WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.080 Welcome to Milestone Moments, the show where 00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:05.960 we explore the journeys that lead to success. 00:00:06.580 --> 00:00:10.199 I'm Sheila Slick, your host and founder of Five 00:00:10.199 --> 00:00:13.859 Milestones. In every episode, we will bring you 00:00:13.859 --> 00:00:17.100 insights from the minds of entrepreneurs, leaders 00:00:17.100 --> 00:00:20.820 and experts who will share not just their expertise, 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:24.120 but the milestone moments that have reshaped 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:27.059 their journeys and led to significant achievements. 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:30.359 So if you're looking for motivation, you're in 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:33.560 the right place. Subscribe now and discover the 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:41.340 milestones that mark the path to success. Welcome 00:00:41.340 --> 00:00:44.560 to another episode of Milestone Moments in Business 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:47.439 and Leadership. I'm Sheila Slick, your host, 00:00:47.619 --> 00:00:51.500 and today I want to talk about something that 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:56.140 is personal yet universally relevant. And that's 00:00:56.140 --> 00:00:59.200 the journey of reinvention that many women face 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:02.679 in midlife. Whether you're navigating an emptiness, 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:06.019 considering a career pivot, recovering from a 00:01:06.019 --> 00:01:08.980 major life change, or simply feeling that inner 00:01:08.980 --> 00:01:11.959 nudge that it's time for something new, this 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:15.400 episode is just for you. I've been speaking with 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:18.359 so many incredible women who share that same 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:22.420 feeling, that society has a blind spot for women 00:01:22.420 --> 00:01:27.349 in midlife. After building careers, raising families, 00:01:27.450 --> 00:01:31.969 and managing households, they suddenly find themselves 00:01:31.969 --> 00:01:35.890 asking, what now? And the message often seems 00:01:35.890 --> 00:01:39.549 to be that our most valuable contributions are 00:01:39.549 --> 00:01:42.689 perhaps behind us. But I'm here to tell you today 00:01:42.689 --> 00:01:45.230 that this shift isn't the end of your story. 00:01:45.329 --> 00:01:48.450 It's the beginning of your most authentic chapter. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:52.719 And that's exactly why I've created my upcoming 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:56.420 Spring Renewal Discover Your Next Chapter workshop 00:01:56.420 --> 00:02:00.540 to provide women with practical tools and guidance 00:02:00.540 --> 00:02:04.060 for navigating this important transition. There 00:02:04.060 --> 00:02:07.219 is something that happens when women reach midlife 00:02:07.219 --> 00:02:10.569 that isn't talked about enough. It's what I call 00:02:10.569 --> 00:02:14.009 the invisible transition, that moment when society 00:02:14.009 --> 00:02:17.349 seems to shift its gaze away from us, right when 00:02:17.349 --> 00:02:20.129 we're entering what could be our most powerful 00:02:20.129 --> 00:02:23.449 years. And the statistics tell an interesting 00:02:23.449 --> 00:02:27.830 story. Research shows that women over 45 are 00:02:27.830 --> 00:02:31.710 less visible in media representations, but are 00:02:31.710 --> 00:02:35.750 becoming entrepreneurs, pivoting careers, and 00:02:35.750 --> 00:02:39.340 embracing new challenges. A study from the Kauffman 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:43.620 Foundation found that women over 55 are twice 00:02:43.620 --> 00:02:46.960 as likely as men to launch successful businesses. 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:51.120 Yet the narrative around women in midlife often 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:54.439 focuses on what we're losing rather than what 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:58.659 we're gaining. Wisdom, clarity, confidence, and 00:02:58.659 --> 00:03:04.180 purpose. At the heart of any successful transition 00:03:04.180 --> 00:03:07.439 is self -leadership. Now, you may be asking, 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:10.719 well, what do I mean by self -leadership? Because 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:12.639 normally when we talk about leadership, we're 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:15.280 talking about organizations and leading others. 00:03:15.979 --> 00:03:18.979 Self -leadership is the ability to guide yourself 00:03:18.979 --> 00:03:21.979 with intention to direct your thoughts, your 00:03:21.979 --> 00:03:25.259 emotions, and your actions towards your own chosen 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:30.159 path. Think of it like being the CEO of your 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:36.039 own life. And during life transitions, Self -leadership 00:03:36.039 --> 00:03:40.259 becomes even more important because external 00:03:40.259 --> 00:03:44.039 guidance is often limited, and there's no roadmap 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:47.680 for reinvention, no clear path forward, and that's 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:51.659 why you need to be your own guide. In my upcoming 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:54.780 Spring Renewal Discover Your Next Chapter workshop, 00:03:55.180 --> 00:03:58.039 we're going to explore the five steps of self 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:00.840 -leadership that can serve as your compass during 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:04.569 times of transition. And of these five steps, 00:04:04.849 --> 00:04:08.849 self -awareness must come first. You can't create 00:04:08.849 --> 00:04:12.009 a meaningful new chapter without first understanding 00:04:12.009 --> 00:04:15.270 who you are beyond the roles that you've played. 