Midlife, Unscripted: Redefining Your Next Act After 40

This is your Women Over 40 podcast.

Welcome to Women Over 40. Let’s get right to it—today, it’s all about the art of reinvention: how women over 40 are redefining themselves and pursuing new passions, often for the very first time.

When midlife hits, it can feel like you’re stuck on autopilot. Maybe you’ve enjoyed a successful career, raised a family, or checked off life’s big boxes—but suddenly you look up and realize you want something more. That’s where reinvention begins. According to life coach and author at LoveQuest Coaching, truly transforming your life starts when you get brutally honest about what you want, and decide that waiting isn’t an option. It’s about refusing to settle for the ordinary, and instead, curating a vision for a life that excites you—today.

Let’s talk real-life examples. Susan Lister Locke, who spent decades in family business on Nantucket, didn’t find her calling until nearly fifty. Inspired by her love of art, she began crafting jewelry—first for herself, then for boutiques, and eventually her pieces were featured in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Susan’s journey wasn’t just a career pivot; it was a leap into what truly brought her joy. Her story, shared by Covey Club, reminds us that your next act can be more creative, more fulfilling, and more authentic than anything in your past.

As you begin to consider change, remember discomfort is your friend. Being too comfortable can keep you boxed in. Consider Keri Ford, who tells her podcast listeners how reaching forty propelled her to prioritize health, transform her career, and mentor other women to do the same. Stories like Keri’s highlight how women like Toni Morrison, who published her first novel at 40, or Vera Wang, who entered the fashion industry at 40, turned “late starts” into legendary success. The lesson? Reinvention after forty isn’t rare or radical—it’s something women are doing every single day.

But how do you take that first step? Start by making lists—not of what you do for others, but what you love, want, and need. Susan Lister Locke did this, and it helped her identify the intersection between her talents and passions. It’s not always career-focused: it might be art, community work, travel, a new business, or even going back to school. Surround yourself with people who support your evolution, and if you get stuck, work with coaches or mentors who know this territory. The key is action: the sooner you start, the faster you’ll find your path.

Reinvention is not about discarding your past—it’s about weaving your experience, your resilience, and your wisdom into something new and deeply your own. The world is full of women over 40, from Selma Blair—who became Chief Creative Officer for Guide Beauty after her diagnosis of MS—to thousands of lesser-known women lighting up their second acts with courage and creativity.

Thank you for joining me today on Women Over 40 as we celebrate the trailblazers and everyday women choosing to reimagine their next chapter. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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