my own path.

It’s easy to mistake productivity for purpose. I remained occupied, and reliable. Yet, I felt adrift. I lacked a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I felt like a mere placeholder in my own life; present, yet devoid of direction. I contemplated the possibility of a new job title or project. However, what I truly required was to reconnect with the values that once ignited my passion.

So, I sat down, both metaphorically and literally, and began asking myself some uncomfortable questions: What do I miss? What am I avoiding? What would I do if I weren’t afraid of failure or the prospect of starting over? That reflection was far from glamorous. It resembled scribbles in a journal, voice memos at red lights, and moments of honesty that shattered my preconceived notions.

In this process, I rediscovered the passions I had suppressed: health equity, education, writing, and mentoring. These became my guiding principles. Suddenly, it wasn’t about selecting the ideal next step; it was about choosing something that resonated with my values. It was about aligning my actions with the kind of leader I aspired to be, not just the kind of employee I had been.

Rediscovering purpose in your second season doesn’t necessitate reinvention; it requires reconnection. It involves reconnecting with your values, your voice, and the version of yourself that existed before the world dictated who you “should” be. Once I ceased delegating my direction to others, I realized that I possessed greater clarity than I had anticipated.

If you find yourself stuck or searching, try “googling” yourself metaphorically. Ask the deeper questions. Cultivate curiosity about your own journey. And remember, your second season isn’t a mere rerun; it’s a fresh chapter, and you hold the pen in your hand.

The answers aren’t out there; they’re within you. Stay curious, stay grounded, and rewriting your story with purpose. You possess all the necessary elements to embark on a new journey. Keep leading anew.

#LeadAnewWithKim #SoarWithPurpose #YourSecondSeasonRedefined #LeadAnewInsightsandGrowth

Lead Anew With Kim

© 2025 Kimberly Weisner, All Rights Reserved