As the economy continues to flounder, a lot of people who thought it was safe to depend on their jobs for their income have either found out the hard way that it wasn’t—or are afraid that they’re going to.
Bestselling novelist Lee Child reached that point long before the current economic crisis. He was doing well in a career with a television company when, after a change in management, he found himself unemployed.
In an article in Parade magazine, he writes: “The modern world had snuck up on me, and I hadn’t seen it coming. The rules had changed, and I hadn’t noticed.”
So at the age of 39, he decided to write thrillers and has been extremely successful. But his success isn’t the point, he says. Child writes: “The point is, if you’re fired at 40, it’s not all about hurt and betrayal and fear. It’s about opportunity. By that time in your life, you’ve learned a few things. You’ve got skills and work habits. You’re in charge. … Sit back, take a breath, believe in yourself, identify your dream, and go for it 110%. Trust me, your motivation will never be as strong. And the chance might never come your way again.”
I think his advice is sound whether you’re fired at 40, 50, or even 60—or even if you haven’t been fired, but you’re spending too much time wondering if this is all there is and regretting what you have missed.
You’re never too old—or too young—to identify your dream and go for it.
Jacquelyn Lynn