How to Reinvent and Rebrand Yourself in a Changed World
Reinvention and rebranding takes on new meaning during the pandemic we’re all coping with.
You may be thinking, “I can barely get through the day. Why should I be thinking of changing myself?” Actually, in this period of hunkering down and trying to stay safe, you have the luxury of time to plan your next act. In our normal rushing here, running there world, you aren’t still long enough to try on new roles and explore new options. For once, you have a chance to practice and experiment. Safely.
A Quick Quiz
Can people at age 50+ reinvent and rebrand themselves? Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
I bet a lot of you are hesitant to say, “Yes.” I know I was until I researched and wrote a book, Thriving at 50+, that has just been published.
I spent the last year researching and writing. After interviewing people from all walks of life and careers, I discovered that despite ageism and everything else thrown at you at 50+, it’s possible to reinvent yourself. It’s not easy nor fast, but done right it is life-transforming.
And, in a sense, we all need to be reinvention masters. Our lives have changed due to the pandemic. And none of us can do exactly what we’ve done before.
My interest in reinvention didn’t begin with my writing a book. In fact, I’m a poster child for reinvention and personal branding.
A baby boomer and career migrant, I traveled from social work to journalism to marketing to PR, rebranding myself along the way. A recruiter once shrugged me off as a career changer. Today, I proudly own my own history, And I know that my career shifts have increased my resilience and knowledge.
People over 50 are in a unique position. On the one hand, you are armed with life experience and savvy; on the other hand, the typical workplace doesn’t value that experience and knowledge. Often, older workers aren’t familiar with the current lingo and the latest technology gizmos; however, you have emotional intelligence and leadership skills in spades.
Society, however, hasn’t made it easy for us.
Unfortunately, age discrimination is still rampant. Consider: almost seventeen thousand age discrimination complaints were filed with The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2018.
And here are some other sobering statistics:
In Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends Report, 15 percent of respondents believed that older employees were “an impediment to rising talent.”
Only 24% of today’s US workers age 55 and older have saved more than $250,000 (excluding homes and pensions), according to Deloitte.
Yet, despite the challenges, people 50+ have successfully reinvented and rebranded themselves.How have they done this? I discovered that they’ve instinctively developed a process and strategy. I will share their approach with you in upcoming posts through 7 principles:
The 7 Principles to Reinvent and Rebrand Yourself
- Having a growth mindset
- Being Uncomfortable
- Willingness to Learn
- Finding Your Purpose
- Storytelling
- Personal Branding
- Social Media and Mentoring
The principles are based on my interviews with people who have successfully reinvented themselves and those still struggling to do so. They also come from my own personal experience reinventing myself multiple times and my research into the psychology of reinvention and personal branding. They are not just theoretical but practical steps you can take now.
You will discover that reinvention isn’t a one-time event but an ongoing process to help you cope with life’s vicissitudes and your changing needs and dreams. You’l learn that one end of reinvention is rooted in the past, the other in the future. You don’t become a new person but a better version of your past selves seasoned with new skills, moxie, and knowledge. The principles will give you a framework to build a next act with more purpose, meaning and success.
I look forward to sharing the 7 principles of reinvention and personal branding with you. And to supporting you on a thriving next act. You won’t be doing anything better for yourself.
Meanwhile, check out the book on Amazon.