00:04:15.469 --> 00:04:18.490 And this might sound simple, but so many women 00:04:18.490 --> 00:04:20.810 I've worked with realize that they have spent 00:04:20.810 --> 00:04:24.009 decades defining themselves through others' needs 00:04:24.009 --> 00:04:26.930 and expectations. And the question, what do I 00:04:26.930 --> 00:04:30.149 want, can feel almost foreign after years of 00:04:30.149 --> 00:04:34.389 asking, what do you need? One of the most challenging 00:04:34.389 --> 00:04:37.990 aspects of reinvention is navigating these identity 00:04:37.990 --> 00:04:41.509 shifts. Our identities become so intertwined 00:04:41.509 --> 00:04:44.790 with our roles, mother, professional, caregiver, 00:04:45.069 --> 00:04:48.470 partner, that when those roles change, we can 00:04:48.470 --> 00:04:52.089 feel adrift, confused. And this is especially 00:04:52.089 --> 00:04:54.750 true for women who have dedicated significant 00:04:54.750 --> 00:04:57.610 portions of their lives to caring for others. 00:04:58.829 --> 00:05:01.810 Today, I'd like to share some powerful reflection 00:05:01.810 --> 00:05:04.350 questions that can help you navigate identity 00:05:04.350 --> 00:05:09.209 shifts and discover what's next for you. You 00:05:09.209 --> 00:05:12.490 can ask yourself, what are my core values today? 00:05:13.329 --> 00:05:16.490 And how have they changed? How have they evolved? 00:05:18.269 --> 00:05:21.509 What legacy do I want to create in this next 00:05:21.509 --> 00:05:25.509 chapter? What am I passionate about that I haven't 00:05:25.509 --> 00:05:29.600 made time for? What fears are holding me back 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:34.939 from stepping fully into my next phase? What 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:38.800 skills and experiences from my past can serve 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:43.579 as a foundation for my future? Don't rush your 00:05:43.579 --> 00:05:45.759 answers when you're thinking about these questions. 00:05:46.139 --> 00:05:50.879 Sit with each question and notice what emerges. 00:05:52.009 --> 00:05:54.990 Not just the logical responses, but the ones 00:05:54.990 --> 00:05:59.029 that create a feeling of excitement or possibility. 00:05:59.810 --> 00:06:02.709 These questions help recognize what you need 00:06:02.709 --> 00:06:05.970 to let go of to make space for growth. Because 00:06:05.970 --> 00:06:08.910 here's the truth, it requires both letting go 00:06:08.910 --> 00:06:11.850 and building anew. You can't step into a new 00:06:11.850 --> 00:06:15.550 identity while clinging tightly to the outdated 00:06:15.550 --> 00:06:20.110 version of yourself. And this exercise is similar 00:06:20.110 --> 00:06:22.490 to the reflective work I'll be guiding women 00:06:22.490 --> 00:06:24.810 through my upcoming Spring Renewal Workshop, 00:06:24.970 --> 00:06:28.069 where participants will get to disconnect from 00:06:28.069 --> 00:06:31.050 their daily demands and reconnect with their 00:06:31.050 --> 00:06:35.050 authentic selves. Now, of course, the path of 00:06:35.050 --> 00:06:38.350 reinvention isn't without its challenges. Women 00:06:38.350 --> 00:06:41.649 in midlife face unique obstacles when embracing 00:06:41.649 --> 00:06:46.050 change. And some of those common challenges are 00:06:46.050 --> 00:06:50.339 self -doubt, outdated skills, financial concerns, 00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:54.639 and lack of support. I'm always so inspired by 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:57.699 the women I meet who have successfully navigated 00:06:57.699 --> 00:07:02.100 these transitions. Women like Jennifer, who started 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:06.740 her consulting business at 52 after 25 years 00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:10.860 in corporate America. Or Jennifer, who just returned 00:07:10.860 --> 00:07:15.740 to school at the age of 62 to pursue a completely 00:07:16.490 --> 00:07:21.750 different career path. These women didn't have 00:07:21.750 --> 00:07:24.389 it all figured out when they started. They simply 00:07:24.389 --> 00:07:27.550 took one step and then another, guided by self 00:07:27.550 --> 00:07:29.970 -leadership principles and a vision of what could 00:07:29.970 --> 00:07:33.850 be possible. As we wrap up today's episode, I 00:07:33.850 --> 00:07:36.269 want to remind you that reinvention isn't about 00:07:36.269 --> 00:07:39.209 erasing who you've been. It's about honoring 00:07:39.209 --> 00:07:43.310 that journey while consciously choosing who you 00:07:43.310 --> 00:07:47.529 want to become next. If what I've shared today 00:07:47.529 --> 00:07:50.930 resonates with you, I invite you to join me at 00:07:50.930 --> 00:07:53.610 my upcoming Spring Renewal Discover Your Next 00:07:53.610 --> 00:07:56.829 Chapter workshop. It's a powerful 60 -minute 00:07:56.829 --> 00:08:00.730 session designed specifically for women navigating 00:08:00.730 --> 00:08:04.870 these midlife transitions who refuse to be sidelined. 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:07.899 And in this intimate workshop, you'll uncover 00:08:07.899 --> 00:08:10.620 hidden strengths that you've overlooked and you'll 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:14.459 leave with one clear action step to create immediate 00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:18.100 momentum. And you'll also get a chance to connect 00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:21.620 with other women that are facing similar crossroads. 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:25.600 Your experience is not outdated. It's your greatest 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:29.199 asset for what comes next. You can find all of 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:32.299 the details on my website at SheilaSlick .com. 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:36.320 or you can look in the description and I will 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:39.679 leave the link to register. Remember, your next 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:42.360 chapter isn't about starting over. It's about 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:44.700 leveraging everything you've learned and experienced 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:48.820 to create something even more authentic and fulfilling. 00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:53.159 The woman you've been has given you the wisdom, 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:56.200 the strength, and the resilience to become the 00:08:56.200 --> 00:08:59.779 woman you're meant to be. This is Sheila Slick 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:02.580 reminding you that it's never too late to discover 00:09:02.580 --> 00:09:06.500 your next chapter. Thank you for listening. Until 00:09:06.500 --> 00:09:09.539 next time, keep growing, keep leading, and keep 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:13.600 moving forward. The best is yet to come.