Five inspiring stories of career changes after 50 are part of the Impowerage Magazine “It’s Never Too Late To Change Careers” contest. The finalists’ new careers range from an actor, professional magician, artistic entrepreneur, storyteller to dance instructor. Their reasons for changing careers are just as diverse. Some were forced to change careers after the recession eliminated their previous jobs while others made a conscious decision to explore their passions.
Dr. Carolyn Anderson, the founder of the Impowerage magazine, explains the reasoning behind the contest. “Part of our mission is to redefine aging and we wanted to reinforce that it’s never too late to do anything. I think people who read the contestants’ stories will be inspired to go after their own dream jobs no matter what their age and also realize that a layoff doesn’t have to the end of the world.”
It’s an important message in an uncertain job market. One finalist from Colwood, BC, Christine Henry, was devastated when the recession caused her to lose her dream job. She found it extremely difficult to find a job in her 50s and struggled with the loss of her identity. She began taking art classes in order to fill her time and soon discovered her artistic side. She is now running her own business helping others decorate, stage and de-clutter their homes.
Another contestant, Gerry Hennessey, was a successful but bored real-estate agent in Maple Ridge, BC. He made a list of everything that interested him on his 50th birthday. One after another, he pursued his hobbies and passions. He earned a black belt in Akido, studied psychology and appeared in a TV series. He also turned his magic hobby into a career as an entertainer at corporate events. To read the full story of the career changes of Gerry, Christine and the others finalists visit Impowerage.com.
A panel of judges selected the top five entries from stories sent in from around the world. Readers can vote for their favorite entries by Friday, June 17th. The finalist with the most votes will be announced on Wednesday, June 22nd and win the $500 grand prize.
Impowerage is an online magazine for active older adults that publishes articles on health, wellness, fitness and lifestyle. It was founded by Canadian ophthalmologist, Dr. Carolyn Anderson in order to raise money for macular degeneration. The Impowerage Magazine is donating $1 for every person who joins the Impowerage Facebook page to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind to fund the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases that affect older adults up to $5000.
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